THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2008 Week 7

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1948 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS drew a Bye.

1958 – Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 33-14 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL). The B-PIL became the NBIL in 1956. Ramapo leads the 1956-58 and 1984-present rivalry 17-11 (.607).

1968 - Frank Devens’ CUTTERS beat the COMETS of Hackensack 21-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States.

1978 – New coach Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were edged 14-12 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley in NNJIL action. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS in the NNJIL. They left the league for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981 and Fair Lawn left the NNJIL to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

1988 – New coach Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were shut out 14-0 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in NBIL Division 1 action. Ramapo leads the 1956-58 and 1984-present rivalry 17-11 (.607).

1998 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 45-21 by 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 Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8.