THE GRIDIRON 7 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High had their BYE week last weekend. Their 31-21 upset loss to the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo on October 11th brought their 2008 record to 4-1 (.800). They had beaten the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 41-6, the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 27-7, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan 35-7 and the BRAVES of Indian Hills 42-28. In a game broadcast by WGHT Radio (1500AM) as the “Game of the Week,” our heroes had hoped to go into their BYE week 5-0. Instead they saw their playoff hopes dealt a blow but our CUTTERS are still in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III hunt. Although Fair Lawn is classified as a Group IV school overall, the CUTTERS are classified as a Group III school for Football.

Last week the entire Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) schedule featured interdivisional games. The NBIL had the public school game of the year with the NBIL Division 2 INDIANS of Pascack Valley hoping to end the 45 game winning streak of the Division 1 PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills. The teams battled to a scoreless tied in the first half and then Wayne Hills cruised to a 35-0 shut out victory bringing their winning streak to 46. The NBIL Division 1 went 4-1 (.800) over Division 2 as, in addition to the Wayne Hills win, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan beat the BRAVES of Indian Hills 34-3, the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo beat the RAMS of Ramsey 48-7, and the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 45-6. However, the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands were beaten 35-7 by the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah. The NBIL Division 1 leads the 2008 series 11-6 (.647).

This week our CUTTERS are home at SASO FIELD, taking on those HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands for the 19th time. The 1986-93 and 1998 – present rivalry is tied at 9 and it could end after this game if the State realignment plan is implemented. I saw the Northern Highlands – Mahwah game last week and enjoyed reminiscing with Northern Highlands’ announcer, the long time Fair Lawn announcer, Joe Hausmann, who I succeeded in 1997 after my twin brother, Bill, and I “spotted” for him for 30 years. WGHT Radio (1500AM) broadcast the game and it was nice to see the on the air luminaries, Jon Fass and Marco Balletti again. They had broadcast the Fair Lawn – Ramapo game.

Northern Highlands comes into the game 1-4 (.250) having been outscored 127-70 for an average 25-14 loss. Fair Lawn comes into the game 4-1 (.800) and has outscored the opposition 166-79 for an average 33-16 victory. Our CUTTERS need this game to keep any playoff hopes alive and they’ll come out fired up. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 35 - Northern Highlands 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!