NORTH CALDWELL- The football captains for Hanover Park and West Essex can be excused for having little or no idea who Cosmo Cardone was; however, the spirit of the late guidance counselor at the East Hanover school, whose own children were Wessex Knights, lives on a big way thanks to the rivalry that surrounds the Cardone Cup.
The 2-0 Hornets battle the 2-0 Knights at 2 p.m. Friday, at Travis Field in North Caldwell in what will be the 30th Cardone Cup game. West Essex leads the all-time series between the two teams, 33-17, dating back to their old Jersey Hills Conference days in the early 1970s.
The Cardone Cup, established in 1980, has become a coveted prize for the winner of the regular season clash between the two very similar schools from bordering counties; and the most recent pair of showdowns between the teams epitomizes just how closely-contested a rivalry it is.
Hanover Park edged the Knights, 29-28, in last season’s game, also at Travis Field, while West Essex earned an equally narrow 22-21 triumph over the Hornets in East Hanover in the 2024 gridiron battle.
Who knows what will transpire in this Friday’s game between two undefeated squads, but what should be absolutely certain is that there will be great competition, a vigorous passion displayed by players in representing their team, and -most importantly - a respect for one’s opponent, which was the message from both West Essex Athletic Director Tim Walsh and special guest Don Cardone, one of Cosmo Cardone’s three sons, who came out to the regional high school in North Caldwell to speak to the respective captains from both teams and also enjoy some breakfast together just a couple of days before their 2026 regular season contest.
“The Cardone Cup most importantly represents a tradition and a connection between our communities, which are really the same in many ways, just in different counties,” said the West Essex AD. “There are a lot of the same demographics at both schools which honor the great tradition of the Cardone Cup which honors Cosmo, a longtime Hanover Park guidance counselor, whose own kids went to West Essex.
“It’s not simply about the football game or who wins it. The game reminds us that these two communities - despite being competitors - have a shared history and have a great deal of respect for each other.
“We want you guys to remember to be physical, compete at a high level in the game, be passionate and proud for your school, but remember that you guys have a mutual respect.
“The greatest rivalries aren’t built on ‘disrespect.’ They are actually built on competition, mutual respect and tradition.
“Who knows? One day you could be college roommates, in the same fraternity, or perhaps even wind up working with each other in the job world.”
Don Cardone, who was a standout ice hockey goalie for West Essex, and played freshmen football for the Knights after a Pop Warner career with the Roseland Raiders, shared some memories of his dad, who was ultimately someone with a passion for helping others.
“My dad tried to make things better for those around him and he always looked out for younger people,” said the 1975 West Essex graduate who now runs a successful broadcast, software and digital media company. “He started a Roseland Teen Center to help keep kids from just hanging out on the streets and getting in trouble, providing a place where they could go to play pool and simply have some good fun together in a positive setting.
“He would also do whatever he could to help the students he worked with at Hanover Park in an effort to get them into the college where they wanted to go, while making direct calls in order to do whatever extra work he could do to help the kids achieve what they wanted in the college process.
“He was very involved in both schools, including with his own kids going to West Essex. My two younger brothers played football including my youngest brother who was a member of the 1980 state championship team that played in the Meadowlands.
