A Return to Prominence
The Pascack Hills Broncos are set to re‑enter the Ivy Division of the Super Football Conference after a two‑year stint in the league’s mainstream tier. With a roster of 45 athletes, head coach Matt Marini, a Pascack Hills alumnus who once lettered in three sports, sees the move as a chance to restore the program’s former glory.
The team’s schedule promises a gauntlet of tough matchups, including contests against Belleville, Tenafly, Dwight‑Morrow, Demarest, Fort Lee, and Ridgefield Park. To mark the occasion, the Broncos will don silver alternate jerseys for the marquee games, a nod to the school’s historic colors and a visual cue for fans eager to see the squad compete at a higher level.
The Coach and the Quarterback
Marini’s deep roots in the community give him a unique perspective. Having graduated in 2008, he returned to the school as a teacher and assistant coach before assuming the head‑coach role this year. His familiarity with the school’s culture and his playing experience provide a foundation for a disciplined, yet ambitious, approach.
At the helm of the offense is senior quarterback Dren Bauta, a 6‑foot‑3 athlete who is returning from a battle with leukemia. His physical stature and arm strength have drawn early praise, and teammates view his comeback story as a rallying point for the locker room.
Pascack Hills boasts two sectional championships, captured in 1968 and 1979, but the program has not reached the playoffs since 2019. This season, Ivy League teams are ineligible for postseason play, meaning the Broncos’ primary objective is to claim the division title and finish the year with a winning record.