Cooper: Wayne Valley embraces new start

WAYNE – Wayne Valley players will never forget it, but they’ve learned the past doesn’t determine their future.

The dawn of a new high school football season is upon us and with it comes fresh dreams and ambitions of every North Jersey school. The season officially begins Thursday – the first game involving a local school is Cliffside Park meeting Newark East Side.

Right now every team is 0-0.

Even Wayne Valley. Maybe, especially Wayne Valley.

The last time we saw the Indians was the last game of the 2016 season in the North 1, Group 4 finals against Wayne Hills. Heated rivals? Check. Drama? Double check. Amazing finish? Triple dog-dare check.

But it was the Indians who watched their dreams slip out of the end zone on a game-ending fumble in overtime. Wayne Hills 31, Wayne Valley 24, simply put, one of the best high school games you’ll ever see.

It was one of those games that it’s a shame someone had to lose, but someone did. Now the Indians say they have moved on.

“It took a couple of months,” said Indians senior offensive lineman Shane Connelly. “But once football really ended and track started, I started focusing on that.”

“It was tough, but I feel like we found a way to get over it as a team,” agreed Indians senior linebacker Isaac Rosado. “We understand now what it takes to make it and what it takes to actually win, so I feel like this is going to be a great year for us.”

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Friday, the Indians will play their first real game in 271 days since that night at MetLife Stadium. They will host Downingtown West of Pennsylvania. The Whippets (cool nickname) enter the game 0-1. It will be the biggest show in North Jersey Friday night. The school plans on recognizing any and all first responders in attendance in a pre-game ceremony.

For Wayne Valley, it will be the first step in burying what happened at the end of 2016. It will be the first career start at quarterback for senior Vincent Marrone. Under coach Roger Kotlarz, the Indians have become known for their offensive prowess, and Marrone looks to have the skills to keep up the pace.

First games can be vital to building a team’s identity. It’s probably because the game planning and preparations go on for months. Kotlarz could probably tell you every Downingtown West player by this point.

Sure, every game counts the same, but the first game can set the tone for an entire season. A team suffers a tough loss, and then it almost becomes used to it and more tough losses follow, a team that scores a big win likes the feeling and wins more.

Kotlarz believes that this is his most focused team he’s had in his four years. Perhaps that’s because these are all his players now. They have become a reflection of him.

“I feel like coach gives us so much support and tells us how great we’re doing and how we’re progressing this year more than we have in previous years,” said Rosado, 17. “So I feel like that’s brought us to a better point.”

Wayne Valley’s last sectional title was in 1991. It has made the playoffs 11 times since then without winning it all. Wayne is truly Football Town, North Jersey, but the trophy case at Wayne Valley isn’t as rich as the other three schools: Wayne Hills, DePaul and Passaic Tech. Since 1991, those other three schools have combined to win 15 sectional or state titles.

“A while ago, we are very aware of that….trust me,” said Rosado when asked when the last Wayne Valley title was.

Rosado said the Indians will be a ‘whole new animal’ this season. Connelly said the Indians will be a ‘violent team.’

This season every one of the 71 North Jersey football teams is facing its own demons and doubts. There are teams rebuilding, like Cliffside Park and Tenafly, teams on the cusp of competing like Wood-Ridge and Passaic, teams looking for redemption like Northern Valley/Old Tappan and Westwood.

They carry their past with them. It never goes away, but like Wayne Valley will Friday night, they will all start again, with new dreams carrying them into the night.