Hayeks score 3 TDs in Wayne Hills playoff opener by JJ Conrad of The Record
WAYNE — For Wayne Hills’ Hunter and Tyler Hayek, home is in the end zone.
No matter where your beliefs lie regarding the Patriots star receivers’ primary residency — the hot topic of conversation and controversy in New Jersey football for the past two weeks — there is no denying the immense talent both bring to the Wayne Hills offense.
Both flashed that ability on Sunday in Wayne Hills’ 33-7 victory over Roxbury in the first round of the North 1, Group 4 state playoffs. Hunter Hayek hauled in six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns, while Rutgers-bound Tyler Hayek supplied four catches for 70 yards and one score. Together, they were on the receiving end of three of Brendan Devera’s four touchdown passes to help secure top-seeded Wayne Hills’ spot in next week’s sectional semifinals, where it will host fourth-seeded West Morris.
The Hayeks’ eligibility was of primary focus in the weeks leading up to Sunday’s contest. Wayne Hills was initially disqualified from the playoffs by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association just days before the first round was originally scheduled to take place due to alleged eligibility concerns regarding the Hayek brothers.
School administration appealed the self-reported potential infractions — and the eventual punishment handed out by the NJSIAA — and the acting state commissioner of education, Kimberley Harrington, granted a stay on the matter after deciding Wayne Hills was not initially afforded due process by the association.
A nearly six-hour hearing took place on Tuesday to settle the unprecedented case once and for all, and the NJSIAA — facing a team of lawyers representing Wayne Hills — overturned the disqualification and ruled Wayne Hills (9-1), and all three Hayek brothers, including sophomore Jaaron, eligible for the postseason.
The madness and distractions were finally over. It was back to football for Wayne Hills and the Hayeks.
“It was definitely a tough time for our family,” said Hunter Hayek, who scored on touchdown grabs of 6 and 12 yards and also recorded a pair of 42-yard receptions. “I could say it was tough for this program, too, because they’re part of my family. We overcame it all, though. We did what we had to do. We went to court. We got it settled. And we’re all just really happy to be out here playing again.
“Coaches always say ‘Character is everything.’ We showed our character throughout all of this.”
The three Hayek brothers wasted no time getting involved in the action Sunday in Wayne Hills’ first game in 16 days. The Patriots had not played since Nov. 4 against Irvington.
Tyler Hayek got the carry on the Patriots’ first play from scrimmage (gain of 7). Hunter recovered a Devera fumble later in the series. Jaaron downed the ensuing punt later in the possession at the 1, drastically changing field position and eventually leading to Devera’s first touchdown pass to Evidence Njoku — a 39-yard strike to the transfer from Cedar Grove with 6:05 left in the first to give Wayne Hills a 7-0 lead.
Tyler Hayek scored on Wayne Hills’ next possession, hauling in a 32-yard bomb from Devera on a perfectly executed pump-and-go down the right sideline, to give the Patriots a 14-0 lead with 3:23 left in the first. Hunter Hayek put Wayne Hills up, 21-0, with 28 seconds left in the first half with his 6-yard touchdown reception.
“It’s what we’ve been doing all year,” Hunter Hayek said. “And we’re going to keep on doing it.”
Luca Grave rumbled in for an 11-yard touchdown run with 6:29 left in the third, and Hunter Hayek capped Wayne Hills’ scoring with his 12-yard TD reception with 11:32 in the fourth to give the Patriots a 33-0 lead. Devera, in just over three quarters of work before exiting the game with a 33-point lead, finished 13-of-21 for 250 yards and four TDs.
“Listen, what these kids went through, there’s been a lot of emotion these last two weeks,” Wayne Hills coach Wayne Demikoff said. “The kids have worked hard. These aren’t average kids. What this program went through … a lot of other programs couldn’t. I commend these kids for how they dealt with this. They dealt with it like men. They didn’t complain. They didn’t cry. They just kept coming back to work every day.
“And for the Hayeks, I’m extremely happy for them. But I’m not surprised, because that’s the kind of kids they are. They’re great kids who don’t let outside stuff affect their play or their work ethic. Even without everything going on, they were putting in the work. I’m happy for them.”
And Wayne Hills is happy to have them — in the end zone.
Wayne Hills 33, Roxbury 7
Wayne Hills 14 7 6 6 — 33
Roxbury 0 0 0 7 — 7
First quarter
WH: Evidence Njoku 39 pass from Brendan Devera (Dario Sirni kick)
WH: Tyler Hayek 32 pass from Devera (Sirni kick)
Second quarter
WH: Hunter Hayek 6 pass from Devera (Sirni kick)
Third quarter
WH: Luca Grave 11 run (kick failed)
WH: Hunter Hayek 12 pass from Devera (kick failed)
R: Michael Roumes 8 run (Paul Shadel kick)