THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2007 Week 5

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1947 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS went outside their Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) to beat the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes 27-18. During 1945-50 Charlie Benson’s CARDS and Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS split their fierce rivalry at 3-3 (.500).

1957 – Bennett’s CUTTERS were idle.

1967 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were shut out 13-0 by the SPARTANS of Paramus in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1962-83 in NNJIL action, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

1977 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS were mauled 33-7 by the BENGALS of Bloomfield High. Our CUTTERS took the 1977 independent and 1978-81 Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) rivalry 4-1 (.800). In ’77 Bloomfield was not yet a full NNJIL member because of a commitment to play Irvington on Thanksgiving.

1987 – Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 21-14 in NBIL Division 1 action. - 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 NNJIL and since 1984 in the NBIL.

1997 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 41-20 by the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan in NBIL Division 1 action. . Fair Lawn leads the 1984 – present rivalry 14–10 (.583) but the GOLDEN KNIGHTS have won the last 6 games.