WAR OF THE ROSES GAME

By Bill Engelhardt

In the 17th annual War of the Roses game the Lancaster-Lebanon League (LLL) Red Rose Senior All Stars bested the York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) White Rose Senior All Stars 28-18 on Thanksgiving Day. It was only the third victory in the last twelve years for the LLL and the YAIAA still leads the series 10 games to 7. ELCO quarterback Ethan Longenecker led the Red Rose team as he completed 13 passes to 9 different receivers for 170-yards and two touchdowns.

The White Rose team fumbled the opening kickoff and the Red Rose team returned the favor moments later by turning the ball over on a fumble at the White Rose 2-yard line. Defenses dominated until early in the second quarter when Ryan Little punched it in from the 3-yard line and Seth Miller’s extra point kick put the Red Roses up 7-0. That woke up the White Rose team and Susquehannock’s Andy McCoy led a 77-yard drive and scored on a 1-yard keeper. Tailback Shavelle Jones, who had a banner day rushing with 15 carries for 108-yards, ripped off a nifty 34-yard jaunt to the Red Rose 19-yard line. McCoy then connected with fullback Mike Sough of Dover for 18-yards to set up McCoy’s touchdown plunge. The extra point attempt was blocked and the Red Rose team still led 7-6.

The Red Rose team broke things wide open in the third quarter, starting with Longenecker’s 66-yard touchdown pass to Tobias Robinson of Cedar Crest. Miller’s kick upped the score to 14-6. The White Roses fumbled the ball on their own 34-yard line 2 plays later and The Red Roses capitalized quickly as Longenecker connected with Cody Dobson for a 15-yard touchdown pass 3 plays later. Miller’s kick made the score 21-6. The Red Roses scored again on their next possession as Joe Williams scored on a 2-yard run. Miller’s kick made the score 28-6 at the 4:24 mark of the third quarter and it looked like a route was on.

But somebody forgot to tell that to the White Rose team! Led by captains Matt Bosley of South Western, Ed Kiser of Red Lion, Matt Marshall of Spring Grove and Nick Weaver of New Oxford, the White Rose team stormed back in the final stanza. Ed Kiser, who caught one pass for 2-yards in the first half, came alive in the second half and caught 5 more passes for 108 more yards and 2 touchdowns. The White Rose team rotated quarterbacks, as Matt Marshall from Spring Grove, And McCoy from Susquehannock and Taylor Green from Red Lion took their turns at the helm. McCoy’s 20-yard touchdown strike to Kiser at 10:57 in the 4th quarter pulled the White Rose team to within 16 points with the score 28-12. West York’s Dakota Kessler intercepted the Red Roses opening pass on their next possession and the White Roses were back in business. Taylor Green connected with fellow Red Lion Kiser for a 40-yard touchdown to end the scoring at 28-18.

The Red Roses were forced to punt and the White Roses looked to be off to the races again, but within a 5-play span Jarod Odrick, Ceasar Westbrook and Shane Hess sacked Matt Marshall. Marshall overcame this inconvenience to complete 2 passes and get to the Red Rose 25-yard line. However, Westbrook and Seth Miler combined on another sack and that ended that.

The White Rose defense sparkled despite the defeat. Mark Bittinger and Matt Bosley from South Western and Nick Weaver from New Oxford all had fumble recoveries. Bryon Keyes from York (William Penn) and Dakota Kessler from West York each had a key interception for the White Rose team. And Justin Lane from Kennard-Dale and Dave Hertz from Delone Catholic were each in on 5 tackles.

The White Rose team out rushed the Red Rose team 109-yards to 72 and the Red Roses out passed the White Roses 239-yards to 156. The total offenses of 311-yards for the Red Rose team and 265-yards for the White Rose team indicated a pretty even match-up of a great bunch of senior all-stars. The individual statistics below are from the York Daily Record and the Hanover Evening Sun.

Terry Bupp closed out his 24-year coaching career at West York by coaching the White Rose team. He was proud of his team and happy with the way they bounced back in the 4th quarter. He said, “We got a couple of scores and then got the ball back. Our kids gave it all for 48 minutes.”

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: LLL, Joe Williams 8-49, Tobias Robinson 4-8, Ryan Little 8-14, Derek Kline 4-1, Vinny LaSelva 1-0; YAIAA, Shavell Jones 15-108, Kyle O’Donnell 5-9, Lamar Hughes 3-6, Mike Stough 2-3, Matt Barshinger 2-4, Andy McCoy 4-(-1), Taylor Green 2-(-12), Matt Marshall 10-(-35).
Passing: LLL, Ethan Longenecker 13-18-0-170, Derek Kline 2-14-2-42, Maris Lockhart 1-1-0-27; YAIAA, Matt Marshall 4-12-0-38, Andy McCoy 5-9-0-68, Taylor Green 2-4-0-40.
Receiving: LLL, Kevin Aguilera 3-56, Kyle Sensenig 2-38, Joe Williams 2-22, Andy Miller 1-3, Ben Weaber 2-6, Ryan Little 2-10, Tobias Robinson 1-66, Vinny LaSelva 1-8, Cody Dodson 1-15, Chris Hull 1-15; YAIAA, Ed Kiser 6-110, Mike Stough 2-24, Lamar Hughes 2-9, Jayson Senft 1-13.

THE GRIDIRON 13 – 2005

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High and the BEARS of Bergenfield battled tooth and nail Thanksgiving Day with no “quit” in either team. At the end the BEARS came out on top 31-24 in this Northern Bergen interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 thriller. The BEARS took an interception 63 yards for a TD and led 6-0. A 37 yard field goal had them up 9-0. QB Vinnie Graff threw a 56 yard TD pass to Tom Spear and Fair Lawn closed to 9-6. Bergenfield scored again and led 16-6. Then Graff passed to Scott Leathem who rambled 8 yards for a TD. With Stephan Macchiorola holding, Randy Platter’s extra point kick made it 16–13. The Fair Lawn crowd was electrified as Platter and Macchiorola teamed up for the field goal I had predicted, a 32 yarder, to tie the game at 16. The BEARS went ahead 24-16 on a TD and a two point conversion run necessitated by the fact that their kicker had been shaken up when Macchiorola partially blocked his punt. Our CUTTERS roared back to tie it at 24 when Leathem ran 34 yards for a TD and Graff passed to Spear for the 2 point conversion. The BEARS scored once more and held on for the victory

On “D,” John Macko recovered a fumble and the front line of Josh Aviles, Billy Burns, Sean Hughes, Macchiorola and Macko, did yeoman work. Michael Barchefski, Michael Keating, Dominick Rizzo, Graff. Spear and Eric Menist made big plays. The “O” line of Burns, Amet Basci, Dan Kissane, Chris Liptrot, Tim Schofield and Dan Schwartz opened holes. Fair Lawn still leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present rivalry 33-15 (.688) and the 1994-present Turkey Day rivalry 9-3 (.750).

In the other NBIL Division 1 game the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest 26-14. The PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills were preparing for their Group III final in GIANTS STADIUM against the VIKINGS of Parsippany Hills. In the NBIL Division 2 the INDIANS of Pascack Valley beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 26-19 and the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah beat the RAMS of Ramsey 21-6. In interdivisional action the Division 1 GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo blasted the Division 2 BRAVES of Indian Hills 34-13. Fair Lawn’s Division 1 went 12-11 (.522) over Division 2 for the year. Going into the Wayne Hills playoff final game, the NBIL leads other leagues 11-4 (.733) on the year.

As they look ahead to 2006 our CUTTERS will miss Aviles, Burns, Graff, Hughes, Keating, Kissane, Leathem, Michael Liptrot, Macchiorola, Macko, Menist, Platter, Schofield, and Schwartz. With guys like Joe Acuna, Basci, Chris Liptrot, Barchefski, Dan Mucha, Kevin Ramishvili, Rizzo, Chris Skibinski and Spear possibly returning, our CUTTERS could be strong. Coach Tanzer and his staff need every student who can play to turn out so Fair Lawn, the largest Group III school in North Jersey, Section I, can take the field with as many players as the other NBIL schools, all of which have fewer students. If that happens, Fair Lawn will once again be a powerhouse. I can hardly wait for our CUTTERS to open the ‘06 season at SASSO FIELD against Northern Valley, Old Tappan. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THE GRIDIRON 12 – 2005

By Dick Engelhardt

In the second round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) playoffs, Fair Lawn’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) had a feature role. The PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills had roared back from a 19 point deficit to edge the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo 27-26 in regular season action to take the NBIL Division 1 title. Fans from around the league and from throughout the area looked forward to the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III match up between these two NBIL powerhouses at Wayne Hills. The PATRIOTS left no doubt as to which team was better this time routing the GREEN RAIDERS 41-13. Across town the INDIANS of Wayne Valley had hoped to set up an all Wayne final as they hosted the Iron Hills Conference (IHC) Hills Division champion VIKINGS of Parsippany Hills. Those hopes were dashed as the VIKINGS scalped the INDIANS 27-7 and will face Wayne Hills in the final.

In Group II the NBIL Division 2 champion INDIANS of Pascack Valley hosted the SPARTANS of Sparta and the Sussex County League (SCL) at their spiffy field turf complex in Hillsdale. It seemed like “Fair Lawn weekend” there. Craig Nielsen, assistant coach at Fair Lawn 1980-85 under Pete Natale, is the Pascack Valley coach while Frank Morano, FLHS Class of ’93 is the offensive coordinator for Sparta. With 1:36 on the clock the SPARTANS scored and trailed 14-13. Morano screamed, “We gotta go for 2!” To the astonishment of the huge crowd, they did and won the 15-14 thriller! The NBIL is 11-4 (.733) against other leagues so far in 2005. It’ll be an all SCL final between Hopatcong and Sparta.

On Thanksgiving morning at 10:30 the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High face the BEARS of Bergenfield for the 48th time. It all started in 1945 when Fair Lawn, in its 3rd GRIDIRON season joined the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) which had been formed in 1943, the year FLHS opened, by Bergenfield, Bogota, Hawthorne, Lyndhurst and Ramsey. Frank Bennett’s B-PIL champion CUTTERS shut out the then MIGHTY MITES 32-0. Fair Lawn swept the 1945-48 series 4-0 (1.000) and Bergenfield left the B-PIL in 1949 for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL). In 1956, when Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the B-PIL left, the league was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL). Later on Hawthorne returned and, still later, the smaller schools broke off to form the Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (B-PSL). Fair Lawn and Ridgewood left the NBIL for the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) in 1959. Bergenfield and Paramus joined the NNJIL in 1962 and the rivalry was renewed. The MIGHTY MITES became the BEARS in the 1960s. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present Bergenfield 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.

Fair Lawn comes into the game 2-7 (.222) and has been outscored 244-146 for an average loss of 27-16. Bergenfield is 1-8 (.111) and has been outscored 329-106 for an average loss of 37-12. Our CUTTERS can win this one and go 3-7 (.333) on the season. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 27 (With another Randy Platter field goal) – Bergenfield 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

TURKEY DAY IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2005

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1945 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champions in their maiden season in the league. Under Coach Marty Fischbein in 1943, the brand new CUTTERS shutout the TERRIORS of Holy Trinity High of Westfield 19-0 and began a 40 year rivalry with the MAROONS of Ridgewood with a 27-0 loss in 1944. The MAROONS made it 2-0 thrashing the CUTTERS 38-0 in ’45. It was an independent game as Ridgewood didn’t join the B-PIL until 1950.

1955 – Bennett’s CUTTERS were B-PIL champs again and this time came from behind to beat Ridgewood 19-7 in the annual classic. The MAROONS led the series 7-5 (.583).

1965 – Frank Devens’ undefeated but tied by Hackensack CUTTERS beat Ridgewood 13-6 and won the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title. The MAROONS led the series 12-8-2 (.600).

1975 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS were shut out 13-0 by the MAROONS who had now won the last 6 games and led the series 21-9-2 (.700). The rivalry ended in 1984 when Fair Lawn returned to the NBIL. Ridgewood took the 1944-83 series 26-11-3 (.703).

1985 – Pete Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 (The B-PIL became the NBIL in 1956) champion CUTTERS beat the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills 36-20. They led the rivalry 2-0 (1.000). In 1994 the Turkey Day rivalries were switched and the 1984-93 Fair Lawn – Wayne Hills series wound up all even at 5-5 (.500).

1995 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS shut out the BEARS of Bergenfield 51-0 to lead the Turkey Day rivalry 2-0 (1.000). 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.

THE GRIDIRON 11 - 2005

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High continued their dominance over the BOILERMAKERS of Garfield trouncing them 47-7 last week in State Consolation Game action. During 1971-75 Fair Lawn went 5-0 (1.000) over Garfield in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Our heroes got it going right away with QB Vinnie Graff passing and pitching out to Scott Leathem for yardage and Tom Spear picking up a key 1st down. The sure footed Randy Platter kicked a 32 yard field goal and our CUTTERS never looked back. Dan Kissane’s squib kick was recovered by Spear and Graff passed to Dan Mucha who raced to the 5. Graff bulled his way to the 2 and then in for the TD behind center Billy Burns and guards Tim Schofield and Chris Liptrot. With Stephan Macchiorola holding Platter kicked the extra point to put Fair Lawn up 10-0. Leathem’s 13 yard TD run off a great block by Kissane and Platter’s kick made it 17-7. Graff then passed to Spear for a 10 yard TD. The kick was blocked but Fair Lawn led 23-7. After Garfield scored, our CUTTERS uncorked a beauty. Graff passed to Michael Keating who passed back to Graff who took it 20 yards for the TD. Platter’s kick made it 30-7 Platter’s 27 yard field goal put Fair Lawn up 33-7 at the half! A thrilling fake punt had Dominick Rizzo taking the direct snap and racing to the 20. Leathem then ran for a TD and Platter’s kick made it 40-7. A shovel pass from Graff to Leathem picked up yardage and Spear’s 6 yard TD run and Platter’s kick closed out the 47-7 rout.

The “D” kept Garfield bottled up all night. Highlights included Burns and John Macko teaming up for a sack and Graff’s fumble recovery after a vicious hit by Michael Barchefski. Garfield Coach Steve Mucha does a good job with what talent he has. The Fair Lawn resident no doubt had mixed emotions as his son, Dan, took that Graff pass and raced to the Garfield 5!

Fair Lawn’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) went 3-2 (.600) in State playoff action. The PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills demolished the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 40-6 and the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo beat the MAROON RAIDERS of Nutley 33-9 in Group III while the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest lost 12-3 to the INDIANS of Wayne Valley. The INDIANS of Pascack Valley shut out the HUSKIES of Dumont 20-0 in Group II while the BRAVES of Indian Hills were beaten 35-7 by the CHIEFS of Hopatcong.

In “Consolation” games, the NBIL went 6-0 (1.000) against other leagues. In addition to Fair Lawn’s impressive victory, the BEARS of Bergenfield downed the FALCONS of Manchester 35-14, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan stung the HORNETS of Passaic Valley 31-20, the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands edged the HIGHLANDERS of West Morris 29-28, the RAMS of Ramsey mauled the PANTHERS of Midland Park 28-7 and the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah edged the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 22-20. The NBIL is 11-3 (.786) against other leagues so far in 2005!

Next week we’ll look at playoff action with Ramapo and Wayne Hills squaring off at Wayne Hills in Group III and Pascack Valley hosting Sparta in Group II and to Fair Lawn’s TURKEY DAY game at SASSO FIELD against Bergenfield. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SECOND ROUND OR FINALS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2005

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The State playoff system began in 1974. Before that, champions were awarded based on power points. Since then titles have been decided on The GRIDIRON.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shared the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the 1st round of the State Group IV playoffs they roared from behind 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 to beat the INDIANS of Passaic and the old Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) 27-18 at GIANTS STADIUM. In the finals the HORNETS of Passaic Valley shut our CUTTERS out 20-0 ending Fair Lawn’s 9-2 (.818) dream season.

1989 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champions at 5-0 (1.000). In the 1st round of the States they upset the BRUINS of North Bergen and the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) 14-7. In the 2nd round they led the RED WINGS of Hoboken and the HCIAA 14-0 and the RED WINGS fumbled and Fair Lawn recovered. After the play an official said it wasn’t a fumble. Everyone at Hoboken’s John F. Kennedy Stadium knew it was. This “fumble that wasn’t” let the RED WINGS back in the game and they edged our CUTTERS 19-14. Hoboken went on to lose to Passaic in the finals of an expanded Group IV playoff.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2005-11

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 4, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Squires of Delone Catholic (5-5 overall, 4-2 YAIAA Division I) and earned a convincing 24-7 victory to end their 2005 season on a high note. The first quarter saw the ball exchanged several times on punts, including a Mustangs punt that hit a Mustangs player and was recovered by the Squires. The Mustangs started their third possession on the Squires 44-yard line and Robert Barnett immediately ripped off a neat 28-yard run to the 16. Cody Smith then scored on a 16-yard dash and Drew Snyder’s kick put the Mustangs on top 7-0 one play into the second quarter.

Snyder’s kickoff was a touchback and the Squires drive stalled. They punted at their 40-yard line and Jeremy Renoll blocked it, chased it down at the Squires 15-yard line, scooped it up and took it in for the score. Snyder’s extra point upped the score to 14-0.

The Mustangs muffed a punt that was recovered by Jacob Hockensmith for the Squires at the Mustangs 39-yard line. The Squires were not able to take advantage and the ball exchanged hands a couple more times. The Squires had the ball at the Mustangs 38 and again were unable to capitalize. Robert Barnett intercepted a Squires pass at the 3-yard line to preserve the shut out as the half came to an end.

The third quarter saw multiple exchanges of the ball with no score. The Squires finally came to life and backup quarterback Christopher Burton completed three passes, 19-yards to Tyler Hagarman, 45-yards to Nate Bennett and 17-yards to Hagarman, setting up a 2-yard touchdown scamper by Joe Sorice. Bennett’s kick made the score 14-7 and things looked interesting.

But not for long, as Aaron Repman returned the ensuing kickoff 85-yards. This led to a 20-yard field goal by Drew Snyder for the Mustangs, who, as a junior, has already set a new school record for field goals in a career with 12. The home crowd breathed a little easier with the 17-7 lead.

The Squires were unable to move the ball on their next possession and punted. Dustin Shaw blocked it and Jason Sneeringer recovered it for the Mustangs at the Squires 40-yard line. The Squires almost immediately returned the favor as Gareth Hissong recovered a Mustangs fumble at the Squires 39-yard line. And the Mustangs almost immediately turned the tables again as Drew Snyder intercepted a pass and returned it 30-yards to the Squires 16-yard line. Repman moved the ball to the 15 and J. C. Laughlin lofted a beautiful 15-yard touchdown pass to Snyder, who then kicked the extra point to close out the scoring at 24-7.

Aaron Repman returned a kickoff for 85-yards and Robert Barnett returned one for 21-yards for the Mustangs. Repman also returned 3 punts for 34-yards, with the longest going for 32-yards, and Jason Gigous returned a punt for 10-yards. Drew Snyder kicked off 5 times for 257-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards, and he had 2 touchbacks. He punted 4 times for 119-yards, for a 29.75-yard average, with the longest going for 38-yards. His 43 punts for 1,713-yards gives him a season average of 39.8-yards, qualifying him for the “Keystone Club” at the Pennsylvania Football News web site.

Matt Bosley led the Mustangs swarming defense with 12 tackles, followed by Drew Snyder with 9 and Mark Bittinger, Jeremy Renoll and Tim Smith with 8 each. Bosley’s 12 tackles gave him 101 for the season, qualifying him for the “Keystone Club.” Bittinger, Renoll and Dustin Shaw each registered a quarterback sack. Renoll had 10 sacks for the season, qualifying him for the “Keystone Club,” and 21 for his career, coming in second to the school career record of 23 set by Zack Topper. Shaw also had that blocked punt that was recovered by Jason Sneeringer for the Mustangs and do everything Renoll had that blocked punt that he recovered and ran in for the score. The interceptions by Barnett and Snyder were huge. Barnett, Bosley and Max Wagaman broke up passes and Bittinger tipped a pass to thwart Squires drives.

Kevin Alwine, Mark Bittinger, Seth Bolte, Matt Bosley, Jason Gigous, Chad La Gore, Jeremy Renoll, Aaron Repman, Clint Shaffer, Dustin Shaw, Jesse Smith, Jason Sneeringer, Drew Snyder, Mike Stremmel, Eric Updegrove and Chris Wilson manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Robert Barnett, Adam Hartman, Curtis Maphis, Aaron Repman, Cody Smith, Tim Smith and Max Wagaman patrolled the secondary.

The Mustangs gained 118-yards rushing and 29-yards passing for a total of 149 yards of offense. J. C. Laughlin completed 4 of 8 passes for the 29-yards. Drew Snyder caught 1 for 15-yards and the touchdown, Jason Gigous caught 1 for 12-yards, Cody Smith caught 1 for 4-yards and Jeremy Renoll caught 1 for minus 2-yards. Robert Barnett led the rushing attack with 4 carries for 44-yards, followed by Aaron Repman with 10 for 33, Cody Smith with 4 for 24 and the touchdown, Tim Smith with 4 for 16, Shawn Rider with 1 for 8, Jason Gigous with 3 for 2 and J. C. Laughlin with 5 for minus 9-yards.

The Squires gained 30-yards rushing and 177-yards passing for a total of 212-yards of offense. Backup quarterback Christopher Burton completed 8 of 29 passes for 161-yards and starter Seth Grim completed 2 of 5 passes for 21-yards. Tyler Hagarman caught 6 passes for 93-yards, followed by Nate Bennett with 1 for 45, Trevor Morley with 1 for 18, Jacob Hockensmith with 1 for 13, and Fred Gouker with 1 for 8-yards. Joe Sorice led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 18-yards, including the touchdown, followed by Jacob Hockensmith with 3 for 17, Nate Bennett with 4 for 10, Michael Kale with 1 for 6. Logan Kwedar with 2 for minus 2 and Christopher Burton with 3 for minus 19-yards.

The South Western Mustang Marching Band and the 22-member Mustang Cheer Leading squad both entertained the crowd. The 7-time Cavalcade of Bands Champion, 2000 Tournament of Bands Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion Mustang Marching Band provided the pre-game entertainment with the 2005 musical program entitled “Festive Overtures: A Holiday Collage,” which featured the majestic fanfare of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture,” Russian Sailors’ Dance from the ballet, “Red Poppy,” “Russian Easter” and “Russian Christmas.” The Squires Marching Band put on a spirited half-time show for the crowd.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-6-0 overall and 3-3-0 in York Area Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 154-62-1 (.713) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 295-180-8. The results of the 483 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

I want to say a special thank you to Richard Lupro for faithfully providing the official Offensive, Special Teams and Scoring statistics for the Mustangs to me, and for inputting them, and the Defensive statistics, at the Max Preps web site each and every week. And thanks again go to longtime Mustangs line coach Chuck Seidenstricker for providing vital Defensive statistics to me, and to Dick for input to the web site, after reviewing game films on very short notice.

The 2005 edition of the Mustangs of South Western gave their fans a host of excitement and thrills. They set a new school record for field goals for a career, set a new second place record for career quarterback sacks, had a player meet the lofty goal of 100 tackles, and had players meet the criteria for the Pennsylvania Football News “Keystone Club” for tackles, for punting average and for quarterback sacks for the season. They represented their school and league very well, played hard all season, never gave up, and certainly ended the season upholding the Mustangs wining tradition. They have a great nucleus of returning players from the junior varsity and solid players coming up within the ranks. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Until then, GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 10 - 2005

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High trailed the BRAVES of Indian Hills 25-7 at the half and roared back to lose a 25-17 thriller in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action last week at SASSO FIELD. Our CUTTERS took the opening kickoff and QB Vinnie Graff threw to wide out Tom Spear for big first downs and he and Scott Leathem ran for yardage behind center Billy Burns, guards Chris Liptrot and Tim Schofield and tackles Dan Kissane and Amet Basci. Leathem’s 2 yard TD run and Randy Platter’s extra point kick with Stephan Macchiorola holding put our heroes up 7-0 right away. It reminded old time Fair Lawn fans of when the brand new team in 1943 was being referred to as the COMETS because they scored quickly in that first game, a 7-6 JV loss to the RAMS of Lodi. Some called them the CLIPPERS. After the original band of “Cutters” played hooky to take in a movie at the Rivoli Theater in Paterson, were kept out of the Leonia game and then came in to rally Fair Lawn from a 12-0 deficit to a 13-12 victory “The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High” were born!

The BRAVES rallied scoring 25 points by halftime. Leathem took a pitch out to the 7 behind Basci and Schofield that led to the sure footed Platter kicking a 28 yard field goal with Macchiorola holding. Graff scrambled 12 yards for a TD and Platter’s kick made it 25-17. The game had been kept close by fumble recoveries by Leathem and Joe Acuna and big “D” plays by Michael Barchefski, Dominick Rizzo, Graff and Mike Keating. The defensive front of Macchiorola (who sacked the QB), John Macko, Erik Menist, Sean Hughes and Josh Aviles thwarted Indian Hills. The BRAVES knew they were in for a battle as Kissane’s well placed onside kick was recovered by Macchiorola. Graff’s fourth down pass with 35 seconds on the clock fell incomplete. Our CUTTERS were 18 yards short of sending the game into overtime. The men in the white coats did come after me but cut me some slack since I had correctly predicted Fair Lawn’s 17 points and the Randy Platter field goal. Indian Hills made the Group II playoffs with the win but Fair Lawn still leads the rivalry 12-8 (.600).

The entire NBIL schedule was interdivisional and Division 2 tied the 2005 series 11-11 (.500) going 3-2 (.600) over Fair Lawn’s Division 1 with only the Division 1 Ramapo versus Division 2 Indian Hills game remaining Thanksgiving weekend. The NBIL Division 1 champion and Group III playoff bound PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills throttled the Division 2 RAMS of Ramsey 67-14 and the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan beat the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 13-6. However, in addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the BEARS of Bergenfield were shut out 28-0 by the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands and the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest were shut out 36-0 by the NBIL Division 2 champion and Group II playoff bound INDIANS of Pascack Valley.

This week is the opening of the State playoffs. Teams that didn’t make them play a “Consolation Game.” Last year our CUTTERS came from behind 10-0 to beat the BUCCANEERS of Belleville 14-10. Friday night at 7 Fair Lawn travels to Garfield. During 1971-75 our CUTTERS went 5-0 (1.000) over the BOILMAKERS in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Let’s go for 6-0! From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – Garfield 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2005

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON.

1979 – Pete Natale came to Fair Lawn in 1978 having won championships at Ridgefield Park and made the CUTTERS winners again. They shut out the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 21-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action in the regular season. In the States the roles were reversed as Clifton shut out Fair Lawn 30-0. During 1972-81 Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including that playoff victory.

1980 – Natale’s CUTTERS shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the States they played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic at GIANTS STADIUM 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller.

1985 – Those INDIANS got revenge as they won a 36-26 thriller over Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS at Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” Passaic School Stadium is now Boverini Stadium, named after the late long time Passaic Athletic Director. Fair Lawn trailed only 28-26 until the final minutes.

1987 – Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS lost a 12-6 heart breaker to the BEES of Bayonne at Bayonne’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in freezing cold and gale force winds. Bayonne Coach Don Ahern said he was thankful for the awful weather because only it, and not his BEES, could thwart Fair Lawn’s vaunted offense.

1988 – Natale’s offensive coordinator, Mike Alberque, took over and led his CUTTERS into the States. They were beaten 20-6 by the KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy of Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium. During 1951-56 and 58, Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. Our CUTTERS shut out the KNIGHTS 20-0 in “Consolation Game” action in 2003 and lead the overall rivalry 6-3 (.667).

1989 – Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the States.

2000 - Alberque’s CUTTERS gave the nationally ranked COMETS of Hackensack all they could handle before losing a 14-6 thriller. During 1959-82 in NNIIL action the COMETS went 16-7-1 against our CUTTERS.