THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 5 – 2006

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1946 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were on their way to a Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) co-championship with the BUCCANEERS of Bogota and demolished the RAMS of Ramsey 39-7 in league play. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-present rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800) including this year’s thrilling 21-14 Ramsey victory!

1956 – Bennett’s CUTTERS beat those same RAMS 34-6 in the renamed Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1966 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS went outside their Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) to beat the RAMS of Lodi 50-21 in independent action. It was the 12th game of that wonderful 24 game non-losing streak during 1964-66. During 1964-66 Fair Lawn went 3-0 (1.000) over Lodi. Fair Lawn’s first football game in 1943 saw Coach Marty Fischbein’s brand new CUTTERS lose 7-6 to Lodi in JV action.

1976 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS filled the spot caused by the BOILERMAKERS of Garfield leaving the NNJIL by hosting the IRONMEN of Don Bosco. With 2 Fair Lawn players at running back the IRONMEN were calling time out trying to score more near the end of their 30-0 shut out victory. In 1976 in independent action and 1982 and 83 in the NNJIL the IRONMEN went 3-0 over our CUTTERS. The unfair advantage the parochial schools had was the main reason Fair Lawn and Bergenfield left the NNJIL in 1984 and returned to the NBIL, which Fair Lawn had left in 1959 and Bergenfield in 1949.

1986 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shut out 27-0 by the BEARS of Bergenfield, who were on their way to the NBIL Division 1 title. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present rivalry 33-15 (.688) and the 1994-present Turkey Day rivalry 9-3 (.750).

1996 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/ Old Tappan 43-23 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn leads the 1984 – present rivalry 14–9 (.609) but the GOLDEN KNIGHTS have won the last 5 games including their 27-8 opening day victory this year.