THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2007 Week 3

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1947 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS shut out the then MIGHTY MITES, now BEARS, of Bergenfield 44-0 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action on their way to a co-championship with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present rivalry 33-16 (.673) and the 1994-present Turkey Day rivalry 9-4 (.692). The teams have squared off 1945-48 in the B-PIL, 1962-83 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and since 1984 in the NBIL.

1957 – Bennett’s CUTTERS drew a bye.

1967 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were scalped 40-7 by the INDIANS of Wayne High School in NNJIL action. The school became Wayne Valley when Wayne Hills High School opened in 1969. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS in the NNJIL. They left the league for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981.

1977 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS were stung 21-7 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the playoff finals in 1980. Fair Lawn had edged PV 7-6 in the regular season game and shared the 1980 NNJIL crown with the HORNETS and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High.

1987 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 13-7 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 with the ’07 game coming up.

1997 – Mile Alberque’s CUTTERS lassoed the COWBOYS of Pascack Hills 38-12 in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1984-86 and 1994-98 our CUTTERS have gone 6-2 (.750) over the COWBOYS.