THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 3 – 2006

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1946 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS, on their way to Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) co-championship with the BUCCANEERS of Bogota, beat the then MIGHTY MITES (now BEARS) of Bergenfield 19-12. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present rivalry 33-15 (.688) and the 1994-present Turkey Day rivalry 9-3 (.750).

1956 – Bennett’s CUTTERS went outside the B-PIL to shut out the COLTS of Paterson Central and the now defunct Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) 19-0. - Paterson 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 at Hinchliffe Stadium while, in the 2003 State “Consolation Game,” our CUTTERS prevailed 20-0 to bring their record against Central/Kennedy to 6-3 (.667).

1966 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS notched 10 in what would become a 24 game non-losing streak 1964 – 66 edging the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 14 – 13 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. 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.

1976 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS were stung 53-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS.

1986 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shut out 7 – 0 by the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 action. Fair Lawn leads the 1984 – present rivalry 14–9 (.609) but the GOLDEN KNIGHTS have won the last 5 games.

1996 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 24-7 in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS lead the 1956-58 and 1990- present rivalry 12-6 (.667).