THE GRIDIRON 3 - 2007

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were beaten 31-15 by the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah last Saturday night in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action. The game was a lot closer and much more exciting than that score would indicate. Our CUTTERS played great defense thwarting 2 T-BIRD drives deep in Fair Lawn territory with Mike Barchefski, Bruce Cheifitz, Chris Liptrot, Lasha Malazonia, Kevin Ramishvilli and Chris Soltys making big plays. Mike Copelton teamed up with Malazonia on a TD saving tackle. At the half, Mahwah led only 10-0 and the T-BIRDS knew they were in a game!

Our CUTTERS came out firing in the 2nd half as Barchefski, Yuval Bussi, Sergio LaPlaca and Alberto Zabalaga made big stops. Copelton broke up a 3rd down pass to end a T-BIRD drive. When the “D” held, our heroes went to work on “O.” QB Travis Kubasta threw a picture pass to Ahmet Basci for 28 yards. Behind great blocking by center, Regis Larkin, Barchefski raced straight up the middle for 25 yards and a TD. Soltys’ extra point kick, with Barchefski holding, had Fair Lawn trailing only 10-7. Ramishvilli scooped up a Fair Lawn fumble and rambled to the 15. It looked like our CUTTERS would take the lead but the drive stalled. With our “never-say-die” CUTTERS trying to score again, the T-BIRDS intercepted a pass and ran it in. With Mahwah up 31-7, Joe Visaggio ran the kick off into T-BIRD territory. Nick Leone rumbled to the 7 and Visaggio ran for the TD to make it 31-13. Nick Graff’s 2 point conversion run closed out the scoring at 31-15. Fair Lawn leads the 1999-2001 and 2007 rivalry 3-1 (.750).

The GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan brought the NBIL record against outside teams to 2-0 (1.000) trouncing the independent KARDINALS of Kearny 51-22. Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 1-3 (.250) against Division 2. The PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills demolished the BEARS of Bergenfield 49-0 for the only Division 1 win while, in addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest lost 42-14 to the BRAVES of Indian Hills and the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo lost 34-7 to the INDIANS of Pascack Valley. The NBIL Division 2 HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands and RAMS of Ramsey were idle.

This Thursday at 3:00 our CUTTERS have their home opener at SASSO FIELD against the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 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. Fair Lawn comes into the game 0-2 having been outscored 45–28 for an average 23-14 loss. NV comes into the game 2-0 having outscored the opposition 91-36 for an average 46-18 victory. The GOLDEN KNIGHTS are powerful and appear to be the only team with a chance of beating the Wayne Hills juggernaut this season. Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS will put up a fight but don’t figure to win this one. I hope I’m wrong but from here it looks like NV/Old Tappan 23 – Fair Lawn 14. GO CUTTERS GO!!!