THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2008 Week 4

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1948 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were shut out 7-0 by the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the fierce 1945 – 53 rivalry with Lyndhurst in the B-PIL 5-4 (.556). The B-PIL became the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956 when Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in it, dropped out.

1958 – Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the RAMS of Ramsey 19-6 in NBIL action. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)!

1968 - Frank Devens’ CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 31-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN.

1978 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were stung 34-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round.

1988 – New coach Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 CUTTERS beat the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood, representing the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division 14-7 in independent action. Independently 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1998 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS lassoed the COWBOYS of Pascack Hills 40-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1984-86 and 1994-98 our CUTTERS went 6-2 (.750) over the COWBOYS.