THE GRIDIRON 9 - 2006

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High had their Bye last week. On Friday night in Fair Lawn’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1, the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills beat the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo 28-7 clinching the Division 1 title. The NBIL Division 1 GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan beat the Division 2 BEARS of Bergenfield 42-20. In the other Friday night interdivisional game the NBIL Division 2 BRAVES of Indian Hills surprised the Division 1 NORSEMEN of NV/Demarest 34-21.

On Saturday, the INDIANS of Pascack Valley scalped the RAMS of Ramsey 35-6 in NBIL Division 2 action. The Division 1 HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands helped dedicate the new field turf at Mahwah losing 28-6 to the Division 2 THUNDERBIRDS. Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 1-2 (.333) against Division 2. The smaller school Division 2 leads the 2006 interdivisional series 12-6 (.667). Except for Wayne Hills, the sites of all the NBIL games had field turf, which was good considering the weather. In the long run the turf could save money because it requires less maintenance and it can hold up for years with heavy use for football and other sports. Fair Lawn voters turned field turf down while approving major school construction.

The Fair Lawn High School addition is looking really nice. It will house the Hall Of Fame exhibit when that is ready. The Hall Of Fame got started in August when 21 individuals were inducted and the 1966 CUTTERS football team was honored. Inductees prominent in football were Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Virge Sasso (1944-78), Head Coaches Frank Bennett (1945-60) and Frank Devens (1965-71), Assistant Coaches Harry Holowach (Head Wrestling Coach) and Hubie Brown (Head Basketball Coach) and players Rev. Richard Camp, Neil Cooper, Bruce Jankowski, Charlie “Choo Choo” Motta, Bob Muller, Ray Reichert, Dave Sime (“The World’s Fastest Human” in track) and Bob Wright. As “The Voice Of The Cutters,” I was thrilled to introduce for induction Wright, star of the 1959 CUTTERS that almost won the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title in their maiden season in the league, and Jankowski, star of the 1965 and 66 CUTTERS who notched the final 17 games of that great 24 game non-losing streak during 1964-66. Check out the web site of The Fair Lawn Touchdown Club, http://www.geocities.com/fairlawn_touchdown_club/ for great pictures and 3 fabulous videos.

This week our CUTTERS travel to Allendale to take on the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands for the 17th time. The 1986-93 and 1998 – present rivalry is all even at 8-8. Fair Lawn fans will enjoy hearing the voice of popular long time Fair Lawn announcer, Joe Hausmann. Joe was in the FLHS Class of ’58 and is “The Voice Of The HIGHLANDERS.” Our CUTTERS will be trying to avoid the 4th winless season in the 64 year GRIDIRON history of Fair Lawn High. They have the last 2 scheduled games and a State Consolation Game to do it in. With slim playoff hopes, the 4-3 HIGHLANDERS will be looking for at least a winning season. Beating them will be a tall order but I’m sticking with our “never-say-die” CUTTERS. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 14–Northern Highlands 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!