THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY Game 8 – 2005

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
Dick Engelhardt

1945 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS tied the BUCCANEERS of Bogota 13-13 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action on their way to a B-PIL title in their first season in the league. FLHS opened in 1943, the same year Bergenfield, Bogota, Hawthorne, Lyndhurst and Ramsey formed the B-PIL. Fair Lawn played independently in ’43 and ’44 under Coach Marty Fischbein and joined the league in ’45 under new Coach Frank Bennett. Fair Lawn and Bogota shared the 1946 B-PIL title and our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry 6-3-2 (.667).

1955 - Bennett’s CUTTERS beat those same BUCS 14-6 on their way to another B-PIL title.

1965 - Frank Devens’ CUTTERS beat the SPARTANS of Paramus 13-6 on their way to a Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) championship. It was game number 15 in that wonderful 24 game non-losing streak during 1964-66 under Coach Ed Sheehy and Devens. During 1962-83 the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the NBIL in 1984.

1975 - Rich Szura’s CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 19-12 in NNJIL action. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present rivalry 33-14 (.702). Our CUTTERS have faced the BEARS on Thanksgiving Day since 1994 and lead that rivalry 9-2 (.818) including last year’s thrilling 19-18 last second victory on a TD pass from Vinnie Graff to Stephan Macchiorola.

1985 - Pete Natale’s CUTTERS edged the RAMS of Ramsey 19-13 in their second year back in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL, which the old B-PIL became in 1956, after playing 25 seasons in the NNJIL 1959-83. Our CUTTERS would take their second NBIL Division 1 title in a row but this was an interdivisional game. During 1945-58 in the B-PIL and 1984-99 and 2002- present in the NBIL, our CUTTERS have compiled an astounding 28-6 (.824) record against the RAMS, including this year’s thrilling 14-13 Fair Lawn victory.

1995 - Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS lassoed the COWBOYS of Pascack Hills 45-8 in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1984-86 and 1994-98 ourCUTTERS went 6-2 (.750) over the COWBOYS.