THE GRIDIRON 8 - 2005

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High edged the RAMS of Ramsey 14-13 last week in a thrilling Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional game. Josh Aviles recovered a fumble and QB Vinnie Graff fired a beautiful 40 yard TD pass to Tom Spear. With Stephan Macchiorola holding, Randy Platter kicked the extra point and our heroes led 7–0. Graff and Scott Leathem picked up yardage behind center Billy Burns, guards Chris Liptrot and Tim Schofield and tackles Amet Basci, Dan Kissane and Dan Schwartz. In the 3rd quarter our CUTTERS drove again as Graff scampered from the 22 to the 5 and two plays later bulled his way in for a 3 yard TD. With Macchiorola holding, the sure footed Platter kicked the PAT and Fair Lawn led 14-0. Then Ramsey scored to make it 14-7. In the 4th quarter the RAMS scored on an 80 yard TD bomb but the extra point attempt was no good. The game ended with Spear batting down a desperation pass at the goal line. Whew! Dominick Rizzo thrilled the Fair Lawn fans picking up a big 1st down on a fake punt run and a TD run by Graff off a nifty block by Leathem was negated by a penalty.

On “D,” Michael Barchefski, Graff, Sean Hughes, Macchiorola, Eric Menist, John Macko, Dan Mucha, Rizzo, and Erik Savides made big plays. Michael Keating and Graff made TD saving tackles. We nearly saw that Platter field goal I had predicted but his attempt from the 30 yard line failed. Fair Lawn now leads the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-present rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 6! The Ramsey announcer looked and sounded familiar. He turned out to be Doug Parcells, the brother of Dallas COWBOYS Coach Bill Parcells!

In the other NBIL interdivisional games Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 4-1 (.800) over Division 2 as, in addition to Fair Lawn’s victory, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 37-7, the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest edged the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 27-26 in overtime and the PARTIOTS of Wayne Hills demolished the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 45-6. The BEARS of Bergenfield were scalped 30-12 by the INDIANS of Pascack Valley. Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 has an 8-6 (.571) lead over Division 2 in the 2005 series. Ramapo’s 38-14 victory over Egg Harbor brought the NBIL record against other leagues to 2-1 (.667).

This Saturday our CUTTERS travel to Hillsdale to take on those INDIANS of Pascack Valley. The 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-present rivalry is all even at 10-10-1 (.500). Pascack Valley is 6-0 (1.000) and has outscored the opposition 129-42 for an average 22-7 victory. Fair Lawn is 1-5 (.200) and has been outscored 187-75 for an average 31-13 loss. The men in the white coats might come after me but I see a great Fair Lawn effort. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 24 (With that Platter field goal this time) – Pascack Valley 21. GO CUTTERS GO!!!