THE GRIDIRON 4 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High stung the BEES of Bayonne 48-8 last Saturday in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover action. Right from the start, center Regis Larkin, guards Max Jacobs and Matt Paisley and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock opened big holes for backs Egor Buharin, James Hegybeli and Christian Samra, Hegybeli ran to the 11, Samra bulled to the 1 and QB Travis Kubasta ran for the TD behind Larkin. With Larkin snapping and Brendan Walis holding, the sure footed Chris Soltys kicked the extra point and our CUTTERS never looked back from their 7-0 lead! Samra rambled to the 9 and Hegybeli ran for a TD and it was 13-0. Samra’s TD put Fair Lawn up 19-0 and Kubasta’s 2 point conversion pass to Hegybeli made it 21-0. Kubasta threw a picture pass to James Mallon for a big first down and passed to Buharin for another. His TD pass to Mallon made it 27-0 and the PAT by Soltys had our heroes up 28-0. Kubasta passed to Bryan Turton for a TD and the PAT kick by Soltys had Fair Lawn up 35-0 at the half.

Buharin rambled to the 3 and then bulled his way for the TD and Soltys’ kick put Fair Lawn up 42-0. Davon Johnson electrified the crowd with a 60 yard TD gallop closed out the scoring for Fair Lawn. QB Dan Prigge took a knee to end the game. The “D” was outstanding as Kevin Benjamin teamed up with Polisi for a big sack, Mallon and Benjamin stopped a runner for a loss and Mallon and Tim Schrettner stuffed a fake punt try. Andy Chorlian, Sherlock and Sam Vovsi made great plays and Polisi recovered a fumble.

The victory brings Fair Lawn’s record against Bayonne to 1-1 (.500). The teams faced each other in that memorable State playoff game in 1987 when, in gale force winds and bitter cold at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were stung 12-6 by the BEES. Our CUTTERS got their revenge big time 22 years later! It was a thrill seeing a member of the original CUTTERS 1943 team at the game! Bill Perkins was one of the miscreants whose sneak trip to the Rivoli Theater in Paterson during school hours led to the naming of “The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High.” He scored the 1st TD in FLHS Gridiron history. Bill, along with the other original “CUTTERS” and their coach, Marty Fischbein, will be inducted into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame this weekend.

The Fair Lawn Football Association cheerleaders put on a great show. They were assisted by FLHS cheerleaders and their coach, Lauren Gimon. “Gimon’s gals” do a fine job each week!

Fair Lawn’s NJTCC Division 3 went 4-0 against outsiders bringing its 2009 record to 8-1 (.889). In addition to Fair Lawn’s victory, the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford shocked the LANCERS of Lakeland 22-12, the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck ambushed the BRUINS of North Bergen 10-7 and the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills brought their winning streak to 55 games shutting out the INDIANS of Wayne Valley 7-0. They face the GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph in a battle of unbeatens Friday night in the NJTCC Division 3 “game of the year.” St. Joseph had their by this week.

On Saturday at 2:00 our CUTTERS are home at Sasso Field against the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford in NJTCC Division 3 action. The 2009 inductees to the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame, including this writer, will be introduced at halftime. The game will be broadcast on WGHT Radio 1500AM. The teams faced each other in 1983 when Fair Lawn’s Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) created 3 divisions making independent games possible. Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were beaten 33-13 by the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division HIGHLANDERS. West Milford is 1-2 (.333) and has been outscored 93-29 for an average 31-10 loss. Fair Lawn is 3-0 and has outscored the opposition 80-22 for an average 27-7 victory. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 – West Milford 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!