After coming off a season where the football team was undefeated and won the state championship against cross-town rival Wayne Valley, the team looks to repeat as champions in the upcoming playoffs.

Led by captains Dario Sirni, Mike Zaccone, Jason Modak, Scott Fischgrund, and Pete Dellachaie, the team looks ahead to the playoffs after beating Wayne Valley 31-0 last week. After beating Valley, the team moved up to the fourtn seed in the North 1 Group 4 playoff bracket, clinching one home game for the playoffs. The team faces Irvington Friday Night in an exhibition game that will not affect the playoffs bracket.

Jaaron Hayek led the Patriots to the win last Saturday with 100 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception through the air, as he distributed the ball to six different receivers. He also led the rushing game with 74 yards and one touchown on 16 carries. Senior Inside Linebacker Mike Zaccone led the way on the defensive side of the ball with 12 total tackles.

The team will face a 6-2 Morris Hills team, in the first round of the playoffs, who are coming off a 9-3 while winning the state championship in the North 2 Group 3 section last year.

Key contributors on the defense, Jason Modak and Mike Zaccone, are excited for the upcoming playoffs, and are looking to prove that last season wasn’t just a one time thing. The Patriots are 6-2 with a loss against Ohio power house Canton McKinley, and to the first seed in the playoffs, Old Tappan. Both teams shutout the Patriots, 38-0 and 35-0. The team looks to duplicate what they did last week, but in the playoffs. If the team were to win next week, they would most likely play Old Tappan in the second round, in another tough game. No matter who they play, it will take a lot of heart, passion, and determination to repeat as state champions.