THE GRIDIRON 7 - 2006

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were shut out 26-0 by the BRAVES of Indian Hills in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action last week. It was the 79th shut out loss in the 64 season GRIDIRON history of Fair Lawn High. The CUTTERS have shut out the opposition 81 times. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS gave their diehard fans some thrills. Tommy Spear electrified the crowd racing all the way to the 10 yard line only to have a jarring tackle cause a fumble that gave the ball back to the BRAVES. The swift Spear ran a kick off back to the 50. QB Nick Graff raced 42 yards for a TD that was nullified by a penalty. Graff threw nice passes to Spear, Dom Rizzo and Dan Mucha. On “D,” Mike Barchefski, Graff, Melkis Rosario, Randy Tomlin and Mina Youssef made nice stops. Sergio LaPlaca recovered a fumble and Lasha Malazonia blocked a point after TD kick. Spear batted down a 2 point conversion try after the last Indian Hills TD. Matthew Brunetti got off some booming punts. Fair Lawn leads the 1984-97 and 2000-present rivalry 12-9 (.571) but the BRAVES have won the last 4 games!

Fair Lawn fans are often fans for life. The crowd was happy to welcome the youngest fan who promised to be a lifetime rooter. As “The Voice Of The Cutters,” it was my pleasure to introduce six week old Dominick Campanile. His proud parents are Fair Lawn offensive coordinator Vito Campanile and his wife, Kristin. And it was nice to see the Class of ’65 in town for their 41st reunion. Fans who remember Coach Pete Natale’s 1985 NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff CUTTERS can still see QB Carl Straw passing to Chris Davies and Brian Meerholz. Davies was at the game and the crowd welcomed him. And it was nice to see Oakland resident, Fair Lawn Thomas Jefferson Middle School teacher and former Fair Lawn High School Marching Band director, Gordon Fisher, back at SASSO FIELD. He has resurrected the Indian Hills Band after a 20 year hiatus and is doing a fine job. The award winning Fair Lawn High School CUTTER Marching Band directed by Paul Kafer and led by drum major Heather Marte, looked mighty fine too. What a great season of competition they’re having!

Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 2-3 (.400) against Division 2. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo were beaten 28-14 by the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah and the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest were scalped 22-6 by the INDIANS of Pascack Valley while the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills shut out the RAMS of Ramsey 41-0 and the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands edged the BEARS of Bergenfield 14-13. Division 2 leads the 2006 series 9-4 (.692). The GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan had their bye week.

This Saturday our CUTTERS play their last scheduled 2006 home game at SASSO FIELD against the INDIANS of Pascack Valley in an NBIL interdivisional game. PV Coach Nielsen was the star running back on Bergenfield’s State championship team in the mid 1970s and coached at Fair Lawn under Pete Natale 1980-85. Nielsen is a class guy! His 4-1 (.800) INDIANS are in the Group II playoff hunt and will be looking for a victory over 0-6 Group III Fair Lawn. Pascack Valley leads the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-present rivalry 11-10-1 (.524). I know our CUTTERS will fight to keep it close. I hope I’m wrong, but from here it looks like Pascack Valley 21 – Fair Lawn 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!