THE GRIDIRON 5 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High won a thriller edging the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford 21-20 in North Jersey Tri County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action last week. The game was broadcast by WGHT Radio (1500AM) with the popular John Fass and Marco Balletti at the mike. Their “player of the game,” Christian Samra, picked up big yardage from the start behind center Regis Larkin, guards Max Jacobs and Matt Paisley and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock, as did Egor Buharin, James Hegybeli and Kelvin Rosario. QB Travis Kubasta threw a picture 28 yard TD pass to Chris Soltys and our CUTTERS led 6-0. Hegybelli ran 7 yards for a TD and Kubasta’s 2 point conversion pass to James Mallon made it 14-0 at the half. That conversion would ultimately prove to be the difference!

In the 2nd half the HIGHLANDERS came out throwing and scored 3 TDs to take a 20-14 lead! Kubasta’s interception at the Fair Lawn 4 and runback saved the day. It led to Samra’s 2 yard TD run. Fair Lawn fans’ hearts were in their throats as, with Brendan Walis holding, the sure footed Soltys kicked the extra point for the 21-20 Fair Lawn lead. Our heroes weren’t done yet as Buharin recovered a fumble and Soltys intercepted a pass in the closing minutes. Hegybelli picked up a big 1st down and Fair Lawn fans breathed a sigh of relieve as Kubasta took a knee to end the thriller. The win evened Fair Lawn’s 1983 and 2009 record against West Milford at 1-1 (.500).

It was “Hall of Fame day” at SASSO FIELD as the 2009 Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, including this writer, were introduced at halftime. Each inductee was escorted onto the field by a beautiful FLHS cheerleader.

In the other NJTCC Division 3 game, the GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph ended the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills’ winning streak at 55 games with a 17-15 victory. That, coupled with the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic mauling the MAROONS of Ridgewood 40-14, added flames to the raging “public versus parochial” debate. If even Ridgewood and Wayne Hills, two of the premier public high school football programs in North Jersey, can’t win against these parochial powerhouses, what chance do other teams have? The HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck brought the NJTCC Division 3 record against outside teams to 9-1 (.900) thrashing the RAMS of William L. Dickinson High School of Jersey City 47-8.

This Saturday at 2:30, our CUTTERS play host at SASSO FIELD to those GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph in NJTCC Division 3 action. In 1982 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action the GREEN KNIGHTS shut Pete Natale’s CUTTERS out 20-0. Our CUTTERS, who have outscored their opposition 101-42 for an average 25-11 victory, are 4-0 (1.000), just as they were last year when the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo beat them 31-21. St. Joseph is 3-0 (1.000) and the GREEN KNIGHTS have outscored their opposition 95-59 for an average 32-20 victory. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS figure to make this a real battle but the powerful GREEN KNIGHTS appear to be too strong. I hope I’m wrong but, from here it looks like St. Joseph 32 Fair Lawn 21. GO CUTTERS GO!!!