THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2009 Week 2

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1949 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS shutout the BEARS of Hawthorne 40-0 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Independently in 1944 and in the B-PIL 1945-55, our CUTTERS went 9-3 (.750) over the BEARS. When Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the league, left in ’56, it was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1959 – Bennett’s CUTTERS, after a bye, opened their maiden season in the tough Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) beating the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 12-7. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN.

1969 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS went outside the NNJIL to take on the HILLTOPPERS of Summit in independent action losing a 13-6 thriller. During 1967–70 the HILLTOPPERS representing the Suburban Conference, went 3-1 (.750) over our CUTTERS. Fair Lawn won only the ’67 series opener.

1979 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shutout the BEARS of Bergenfield 6-0 in NNJIL action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686) and the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733). The teams have squared off 1945-48 in the B-PIL, 1962-83 in the NNJIL and 1984-2008 in the NBIL. State mandated realignment has ended the rivalry at least for now.

1989 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 15-14 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn took the 1984 – 2008 rivalry 15–10 (.600). Realignment has ended the rivalry, at least for now.

1999 – Alberque’s CUTTERS mauled the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 39-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1999-2001 and 2007-2008 our CUTTERS went 4-1 (.800) over the THUNDERBIRDS. Realignment has ended the rivalry, at least for now.