THE GRIDIRON 2 - 2007

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were edged 14-13 by the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest in a Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 thriller last Friday. Team captains Mike Barchefski, Ahmet Basci, Lasha Malanozia and Kevin Ramishvilli won the coin toss but Fair Lawn’s first two drives ended with fumbles and the NORSEMEN went ahead 12-0. Barchefski, Nick Graff and Joe Visaggio picked up yardage behind center Ricardo Espinal, guards Yuval Bussi and Ramishvilli and tackles Chris Liptrot and Randy Tomlin. Just before the half QB Travis Kubasta threw a picture pass to Graff for a TD. With Barchefski holding, Chris Soltys kicked the extra point to make it 12-7.

Our CUTTERS came our firing in the 3rd quarter. After the “D” held, Barchefski bulled to the 5 and Graff scored to put our CUTTERS ahead 13-12. Late in the game, deep in Fair Lawn territory, Graff raced for a 1st down that would probably have sealed the victory but a holding penalty negated that and, with our heroes backed up against their own goal line, NV scored a safety to go ahead 14-13. Our “never-say die” CUTTERS roared back with a pass from Kubasta to Basci that put Fair Lawn at the NV 8. The drive stalled and, with seconds left, Solyts lined up to kick the winning field goal but the NORSEMEN blocked it. Melkis Rosario made a TD saving tackle, Malanozia blocked a field goal try, Solyts recovered a fumble and Alberto Zabalaga recovered the ball after NV blocked a punt to keep Fair Lawn’s come back drive alive. Our CUTTERS lead the 1956-58 and 1990- present rivalry 12-9 (.571). A large contingent from my FLHS Class of ’57 was in town for their 50th reunion and enjoyed a tour of the high school Saturday. It was great to see them!

In the other NBIL Division 1 games the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of NV/Old Tappan beat the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo 40-24 and the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills mauled the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 63-0. In Division 2, the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 26-20 and the INDIANS of Pascack Valley scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 20-10. The NBIL is 1-0 against other leagues as the NBIL Division 2 RAMS of Ramsey beat the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) National Division PATRIOTS of Secaucus 36-20.

On Saturday night our CUTTERS travel to Mahwah to take on the T-BIRDS in an NBIL interdivisional game. During 1999-2001 our CUTTERS went 3-0 (1.000) over the T-BIRDS. Mahwah figures to contend with Pascack Valley for the NBIL Division 2 title and will be tough. Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS can make a real statement with a victory. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – Mahwah 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!