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!!!