Friday, October 16, 2026
East Rockaway High School’s Homecoming celebration on Oct. 9 brought students, families, alumni and community members together for a night of school spirit, football and a special tribute to two former players.
The evening began with a pep rally and a parade, as participants made their way from Centre Avenue Elementary School to East Rockaway High School, showing off their orange and black before the Rocks took the field.
The celebration continued under the lights, when the newly combined East Rockaway/West Hempstead football team faced the North Shore Vikings in a closely contested matchup. The Rocks came away with a 30-26 victory, giving the home crowd plenty to celebrate.
“The atmosphere was awesome,” head coach Russell Pajer said.
Pajer credited his players for their determination throughout the game, which marked another milestone for the newly merged football program.
“We played extremely hard for all four quarters,” Pajer said. “They were having fun.”
He added that the team’s ability to step up in important moments helped secure the win. “Players made big plays,” he said.
This marks the first season that East Rockaway and West Hempstead have joined forces at the varsity level, bringing together student-athletes from both schools under the Rocks name. The schools previously had a combined junior varsity program.
Beyond the action on the field, the evening also included a special tribute.
“We honored two historic football players,” Pajer said.
The former East Rockaway players’ numbers were retired in recognition of their contributions to the program. Julio Tayo, a member of the class of 1987 who died in 2017, was honored posthumously with the retirement of his No. 22 jersey, which his family accepted on his behalf. Robert Deutch, a 1974 graduate, attended the ceremony to see his No. 78 jersey retired.
