PLAYOFF FINALS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2009

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON. Power points only come into play in making the playoffs and in seeding in them.

In 1980 Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shared the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the HORNETS of Passaic Valley. They beat the HORNETS 7-6 during the season but were beaten 20-7 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS who in turn were beaten by the HORNETS. The tri-champions all had 8-1 (.889) NNJIL records. In the opening round of the States in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action, the CUTTERS played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic and the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller. In the finals at GIANTS STADIUM the HORNETS of Passaic Valley avenged the regular season loss with a 20-0 championship shut out victory. Those 1980 CUTTERS were the first team in FLHS history to win 9 games, going 9-2 (.818). The others were Natale’s 1985 and 87 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS who went 9-1 (.900).

THE GRIDIRON 13 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

After the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were beaten 42-7 by the awesome GAELS of Roxbury in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV 1st round playoffs, they and their fans looked forward to Thanksgiving Day games involving current and former foes. Here’s a look at some of them. Fair Lawn’s North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 went 1-1 (.500) against outside teams. The GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph were pummeled 62-28 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco while the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck beat the COMETS of Hackensack 28-20. In 1982 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action, the GREEN KNIGHTS shut out Pete Natale’s CUTTERS 20-0 and this season they shut our CUTTERS out 37-0. In 1976 in independent action and 1982 and 83 in the NNJIL the IRONMEN went 3-0 over our CUTTERS. The unfair advantage the parochial schools had was the main reason Fair Lawn left the NNJIL in 1984 and returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), which our CUTTERS had left in 1959. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN. Fair Lawn’s 20-6 victory in 2009 in (NJTCC) Division 3 action put our CUTTERS up 18-11-1 (.621) on Teaneck. The NJTCC Division 3 is now 24-9 (.727) against outside teams with 2 playoff games left.

I saw the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High shut out the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0 at Clifton School Stadium. During 1972-74 independently and 1975-81 in the NNJIL, Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including a 30-0 State playoff victory in 1979 after our CUTTERS had shut the FIGHTING MUSTANGS out 21-0 during the season. Our CUTTERS have a great history with the INDIANS. In 1980 Fair Lawn shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley at 8-1 (.889). In the opening round of the Group IV playoffs at GIANTS STADIUM, Pete Natale’s CUTTERS trailed Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 and our heroes, led by QB Pat Finn and running back Chris Finn, a 2008 inductee into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame, roared back to win a 27-18 thriller. In 1985 Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS faced those INDIANS in the playoffs again. Trailing 28-26 late in the game they lost a 36-26 thriller at what their announcer called Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” It’s now Boverini Stadium. This year our CUTTERS and those INDIANS staged an ole fashioned barn burner in the playoffs with Fair Lawn winning a 39-38 heart stopper. The game replaced the 1980 game at the top of my list of the most thrilling games in the 67 season GRIDIRON history of Fair Lawn High.

The MAROONS of Ridgewood edged the SPARTANS of Paramus 29-27 for their 22nd straight victory in the rivalry. During our 1944-83 Turkey Day rivalry Ridgewood went 26-11-3 (.703) against Fair Lawn. Paramus took the 1962-83 rivalry with Fair Lawn 12-10 (.545).

The KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson buried the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 38-16 to even the 85 year rivalry at 39-39-7 (.500). Before Fair Lawn High opened, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. During 1947-54 and 1983 our CUTTERS went 5-4 (.556) against Eastside. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. In 1988 the successor KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy beat our CUTTERS 20-6 in the States while, in the 2003 State “Consolation Game,” our CUTTERS’ prevailed 20-0. Our CUTTERS 12-8 victory in 2009 brought their record against Central/Kennedy to 7-3 (.700).

In Fair Lawn’s old NBIL the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of NV/Old Tappan beat the NORSEMEN of NV/Demarest 43-14 and the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah the beat the playoff finalist RAMS of Ramsey 35-7. Those were great Fair Lawn rivalries with the longest being with Ramsey. Fair Lawn leads the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 series with the RAMS by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)!

Next week the NJTCC Division 3 will have Wayne Hills and St. Joseph in the playoff finals. We’ll check that out; reminisce about Fair Lawn’s great 2009 season and look ahead to 2010 as we close out The Gridiron for this year. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FAIR LAWN HIGH THANKSGIVING DAY MEMORIES – 2009

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The 2009 football season, the 67th since Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943, is the first season in which our CUTTERS had no Thanksgiving Day football game. Coach Marty Fischbein found an opponent for his new CUTTERS that initial 1943 season in the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity High School of Westfield. Our CUTTERS started their Thanksgiving play with a 19-0 victory on what is now the Center Rec Field before the football field was built. The present Sasso Field, named after the venerable athletic director, teacher, coach and vice principal, Virgil G. Sasso, who served 1944-79, was laid out in 1956 as the gold colored high school addition was being built and took that space. The impressive home stands were constructed for the 1959 season.

In 1944, Fischbein’s CUTTERS began a 40 year Turkey Day rivalry with the MAROONS of Ridgewood which ended in 1984 when Fair Lawn left the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), that Fair Lawn and Ridgewood had left in 1959 for the NNJIL. Ridgewood took the 1944-83 annual classic 26-11-3 (.703).

In 1984 back in the NBIL, our CUTTERS began a 10 year Turkey Day rivalry with the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills. The 1984-93 rivalry wound up 5-5 (.500). The teams continued to play during the season. Both schools moved to the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 in 2009 and will be in new divisions in the Big North Conference (BNC) in 2010. Wayne Hills leads the 1984-2009 overall rivalry 20-5 (.800). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8.

In 1994 the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah joined the NBIL, which they had left in the 1960s for the new Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (B-PSL). They wanted to play their old Turkey Day foe, Ramsey, but the RAMS were playing Northern Highlands. The reshuffling of the Turkey Day NBIL rivalries enabled Fair Lawn to pick up the BEARS of Bergenfield. Fair Lawn took the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733) and the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 overall rivalry 35-16 (.686). Realignment has ended it, at least for now.

Fair Lawn’s 66 season Thanksgiving Day record during 1943-2008 is 28-35-3 (.444). It ended with Fair Lawn’s 42-0 victory over Bergenfield last year. There were some great memories along the way. In 1947, our CUTTERS shared the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) championship with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. Coach Frank “Mac” Bennett was the New York Daily News North Jersey “Coach of The Year.” The CUTTERS beat the MAROONS 7-6 for the first Fair Lawn victory. Ridgewood led the series 3-1 (.750). In 1953 Bennett’s B-PIL champion CUTTERS shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III title with the COMETS of Hackensack. Star running back Dave Sime would become “The World’s Fastest Human!” Ridgewood led the series 6-4 (.600).

Bennett’s 1959 CUTTERS almost took the title in their maiden NNJIL season. Ridgewood’s 13-7 upset victory in which the MAROONS injured Fair Lawn’s star running back, Bob Wright, who went on to play for Army, gave Hackensack the title by half a game even though the CUTTERS had beaten the COMETS 27-6. Ridgewood led the series 10-5-1 (.667).

Ed Sheehy’s 1964 CUTTERS tied Ridgewood 6-6. Sheehy died after the season and Frank Devens’ NNJIL champion CUTTERS went 8-0-1 (1.000) in ’65 and beat Ridgewood 13-6 on Turkey Day. His 1966 NNJIL champion CUTTERS brought a 22 game non-losing streak into the game. Sensational running back, Bruce Jankowski would go on to star at Ohio State and play for the Kansas City Chiefs. He and ’59 star, Bob Wright, along with coaches Bennett and Devens, were in the initial group inducted into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2006. Coach Fischbein and the original “cutters” were inducted this year along with this writer. Before a crowd of 13,000 on Thanksgiving Day in ‘66, Ridgewood upset Fair Lawn in a 40-34 barn burner. The MAROONS led the series 13-8-2 (.619).

What wonderful memories there are of FLHS in action on Thanksgiving Day! Playoffs have eliminated many Turkey Day games now.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2009-13

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 20, as the 4th seed in District 3, class AAAA, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the 5th seeded Comets of Penn Manor, of the Lancaster-Lebanon League Division 1, at the Mustang Corral in the semifinal round of the playoffs and were defeated 34-12, ending a very successful and very fan pleasing 50th season of Mustang football. The South Western Mustangs began and ended the game on high notes; Jake Myers intercepted a pass on the Comets first possession and returned it for 16-yards, and backup senior quarterback Bobby Porter threw a 16-yard touchdown pass as the clock ran out.

On the 5th play of the game Jake Myers intercepted P. J. Rehm’s pass for the Mustangs. But the Mustangs ended up punting and the Comets launched a 9 play 59-yard drive, featuring a 34-yard pass from Rehm to Aaron Frederick. That set up Garrett Young’s 1-yard touchdown plunge and Keith Eshleman’s extra point kick put the Comets up 7-0 with 5:11 left in the first quarter.

The Mustangs and the Comets exchanged punts, the Mustangs punted again and the Comets got the ball at the Mustangs 44-yard line. An 8 play drive, featuring a 17-yard pass to Demetrius Dixon, set the Comets up for Young’s second 1-yard touchdown plunge, and Eshleman’s extra point kick upped the score to 14-0 with 8:08 left in the second quarter.

The Mustangs punted again and the Comets drove 73-yards in 8 plays, ending with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Rehm to Dixon. The score went to 20-0 with 2:44 left in the first half.

The Mustangs punted again and Rehm completed a 56-yard pass to Dixon. That set up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Rehm to Jared Shearer and Eshleman’s extra point kick made it 27-0 with 1:06 left in the first half.

The Mustangs drove from their own 36-yard line to the Comets 7-yard line in a drive that included a 17-yard gain by J. R. Mummert on a fake punt. The half ended with 2 incomplete passes.

The Mustangs opened the second half with a 7 play 64-yard drive, featuring passes of 15 and 27-yards from Ian Smith to Kyle Mahorney. They turned the ball over on down at the Comets 7-yard line.

The Comets went up 34-0 with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Rehm to Aaron Frederick and Eshleman’s extra point kick with 7:49 left in the game.

The Mustangs then drove 62-yards in 5 plays, featuring passes of 11 and 13-yards from Smith to Jimmy Nicklas. Smith ended the drive with a 38-yard touchdown strike to Mike Felton with 6:55 left in the game.

Senior Bobby Porter took over the quarterback duties for the Mustangs and they drove 71-yards in 13 plays, featuring a 10-yard pass to Tyrell McCleary, an 11-yard pass to Jimmy Nicklas and a 6-yard pass to Mike Felton by Porter. Porter ended the drive with a beautiful 16-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Mahorney as the clock ran out in the game, making the final score 34-12.

Jake Myers led the Mustangs defense with 20 tackles, followed by Cody Fricke with 12, Colby Fuhrman and Jake Shaffer with 10 tackles each, Jimmy Nicklas with 9, Kyle Mahorney with 7, Billy Utz with 6, Tyrell McCleary and Levi Sager with 5 tackles each, Kyle King and Dan Laird with 4 tackles each, Mike Felton with 3, Aaron Bosley with 2 tackles, and Matt Funk, Tommy Nicklas and Ryan Sexton with 1 tackle each. Fuhrman was credited with a sack, and Bosley, Felton, Fricke and King were each credited with a pass defense, for the Mustangs.

Levi Sager and Tyrell McCleary fair caught a punt for the Mustangs. Sager returned 3 kickoffs for 52-yards, with the longest going for 22-yards, and Mike Felton returned 2 kickoffs for 23-yards, with the longest going for 12-yards, for the Mustangs. Norton Redding kicked off 2 times for 55-yards, with the longest going for 30-yards for the Mustangs. Mike Felton punted 6 times for 223-yards for a 37.17-yard average, with the longest going for 41-yards, for the Mustangs.

Aaron Bosley, Mason Brady, Mike Felton, Matt Funk, Cody Fricke, Colby Fuhrman, Dan Laird, Kyle Mahorney, David Messinger, Jake Myers, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Billy Utz manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Kyle King, Tyrell McCleary, Jimmy Nicklas, and Levi Sager patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 96-yards rushing and 206-yards passing for a total of 302- yards of offense. J. R. Mummert led the Mustangs rushing attack with 10 carries for 52-yards, followed by Levi Sager with 5 carries for 24-yards, Bobby Porter with 4 carries for 11-yards, Kyle King with 1 carry for 5-yards, and Mike Felton with 1 carry for 4-yards. Quarterback Smith completed 10 of 24 passes for 155-yards and a touchdown and quarterback Bobby Porter completed 5 of 8 passes for 51-yards and a touchdown, for the Mustangs. Kyle Mahorney caught 4 passes for 62-yards (including a 16-yard touchdown from Porter) followed by Mike Felton with 4 passes for 57-yards (including a 38-yard touchdown from Smith), Jimmy Nicklas with 3 passes for 33-yards, Levi Sager with 1 pass for 31-yards, Tyrell McCleary with 1 pass for 10-yards, Kyle King with 1 pass for 8-yards, and HJ. R. Mummert with 1 pass for 5-yards, for the Mustangs. Jake Myers intercepted a pass and returned it 16-yards for the Mustangs.

The Comets gained 141-yards rushing and 325-yards passing for a total offense of 466-yards. Jared Shearer led the Comets rushing attack with 10 carries for 50-yards, followed by P. J. Rehm with 11 carries for 41-yards, LaRonn Lee with 6 carries for 40-yards, Garrett Young with 6 carries for 13-yards (including 2 touchdowns of 1-yard each), Aaron Frederick with 1 carry for 1-yard, Adam Sahd with 1 carry for no yards, and Darius Howard with 2 carries for minus 4-yards. Quarterback Rehm completed 17 of 24 passes for 325-yards and 3 touchdowns, 6 passes for 156-yards to Demetrius Dixon (including a 35-yard touchdown), 5 passes for 116-yards to Aaron Frederick (including a 24-yard touchdown), 2 passes for 18-yards to LaRonn Lee, 2 passes for 17-yards to Darius Howard, 1 pass for 10-yards and a touchdown to Jared Shearer, and 1 pass for 8-yards to Austin Sahd, for the Comets. Keith Eshleman kicked 4 extra points for the Comets.

The 83 member 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a rousing pre-game show. The field production of the 2009 edition of the Band, under the guidance of second year Director Ethan Clark, is titled “Horsing Around in the Mustang Corral” and is a 50th anniversary musical celebration featuring the school “Alma Mater,” “Magnificent 7,” a lullaby of “All The Pretty Little Horses,” and “The Red Pony.” The 20 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad, plus the Mustangs Mascot, and the Comets Cheer Leaders were very good at rousing the excited crowd in the playoff atmosphere.

The Mustangs of South Western have a record of 10-2-0 overall and 6-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 183-79-1 (.698) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 324-197-8. The results of the 529 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .622 winning percentage and a .628 non-losing percentage.

I want to say a very special thank you to Richard Lupro for faithfully compiling the official Offensive, Special Teams and Scoring statistics for the Mustangs, and for inputting them, and the Defensive statistics, at the Max Preps web site very quickly each week so that they were always available for my use. He was instrumental in coming up with most of the records that will be mentioned below. And a very special thank you also goes to longtime Mustangs line coach Chuck Seidenstricker for providing vital Defensive statistics to me, and to Dick Lupro, for input to the web site, after reviewing game films on very short notice.

The 2009 edition of the Mustangs of South Western gave their fans lots of excitement and thrills. They shared the YAIAA Division I title with the Panthers of Central York, won the Division I Hanover City Cup for the second year in a row, had a 10-1 regular season record, and got to the second round of the District 3 playoffs in a very tough AAAA classification. The team set a new record for total offense in a season with 4,132-yards, surpassing the record of 4,071-yards set in 2006. The team also set a new record for passing yards in a season with 1,583-yards (1,483 by Ian Smith and 100 by Bobby Porter), surpassing the record of 1,276 set in 2006.

Ian Smith set a new school record for yards passing in a season with 1,483, surpassing J. C. Laughlin’s record of 1,259-yards in 2006. Smith also came in second all time for touchdown passes in a season with 16, just 4 behind Laughlin’s record of 20 in 2006.

With 6 touchdown receptions, Mike Felton tied with Tim Rill (1990) and Phil Null (1973) for third place in school history. Drew Snyder leads the list with 10 touchdown receptions in 2006.

Ian Smith kicked 36 extra points for the season, putting him in 3rd place in school history. Ryan Wickline has the record with 44 extra points in 1994.

Kyle Mahorney is tied with Steve McConnell for 4th place in school history for touchdown receptions in a career with 8. Drew Snyder leads the list with 14. Mahorney has 589-yards in pass receptions for his career, placing him just 3 behind Steve McConnell’s 5th place finish in school history. Tim Rill leads the list with 992-yards.

J. R. Mummert has 2,034-yards rushing for his career, placing him just 54-yards from 5th place in school history. Bob Barthold is in 5th place with 2,088-yards and Allen Bittinger leads the list with 2,871-yards.

Jake Myers, who had 20 tackles in this game, had 139 tackles for the season and 266 for his career. He takes over third place in the school record book in both categories. Jason Gigous leads the list for tackles in a season with 151 in 2006 and Brian Hart leads the list for tackles in a career with 290.

Levi Sager had 105 carries for 806 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns for the season, followed by .J. R. Mummert with 183 for 793-yards and 8 touchdowns, Jeb Shipley with 43 for 269-yards and 2 touchdowns, Kyle King with 46 for 268-yards and 4 touchdowns, Mike Felton with 4 for 116-yards and 1 touchdown, Marty Deal with 11 for 56-yards and 1 touchdown, Ian Smith with 39 for 51-yards and 2 touchdowns, Bobby Porter with 9 for 53-yards, Ryan Sexton with 2 for 45-yards and 1 touchdown, Tyrell McCleary with 11 for 27-yards, Jeff Hacker with 7 for 26-yards, Mike Pugh with 4 for 23-yards, Jake Myers with 8 for 22-yards, Matt Stroda with 1 for 8-yards, Ben Fogle with 2 for 2-yards, Reid Cruz with 1 for 1-yard, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for minus 4-yards, and a team loss of 13-yards, for a net of 2,549 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns for the season.

Ian Smith completed 94 of 192 passes for 1,483-yards and 16 touchdowns and Bobby Porter completed 9 of 17 passes for 100-yards and a touchdown. The season reception leaders were Kyle Mahorney with 17 receptions for 421-yards and 5 touchdowns, followed by Mike Felton with 24 for 369-yards and 6 touchdowns, Jimmy Nicklas with 22 for 320-yards and 2 touchdowns, Jeb Shipley with 9 for 117-yards and 1 touchdown, Levi Sager with 10 for 115-yards and 2 touchdowns, Kyle King with 8 for 102-yards, J. R. Mummert with 6 for 69-yards, Tommy Nicklas with 1 for 27-yards, Cody Kephart with 2 for 24-yards, Kyle Conaboy with 2 for 11-yards and 1 touchdown, Tyrell McCleary with 1 for 10-yards, and Marty Deal with 1 for minus 2-yards, for a net of 1,583-yards and 17 touchdowns passing for the season.

Jake Myers led the defense with 139 tackles for the season. Other players with at least 50 tackles for the season were: Jake Shaffer with 86, Kyle Mahorney with 72, and Jake Myers with 55.

Jake Myers led the team in sacks with 5, followed by Kyle Mahorney with 4, David Messinger and Ryan Sexton with 3 sacks each, Cody Fricke and Billy Utz with 2 sacks each, and Aaron Bosley, Colby Fuhrman, Dan Laird and Jake Shaffer with 1 sack each. Jake Myers and Jimmy Nicklas each had 4 interceptions, Mike Felton had 3, Kyle King and Levi Sager each had 12 interceptions, and Jake Shaffer and Jeb Shipley each has 1 interception, for the season. Matt Funk, Dan Laird, Jimmy Nicklas and Ryan Sexton each recovered 2 fumbles, and Kyle Conaby, Colby Fuhrman, Marty Deal, Tyler Frederick, Jeff Hacker, Kyle King, David Messinger, Levi Sager, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis each recovered 1 fumble for the season.

The 2009 Mustangs represented their school and league honorably, played hard, never gave up, set a host of school records and was clearly one of the very best teams in the 50-year history of the program. They have a great nucleus of returning players from the junior varsity and solid players coming up within the ranks. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Until then, GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 12 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

With star players Chris Soltys and Bryan Turton sidelined by injuries, our CUTTERS faced the awesome GAELS of Roxbury High in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV playoff action last Friday night in Succasunna and were beaten 42-7. Captains Egor Buharin, Regis Larkin and James Mallon won the coin toss and Fair Lawn received. Speedy Davon Johnson ran the kickoff back and, behind center Alex Callons, guards Max Jacobs and Matt Paisley and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock, QB Travis Kubasta handed off to running backs Buharin, James Hegybeli and Christian Samra. However, the mighty GAELS completely shut down the vaunted Fair Lawn offense even though a nifty fumble recovery by Sam Vovsi put Fair Lawn in great field position at the Roxbury 44 yard line. Filling in ably for Soltys, Kevin Osback got off some booming punts. Steve Tetekawa also ran back kick offs nicely. Kubasta completed passes to Brian Alvarez and Mallon. Down 42-0 late in the game, our “never-say-die” CUTTERS rallied to avoid a shutout. After Kelvin Rosario and Kevin Guy stopped the GAELS on 4th down, Hegybeli picked up a 1st down, Samra picked up 3 yards and Kubasta threw to Mallon for another 1st down. Samra carried for 8 yards and then picked up a 1st down. Kubasta fired a picture 9 yard TD pass to Mallon. With Callons snapping and Brendan Walis holding, Ben Bredder kicked the extra point and our heroes were on the scoreboard.

On “D,” Anthony Tozzi was a demon making tackles before going out with a leg injury. Johnson, Mallon, Tim Schrettner, Tetekawa, Walis and others made big plays. It was wonderful seeing Freshman Coach Jim Beshaw, a 2007 inductee into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall Of Fame, prowling the sidelines after his recent illness!

Our CUTTERS have nothing to be ashamed about this game and can hold their heads high. Roxbury, the champion of the Northwest Jersey Conference (NJC) American Division, is now 10-1 (.909) and has outscored the opposition 319-82 for an average 29-8 victory. The GAELS are ranked 1,211th nationally and 20th in New Jersey. In the playoff finals they’ll face the JAGUARS of East Orange, who surprised the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Tech 27-7 in the other North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV game. I think the GAELS could very well beat St. Joseph and Wayne Hills if they were to play! They don’t meet, even in the States, because Roxbury, like Fair Lawn, is a Group IV school and St. Joes and Wayne Hills are Group III schools. It’s hard to believe that Fair Lawn and Ridgewood are the only Group IV schools in Bergen County! Hackensack and Teaneck, which we think of as large schools, are in Group III.

Fair Lawn’s North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 went 2-1 (.667) in playoff action. While Fair Lawn was beaten, the champion GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph beat the SPARTANS of Holy Spirit of Absecon 42-6 in Non Public Group III action and the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills survived a real scare edging the SPARTANS of Sparta 41-38 in overtime in North Jersey, Section 1, Group III action. The SPARTANS were the only team to beat Roxbury during the season! The NJTCC Division 3 record against outside teams is now 23-8 (.742).

Next weekend there are exciting Thanksgiving games involving former Fair Lawn foes and the following week will feature playoff finals in which St. Joseph and Wayne Hills representing the NJTCC Division 3 will be in action. We’ll look at those and remember Fair Lawn’s great 2009 season before wrapping up THE GRIDIRON. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2009

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON. Power points only come into play in making the playoffs and in seeding in them.

In 1989 – Fair Lawn got into the expanded North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV playoffs by virtue of being undefeated at selection time. Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen and the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) 14-7 in the 1st round. In the next round they faced the HCIAA RED WINGS of Hoboken in the “fumble that wasn’t a fumble” game. With Fair Lawn leading 14-0 Hoboken picked up a 1st down but fumbled. Our CUTTERS might well have scored again to ice the game but a second official overruled the fumble and Hoboken scored on the drive and went on to win a 19-14 thriller.

The RED WINGS got their comeuppance losing to the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) INDIANS of Passaic in the finals.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2008-12

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 13, as the 4th seed in District 3, class AAAA, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the 13th seeded Colts of Cedar Cliff, of the Mid-Penn Keystone Division, at the Mustang Corral in the first round of the playoffs and came away with a thrilling 41-34 victory. Mike Felton’s electrifying 75-yard interception return with 7:35 left in the game was the winning score. But the outcome wasn’t decided until Levi Sager’s interception of a Colts pass ended their final drive.

Sager recovered a Colt’s fumble on the 50-yard line on the second play of the game. Ian Smith completed a 21-yard pass to Kyle King and J. R. Mummert raced 29-yards for a touchdown one minute and eight seconds into the game. Smith’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0.

The Colts ended up punting and the Mustangs drove 69-yards in 12 plays, featuring a 12-yard run by King, and a 15-yard pass from Smith to Sager. Mummert plunged in from the 1-yard line and the score went to 13-0 at the 3:52 mark in the first quarter.

The Colts ended up punting again and the Mustangs drove 62-yards in 7 plays, featuring an 8-yard pass from Smith to Felton. Sager scampered 26-yards for a touchdown and the score went to 19-0 at the 10:13 mark in the second quarter.

The Colts punted again but the Mustangs muffed the reception and Andre Washington recovered for the Colts at the Mustangs 9-yard line. Dan Moore then scampered in for a 9-yard touchdown and he also ran in for a 2-point conversion, making the score 19-8 at the 8:57 mark.

The Mustangs then ended up punting and Tyler Orris threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Quinn Bower. That made the score 19-14 at the 6:31 mark in the second quarter.

The Mustangs fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Josh Wingard recovered for the Colts at the Mustangs 28. Four plays later Dan Moore plunged in from the 2 and the Colts went on top 20-19 at the 5:38 mark. The first half ended with no further scoring.

The Mustangs fumbled on the first play of the second half and Tate Moore-Jacobs recovered it and returned it 32-yards for a touchdown. Gabriel Barrera kicked the extra point and the Colts were up 27-19 only 20 seconds into the third quarter.

The Colts intercepted a Mustangs pass to end the next drive. After a sack by Jake Shaffer for a 10-yard loss, the Colts turned the ball over on downs to the Mustangs. The Mustangs then drove 75-yards in 9 plays, featuring an 11-yard pass from Smith to Felton, a 17-yard Smith pass to Kyle Mahorney, and a 12-yard Smith pass to Sager. Smith’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Felton and Smith’s 2-point conversion pass to Jimmy Nicklas tied the score at 27 at the 1:50 mark in the third quarter.

The Colts struck right back with a lateral from Tyler Orris to Quinn Bower and Bower’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Andre Washington. Barrera’s extra point kick put the Colts back on top 34-27 at the 1:33 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs retaliated with a 65-yard drive that ended with Mummert’s 1-yard touchdown plunge. Smith’s extra point kick tied the score again, at 34, with 10 minutes left in the game.

Mike Felton then capped it all off with his 75-yard interception return for a touchdown for the Mustangs. Smith’s extra point kick closed out the scoring at 41-34 in favor of the Mustangs with 7:35 left in the game. But Sager’s interception of a Colts pass was needed to finally secure the victory.

Jake Myers led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles, followed by Cody Fricke and Jake Shaffer with 11 tackles each, Ryan Sexton with 10 tackles, Mike Felton with 7 tackles, Jimmy Nicklas with 6 tackles, Colby Fuhrman, Dan Laird and Kyle Mahorney with 5 tackles each, Levi Sager with 4 tackles, Kyle King and Billy Utz with 3 tackles each, Tommy Nicklas with 2 tackles, and Tyrell McCleary with 1 tackle. Mike Felton returned an interception 75-yards for the game winning touchdown, Levi Sager intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, Ian Smith kicked 3 extra points, and Sexton and Shaffer each recorded a sack, King and Fricke were each credited with 2 pass defenses, Ryan Sexton and Aaron Bosley were each credited with a pass defense, and Fricke, Mahorney, Shaffer and Utz were each credited with a pass hurry, for the Mustangs.

Levi Sager returned 4 kickoffs for 91-yards, with the longest going for 28-yards, and Tyrell McCleary returned 1 kickoff for 12-yards. Kyle King returned 1 punt for 3-yards for the Mustangs. Norton Redding kicked off 7 times for 316-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback for the Mustangs. Mike Felton punted 3 times for 99-yards for a 33-yard average, with the longest going for 38-yards, for the Mustangs.

Aaron Bosley, Mason Brady, Mike Felton, Cody Fricke, Colby Fuhrman, Dan Laird, Kyle Mahorney, David Messinger, Jake Myers, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, Billy Utz, and Anthony Wildasin manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Kyle King, Tyrell McCleary, Jimmy Nicklas, and Levi Sager patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 244-yards rushing and 119-yards passing for a total of 363- yards of offense. Levi Sager led the Mustangs rushing attack with 16 carries for 106-yards (including a 26-yard touchdown), followed by J. R. Mummert with 20 carries for 105-yards (including touchdowns of 29 and 1, and 1-yards), Kyle King with 7 carries for 24-yards, and Ian Smith with 6 carries for 9-yards. Quarterback Smith completed 11 of 18 passes for 119-yards and 1 touchdown, 3 for 39-yards to Mike Felton (including a 20-yard touchdown, 3 for 36-yards to Sager, 2 for 14-yards to Kyle King, 2 for 13-yards to Jimmy Nicklas, and 1 or 17-yards to Kyle Mahorney, for the Mustangs.

The Colts gained 143-yards rushing and 269-yards passing for a total offense of 412-yards. Dan Moore led the Colts rushing offense with 18 carries for 99-yards (including touchdowns of 9 and 2-yards), followed by Tyler Orris with 6 carries for 25-yards, and A. D. Huff with 5 carries for 19-yards. Quarterback Orris completed 16 of 34 passes for 189-yards, 5 for 23-yards to Andre Washington, 6 for 88-yards to Noel Abreu, 2 for 55-yards to Quinn Bower (including a 41-yard touchdown), 1 for 12-yards to Blaine Bower, and 2 for 11-yards to Dan Moore, and Quinn Bower completed 1 pass for 80-yards and a touchdown to Washington, for the Colts. Tate Moore-Jacobs returned a fumble 32-yards for a touchdown, Dan Moore ran in for a 2-point conversion, and Gabriel Barrera kicked 2 extra points, for the Colts.

The 83 member 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a rousing pre-game show. The field production of the 2009 edition of the Band, under the guidance of second year Director Ethan Clark, is titled “Horsing Around in the Mustang Corral” and is a 50th anniversary musical celebration featuring the school “Alma Mater,” “Magnificent 7,” a lullaby of “All The Pretty Little Horses,” and “The Red Pony.” The Cedar Cliff Colts Marching band out in a sparkling crowd-pleasing show during half time. The 25 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad and the Colts Cheer Leaders were very good at rousing the excited crowd.

The Mustangs of South Western have a record of 10-1-0 overall and 6-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 183-78-1 (.701) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 324-196-8. The results of the 528 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .623 winning percentage and a .629 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs move on to the semifinal round of the District 3 class AAAA playoffs and as the 4th seed they will host the 5th seeded Comets of Penn Manor (9-2 overall, 4-2 Lancaster-Lebanon League Division 1) at the Mustang Corral. The Comets are coming off of a 35-14 win over the Trojans of Chambersburg (5-6 overall, 1-4 Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division). From here it looks like the Mustangs are ready to march on in the District 3 playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 11 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

In the most thrilling game ever played in the 67 season Fair Lawn High School football history, our CUTTERS edged the INDIANS of Passaic 39-38 in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action last Saturday. Captains Travis Kubasta, Christian Samra and Chris Soltys won the coin toss and Fair Lawn received. Behind center Alex Callons, guards Max Jacobs and Matt Paisley and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock, QB Kubasta handed off to running backs James Hegybeli, who ran for 137 yards and a TD; Samra, who ran for 115 yards and a TD; and Egor Buharin, who ran for 93 yards and a TD. Kubasta completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards and 3 TDs! After a Kubasta to Chris Soltys pass picked up a 1st down, Hegybeli and Buharin combined to get the ball to the 5 and Hegybeli ran for the TD. With Callons snapping and Brendan Walis holding, Soltys kicked the extra point and our heroes led 7-0. Soltys forced a fumble that Kevin Guy recovered. Bryon Turton, a real warrior, went out with an injury on the play. It led to a perfect 28 yard TD pass from Kubasta to Soltys and our heroes led 13-0. With 43 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Samra’s 1 yard TD run put Fair Lawn up 19-0. Buharin scored next to put Fair Lawn up 25-0. Kubasta’s TD pass to Soltys and Soltys’ kick had our CUTTERS up 32-0 and their fans were ecstatic. The INDIANS scored before the half but Fair Lawn led 32-6 at the break and Passaic fans were in shock.

In the 2nd half the INDIANS got a quick TD but our CUTTERS answered right back with a picture TD pass from Kubasta to James Mallon. The extra point kick by Soltys had Fair Lawn up 39-12. Passaic roared back with 26 unanswered points to close to 39-38. Then high drama unfolded as the INDIANS tried a 2 point conversion to go ahead with 2:17 on the clock. A motion penalty moved them back and Mallon forced their run inside where Larkin stuffed the Passaic QB. Anthony Tozzi recovered Passaic’s onside kick. Then, on 4th down, with 5 seconds on the clock and Passaic out of timeouts, Kubasta took the snap and ran 21 yards backwards taking a knee as the clock expired. Whew! On “D,” Soltys intercepted a pass in the Fair Lawn end zone, Steve Tatekawa recovered a fumble, Walis batted down a pass and made a TD saving tackle and Kevin Benjamin, Davon Johnson, Kelvin Rosario, Eric Simeonoglou and others made big plays.

This game ironically replaced the 1980 playoff game at GIANTS STADIUM in which Fair Lawn trailed Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 and roared back to win 27-18, at the top of my “most thrilling games” list. This was Fair Lawn’s 1st State playoff game ever played at SASSO FIELD. Our CUTTERS had played 9 games in the playoffs but the two previous “Home” games were both in 1980 at GIANTS STADIUM. The only previous playoff game at what is now SASSO FIELD was in the mid 1970s when the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) mandated neutral sites and the LIONS of Lincoln High of Jersey City defeated the LANCERS of Lakeland Regional of Wanaque. I was privileged to announce that game. Jon Fass and Marco Balletti of WGHT Radio (1500AM) broadcast the game and named Soltys as their Little Falls Trophy player of the game. It was good to see them again! They had also carried our West Milford game.

Fair Lawn’s North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 went 3-0 (1.000) in the playoffs. In addition to Fair Lawn’s victory, the champion GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph beat the TROJANS of Bishop Ahr of Edison 42-6 in Non Public Group III action and the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills demolished the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 41-7 in North Jersey, Section 1, Group III action. In Consolation games, the NJTCC Division 3 went 0-2 as the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford were scalped 16-0 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley and the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck were beaten 42-28 by the WILDCATS of High Point. The NJTCC Division 3 record against outside teams is now 21-7 (.750).

On Friday night our CUTTERS travel to Succasunna to take on the GAELS of Roxbury in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV semifinal action. Coming into this game, Fair Lawn is 7-3 (.700) and has outscored the opposition 236-209 for an average 24-21 victory. Roxbury is 9-1 (.900) and has outscored the opposition 277-75 for an average 28-8 victory. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS won’t be cowed and can be counted on to give their all. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 - Roxbury 21. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2005

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON.

1979 – Pete Natale came to Fair Lawn in 1978 having won championships at Ridgefield Park and made the CUTTERS winners again. They shut out the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 21-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action in the regular season. In the States the roles were reversed as Clifton shut out Fair Lawn 30-0. During 1972-81 Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including that playoff victory.

1980 – Natale’s CUTTERS shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the States they played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller.

1985 – Those INDIANS got revenge as they won a 36-26 thriller over Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS at Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” Passaic School Stadium is now Boverini Stadium, named after the late long time Passaic Athletic Director. Fair Lawn trailed only 28-26 until the final minutes.

1987 – Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS lost a 12-6 heart breaker to the BEES of Bayonne at Bayonne’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in freezing cold and gale force winds. Bayonne Coach Don Ahern said he was thankful for the awful weather because only it, and not his BEES, could thwart Fair Lawn’s vaunted offense.

1988 – Natale’s offensive coordinator, Mike Alberque, took over and led his CUTTERS into the States. They were beaten 20-6 by the KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy of Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium. During 1951-56 and 58, Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. Our CUTTERS shut out the KNIGHTS 20-0 in “Consolation Game” action in 2003 and lead the overall rivalry 6-3 (.667).

1989 – Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the States in the only game played to date between the schools until the BRUINS 33-13 victory in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover play in 2009.

2000 - Alberque’s CUTTERS gave the nationally ranked COMETS of Hackensack all they could handle before losing a 14-6 thriller. During 1959-82 in NNIIL action the COMETS went 16-7-1 against our CUTTERS.

Fair Lawn is 7-3 (.700) in "Consolation Games" played the first weekend of playoffs since they were instituted in 1998.

THE GRIDIRON 10 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

Without their star quarterback, Travis Kubasta, still out with a back problem, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were beaten 33-13 by the BRUINS of North Bergen last Saturday night in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover action. Captains Egor Buharin, Regis Larkin and James Mallon won the coin toss and Fair Lawn received. Mallon would still be out of action with a hip injury. Davon Johnson ran back the kickoff and, behind center Alex Callons, guards Max Jacobs and Matt Paisley and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock, QB Dan Prigge was able to hand off to running backs Buharin, James Hegybeli and Christian Samra who picked up big yardage. Buharin’s TD run behind Callons, Jacobs and Paisley put our heroes up 6-0 and Fair Lawn fans were euphoric! Alas, the joy was short lived. The BRUINS drove right down the field to take a 7-6 lead and never looked back. They continued the onslaught and led 27-6 at halftime. Late in the game Anthony Tozzi recovered a fumble leading to another TD gallop by Buharin. With Callons snapping and Brendan Walis holding, Chris Soltys kicked the extra point to close out the scoring. Bryan Turton’s interception electrified the crowd and Johnson, Polisi, Kelvin Rosario, Samra, Eric Simeonoglou and others made big plays on “D” but the BRUINS prevailed. It was nice to see former Fair Lawn coach and athletic director, Mike Alberque at the game. No doubt he was remembering his 1989 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS upsetting North Bergen 14-7 in the playoffs on the very same field in the only other game played between the two teams!

All 5 teams in Fair Lawn’s NJTCC Division 3, faced outside foes going 3-2 (.600). In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the champion GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph were beaten 28-7 by the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic. However, the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford downed the SOARING EAGLES of Union City 34-0, the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck stung the BEES of Bayonne 41-0 and the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills smashed the RAMS of Dickinson of Jersey City 60-0. The NJTCC Division 3 record against outside teams is now an astonishing 18-5 (.783)!

Our CUTTERS have earned the 4th seed in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV playoffs and will host the 5th seed INDIANS of Passaic at SASSO FIELD Saturday. The teams have a history, all in playoff action. In 1980 Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were tri-champions of the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) with Clifton and Passaic Valley. They faced the INDIANS of Passaic in round 1 in a home game. “Home” was GIANTS STADIUM! In probably the most thrilling football game in FLHS history, our heroes trailed 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 and roared back to scalp the INDIANS 27-18. Natale’s 1985 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS travelled to Passaic School Stadium, jokingly referred to as Passaic’s “One River Stadium” by the announcer, in the States. Trailing only 28-26 in the closing minutes our CUTTERS lost a 36-26 thriller. Coming into this game, Fair Lawn is 6-3 (.667) and has outscored the opposition 197-171 for an average 22-19 victory. Passaic is 5-3 (.625) and has outscored the opposition 206-134 for an average 26-17 victory. Our CUTTERS hope to have all their injured players back and figure to make this a whale of a ballgame! From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – Passaic 15. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2008-11

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 6, the Mustangs of South Western ended their 2009 regular season by hosting the Colonials of New Oxford at the Mustang Corral and galloped to a 42-13 victory. This is the 15th outright or shared title in the 50-year history of the Mustangs football program, the fourth since 2000, and the 10th since 1992. The Mustangs also garnered the YAIAA Division I Hanover Area Cup for the 7th straight year.

The Mustangs started off the game with an 11 play 59-yard drive, featuring a 13-yard pass from Ian Smith to Jimmy Nicklas and a 15-yard jaunt by Levi Sager. The drive ended with Sager’s 13-yard touchdown scamper, and Smith’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 7:35 left in the first quarter.

The Colonials possession was short lived as after two plays Colby Fuhrman recovered a fumble for the Mustangs at the Colonials 25-yard line. Two plays later Smith tossed a perfect 27-yard touchdown pass to Mike Felton, and Smith’s extra point kick upped the score to 14-0 at the 5:47 mark.

The Colonial’s next possession was equally short lived as after two plays Dan Laird recovered a fumble at the Colonial’s 36-yard line. Kyle King dashed 15-yards to the 21, J. R. Mummert gained 2-yards to the 19, and Sager scampered 19-yards for a touchdown. Smith’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 3:23 left in the first quarter.

The rest of that quarter and most of the second quarter passed with no further scoring. Jimmy Nicklas recovered a Colonials fumble and each team turned the ball over on downs (the Mustangs turnover came on a fake punt run that failed to pick up the first down). Jimmy Nicklas intercepted a colonial’s pass to set the Mustangs up on their own 28-yard line. The 9 play drive, featuring passes from Smith of 13-yards to Sager, 17-yards to Kyle Mahorney, 13-yards to Sager, and 11-yards to Jimmy Nicklas, ended with Smith’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Conaboy. Smith’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-0 with 2 seconds left in the half.

The Colonials started the second half with a 4 play 63-yard drive, featuring a 42-yard run by Mike Bivens. The drive ended with a 14-yard touchdown run by Bivens, and an extra point kick by Juan Sanchez-Moreno made the score 28-7 at the 10:10 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs answered with a 10 play 66-yard drive, featuring a 20-yard pass from Smith to J. R. Mummert. Kyle King scampered 12-yards for a touchdown and Smith’s extra point made the score 35-7 at the 5:40 point in the third quarter.

The Colonials countered with a 12 play 66-yard drive, featuring a 34-yard run by Bivens. Bivens ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

The Mustangs then launched a 12 play 71-yard drive, featuring a 10-yard run by King, 8 and 16-yard runs by Tyrell McCleary, and a 10-yard run by Mummert. Mummert ended the drive with a 3-yard touchdown plunge and Phil Propalis kicked the extra point to close out the scoring at 42-13 with 5:00 minutes left in the game.

Jake Myers led the Mustangs defense with 15 tackles, followed by Billy Utz with 8 tackles, Cody Fricke with 7 tackles, Kyle Mahorney with 6 tackles, Colby Fuhrman, Jimmy Nicklas, and Jake Shaffer with 4 tackles each, David Messinger with 3 tackles, and Aaron Bosley, Mike Felton, Ben Fogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Dan Laird, Tyrell McCleary, Levi Sager, Ryan Sexton, Ian Smith, and Leon Sturgis with 2 tackles each. Jimmy Nicklas intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, Colby Fuhrman and Dan Laird each recovered a fumble, David Messinger recorded a sack for an 8-yard loss, and Kyle Mahorney was credited with a pass hurry, for the Mustangs.

Levi Sager returned 2 kickoffs for 55-yards, with the longest going for 33-yards, and Jeff Hacker returned 1 kickoff for no yards. Kyle King returned 1 punt for 5-yards for the Mustangs. Norton Redding kicked off 7 times for 321-yards, with the longest going for 58-yards for the Mustangs. The Mustangs did not punt in the game.

Aaron Bosley, Mason Brady, Mike Felton, Cody Fricke, Colby Fuhrman, Dan Laird, Kyle Mahorney, David Messinger, Jake Myers, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, Billy Utz, and Anthony Wildasin manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Brady Conroy, Ben Fogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz and Leonard Sturgis. Kyle King, Tyrell McCleary, Jimmy Nicklas, and Levi Sager patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 300-yards rushing and 130-yards passing for a total of 430- yards of offense. J. R. Mummert led the Mustangs rushing attack with 25 carries for 111-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), followed by Levi Sager with 11 carries for 79-yards (including touchdowns of 13 and 19-yards), Kyle King with 9 carries for 67-yards (including a 12-yard touchdown), Tyrell McCleary with 6 carries for 28-yards, Bobby Porter with 1 carry for 12-yards, Ben Fogle with 1 carry for 2-yards, and Ian Smith with 1 carry for 1-yard. Quarterback Smith completed 10 of 17 passes for 130-yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 for 27-yards and a touchdown to Mike Felton, 2 for 26-yards to Sager, 2 for 24-yards to Jimmy Nicklas, 2 for 22-yards to Mummert, 1 for 17-yards to Kyle Mahorney, 1 for 13-yards to King, and 1 for 1-yard and a touchdown to Kyle Conaboy, for the Mustangs. Smith kicked 5 extra points, Phil Propalis kicked an extra point, Jimmy Nicklas intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, Colby Fuhrman and Dan Laird each recovered a fumble, and David Messinger recorded a sack for an 8-yard loss, for the Mustangs.

The Colonials gained 210-yards rushing and 7-yards passing for a total offense of 210-yards. Mike Bivens led the Colonials rushing attack with 14 carries for 95-yards (including touchdowns of 14 and 1-yards), followed by Nick Rebert with 8 carries for 44-yards, Zack Groft with 2 carries for 34-yards, James Eline with 7 carries for 30-yards, Quinn Starner with 1 carry for 4-yards, Jared Hagerman with 1 carry for 2-yards, and Sean Odom with 1 carry for 1-yard. Quarterback Bivens completed 1 of 4 passes for 7-yards to Groft, for the Colonials. Juan Sanchez-Moreno kicked 1 extra point and Steve Sanders intercepted a pass, for the Colonials.

The 83 member 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a rousing post-game show. The field production of the 2009 edition of the Band, under the guidance of second year Director Ethan Clark, is titled “Horsing Around in the Mustang Corral” and is a 50th anniversary musical celebration featuring the school “Alma Mater,” “Magnificent 7,” a lullaby of “All The Pretty Little Horses,” and “The Red Pony.” The New Oxford Colonials Marching Band also put on a great crowd-pleasing show at half time. The 25 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad and the Colonials Cheer Leaders were very impressive in rousing the excited crowd.

The Mustangs of South Western ended their regular season at 9-1-0 overall and 6-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 182-78-1 (.700) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 323-196-8. The results of the 527 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .622 winning percentage and a .628 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs move on to the first round of the District 3 class AAAA playoffs and as the 4th seed they will host the 13th seeded Colts of Cedar Cliff (6-4 overall, 3-1 Mid-Penn Keystone Division) at the Mustang Corral. The Colts are coming off of a 40-6 win over the Panthers of Central Dauphin East (1-9 overall, 0-4 Mid-Penn Keystone Division). From here it looks like the Mustangs are ready to march on in the District 3 playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2009-10

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 30, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) at the Mustang Corral and came away with a 28-0 shutout. The electrifying Levi Sager made another one of his patented scampers for a 48-yard touchdown, Kyle King rang in with a 19-yard touchdown jaunt, and Ian Smith tossed two more touchdown passes, each for 13-yards, to Kyle Mahorney and Mike Felton, for the Mustangs.

The defenses reigned supreme at the start as the Bearcats punted twice and the Mustangs punted once. Levi Sager returned the Bearcats second punt 23-yards to the Bearcats 43-yard. Six plays later King’s 19-yard touchdown scamper and Smith’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 2:56 left in the first quarter.

Each team punted again and then the Bearcats drove 33-yards to the Mustangs 27-yard line. A 44-yard field goal attempt failed. The Mustangs then drove 56-yards in ten play, featuring a 24-yard run by Smith and a 13-yard pass by Smith to King, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Bearcats 24-yard line. Each team punted again and the first half came to an end.

The Mustangs opened the second half with a 13 play 50-yard drive, featuring a 14-yard pass from Smith to Jimmy Nicklas. A 30-yard field goal attempt failed.

After two more punts by the Bearcats, sandwiching a Mustangs punt, the Mustangs took over at the Bearcats 14-yard line after another good return from Sager. Three plays later Smith’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Mahorney and his extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-0 with 11:06 left in the fourth quarter.

King returned a Bearcats punt for 13-yards to the Bearcats 48-yard line. Sager then launched his 48-yard touchdown scamper and Smith’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 9:27 left in the game.

The Bearcats punted again and the Mustangs marched 63-yards in 8 plays, featuring a 38-yard gallop by Mike Felton, and ending with Smith’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Felton. Smith’s extra point kick closed out the scoring and put the Mustangs up 28-0 with 4:19 left in the game.

Jake Myers led the Mustangs defense with 10 tackles, followed by Cody Fricke, Kyle Mahorney and Jake Shaffer with 6 tackles each, Colby Fuhrman, Tyrell McCleary and Ryan Sexton with 4 tackles each, Aaron Bosley, Kyle King and Dan Laird with 3 tackles each, Jimmy Nicklas, Tommy Nicklas and Levi Sager with 2 tackles each, and Brady Conroy, Mike Felton, Matt Funk and David Messinger with 1 tackle each. Myers recorded a sack, King, Jimmy Nicklas, and Shaffer were each credited with a pass defense and Matt Funk, Myers, Sexton, Shaffer, and Billy Utz were each credited with a pass hurry, for the Mustangs.

Tyrell McCleary returned 1 kickoff 21-yards and 1 punt for 3-yards. Levi Sager returned 4 punts for 53-yards, with the longest going for 23-yards, and Kyle King returned 1 punt for 22-yards for the Mustangs. Norton Redding kicked off 5 times for 216-yards, with the longest going for 46-yards for the Mustangs. Mike Felton punted 5 times for 154-yards, with the longest going for 41-yards, for the Mustangs.

Aaron Bosley, Mason Brady, Mike Felton, Cody Fricke, Colby Fuhrman, Dan Laird, Kyle Mahorney, David Messinger, Jake Myers, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, Billy Utz, and Anthony Wildasin manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Brady Conroy, Matt Funk and Leonard Sturgis. Kyle King, Tyrell McCleary, Jimmy Nicklas, and Levi Sager patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 258-yards rushing and 90-yards passing for a total of 348- yards of offense. Levi Sager led the Mustangs rushing attack with 13 carries for 89-yards (including a 48-yard touchdown), followed by J. R. Mummert with 18 carries for 59-yards, Kyle King with 9 carries for 45-yards (including a 19-yard touchdown), Mike Felton with 1 carry for 38-yards, Ian Smith with 3 carries for 26-yards, Bobby Porter with 1 carry for 1-yard, and Tyrell McCleary with 1 carry for no yards. Quarterback Smith completed 11 of 18 passes for 90-yards and 2 touchdowns, 5 for 35-yards to Jimmy Nicklas, 2 for 23-yards to Felton (including a 13-yard touchdown), 2 for 23-yards to King, 1 for 13-yards and a touchdown to Kyle Mahorney, and 1 for minus 4-yards to Sager, for the Mustangs.

The Bearcats gained 30-yards rushing and 45-yards passing for a total offense of 75-yards. Maurice Williams led the Bearcats rushing attack with 41-yards, followed by Jordan Zackery with 6-yards, Ratik Drakeford with minus 4-yards, and Roger Eaton with minus 13-yards. Quarterback Eaton completed 5 of 26 passes for 45-yards, 2 for 21-yards to Steffonte Doby, 1 for 14-yards to Kevin Kearse, 1 for 9-yards to Zackery, and 1 for 1-yard to Williams, for the Bearcats.

The 83 member 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring post-game performance. The field production of the 2009 edition of the Band, under the guidance of second year Director Ethan Clark, is titled “Horsing Around in the Mustang Corral” and is a 50th anniversary musical celebration featuring the school “Alma Mater,” “Magnificent 7,” a lullaby of “All The Pretty Little Horses,” and “The Red Pony.” The fabulous half time show opened with the 105-member Emory H Markle middle school band performing the theme from Blazing Saddles and “That’s the Way I Like It.” The 85 member South Western High School Alumni Band, with representation from 43 of the 50-years of the school’s history, then performed “Master of the House” from Les Miserables and “Basin Street Blues.” Both bands were then joined by the Mustangs Marching Band to close out the show with “One Voice.” The 24 member strong Mustangs Cheerleading squad was fantastic in rousing their fandom.

The Mustangs of South Western are 8-1-0 overall and 5-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 181-78-1 (.699) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 322-196-8. The results of the 526 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .622 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs continue league play and host the Colonials of New Oxford. The Colonials are coming off of a 28-7 win over the Eagles of Dover. From here it looks like the Mustangs are ready to end the regular season on a high and winning note and march on to the District 3 playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 9 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

Decimated by injuries before ever taking the field, the undaunted “never-say-die,” CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High went into battle against the juggernaut that is the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills last Friday night in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action and were shut out 37-0. With Kevin Benjamin and Brendan Walis already sidelined, star QB Travis Kubasta was lost before the team left FLHS with a sudden unexpected back problem. If that were not enough, our CUTTERS would lose James Mallon during the game with a hip injury. Captains Egor Buharin, Regis Larkin and Mallon won the coin toss and Fair Lawn received. The first drive stalled quickly. Our heroes put on a defensive show keeping the PATRIOTS at bay. Mallon and Kevin Guy sacked the QB and Buharin recovered a fumble as the PATRIOTS tried a field goal deep in Fair Lawn territory. Brian Alvarez downed a booming Chris Soltys punt. Behind center Larkin, guards Matt Paisley and Eric Simeonoglou and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock, QB Dan Prigge handed off to running backs Buharin, James Hegybeli and Christian Samra. Hegybeli picked up a big first down behind neat blocks by Simeonoglou and Sherlock and Buharin and Samra bulled their way for yardage behind Larkin, Paisley and Simeonoglou. Fair Lawn fans were proud of their outgunned CUTTERS as the 1st quarter ended in a scoreless tie!

With 10:51 on the clock in the 2nd quarter the dam broke as the PATRIOTS scored. Their running back, Trevor Jacobs, nephew of NY Giants running back, Brandon Jacobs, ran for 166 yards. The score was 20-0 at the half and Wayne Hills coach Chris Olsen showed class at the end by having his PATRIOTS kick a field goal instead of trying for another TD and then having his subs take a knee to end the game. Soltys and Bryan Turton made TD saving tackles and great defensive plays were made by Guy, Davon Johnson, Mallon, Polisi, Samra, Tim Schrettner, Sherlock, Steve Tatekawa, Sam Vovsi and others. The PATRIOTS lead the 1984-2009 rivalry 20-5 (.800). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS beat Wayne Hills 35-8. The 1984-93 Thanksgiving rivalry would up 5-5 (.500). The men in the white coats would have come after me because of my rash prediction of a Fair Lawn Victory but held off because of the tremendous handicap our heroes played under.

In the other game in Fair Lawn’s NJTCC Division 3, the GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 57-21. The HIGHLANDERS of West Milford mauled the BRUINS of North Bergen 41-16 in NJTCC crossover action bringing the NJTCC Division 3 record against outside teams to 15-3 (.833)!

This Saturday at 7:00, our CUTTERS travel to James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park in North Bergen to take on the BRUINS of North Bergen in NJTCC crossover action. In 1989 Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS met the BRUINS in first round playoff action and surprised them 14-7 in the only game ever played between the teams until now. Fair Lawn is 6-2 (.750) and has outscored the opposition 184-138 for an average 23-17 victory. The BRUINS are 4-4 (.500) and have outscored the opposition 182-171 for an average 23-22 score. Our CUTTERS hope to have all their injured players back. I know that, whether they are at full strength or not, our heroes will go all out to win this one even though it doesn’t affect the playoff picture. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – North Bergen 14. GO CUTTERS GO!!!