Photos
Consider the first page emphatically turned.
In the opener of the Wayne Hills’ football team’s season, the Patriots picked up right where they left off last year: winning.
The Patriots, led by senior quarterback Kevin Olsen, dominated Northern Highlands 56-7 in Wayne Friday night.
Members of the Wayne Hills community are glad to be moving on from what was a tumultuous season and off-season last year.
“I’m glad that we’re back to playing football and getting the team back on the sports pages where it belongs,” Dave Kuhnlein said while watching the game. “Last season, we’ve put it behind us. This is all about the kids and the seniors. They’ve worked hard to get to this point.”
Team supporters hope the win is the first on the way to the Patriots’ ninth state championship under coach Christian Olsen. But don’t look to buy tickets to MetLife Stadium just yet.
This is Olsen’s final season as head coach of the Patriots. He has built up a legacy for himself, winning eight of the last 10 state group championships, and his family. Kevin is the third of Olsen’s three sons to play for him. His middle son Greg plays for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Kevin, a nationally ranked quarterback, has verbally committed to attend the University of Miami next fall.
“It’s never a guarantee that we’ll get back to the Meadowlands,” Nothing is guaranteed. But we hope that we can get back to playing there in early December.”
The stands were packed with fans. Signs with “Welcome to Patriot Country” and “Let’s Go Wayne Hills” lined the first row of the bleachers.
The school’s marching band and color guard performed at halftime and cheered the Patriots on from the stands throughout the game. Parents and fans, covered in maroon, white, and black, cheered during every play and every touchdown.
“This is great. This is what Wayne Hills is really about,” Cindy Johnson said. “The kids, the players, they are what really matter.”
The Patriots will face their crosstown rival Wayne Valley next week.
— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
notwhoyouthink
7:20 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Nice victory boys...on to Vallley and a 2 - 0 start to the season!!!!
Concerned Parent
8:42 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Wayne Valley won too last night, by the way. Thanks for not even mentioning them. And we wonder why there is such rivalry?
eyes wide shut
9:23 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
@Concerned Parent. YOU are 100% right. Nothing like dividing a town with this. Thought our families and Children were ALL ONE.. Competition is good as we know. Lets keep it friendly and support one another...As in all aspects Controversy is what sells...
Packanack1996
11:34 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Concerned Parent - Excellent Point. Hopefully, with a new Athletic Director in place, student athletes from both sides of town will be recognized.
Dude Germano
12:19 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Where are you looking? The WV football details are on the Patch?
Did you want the WV game details mentioned in the WH piece?
jack
2:46 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
@Dude Germano- nothing about Wayne Valley when this story came out. Was posted much later (hence the comments).
fboy1932
8:57 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Job well done!!! lets leave with a bang and laughing your way to the bank as you leave this hateful town that's betrayed your entire family!
carol lawrence
10:38 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
good luck to the 'PATRIOTS'..keep them healthy and hope for a great season..best wishes to coach olsen in his final year at wayne hills...
Kit Rogers
12:01 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
the only people dividing the town are you people on the patch.....the kids have more sense than most of you!!!!!! Best of luck this season to all of our wayne teams,,,,,hills valley and depaul,,,,,,,
John M
12:38 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Great job Hills, Good game Valley. Now lets see the best team in Wayne next week when they meet. The season is long!
Albert
12:38 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Sadly the kids are just there to play football, but the parents can't help but make comments. I have kids at Valley, but I am from WAYNE. So my heart wants Hills to win every game, (maybe except when they play Valley :). Heard a rumor that K Olsen may be out for 6-8 weeks. Anyone know who the back up is? Hopefully the kids has had some reps and can step in and not miss a beat. They have many weapons, but Olsen is a big loss. Go Luck to both Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills this season!
John M
12:42 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
I'm, away what happen to Olsen
Albert
12:44 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
I saw online that he fractured his foot and will be out 6-8 weeks. Not sure if the information is accurate or just rumor
John M
12:50 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
He can probably play with a brace and steel plate to protect the area. Whirlpool each day until the swelling goes down. My son had a similar injury and did the above and ended up 1st team all-state.
John M
12:55 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
He is OK
Chris Traynor
1:03 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
QUOTATION FROM THE ABOVE STORY: “This is great. This is what Wayne Hills is really about,” Cindy Johnson said. “The kids, the players, they are what really matter.”
All 3 of my daughters have attended WHHS and I'm very proud of the school and, as an aside, I'm also proud of the football team (and all of the sports teams). I JUST DON'T BELIEVE THAT "THIS" (FOOTBALL) IS WHAT WAYNE HILLS IS ALL ABOUT.
Let's keep the focus where it needs to be ... academic performance and developing intelligent, tolerant, globally-aware, civic-minded college candidates and citizens. As our visionless State Government continues to concentrate on short-term budget performance to selfishly enhance their resumes for future political office, we have to bond together and not be overly distracted (or divided) by scholastic side dishes when the chicken entree is skinnier than ever.
Pat
5:53 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Sad that Kevin may injured. Hope he recovers quickly and makes Wayne proud.
However, can you say 'KARMA'. None of us are exempt. Just a reminder to do the right things in life and you will be rewarded, do the wrong thing and you may suffer.
Kelly Lonigan
6:12 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
k
a
r
m
a
paul r
6:19 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
OK, I'll bite....what wrong thing exactly did Kevin do?
Pat
9:40 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Not Kevin, his Dad.
the dude
8:12 pm on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Blame it on MSG...they jinxed him.
Last time MSG did a documentary on HS football it was about Bergen Catholic.
They hyped and followed BC around all season,
and BC ended up losing twice to Bosco....it was a bummer.
10 years later they try it again, and the Last Patriot gets hurt in his first game.
Rex miatke
6:57 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Kevin Olsen out six to eight weeks. Time for Coach Olsen to rally the troops. Wayne Hills football is so much more than just the Kevin Olsen show and time for Wayne Hills to step up and show their heart. Still wondering why Kevin was in there in the 3rd quarter when the game was in hand????? Best of luck to Wayne Hills. Look forward to the return trip to the meadowlands.
Johnny jones
9:22 am on Sunday, September 9, 2012
Yeahh they dont say anythin about Wayne valley cuz they suck plain and simple