THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY Game 3 – 2005

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1945 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS mauled the BEARS of Hawthorne 20-6 on their way to the Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) title in their first season in the league. In 1944 independently and during 1945-55 in B-PIL action our CUTTERS went 9-3 (.750) over the BEARS. In 1956, when Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the league, left, the B-PIL was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1955 – Bennett’s CUTTERS, on their way to another B-PIL crown, went outside the league to shut out the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) COLTS of Paterson Central 34-0. Central was the Turkey Day rival of the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside and most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside before FLHS opened in 1943. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over Central. In 1988 the successor KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy beat our CUTTERS 20-6 in the States while, in the 2003 State “Consolation Game,” our CUTTERS prevailed 20-0 to bring their record against Central/Kennedy to 6-3 (.667).

1965 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS, on their way to a Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title and an undefeated but not untied season, beat the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 15-7. It was the 10th game in that 24 game non-losing streak during 1964-66 for our CUTTERS. In independent action 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1975 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS were beaten 41-13 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High in NNJIL action. During 1972-74 independently and 1975-81 in the NNJIL Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including a State playoff victory in 1979. Clifton was ineligible for a league title 1972-74 because a contract to play Passaic, then still a member of the dying PVC, on Thanksgiving Day prevented them from playing a full NNJIL schedule.

1985 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS, on their way to a second NBIL Division 1 title and a trip to the States, beat their division rival GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 34-14. Fair Lawn leads the 1984 – present rivalry 14-7 (.667) but NV/Old Tappan has won the last 3 games.

1995 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS shut out those same GOLDEN KNIGHTS 33-0 in NBIL Division 1 action. The teams square off this season in game 5 after our CUTTERS have a bye.