THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2007 Week 6

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1947 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS shut out the FARMERS of Union 25-0 in independent action in the only game ever played between the teams. Our CUTTERS were on their way to a Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) co-championship with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst.

1957 – Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 28-12 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action. Our CUTTERS lead the 1956-58 and 1990- present rivalry 12-9 (.571).


1967 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were outgunned 48-32 in a shootout with the BEARS of Bergenfield in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) 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.

1977 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Wayne Valley 16-0 in NNJIL action. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS. They left the NNJIL for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981 and Fair Lawn left the NNJIL to return to the NBIL in 1984. Szura was inducted into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame this year.

1987 – Pete Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 34-12 in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn leads the 1984-97 and 2000-present rivalry against the BRAVES 12-10 (.545) including this year’s 33-13 BRAVES victory.

1997 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were edged 9-7 by the INDIANS of Pascack Valley in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley leads the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-present rivalry 12-10-1 (.545). PV Head Coach Craig Nielson coached at Fair Lawn 1980-85 under Pete Natale.