On Sept. 23, the Pascack Hills football team was selected as the North Jersey Team of the Week based on their performance this season so far. 

“[Being voted as team of the week] is to be recognized for the endless hours of hard work, from off-season weight training, to intense summer practices, and seeing the fruits of your labor,” Hills Athletic Director Steve Papa said.   

Currently, the team has a 4-0 record after winning against Teaneck, Fair Lawn, Indian Hills, and Dover. 

“It’s the teamwork and capability of us working as a family that got us this chance at Team of the Week,” Hills freshman and football player Andre Joukhadarian said. 

Coach Evan Lampert said that the award was made possible because of the program’s three core values: accountability, sacrifice, and focus. 

“As a coach, I want everyone in the program to be accountable for their actions, on and off the field…I want the players to sacrifice for each other and do things that may be a little uncomfortable or hard for the better of the team. I also want them to focus every day on all aspects of their lives,” he said. 

Other players discussed these values and how they’ve impacted them.

“My attitude is to never leave anything out on the field. Whether it is practice or a game, I know I only have so many more opportunities to play with this family, and I want to give everything I have for the rest of this year,” senior football player Dominick Musco said. 

Benjamin Klein, another senior football player added, “Being the team of the week means that we did well that week. Our philosophy is once that week is over, it’s over, we’re onto the next week.”

Lampert ended by reflecting on the team’s plans for the remainder of the season.

“Our goal is to focus on what we can control and get better each day on the field and in the classroom…That’s our mentality this year, win each day,” he said.