THE GRIDIRON 14 - 2009

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High saw the GAELS of Roxbury, who beat them 42-7 in the semi-finals, take the North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV State title clawing the JAGUARS of East Orange Campus High 14-6. Fair Lawn’s North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 champion GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph took the Non- Public Group III State crown shutting out the SPARTANS of Immaculata of Somerville 14-0. However, the runner up PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills were shocked 16-8 in North Jersey, Section 1, Group III action by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo, representing Fair Lawn’s old Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL). The NJTCC Division 3 went an astonishing 25-10 (.714) against outside teams in ’09!

The 2009 season was a good one for Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS. They went 7-4 (.636) and made the playoffs for the 8th time since playoffs began in 1974 and the 1st time since 2000 and they notched the 3rd playoff victory in their history, the 1st since 1989. In the 1st round our CUTTERS played the most thrilling game in their 67 season GRIDON history edging the INDIANS of Passaic 39-38 in the 1st Home playoff game ever at SASSO FIELD. The previous 2 Home playoff games were both at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980. The NJTCC alignment saw our CUTTERS beat Bayonne, Dickinson and Union City, weak teams from Hudson County. They also beat JFK of Paterson in the opener and Teaneck. A key to their making the playoffs was the exciting 21-20 victory over West Milford on Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall Of Fame Day on which this writer was thrilled to be one of the 2009 inductees.

The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band and Color Guard provided great shows and the FLHS cheerleaders coached by Lauren Gimon, were fantastic all season. Christie Artinger, one of “Gimons’ Gals” from her first squad, is a proud member of the New York Jets Flight Crew!

As this was being written, word came that Edwin M. “Butch” Krauss, a member of the original CUTTERS 1943 football team, passed away. Butch served as co-captain with the late Jack Van Olden in some games as captains were designated for each game that first season. He and Van Olden were co-captains for the 1944 season. The original CUTTERS were inducted into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame this year. Van Olden was inducted individually in 2007.

The State realignment process takes another step in 2010 with the establishment of the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference (NJIC). The Hudson County schools that were in the NJTCC will be dropped and the schools from Bergen and Passaic Counties will form Divisions. Fair Lawn’s Division could look a lot like the current NJTCC Division 3 but the crossover games would be different. Bayonne, Dickinson, North Bergen and Union City would be replaced by Bergen and Passaic County teams.

Our CUTTERS received their share of honors. As of this writing, 1st Team All-NJTCC Division 3 honorees included Travis Kubasta (DB), James Mallon (DE). Adam Polisi (OT), Bryan Turton (Returner) and Chris Soltys (Punter). Second Team honors went to Kevin Guy (DE), James Heygebeli (RB), Kelvin Rosario (DB). Christian Samra (RB) and Anthony Tozzi (LB). Honorable Mention was given Egor Buharin (RB) and Steve Sherlock (DL).

We’ll miss graduating seniors Bryan Alveraz, Ben Bredder, Buharin, Kubasta, Regis Larkin, Mallon, Samra and Soltys. However guys like Kevin Benjamin, Alex Callons, Guy, Hegybeli, Max Jacobs, Davon Johnson, Regis Larkin, Matt Paisley, Marcus Peterkin, Polisi, Dan Prigge, Rosario, Tim Schrettner, Sherlock, Eric Simeonoglou, Steve Tatekawa, Kevin Tan, Anthony Tozzi, Turton, Sam Vovsi and Brendan Walis saw lots of action and will help make our CUTTERS strong in 2010. Coach Jim Beshaw’s Freshman Team went 6-3 (.667) and will be sending lots of good players up including QB prospect Kevin Osback.

I enjoyed being the “Voice of the Cutters on the Gridiron” for the 13th season with my “spotter,” Kevin Pepitone. Before that, my twin brother, Bill, and I were “spotters” for some 30 years for longtime popular Fair Lawn announcer Joe Hausmann. I can hardly wait for next year! Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!