WAYNE − It might have been Ty Cummings. It might have been Brayden Rude. Maybe Rocco Sivolella had something to do with it, too.
Wayne Valley blocked a potential game-tying, 23-yard field goal on the final play to edge archrival Wayne Hills, 34-31, in front of a raucous crowd estimated at 3,500 on Oct. 3.
Both Cummings and Rude appeared to break through the left side of the Patriots' line on the field goal, but neither was quite sure who blocked it.
“We work block all the time, we haven’t really been good at it, we say bend the corner and bring the wing down,” first-year Wayne Valley coach Chris Benacquista said. “I can’t wait to see the film and how it worked out, but when I saw it go up in the air, I was like, wow, it worked.”
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“My adrenaline was flying, I have no idea who blocked it, I give credit to coach,” Rude said. “He was motivating us in the huddle, he said, I can’t wait to see Ty succeed, and that side of the line rushing in blocked it.”
What it means
Wayne is officially a Valley town until next year’s contest. Wayne Hills still leads the overall series 16-7, but Wayne Valley has now won five of the last seven meetings.
Both teams looked capable of playing deep into November.
Wayne Hills (5-1) dominated the first half with quarterbacks Mike Fitzsimons and James Wolf making big plays. Wayne Valley (5-1) rallied behind senior quarterback Danny Ferrauilo, who became the school’s all-time passing leader in the win.
“Danny is money,” Benacquista said. “Teams will do things to try to take his talents away, but he always finds a way to do it.”
The block party
The lead changed hands three times in the fourth quarter. Wayne Hills went up 31-28 with 5:10 left on a run by Evan Rapoport, then had the ball in good shape after an Indians fumble.
But the Patriots turned it back over on an interception and Wayne Valley went 92 yards in four plays, with Ferrauilo finding Jadon Cabrales on a deep post for a 62-yard score with 1:38 to play.
The Indians had trouble with the snap on the extra point and only led by three.
Wayne Hills then methodically marched down the field, driving to the Wayne Valley 1-yard line with four seconds left and looking at fourth-and-goal. The offense came out on the field, but the Patriots jumped early, costing them five yards, so they opted to go for the tie.
Then the block.
“I really don’t know, honestly, I will split it with Rude, we both came off the corner,” Cummings said. “That was really awesome.”
Remembering Rocco
The tragic death of Wayne Valley freshman football player Rocco Sivolella from leukemia in 2022 has united the town of Wayne and it’s two football programs like never before.
Fans of both teams wore orange shirts in his memory, and members of the Sivolella family were honored at midfield with a moment of silence.
Sivolella’s memory was noted by both Cummings and Rude unprompted after the game.
“I think he was definitely watching out for me and our football team,” Cummings said.
“Before the game, we all pray on the sidelines saying he’s watching over us, we pray for a healthy, happy game,” Rude said. “This is what it should be.”
They said it
“It was a thriller,” Rude said. “This is everything I could have dreamed of. When I was a freshman, we beat them, but last year really stuck with us. Tonight being down, we had to come back, and do it for the town of Wayne. Valley blue.”
“We have to clean a lot of stuff up on defense, the two quarterback system they work is tremendous, they run their offense right,” Benacquista said. “They just do everything right. Everything they showed us we were prepared for it was a matter of executing better. At halftime, I told the kids we needed to make plays and we did.”
Up next
Wayne Valley has a showdown at Ramapo on Oct. 10 in a game that could decide one of the No. 1 seeds in North Group 4.
The same day, Wayne Hills hosts rival Passaic Valley.