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October 13, 2026

East Rockaway celebrates Homecoming with thrilling victory over North Shore

Players compete on a football field while a digital scoreboard displays game statistics at night.

On a triumphant Friday night under the lights, the East Rockaway/West Hempstead varsity football team celebrated East Rockaway’s homecoming with a thrilling 30-26 victory over North Shore.

The festivities began Friday afternoon with East Rockaway Jr./Sr. High School's annual pep rally on the football field. Students and staff filled the stands to cheer on the school's fall athletic teams and celebrate the crowning of the Homecoming court.

Congratulations went to Harlow Tyrrell and Amelia DiStefano, who were crowned Homecoming Prince and Princess, and Joe Higgins and Aleyah Manos, who received the titles of King and Queen. Faculty members Don and Cheri Poland were also honored as faculty King and Queen.

The celebration continued with a spirited relay race, followed by the announcement of the class hallway decorating contest winners, with the senior class taking first place. The cheerleading squad closed out the pep rally with an energetic performance that set the tone for the evening's festivities.

At 6 p.m., the Homecoming parade stepped off from Centre Avenue Elementary School, making its way along Ocean Avenue to the high school. Led by the marching band, the procession brought together cheerleaders, fall athletic teams, local PAL athletes and cheerleaders, district staff and administrators in a colorful display of Rocks pride.

By the 7 p.m. kickoff, excitement was running high as the Rocks/Rams took the field against North Shore. Fans were treated to a hard-fought contest that kept the crowd on its toes, with East Rockaway/West Hempstead ultimately winning 30-26.

"The atmosphere was electric," said football coach Russ Pajer. "The boys played hard and were excited about the win."

The evening also offered a chance to celebrate East Rockaway's football legacy. During halftime, two distinguished alumni were inducted into the Football Hall of Fame and had their jersey numbers retired: Julio Tayo, Class of 1987, whose No. 22 was retired, and Robert Deutsch, Class of 1974, whose No. 78 was retired. The cheerleading squad also took the field for a halftime performance.

From the afternoon pep rally to the final whistle, Homecoming 2026 was a celebration of athletic achievement, school traditions and the community spirit that makes East Rockaway special. The hard-earned victory provided a fitting finish to a memorable day for the Rocks.
 

A group of people wearing orange jerseys carries a large banner during a parade. Four people pose together on a field, wearing crowns and homecoming sashes.

A stacked arrangement of bricks with names rests on a football field during a game. Cheerleaders perform in orange and black uniforms while a crowd watches from the stands.

A group of football players and cheerleaders run onto a sports field during a game. A group stands together on a sports field during an evening event.

Cheerleaders perform with pom-poms during a nighttime sporting event on the field. A group stands on a sports field, holding a plaque.

A group of cheerleaders poses on the field with a scoreboard in the background.