THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2009 Week 1

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1949 – Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS beat the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 13-7 in independent action. During 1947-54 and 1983 Fair Lawn went 5-4 (.556) over the GHOSTS. This was sweetened by the fact that, until FLHS opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. A few students from the Columbia Heights section went to Hawthorne and the Radburn section students went to Ridgewood. The 4-4 (.500) deadlock was broken by the 20-18 Fair Lawn victory in 1983.

1959 – Bennett’s CUTTERS drew a bye before beginning their maiden season in the tough Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL).

1969 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS shut out the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 24-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. In independent action 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1979 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the SPARTANS of Paramus 34-8 in NNJIL action. During 1962-83 the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

1989 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were shut out 10-0 by the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1986-93 and 1998–2008 rivalry 10-9 (.526). State mandated realignment has ended it, at least for now.

1999 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the RAMS of Ramsey 28-6 in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)! Realignment has ended this rivalry too.