THE GRIDIRON 13 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High finished their 2008 season with an impressive 42-0 shut out victory over the BEARS of Bergenfield in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action. It was the 51st game played in the long rivalry. During 1945-48 and 1962-2008, our Cutters have gone 35-16 (.686) against Bergenfield and they lead the Thanksgiving Day series 11-4 (.733).

During the coin toss Fair Lawn High Athletic Director Cory Robinson presented a game jersey to Fair Lawn fan Ed Barwick, who has faithfully attended the games for years. Our CUTTERS held the BEARS on their first drive and then, with Matt Brunetti and then Travis Kubasta at QB and center Brian Walis, guards Yuval Bussi and Sergio LaPlaca and tackles Mike Oates and Adam Polisi blocking, Kevin Carlson, Christian Samra and Joe Visaggio picked up big yardage. Visaggio raced 15 yards for a TD and with Greg Rau snapping and Visaggio holding, the sure footed Sacir Hot kicked the extra point. Fair Lawn led 7-0 and never looked back. Kubasta passed to Chris Soltys for a big gain to the 48 and then to Visaggio for another setting up Samra’s 5 yard TD run. Hot’s kick had Fair Lawn up 14-0. Samra’s 8 yard TD run and Hot’s kick had our CUTTERS ahead 21-0 at the half. Hot nearly kicked a field goal with a free kick from the 40 yard line just before the half!

In the second half, Visaggio ran 18 yards for a TD and Hot kicked the point after to put our heroes up 28-0. Then Kubasta threw a picture perfect 25 yard TD pass to Nick Graff and Hot’s kick had Fair Lawn up 35-0. Carlson electrified the crowd with a 37 yard TD scamper and Hot’s kick closed out the scoring at 42. Carlson’s TD gave him 94 points on the season. One more TD would have had Fair Lawn being the only team in North Jersey with two 100 point scorers; Carlson and Visaggio, who wound up with 127 points! On “D,” Visagio intercepted a pass and Kelvin Rosario and Soltys broke up passes. Davon Johnson made a big stop on a kickoff return. Mike Berkhofer sacked the QB for a big loss and Egor Buharin, James Mallon, Polisi and Brendan Walis made big plays. Fair Lawn’s record 1943-2008 is 304-279-14 (.521).

Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 2-1 (.667) against Division 2. In addition to Fair Lawn’s win, the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo smashed the BRAVES of Indian Hills 51-0. However, the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands were shut out 31-0 by the INDIANS of Pascack Valley. The NBIL Division 1 finished 17-8 (.680) over Division 2 on the year. In NBIL Division 1 action the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 35-15. The champion PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills had a bye going into their North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State championship game against the LANCERS of Lakeland Saturday at GIANTS STADIUM. In NBIL Division 2 action the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah beat the RAMS of Ramsey 21-6.

As our CUTTERS look ahead to 2009 awaiting finalization of the State realignment plan so they’ll know who their foes will be, they’ll miss guys like Rob Burns, Brunetti, Berkhofer, Bussi, Carlson, Spencer Carter, Graff, Hot, LaPLaca Matt Maher, Rau, Visaggio and Brian Walis. However, guys like Buharin, Johnson, Kubasta, Mallon, Oates, Polisi, Rosario, Samra, Tim Schrettner, Soltys, Brendan Walis and others could make our CUTTERS strong. I enjoyed my 12th season as the “Voice of the CUTTERS,” working with my “spotter,” Kevin Pepitone, and can hardly wait until next year! Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

TURKEY DAY IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY 2008

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1948 – Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were beaten 32-6 by the MAROONS of Ridgewood in independent action. Ridgewood led the Annual Classic 4-1 (.800). Fair Lawn’s first victory had been 7-6 in 1947. The MAROONS would join the B-PIL in 1950.

1958 – Bennett’s CUTTERS held the heavily favored MAROONS to a scoreless tie in the last season for both teams in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) The B-PIL had become the NBIL in 1956 and Fair Lawn and Ridgewood would move up to the strong Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) in 1959. Ridgewood led the series 9-5-1(.643).

1968 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were beaten 21-14 by the MAROONS in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 15-8-2 (.652).

1978 – New coach Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the MAROONS 17-7 in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 23-10-2 (.697). They would take the 1944-83 rivalry 26-11-3 (.703).

1988 – New coach Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 29-13 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn had left the NNJIL and returned to the NBIL in 1984. Our CUTTERS led the series 4-1 (.800). The 1984-93 Turkey Day rivalry wound up 5-5 (.500).

1998 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were edged 12-7 by the BEARS of Bergenfield in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn led the Turkey Day series, which began in 1994, 4-1 (.800). Going into Turkey Day 2008, Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present rivalry 34-16 (.680) and the 1994-present Turkey Day rivalry 10-4 (.714). The teams have squared off 1945-48 in the B-PIL, 1962-83 in the NNJIL and since 1984 in the NBIL.

THE GRIDIRON 12 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

Fair Lawn fans had rooting interests in the State playoffs as their Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) still had three teams in action. In North Jersey, Section 1, Group III, the NBIL Division 1 champion PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills ran their winning streak to an incredible 51 games edging the NBIL Division 2 champion INDIANS of Pascack Valley 17-10. The INDIANS gave the Patriots a real scare! Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 is 15-7 (.682) over the NBIL Division 2 with 3 Turkey Day weekend games to go. In Group II, the NBIL Division 2 RAMS of Ramsey were beaten 27-6 by the KNIGHTS of West Essex and the Iron Hills Conference (IHC), Hills Division. The NBIL record against other leagues in 2008 is 7-6 (.538) with the Wayne Hills versus the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Suburban Division champion LANCERS of Lakeland in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State championship game to go.

On Thanksgiving Day at 10:30 our CUTTERS host the BEARS of Bergenfield at SASSO FIELD in the 51st game played in the long rivalry. It all began in 1945 when Fair Lawn joined the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL), which had been founded in 1943, the year Fair Lawn High School opened, by Bergenfield, Bogota, Hawthorne, Lyndhurst and Ramsey. It became the NBIL in 1956 when Hawthorne, the only Passaic County team in it at the time, dropped out. The then MIGHTY MITES of Bergenfield, who became the BEARS in the 60s, left the B-PIL in 1949 for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL). Fair Lawn and Ridgewood left the NBIL in 1959 for the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL). Bergenfield and Paramus joined the NNJIL in 1962 and the Fair Lawn – Bergenfield rivalry resumed. It continued in 1984 when Fair Lawn and Bergenfield returned to their old league. In 1994 the rivalry became a Thanksgiving Day affair. During 1945-48 and since 1962, our CUTTERS have gone 34-16 (.680) against Bergenfield and they lead the Thanksgiving Day series 10-4 (.714).

Fair Lawn comes into the game 5-4 (.556) and has outscored the opposition 278-227 for an average 31-25 victory. Bergenfield is 0-9 (.000) and has been outscored 328-51 for an average 36-6 loss. The BEARS have been shut out 4 times. Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS have had a good season and want to have a winning record. They figure to get it on Turkey Day. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 42 – Bergenfield 0. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2008

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON. Power points only come into play in making the playoffs and in seeding in them.

In 1989 – Fair Lawn got into the expanded North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV playoffs by virtue of being undefeated at selection time. Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen and the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) 14-7 in the 1st round. In the next round they faced the HCIAA RED WINGS of Hoboken in the “fumble that wasn’t a fumble” game. With Fair Lawn leading 14-0 Hoboken picked up a 1st down but fumbled. Our CUTTERS might well have scored again to ice the game but a second official overruled the fumble and Hoboken scored on the drive and went on to win a 19-14 thriller.

The RED WINGS got their comeuppance losing to the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) INDIANS of Passaic in the finals.

THE GRIDIRON 11 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were edged 28-27 by the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division MUSTANGS of Montville in a thriller Sunday at Sasso Field in State “Consolation Game” action. Captains Nick Graff, Kevin Carlson, Travis Kubasta and Brian Walis won the coin toss and Fair Lawn received. With center Walis, guards Yuval Bussi and Sergio LaPlaca and tackles Mike Oates and Adam Polisi blocking, Carlson, Christian Samra and Joe Visaggio picked up yardage. Visaggio electrified the crowd with an 82 yard TD scamper and with Greg Rau snapping and Visaggio holding, Sacir Hot kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Fair Lawn lead. QB Kubasta passed to Visaggio and to Graff for key first downs and Visaggio ran 5 yards for another TD. Hot’s kick had Fair Lawn up 14-0 at the half. Carlson’s sensational 55 yard TD run and Hot’s kick put our CUTTERS up 21-7. Montville scored twice to tie the game at 21. Kubasta passed to Graff and Carlson for key first downs and Samra ran 6 yards for a TD to put Fair Lawn up 27-21. Then Visaggio, from his holding position, fired a pass to Samra which just missed making the 2 point conversion. Montville came back to go ahead 28-21 and our “never-say-die” Cutters began the last fateful drive. Kubasta passed to Visaggio and Carlson for first downs on 4th down. With seconds on the clock, Hot lined up for a 42 yard field goal that would win the game. He was injured on the play and the kick fell short. On “D,” Chris Soltys has 2 fumble recoveries and Egor Buharin intercepted a pass. Rob Burns, Yuval Bussi, Sergio LaPlaca, James Mallon and Tim Schrettner made big plays. Brendan Walis made a neat hit on the second half kickoff. Fair Lawn is now 7-3 (.700) in Consolation Games since they started in 1998.

Fair Lawn’s NBIL was proud as a peacock as its teams went 3-1 (.750) in the States. In North Jersey, Section 1, Group III, Fair Lawn’s Division 1 saw its champion PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills beat the NHC Skyline Division HIGHLANDERS of West Milford 44-8 and extend their wining streak to 50 games while its GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo were shut out 7-0 by the NHC Suburban Division LANCERS of Lakeland. The NBIL Division 2 saw its champion INDIANS of Pascack Valley beat the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) SPARTANS of Paramus 38-14 in Group III and, in Group II, its RAMS of Ramsey upset the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division SCARLETS of Ridgefield Park 7-6. Fair Lawn coach (1988-2001) Mike Alberque starred for Ridgefield Park in the 70s and his son, Mike, is a star on the current SCARLETS team. He ran for the Ridgefield Park TD.

In Consolation Game action, the NBIL went 3-4 (.429) against teams from the Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (B-PSL), the Iron Hills Conference (IHC) Iron Division, the NHC, the NNJIL and the Sussex County Interscholastic League (SCIL). In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, The BRAVES of Indian Hills were beaten 37-28 by the RANGERS of Wallkill Valley, the BEARS of Bergenfield were shut out 34-0 by the WILDCATS of High Point, a team Fair Lawn had beaten the last 2 years, and the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands were beaten 38-7 by the MARAUDERS of Mount Olive. However, the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest beat the GOLDEN EAGLES of Morris Knolls 46-29, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 42-0 and the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah beat the WARRIORS of Waldwick 47-20. The NBIL is 7-5 (.583) against other leagues so far in ’08.

This weekend the State playoffs continue. Next week we’ll look at that and ahead to the 51st renewal of the rivalry between the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High and the BEARS of Bergenfield, the 15th on Thanksgiving Day, at home at Sasso Field. Until then GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON.

1979 – Pete Natale came to Fair Lawn in 1978 having won championships at Ridgefield Park and made the CUTTERS winners again. They shut out the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 21-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action in the regular season. In the States the roles were reversed as Clifton shut out Fair Lawn 30-0. During 1972-81 Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including that playoff victory.

1980 – Natale’s CUTTERS shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the States they played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller.

1985 – Those INDIANS got revenge as they won a 36-26 thriller over Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL,) Division 1 champion CUTTERS at Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” Passaic School Stadium is now Boverini Stadium, named after the late long time Passaic Athletic Director. Fair Lawn trailed only 28-26 until the final minutes.

1987 – Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS lost a 12-6 heart breaker to the BEES of Bayonne at Bayonne’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in freezing cold and gale force winds. Bayonne Coach Don Ahern said he was thankful for the awful weather because only it, and not his BEES, could thwart Fair Lawn’s vaunted offense.

1988 – Natale’s offensive coordinator, Mike Alberque, took over and led his CUTTERS into the States. They were beaten 20-6 by the KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy of Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium. During 1951-56 and 58, Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. Our CUTTERS shut out the KNIGHTS 20-0 in “Consolation Game” action in 2003 and lead the overall rivalry 6-3 (.667).

1989 – Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the States in the only game played to date between the schools.

2000 - Alberque’s CUTTERS gave the nationally ranked COMETS of Hackensack all they could handle before losing a 14-6 thriller. During 1959-82 in NNIIL action the COMETS went 16-7-1 against our CUTTERS.

Fair Lawn is 7-2 (.778) in “Consolation Games” played the first weekend of playoffs since they were instituted in 1998.

THE GRIDIRON 10 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The stage was set for high drama at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale last Saturday night in a Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional showdown. The INDIANS had secured a berth in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III playoffs but the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High had to win or the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford would take the last spot. Our CUTTERS came out firing! QB Travis Kubasta threw a 57 yard TD strike to Chris Soltys and with Greg Rau snapping and Joe Vissagio holding, Sacir Hot kicked the extra point to put Fair Lawn up 7-0. PV came back to tie it but Kubasta threw to Soltys again for a 29 yard TD and Hot’s kick put our heroes up 14-7. It was like two heavyweights battling it out as PV came back to tie the score at 14. Visaggio’s 30 yard TD run and Hot’s kick put Fair Lawn ahead 21-14. Visaggio’s 57 yard scamper and Hot’s kick made it 28-14. PV came back with 2 TDs to tie it and Kubasta threw a 29 yard TD strike to Visaggio to put Fair Lawn up 35-28. Three PV TDs put the INDIANS up 49-35. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS came back in the closing seconds with a 1 yard TD run by Visaggio, his 4th TD on the night, and Hot’s kick closed out the scoring. Fair Lawn’s onside kick failed and the 49-42 thriller ended.

Pascack Valley leads the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-present rivalry 14-10-1 (.583) and has won the last 5 games. Their coach, Craig Nielsen, was an assistant at Fair Lawn 1980-85 under Pete Natale. Their CUTTERS shared the 1980 Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with Clifton and Passaic Valley and beat the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 at GIANTS STADIUM in the States before losing the final 20-0 to Passaic Valley. They returned to the NBIL in 1984 and won NBIL Division 1 titles in ’84 and ’85. The ’85 CUTTERS were in the playoffs and lost a 36-26 thriller to Passaic.

Fair Lawn’s NBIL Division 1 went 2-1 (.667) over Division 2. While Fair Lawn lost to PV, the top seeded playoff PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills beat the BRAVES of Indian Hills 49-14 and the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan beat the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 16-6. Division 1 leads the ’08 series 14-7 (.667). In Division 1 action the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo earned a playoff berth beating the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 31-12. In Division 2 the RAMS of Ramsey earned a playoff spot beating the BEARS of Bergenfield 28-12. The NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest had their bye.

While the NBIL sends Pascack Valley, Ramapo, Ramsey and Wayne Hills to the States, our CUTTERS will play a Consolation Game at home at SASSO FIELD at Noon Saturday against the MUSTANGS of Montville. Under coaches Mike Albergue (2-1), Greg Tanzer (4-1) and Stan Myles (1-0) our CUTTERS are 7-2 (.778) in these games since they began in 1998. NBIL Division 1 Fair Lawn is 5-3 (.625) and has outscored the opposition 251-199 for an average 31-25 win. Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division Montville is 5-4 (.556) and has outscored the opposition 204-103 for an average 23-11 win. Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS want to win this one and improve their season record. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 – Montville 14. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2008 Week 8

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1948 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS tied the BUCCANEERS of Bogota 6-6 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn and Bogota shared the 1946 B-PIL title and our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry 6-3-2 (.667).

1958 – Bennett’s CUTTERS drew a bye.

1968 - Frank Devens’ CUTTERS stung the Hornets of Passaic Valley 13-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (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.

1978 – New coach Pete Natale’s CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 34-6 in NNJIL action. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN.

1988 – New coach Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS shut out the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 19-0 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action. Pascack Valley leads the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-present rivalry 13-10-1 (.565) going into the 2008 game.

1998 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged the RAMS of Ramsey 13-12 in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2008-11

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 31, the Mustangs of South Western ended their 2008 season with a visit to the Colonials of New Oxford and soared to a 35-0 shut out. The Colonials punted on their first possession and the Mustangs drove 53-yards in three plays. Zac Scott ripped off a 13-yard run, J. R. Mummert added 3-yards, and the drive ended with a beautiful 34-yard touchdown pass from David Sager to Chris Helwig. Zak Kruger’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 at the 7:18 mark in the first quarter and the Mustangs never looked back.

The Colonials went three and out and punted on their next possession and this time the Mustangs drove 51-yards in four plays. Mummert carried twice for 11-yards, Jeb Shipley once for 3-yards, and David Sager launched a 37-yard touchdown pass to Drew Sneeringer. Kruger’s extra point kick upped the score to 14-0 at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter.

The Colonials again went three and out and punted and the Mustangs drove 48-yards in six plays. The drive featured a 37-yard pass from David Sager to Scott and ended with a 7-yard touchdown strike from Sager to Sneeringer. Kruger’s extra point kick made the score 21-0 with 11:55 to go in the half.

The Colonials punted again on their next possession and the Mustangs drove 66-yards in seven plays. The drive featured a 17-yard pass from David Sager to his cousin Levi Sager, and ended with a 39-yard touchdown strike to Kyle Mahorney from David Sager. Kruger’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-0 with 7:14 to go in the first half.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted to open the second half. The Colonials put on their best drive of the game, going from their own 19-yard line to the Mustangs 14-yard line in 15 plays. The drive featured a 10-yard pass from Steve Sanders to Robert Laughman and a 29-yard pass from Mike Bivens to Zack Groft. The drive ended when Jake Shaffer recovered a fumble for the Mustangs at their own 14-yard line.

Two plays later David Sager tossed another pass to his cousin Levi Sager, who galloped 83-yards for a touchdown. Kruger’s extra point kick closed out the scoring at 35-0 in favor of the Mustangs with 1:27 to go in the third quarter.

Jake Myers led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles, followed by Derek Supel with 12, Drew Sneeringer with 10, Alex Berwager and Chris Helwig with 8 tackles each, Brandon Nicastro with 7, Colby Fuhrman with 6, Zac Scott with 4, Adam Day, Jake Shaffer and Andrew Sells with 3 tackles each, Jordan Gall and Levi Sager with 2 tackles each, and Curvin Boehler, Chris Houser and Kyle Mahorney with 1 tackle each. Jake Shaffer recovered a fumble, Supel recorded 2 sacks, and Boehler, Helwig, Scott, and Jake Myers each recorded a sack for the Mustangs. Sneeringer was credited with 3 pass hurries, Myers was credited with 2, and Gall and Scott were each credited with 1, for the Mustangs.

Levi Sager returned 1 kickoff for 31-yards and 2 punts for 17-yards, with the longest going for 10-yards, and Chris Helwig returned 1 punt for no-yards for the Mustangs. Levi Sager returned 11 punts for 124-yards and Helwig returned 13 for 94-yards for the season. Helwig returned 19 kickoffs for 468-yards for the season, the only kickoff returner to exceed 100-yards. Zak Kruger kicked off 5 times for 276-yards, including 1 touchback, and kicked 5 extra points in the game. Kruger kicked off 44 times for 2,304 yards, including 9 touchbacks, for the season. He also kicked 26 extra points and 2 field goals for the season. Kyle Mahorney kicked off twice for the season for 96-yards. Jake Myers punted 1 time for 31-yards. Myers punted 37 times for 1,216-yards and a 32.87-yard average for the season for the Mustangs.

Adam Day, Colby Fuhrman, Jordan Gall, Chris Helwig, Kyle Mahorney, Jake Myers, Brandon Nicastro, Zac Scott, Andrew Sells, Jake Shaffer, Drew Sneeringer, Derek Supel, and Wes Trostle manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with assistance from Curvin Boehler, Chris Houser, Brandon Myers, Ben Shultz, and Ray Sites. Alex Berwager, Jimmy Nicklas and Levi Sager patrolled the secondary, with assistance from Larry Bowen, James Finnegan, Kyle King, Tyrell McCleary and Ryan Sexton, for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 171-yards rushing and 276-yards passing for a total of 447-yards of offense. J. R. Mummert led the Mustangs rushing attack with 11 carries for 53-yards, followed by Mike Brant with 6 for 36, Jeb Shipley with 3 for 32, Zac Scott with 6 for 29, Chris Helwig with 4 for 11, Levi Sager with 2 for 8, and David Sager with 1 for 2-yards. Quarterback David Sager completed 8 of 16 passes for 276-yards and 5 touchdowns, 2 for 100-yards to his cousin Levi Sager (including an 83-yard touchdown), 3 for 66-yards to Drew Sneeringer (including touchdowns of 37 and 7-yards), 1 for 39-yards and a touchdown to Kyle Mahorney, 1 for 37-yards to Scott, and 1 for 34-yards and a touchdown to Helwig, for the Mustangs.

The Colonials gained 77-yards rushing and 56-yards passing for a total offense of 133-yards. Mike Bivens led the Colonials rushing attack with 12 carries for 47-yards, followed by Nick Rebert with 13 for 26, James Eline with 4 for 8-yards, and Steve Sanders with 8 for minus 4-yards. Bivens completed 3 of 8 passes for 38-yards and Sanders completed 2 passes for 18-yards for the Colonials. Zack Groft caught 4 passes for 46-yards and Robert Laughman caught 1 pass for 10-yards for the Colonials. Ed Dema recovered a fumble for the Colonials.

The 93 member 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a rousing half time show entitled “B-Classical” and featuring the energetic rhythms of Bernstein, passionate melodies of Borodini, and empowering harmony of Bizet. The 70 member New Oxford Colonials Marching Band put on a stirring post game show titled “Freedom,” featuring the tunes “The Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” “Chester,” and “Amazing Grace.” The 26 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad and the Colonials Cheer Leaders were very impressive in rousing their fandom.

The Mustangs of South Western ended their season at 4-6-0 overall and 3-4-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 173-77-1 (.692) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 314-195-8. The results of the 517 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .617 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage.

I want to say a very special thank you to Richard Lupro for faithfully compiling the official Offensive, Special Teams and Scoring statistics for the Mustangs, and for inputting them, and the Defensive statistics, at the Max Preps web site very quickly each week so that they were always available for my use. And a very special thank you also goes to longtime Mustangs line coach Chuck Seidenstricker for providing vital Defensive statistics to me, and to Dick Lupro, for input to the web site, after reviewing game films on very short notice.

The 2008 edition of the Mustangs of South Western gave their fans lots of excitement and thrills. J. R. Mummert had 155 carries for 868-yards rushing and 7 touchdowns for the season, followed by Chris Helwig with 68 for 302-yards and 3 touchdowns, Jeb Shipley with 49 for 273-yards and 3 touchdowns, Zac Scott with 43 for 266-yards and 2 touchdowns, Mike Brant with 20 for 95-yards and 1 touchdown, Kyle King with 4 for 67-yards and a touchdown, Levi Sager with 10 for 45-yards, David Sager with 18 for 25-yards and 2 touchdowns, Tyrell McCleary with 3 for 25-yards, Jeff Hacker with 2 for 12-yards, Ryan Sexton with 1 for 3-yards, Ian Smith with 11 for minus 1-yard, and Jake Myers with 3 for minus 12-yards and 1 touchdown, and a team loss of 12-yards, for a net of 1,957 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns for the season.

Quarterback David Sager apparently tied the Mustangs school record with 5 touchdown passes, previously set by J. C. Laughlin against Delone Catholic in 2006 (I couldn’t ascertain what the record was but no one remembers anyone ever having 5 before these two instances). Laughlin completed 8 of 14 passes for 215-yards against Delone Catholic and Sager completed 8 of 16 passes for 276-yards, so Sager probably has the school record for passing yardage in a single game, but there seems to be no official record to confirm that.

David Sager completed 49 of 115 passes for 795-yards and 14 touchdowns for this season. Ian Smith completed 15 of 46 passes for 231-yards and Bobby Porter completed 1 pass for 42-yards and a touchdown. The season reception leaders were Drew Sneeringer with 16 receptions for 291-yards and 7 touchdowns, followed by Kyle Mahorney with 14 for 168-yards and 3 touchdowns, Chris Helwig with 10 for 150-yards and 1 touchdown, Levi Sager with 4 for 149-yards and 2 touchdowns, Jimmy Nicklas with 8 for 92-yards and 1 touchdown, Zac Scott with 3 for 80-yards and a touchdown, J. R. Mummert with 3 for 56-yards, Alex Berwager with 3 for 49-yards, and Jeb Shipley with 4 for 33-yards.

Jake Myers led the defense with 101 tackles. Other players with at least 50 tackles for the season were: Drew Sneeringer with 84, Andrew Sells with 61, Derek Supel with 61, Alex Berwager with 59, Brandon Nicastro with 58, Chris Helwig with 53, Zac Scott with 53, and Jake Shaffer with 51.

Derek Supel led the team in sacks with 5, followed by Kyle Mahorney with 4, Jake Myers with 3, Adam Day, Jake Shaffer, Andrew Sells and Drew Sneeringer with 2 each, and Curvin Boehler, Chris Helwig, Dan Laird, Zac Scott, and Ray Sites with 1 sack each. Jake Myers had 2 interceptions and Alex Berwager, Shaffer, Sells, and Sneeringer each had 1 interception for the season. Brandon Nicastro and Shaffer each recovered 2 fumbles and Ryan Sexton, Zac Scott, Sneeringer and Supel each recovered 1 fumble for the season.

The 2008 Mustangs represented their school and league honorably, played hard, never gave up, and were within striking distance of winning several games that just didn’t go their way in the end. They took the number 4 seed in class AAAA, York (William Penn), to the brink before falling 32-27. They have a great nucleus of returning players from the junior varsity and solid players coming up within the ranks. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Until then, GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 9 - 2008

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High ran into a buzz saw in the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills who ran their winning streak over 4 seasons to 48 with a 48-14 victory in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 action last Saturday night. Captains Kevin Carlson, Spencer Carter, Matt Maher and Joe Visaggio went out for the coin toss won by the PATRIOTS who deferred their choice to the second half. Our CUTTERS came out firing! Visaggio ran the kickoff from the 8 to the 22. With center Brian Walis, guards Yuval Bussi and Sergio LaPlaca and tackles Mike Oates and Adam Polisi blocking, Nick Graff, Carlson and Visaggio picked up yardage. Visaggio swept left for 6 yards and a TD. With Greg Rau snapping and Visaggio holding, Sacir Hot kicked the extra point and the CUTTERS had shocked the PATRIOTS with a 7-0 lead! After Wayne Hills went ahead 14-7, our heroes marched to the Wayne Hills 2 yard line but the tying drive ended in a fumble. The heavily favored PATRIOTS led 28-7 at the half and scored 20 more points with Carlson blocking one extra point kick.

Our “never-say die” CUTTERS refused to give up. They began the second half with an onside kick that Chris Soltys nearly recovered. In the closing minutes QB Travis Kubasta threw a picture “bomb” to Visaggio to the 3. He then threw a TD pass to Carlson and Hot’s kick closed out the scoring. On “D,” Soltys intercepted a pass, Hot made a TD saving tackle and Mike Berkhofer, Bussi, Carlson, Graff, James Mallon and Visaggio made big plays. The PATRIOTS lead the 1984 – present rivalry 19-5 (.792). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8.

In the other NBIL Division 1 games the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 15-7 and the GREEN RAIDERS or Ramapo beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 28-18. In the NBIL Division 2 the BRAVES of Indian Hills shut out the BEARS of Bergenfield 24-0. The RAMS of Ramsey shut out the REDBIRDS of Allentown and the Colonial Valley League, Patriot Division 40-0 bringing the record of the NBIL against other leagues this year to 1-0 (1.000) before the playoffs and consolation games start. Pascack Valley and Mahwah had their bye week.

This Saturday night our CUTTERS travel to Hillsdale to take on the INDIANS of Pascack Valley for the 25th time. Pascack Valley leads the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-present rivalry 13-10-1 (.565) and has won the last 4 games. Fair Lawn comes into the game 5-2 (.714) having outscored the opposition 209-150 for an average 30-21 win. PV is 6-1 (.857) and has outscored the opposition 187-66 for an average 27-9 win. The INDIANS’ lone loss was a 35-0 shut out at the hands of Wayne Hills. With a playoff berth probably riding on the outcome I know our CUTTERS will go all out for a victory. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 – Pascack Valley 21. GO CUTTERS GO!!!