District, Parents, And Players Appealing Football Team's Postseason Ban

WAYNE, N.J. — Wayne Hills High School football players, parents, district officials and the father of three players ruled ineligible are fighting the state-imposed postseason ban because the three boys took the field for the Patriots this season.

The team was disqualified and stripped of its eight wins because the players did not produce bona fide change-of-address form and played all season for Hills, the NJSIAA said Tuesday.

Vic Hayek confirmed to NJ.com that his sons — Hunter, Tyler, and Jaaron — were the three players from the Patriots ruled ineligible for violating the NJSIAA’s rules.

The team, board of education and district administrators intend to formally join and appear before the NJSIAA with the parents in their "pursuit of a fair and equitable resolution" on behalf of the eligible players, Superintendent Mark Toback said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

The board of education also sent a letter (embedded below) to the NJSIAA requesting that all eligible players be permitted to continue in the playoffs.

Wayne Board of Education Letter To The NJSIAA by Daniel Hubbard on Scribd

Toback held a meeting with the team and parents Wednesday to discuss the situation.

"I understand and share in the students and parents concerns," Toback said in the statement. "Their outrage and disappointment is justified and unfortunately, many dedicated and hard-working student athletes have lost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Darren Del Sardo, a lawyer and former Wayne Board of Education trustee, is representing the Hayek family, the North Jersey Varsity Aces blog reported. Del Sardo reportedly told the blog that his clients live in Wayne, have not moved from Wayne, and pointed out that kids can have two homes.

Del Sardo wants the hearing to be held before an administrative law judge and is seeking an injunction.

Del Sardo represented one of the nine Wayne Hills players charged with assault after police said they attacked two Wayne Valley High School players after a Halloween party in 2011. He and other lawyers unsuccessfully argued before an administrative law judge to reinstate players banned from participating in the Patriots' group championship game that year after the district suspended them.

Hayek is calling the district out, saying that all the necessary paperwork regarding his sons' transfers last year was properly filed with the district.

RELATED: Wayne Hills Football Team Disqualified From State Tournament

Hayek said in the NJ.com report that “we did everything we were supposed to do, the correct way" regarding the boys' transfer from St. Joseph's in Montvale to Wayne Hills in October of 2015.

According to Hayek, “everything was signed off,” and that the proper documentation was provided to the school.

State rules regarding transfers require that all varsity athletes who switch schools without a bona fide change-of-residence are banned from playing for 30 days.

Hayek could not be reached for comment.

Hayek requested an emergency hearing with the NJSIAA, according to NJ.com. It is unknown if the NJSIAA will grant the request. Mike Herbert, the NJSIAA’s counsel, could not be reached for comment.

The NJSIAA said in a statement Tuesday that district officials self-reported the violation to the NJSIAA and should be “commended for immediately meeting its responsibility.”

Tyler Hayek has committed to playing football for Rutgers University. Hunter leads the team with 43 catches, 672 and 12 touchdowns. Jaaron has played in every game this season, scoring three touchdowns on just five catches.

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Photo: Darren Del Sardo outside the Newark courthouse in 2011 after he unsuccessfully tried to get an administrative law judge to reverse a decision by the Wayne Board of Education banning Wayne Hills football players from participating in a state championship game. Del Sardo is representing the Hayek family in a similar situation Friday. — Patch file photo by Daniel Hubbard