THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2007 Week 7

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1947 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the BUCCANEERS of Bogota 30-18 on their way to a Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) co-championship with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. They had shared the ’46 title with the BUCS. Our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry 6-3-2 (.667).

1957 – Bennett’s CUTTERS tied the GRAY BEES of St. Benedict’s Prep of Newark 13-13 in independent action. During 1954-57 the GRAY BEES went 2-1-1 (.667) over Bennett’s CUTTERS. Al Reinoso played for them and became the 5th coach in FLHS history during 1972-74.

1967 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS fell 47-7 to the COMETS of Hackensack in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Devens’ 1966 CUTTERS had beaten the COMETS 46-6. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States.

1977 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 34-18 in NNJIL action. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN.

1987 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 34-12 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action on their way to the NBIL Division 1 title. Fair Lawn leads the 1984-97 and 2000-present rivalry against Indian Hills 12-10 (.545) including
this year’s 33-13 BRAVES victory.

1997 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 31-20 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in NBIL Division 1 action. The PATRIOTS lead the 1984 – present rivalry 18-5 (.783). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 as Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8. The rivalry continues today here at SASSO FIELD.