THE GRIDIRON 11 - 2007

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High roared to a 38-9 victory over the WILDCATS of High Point last week in State “Consolation Game” action. Captains Mike Barchefski, Ahmet Basci, Lasha Malazonia and Kevin Ramishvilli won the coin toss and elected to receive. Behind center Brian Walis, guards Yuval Bussi and Ramishvilli and tackles Chris Liptrot and Alberto Zabalaga, Joe Visaggio rambled for a 1st down and Nick Graff raced 40 yards for a TD. Our CUTTERS took a 6-0 lead and never looked back. Ramishvilli stopped the WILDCATS on 4th down and QB Travis Kubasta threw to Steve Young for a big 1st down. Nick Graff carried to the 1 and Kevin Carlson ran for the TD and a 12-0 Fair Lawn lead. Peter Park recovered a fumble and Graff scored on a 1 yard TD run. With Barchefski holding, Chris Soltys kicked the extra point for a 19-0 Fair Lawn lead. Carlson rambled for a 1st down and Visaggio ran 5 yards for a TD to put Fair Lawn up 25-3. With 8 seconds left in the half an electrifying 56 yard TD pass from Kubasta to Visaggio was nullified by a penalty.

In the second half Graff intercepted a pass and Carlson rambled 25 yards for a TD and Fair Lawn led 31-3. Basci intercepted a pass and Graff ran to the 1 behind Walis and then ran for the TD. With Barchefski holding, Soltys kicked the Point after to close out the Fair Lawn scoring. There were lots of heroes on “D.” Soltys made a TD saving tackle, and Melkis Rosario broke up the 2 point conversion pass attempt after the WILDCATS scored their lone TD. Basci, Egor Buharin, Bussi, Bruce Cheifitz, Nick Leone, Malazonia, Alex Melendez and John Samoilis made great plays. Having beaten High Point 2 years in a row, our CUTTERS are 7-2 (.778) in Consolation Games since they were instituted in 1998.

Fair Lawn’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) was proud as its 4 playoff teams went 3-1 (.750) in the States. In North Jersey, Section 1, Group III, the NBIL Division 1 champion PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills rang up their 38th straight win demolishing the VIKINGS of Parsippany Hills 49-0 and the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan mauled the MARAUDERS of Mt. Olive 56-7. In Group II the NBIL Division 2 INDIANS of Pascack Valley shut out the LANCERS of Lakeland 21-0 but the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah were beaten 26-20 in overtime by the PATRIOTS of Lenape Valley.

In Consolation Games the NBIL went 4-3 (.571) against other leagues. In addition to Fair Lawn’s win, the BRAVES of Indian Hills beat the HUSKIES of Dumont 28-6, the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo shut out the GAELS of Roxbury 21-0 and the RAMS of Ramsey beat the RAMS of Lodi 28-19. However, the BEARS of Bergenfield were beaten 33-12 by the MAROON RAIDERS of Nutley, the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands were beaten 36-20 by the PALADINS of Paramus Catholic and the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest were beaten 28-21 by the MUSTANGS of Montville. In ’07 so far the NBIL is 9-5 (.643) against other leagues!

This weekend the State playoffs continue. Next week we’ll look at that and ahead to Fair Lawn’s Thanksgiving Day game at Bergenfield. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!