THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 4

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 14-6 by the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the fierce 1945 – 53 rivalry with Lyndhurst 5-4 (.556). The B-PIL became the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956.

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being shutout 12-0 by the RED RAIDERS of Cliffside Park in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Our CUTTERS took the 1959-66 rivalry against the RED RAIDERS 6-2 (.750).

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were shut out 12-0 by the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck in 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.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shutout the COMETS of Hackensack 21-0 in NNJIL action. 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 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.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills in NBIL interdivisional action.

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 21-6 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action. During 1999-2001 and 2007-2008 our CUTTERS went 4-1 (.800) over the THUNDERBIRDS.