THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 2

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Hawthorne 27-20 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Independently in 1944 and in the B-PIL 1945-55, our CUTTERS went 9-3 (.750) over the BEARS. When Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the league, left in ’56, the league was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being ambushed 34-6 by the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. 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 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action put our CUTTERS up 18-11-1 (.621) in the series.

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS went outside their NNJIL and were beaten 34-14 by the HILLTOPPERS of Summit and the Suburban Conference (SC). During 1967–70 the HILLTOPPERS went 3-1 (.750) over our CUTTERS. Fair Lawn won only the ’67 series opener.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shutout the SPARTANS of Paramus 33-0 in NNJIL action. During 1962-83 in the NNJIL, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984. The rivalry is renewed as the teams square off October 22nd in Big North Conference (BNC) Crossover action.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were scalped 22-9 by the INDIANS of Pascack Valley in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley leads the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 rivalry 14-10-1 (.583) and has won the last 5 games. State mandated realignment has ended it, at least for now.

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were shutout 13-0 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in NBIL Division 1 action. Ramapo leads the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 series 17-11 (.607). Realignment has ended this rivalry too.