“My dad wound up having quite an impact with young people who went to both schools, and it’s terrific that the Cardone Cup remains such a special part of both schools’ football season!”         
The Cup game has been an off-and-on contest since 1980 depending on division and conference schedules that the two teams are presented each year now by the Super Football Conference.

There was no Cardone Cup game from 2021-2023, and before last year’s 29-28 Hornets victory the Morris County school had not won the cup game since 2016.

The two coaches – Nick Liberato at Hanover Park and Dan Fulton at West Essex – are each in their second years at their respective schools and both have unique connections to where they work now, and in Fulton’s case, where he had been.

For Liberato Hanover Park is a school where as a very young boy he could watch his dad, highly-regarded North Jersey coach John Liberato, etch an indelible mark with the Hornets as he was head coach of the program from 1994-2002 while winning four straight Cardone Cup games from 1997-2000.

“I love coaching at Hanover Park and the Cardone Cup remains a very big part of our season,” said the younger Liberato, who took over the reins of the Hornets last fall after serving as an assistant coach at Madison. “The West Essex game is part of a very important stretch of very tough opponents for us in the next three weeks since we’re at Caldwell next week (Sept. 18) and we then host Westwood (Sept. 25).”

The man Nick Liberato replaced at Hanover Park happens to be Fulton, who spent seven seasons as the Hornets head coach, including guiding the team to a 10-2 season and a North 2, Group 2 state sectional title in 2024, even with a narrow 22-21 setback to Wessex in the Cardone Cup game that year.

When longtime West Essex coach Chris Benacquista decided to accept an offer of the head coaching position at Wayne Valley in the town where he resides and where his son and daughters have gone to high school, Fulton made the move over to the North Caldwell-based regional school in order to coach the Knights.

“Demographically they are very similar schools,” said the Wessex head mentor with a unique perspective on both programs. “Hanover Park was a great place and I loved being there. I coached these kids (pointing to Hornet 2026 senior tri-captains at the breakfast) when they were sophomores and I won my first state title, and I care about them still.

“It’s a tremendous rivalry and I’m so happy to now be at West Essex where the players are just as passionate about football and come ready to work hard each and every day.

“Growing up as a kid in Parsippany and playing for coach Dave Albano at Parsippany Hills I hated both Hanover Park and West Essex, but I knew about the Cardone Cup, how big a rivalry it was, and how cool it was to be a part of the game.

“Now, being blessed to have coached at both schools that compete for the Cardone Cup I look forward to another great game between two outstanding teams and high school football programs that truly appreciate tradition and respect.”      

SC’s Essex Top 10:
1- Shabazz (2-0)- Week off after impressive showing at PCT 
2- West Orange (1-1)- Mountaineers face intriguing test at Irvington
3- Seton Hall Prep (0-2)- Pirates led DePaul much of the way in loss
4- Cedar Grove (1-0)- Panthers back after bye week to host Glen Ridge
5- West Essex (2-0)- Knights face perhaps biggest test vs. Hanover Park
6- East Orange Campus (1-1)- Jaguars appear ready to go into high gear
7- Irvington (2-0)- How good are Blue Knights? Will know more this week
8- Caldwell (1-0)- Chiefs had impressive opener with easy win at Vrona
9- Nutley (1-1)- Don’t sleep on Maroon Raiders who have strong attack
10- Weequahic (1-0)- Indians escaped with late-game tally vs. Central

This Week’s Games Involving Essex Teams Pick To Win In Boldface:
Thursday, Sept. 10:
Bloomfield at Montclair, 3:30
West Side at Morristown-Beard, 4:30
Dover at Millburn, 6
Weequahic at Nutley, 6:30
Glen Ridge at Cedar Grove, 7
West Orange at Irvington, 7  
Columbia at Livingston, 7
Pequannock at Caldwell, 7

Friday, Sept. 11:
Hanover Park at West Essex, 2
Verona at Hoboken, 6:30
East Orange Campus at Union City, 7
Barringer at Orange, 7
Snyder at Central (Shabazz Stadium), 7
Belleville at Bergenfield, 7

Saturday, Sept. 12:
Seton Hall Prep at Chaminade (N.Y.), 1:30

Bye: Shabazz
Record on picks last week: 11-4; for the season: 19-10            

Follow Sideline Chatter on 'X' @Chattermeister