With four seconds on the clock, in the crosstown rival game at Wayne Valley against Wayne Hills, Wayne Hills went for the possible game-tying field goal. The score was 34-31 Valley, and time stood still until Hills’ attempted field goal was blocked by Wayne Valley seniors Ty Cummings and Brayden Rude. The crowd erupted in a roar, and that was a win for Wayne Valley!
The game stayed tight, keeping fans on the edge of their seats, as it all came down to this final play. Until halftime, it looked as though Hills would come out with the win. Hills senior Mike Fitzsimons, juniors James Wolf and Chernoh St. Paul, and sophomore Ethan Zacharski dominated the first half. Valley seniors Eli Estevez, Danny Ferrauilo, and Bryce Flower struck back at the end of the half, lowering the margin.
Valley took the lead in the second half, with Ferrauilo passing to Cummings, and junior Jadon Cabrales running in for the touchdown. The lead was short-lived after Hills junior Evan Rapaport scored. However, with a pass to Cabrales from Ferrauilo, Valley took the lead for good with only 1:38 remaining in the game. Valley seniors Michael Stackhouse, Brayden Rude, and Brayden Dunne were key forces in the game. Rude and Dunne had successful interceptions, and Stackhouse was successful on all four of his extra-point attempts.
Since 2022, the meaning of the Valley versus Hills game has gone deeper than a rivalry. In May of 2022, Wayne Valley freshman Rocco Sivolella passed away after fighting his battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Rocco was a kind young gentleman who was a friend to all and loved football and baseball greatly.
The annual game now brings Wayne together as “One Town, United”, where all fans dress in orange to honor Rocco and his memory, inspired by the color for leukemia awareness. His family has also begun the Rocco Sivolella Memorial Scholarship to honor his legacy. Money raised from the orange out merch and other donations goes into the scholarship fund, which is then awarded to one student at Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills.
On and off the football field, this game has brought a bigger meaning to this town rivalry, one that both schools can honor as one town, united.
