THE GRIDIRON 8 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High roared from behind to beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 29-23 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 action last week. Captains Yuval Bussi, Kevin Carlson, Nick Graff and Joe Visaggio won the coin toss and Fair Lawn elected to receive. Visaggio was the hero of the day, scoring all 4 TDs. He ran the opening kickoff 90 yards for a TD and Sacir Hot, with Visaggio holding, kicked the extra point to put Fair Lawn up 7-0. The HIGHLANDERS intercepted a pass and then scored to tie the game at 7. They scored again to go up 14-7. QB Travis Kubasta threw a 48 yard TD strike to Visaggio and Hot’s kick tied the game at 14. Northern Highlands led 20-14 at the half.

Nick Graff recovered a fumble and Kevin Carlson ran to the 10. Visaggio ran 4 yards for a TD. Hot’s point after kick put Fair Lawn ahead 21-20. The HIGHLANDERS kicked a field goal to lead 23-21 late in the game. Then, in the closing minutes, our CUTTERS faced 4th and 3 at their own 27 yard line. Visaggio burst through the line and electrified the crowd with a 73 yard TD gallop. Carlson ran for the 2 point conversion for the 29-23 lead and Fair Lawn hung on for dear life. With 9 seconds on the clock and the HIGHLANDERS knocking at the door, Visaggio broke up what would have been a TD pass and saved the game. Whew! On “D,” Mike Berkhofer, Bussi, Sergio LaPlaca, James Mallon, Tiburtius Roberts, Kevin Rosario, Christian Samra, Chris Soltys and others made big plays. Fair Lawn leads the 1986-93 and 1998 – present rivalry 10-9 (.526).

In the other NBIL Division 1 game the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills brought their winning streak to 47 thrashing the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/ Demarest 50-0. The GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan had a bye. In the NBIL Division 2 the INDIANS of Pascack Valley beat the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 24-14 and the BRAVES of Indian Hills beat the RAMS of Ramsey 20-7. Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 1-0 (1.000) over Division 2 as the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo shut out the BEARS of Bergenfield 42-0. The NBIL Division 1 is 12-6 (.667) over Division 2 so far this season.

This Saturday night our CUTTERS travel to Wayne to take on 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 Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed the PATRIOTS 35-8. Fair Lawn comes into the game 5-1 (.833) having outscored the opposition 195-102 for an average 33-17 win. Wayne Hills has that 47 game winning streak going and is 7-0 (1.000) this season having outscored the opposition 281-56 for an average 40-8 victory. Our “never say die” CUTTERS figure to put up a whale of a battle against one of the top teams in New Jersey and keep this game closer than some of the other teams Wayne Hills has beaten did. I hope I’m wrong but from here it looks like Wayne Hills 30 – Fair Lawn 21. GO CUTTERS GO!!!