THE GRIDIRON 3 – 2010

By Dick Engelhardt

In Fair Lawn’s 25-6 opening game victory over the INDIANS of Passaic, it was actually Danny Granja who kicked the extra point with Alex Callons snapping and Brendan Walis holding that put our CUTTERS ahead to stay 7-6. Alas, Danny would get no such opportunity last Thursday night in Demarest as the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley shocked our CUTTERS 40-0 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action. Ranked #4 in the WGHT Radio (1500AM) top 10 listening area team listings, our CUTTERS were heavy favorites. Captains Kelvin Rosario and Bryan Turton went out for the coin toss and the NORSEMEN won and chose to receive. They scored quickly and led 6-0. Fair Lawn fumbled the ball back to the NORSEMEN and, before they knew what hit them, our CUTTERS trailed 14-0. Steven Tatekawa electrified the crowd running the kickoff back to the NV 43. With bull like runs by Anthony Tozzi our heroes moved the ball but gave it up on downs at the NV 16. Another Fair Lawn drive of over 75 yards ended at the 5. The NORSEMEN drove the nail into the coffin going 95 yards to lead 20-0. QB Kevin Osback threw a picture pass to Turton for 25 yards and to Tatekawa for a 1st down. A TD run by Tozzi was nullified by a penalty.

Our heroes came out fired up for the 2nd half. With Rosario injured, captains Turton and Walis elected to receive. Tatekawa returned the kickoff to the 35 but our CUTTERS went 3 and out. James Hegybeli picked up yardage and Davon Johnson rambled to the 30 but the vaunted Fair Lawn offense managed to get only to the NV 16. The NORSEMEN scored 3 more times with Turton blocking an extra point kick. He and George Alexandres made TD saving tackles, and Franklin Ramirez made a nice stop. The shocking and unexpected loss brought Fair Lawn’s record in the 1956-58 and 1990-2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) and 2010 independent rivalry to 13-10 (.565).

The schedule had 5 of Fair Lawn’s BNC Division II teams playing teams outside of the Division and 1 playing outside the league. In BNC crossover action, The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 34-6 for the only BNC Division II win. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Tech were shutout 16-0 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were walloped 62-0 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were beaten 40-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack. The INDIANS of Passaic were edged 10-8 by Super Essex Conference (SEC) LANCERS of Livingston. The 1-5 (.167) weekend brought the BNC Division II record against outside teams to 2-5 (.286).

Our CUTTERS travel to Wayne Friday Night to take on the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Tech for the first time ever. PCT comes into the game 1-1 (.500) having been outscored 15-16 for an average 8-8 tie. Our CUTTERS come into the game 1-1 (.500) having been outscored 46-25 for an average 23-13 loss. Looking to keep their playoff hopes alive and to stay in the BNC Division II race, I know our CUTTERS will go all out in this one. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21-Passaic County Tech 15. GO CUTTERS GO!!!