THE GRIDIRON 4 – 2005

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High spotted the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest a 21-0 lead and then treated their deliriously happy fans to an explosion outscoring NV 26-6 and just losing a 27-26 thriller in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 action last Friday night. QB Vinnie Graff, scrambling for dear life, was saved by a hellacious block by Dan Kissane and uncorked a beautiful pass that speedy Mike Keating took to the house for a 45 yard TD. With Stephan Macchiorola holding, sure footed Randy Platter kicked the extra point and our heroes had their first 7 points of the season. Then Dominick Rizzo blocked a punt and the ever alert Tom Spear ran it in for 34 yards and a TD. Platter came through again and it was 21-14. Graff threw a screen pass to running back Michael Liptrot who scampered 31 yards for a TD. The speedy back would later leave the game to a round of applause with a leg injury. Platter’s PAT tied the game at 21 and Fair Lawn fans were wild with excitement! The NORSEMEN scored again after a punt rolled dead at the 1 putting our CUTTERS in a hole and led 27-21. A scamper by Graff put our heroes deep into NV territory and Platter kicked a 24 yard field goal to make it 27-24. The NORSEMEN snapped the football out of the end zone for a safety and now Fair Lawn trailed by just 1 point. NV fans feared Platter’s sure foot. And well they should as our CUTTERS marched down the field hoping to get within his field goal range as time ran out! Joe Acuna, Michael Barchefski, Amet Basci, John Macko, Kevin Ramishvili, Spear and others made great plays on “D.” Scott Leathem got off booming punts!

The thriller was reminiscent of the 1980 State playoffs at GIANTS STADIUM in which Pete Natale’s CUTTERS trailed the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7, and 18-7 and roared back to win 27-18. This effort fell short but was just as exciting. Our CUTTERS made their fans proud!

In the other NBIL Division 1 games the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo beat the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 37-21 and the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 55-0. In Division 2, the BRAVES of Indian Hills scalped the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 41-20. The Division 2 HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands, INDIANS of Pascack Valley and RAMS of Ramsey had their “bye” week.

This Saturday our CUTTERS come home to SASSO FIELD to take on the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands in NBIL interdivisional action. We might even see popular long time former Fair Lawn announcer and Fair Lawn High graduate, teacher and coach, Joe Hausmann, drop by. I “spotted” for Joe for years at Fair Lawn until he became the “Voice of The HIGHLANDERS,” and I was privileged to become the “Voice of The CUTTERS.” Fair Lawn leads the 1986-93 and 1998 – present rivalry 8-7 (.533). Northern Highlands comes into the game 1-1 (.500) having lost a 28-26 heart breaker to Mahwah and thrashed Ramsey 35-7. The HIGHLANDERS have outscored their opponents 61-35 for an average victory of 31-18. Fair Lawn comes into the game 0-3 having been outscored 113-26 for an average 38-9 loss. The “sleeping Giant” has awakened though and things could be different starting with this week! From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 – Northern Highlands 19. GO CUTTERS GO!!!