THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2009 Week 6

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1949 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS went outside their Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) to shut out the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes 7-0 in independent action. During 1945-50 Charlie Benson’s CARDS and Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS split their fierce rivalry at 3-3 (.500).

1959 – Bennett’s CUTTERS edged the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 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.

1969 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 47-14 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Fair Lawn leads 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 since 1984 in the NBIL. Realignment has ended the rivalry at least for now.

1979 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the BENGALS of Bloomfield 43-20 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Our CUTTERS took the 1977 independent and 1978-81 NNJIL rivalry 4-1 (.800). In ’77 Bloomfield was not yet a full NNJIL member because of a commitment to play Irvington on Thanksgiving.

1989 – Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS beat the RAMS of Ramsey 28-14 in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)! Realignment has ended it for now.

1999 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were shutout 7-0 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in NBIL Division 1 action. Ramapo leads the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 rivalry 17-11 (.607). Realignment has ended it, at least for now.