THE GRIDIRON 2 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High walloped the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 41-6 last week at SASSO FIELD in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 action. The impressive victory marked the first opening day win for our CUTTERS since they beat Northern Highlands 35-15 in 2000 in Allendale. Their last Home opening day victory at SASSO FIELD was 28-6 over Ramsey in 1999. It was great to be back as the “Voice of the Cutters” with my “spotter,” Kevin Pepitone!

Captains Kevin Carlson, Nick Graff and Joe Visaggio won the coin toss and Fair Lawn took the opening kickoff. QB Travis Kubasta led an impressive drive that ended in a fumble. The Norsemen then scored to lead 6-0 but, on the next drive, Carlson raced 59 yards for a TD. With Visaggio holding, Sacir Hot kicked the extra point and our CUTTERS led 7-6 and never looked back. Then James Mellon blocked a punt and ran it in 30 yards for a TD and Hot’s kick put our CUTTERS ahead 14-6. Visaggio’s 3 yard TD run and Hot’s kick made it 21-6. Carlson’s 11 yard TD run made it 27-6 and our heroes led 34-6 at the half on Carlson’s 12 yard TD scamper and Hot’s kick. In the second half Nick Graff scampered to the 10 leading to Carlson’s 2 yard TD run and Hot’s extra point kick for the 41-6 final. Fair Lawn fans cheered as reserve QB Matt Brunetti took a knee 4 times and turned the ball over as the clock, running continuously by rule when a team has a 35 point lead in the second half, ran out. Carlson, Graff and Visaggio all ran for over 100 yards! Fair Lawn leads the 1956-58 and 1990-2008 series 13-9 (.591).

On “D” our CUTTERS looked great. Graff was all over the field making hits, Chris Samra and Chris Soltys teamed up on some neat plays making the Norsemen feel “Double Chrised!” Carlson and Egor Buharin teamed up on some great plays. Adam Polisi, Graff and Sergio LaPlaca made tremendous hits with LaPlaca recovering a blocked quick kick. Mike Oates made some great stops. Graff and Matt Maher teamed up on a great stop. Visaggio intercepted a pass; Soltys broke up a sure TD pass and recovered a fumble. Samra sacked the QB and Mike Berkhofer and Tim Schrettner teamed up on a sack. Buharin, LaPlaca and Yuval Bussi crunched a runner. The Norsemen were kept reeling all day!

In other NBIL Division 1 action the defending champion PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills came from behind to beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 30-6 and the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo fought off the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan 14-7. In Division 2 the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 35-18 and the INDIANS of PASCACK VALLEY scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 38-7. The RAMS of Ramsey drew their bye.

On Saturday at 1:30 at SASSO FIELD, our CUTTERS take on the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah for the 5th time. During 1999-2001 and 2007 our CUTTERS have gone 3-1 (.750) over the T-BIRDS in NBIL interdivisional action with Mahwah winning 31-15 last year. The T-BIRDS are strong and figure to challenge for the NBIL Division 2 title and take a shot at the Group II playoffs. They earned a 17 point margin of victory last week against Bergenfield while our CUTTERS won by 35 points. Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS look to avenge last year’s loss and make a statement to the rest of the NBIL. A victory over the T-BIRDS would certainly do that! From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 – Mahwah 17. GO CUTTERS GO!!!