SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-10

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 22, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) and lost 48-26 in a donnybrook that saw 909-yards of offense pretty evenly spread between the two teams (486-yards for William Penn and 423-yards for South Western). The speed of Kelvin Parker, with 2 long touchdown runs and a shorter one was the main difference for the Bearcats but the aerial bombardment of Zach Gross and Jesse Good went a long way for the Mustangs.

Ryan Sexton got the Mustangs off to a great start by returning the opening kickoff 45-yards to the Bearcats 36-yard line. Seven plays later they turned the ball over on downs at the Bearcats 29. Then the Bearcats and the Mustangs exchanged punts.

The Bearcats drove 72-yards in three plays, ending with Dontae Davis throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Zachary. Ethan Fair’s extra point kick put the Bearcats up 7-0 with 5:21 left in the first quarter.

Jeff Hacker returned the kickoff 38-yards for the Mustangs, putting them at the Bearcats 32-yard line. Hacker then rushed to the 29 and Good threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Mike Felton, leaving the Bearcats up 7-6 with 4:35 left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats responded with an eight play 61-yard drive, featuring a 13-yard pass from Dontae Davis to Jordan Zachary and ending with an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Tim Hibner. Fair’s extra point kick put the Bearcats up 14-6 with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Mustangs drove from their 31-yard line to the Bearcats 5-yard line, mainly on Felton’s 58-yard scamper to the Bearcats 11. However, Zachary stripped the ball from Ryan Sexton at the 5 and returned it 86-yards to the Mustangs 11-yard line for the Bearcats. Tim Hibner than scored on an 11-yard run and Fair’s extra point kick put the Bearcats up 21-6 as the first quarter ended.

The Mustangs then drove 14-yards in six plays, including a 2-yrd run for a first down by Felton on a fake punt play, but had to punt. The Bearcats soon gave up the ball as Aaron Bosley recovered a fumble for the Mustangs, but the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the Bearcats 20-yard line. Parker then sprinted 80-yards for a touchdown and Fair’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-6 in favor of the Bearcats with 6:22 left in the first half.

The Bearcats opened the second half at the Mustangs 46-yard line. Hibner ran to the 40 and then he scampered 40-yards for a Bearcats touchdown. Fair’s extra point kick upped the score to 35-6 only 47 seconds into the third quarter.

The never say die Mustangs then drove 64-yards in seven plays, featuring a 37-yard pass from Gross to Casey Froehlich to the Bearcats 11-yard line. Felton ended the drive with a 6-yard touchdown jaunt, making the score 35-12 with 9:05 left in the third quarter.

The Bearcats were forced to punt and the Mustangs drove 80-yards in eight plays, featuring Felton’s 3-yard run for a first down on another fake punt play. Gross ended the drive with a picture perfect 25-yard touchdown pass to Sexton, and his 2-point conversion pass to Felton made the score 35-20 with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

Parker’s 72-yard touchdown run ended a three-play drive and Hibner’s 46-yard touchdown run ended another three-play drive, and Fair’s extra point kick for the Bearcats upped the score to 48-20 by the end of the third quarter.

The Mustangs closed out the scoring with a seven play 55-yard drive, featuring a 14-yard pass from Gross to Felton and a 14-yard run by Hacker. The drive ended with another beautiful touchdown pass from Gross, this time a 26-yarder to Mike Pugh. This made the final score 48-26 in favor of the Bearcats.

Mike Felton kicked off 4 times for 155-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback. Casey Froehlich punted 3 times for 98-yards, for an average of 32.67-yards, with the longest going for 36-yards, for the Mustangs. Ryan Sexton returned 2 kickoffs for 52-yards (with the longest going for 45-yards), Jeff Hacker returned 1 for 38-yards, Mike Pugh returned 1 for 14-yards, Carnie Fryfogle returned 2 for 6-yards (with the longest going for 4-yards), and Tommy Nicklas returned 1 kickoff for 1-yard, for the Mustangs. Pugh returned 2 punts for 1-yard for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 9 tackles, a fumble recovery, a sack, and a pass hurry followed by Cody Kephart with 8 tackles and a sack, Matt Funk with 7 tackles and a sack, Casey Froehlich with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Felton and Leonard Sturgis with 6 tackles each, Aaron Bosley with 5 tackles and a fumble recovery, Tyler Frederick with 5 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Pugh and Ryan Sexton with 5 tackles each, Ryan Dotson with 3 tackles and a sack, and Brady Conroy and Keith Pappas with 1 tackle each.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Tyler Frederick, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeremy Loughlin, Ryan Sexton, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Brandon Krise, and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 262-yards rushing and 161yards passing for a total of 423-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 18 carries for 149-yards (including a 6-yard touchdown), followed by Mike Pugh with 10 for 63, Jeff Hacker with 13 for 46, Ryan Sexton with 3 for 17-yards, Zach Gross with 1 for minus2-yards, and Jesse Good with 2 for minus 11-yards. Quarterback Gross completed 6 of 16 passes for 116-yards and 2 touchdowns and quarterback Good completed 5 of 11 passes for 45-yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs. Felton caught 4 passes for 41-yards (including a 29-yard touchdown from Good), Casey Froehlich caught 1 pass for 37-yards, Pugh caught 2 passes for 28-yards (including a 26-yard touchdown from Gross), Sexton caught 1 pass for 25-yards and a touchdown from Gross, Cody Kephart caught 2 passes for 18-yards, and Brandon Krise caught 1 pass for 12-yards, for the Mustangs. Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton and Aaron Bosley and Carnie Fryfogle each recovered a fumble for the Mustangs.

The Bearcats gained 394-yards rushing and 92-yards passing for a total of 486-yards gained. Kelvin Parker led the Bearcats rushing attack with 11 carries for 189-yards (including touchdowns of 11, 80, and 72-yards), followed by Tim Hibner with 14 carries for 153-yards (including touchdowns of 11, 40, and 46-yards), Jordan Zachary with 6 for 48, Steffonte Doby with 6 for 23, and Dontae Davis with 3 carries for minus 13-yards. Davis completed 4 of 6 passes for 85-yards and a touchdown, 2 for 62-yards to Zachary (including a 51-yard touchdown) and 2 for 23-yards to Parker, and Parker completed 1 pass for 7-yards to Thompson, for the Bearcats. Ethan Fair kicked 6 extra points for the Bearcats.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a terrific half time presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The William Penn Marching Band put on a spirited post game show.” The Mustangs and the Bearcats cheerleaders excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-85-1 (.688) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-202-8. The results of the 538 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .619 winning percentage and a .625 non-losing percentage.

After 9 weeks of play the Mustangs are seeded 17 in a field of 30 class AAAA teams in district 3 and only the top 16 make the playoffs.

Next week the Mustangs will close out the regular season by hosting the Rockets of Spring Grove (5-4 Overall, 2-2 league) at the Mustang Corral. The Rockets are coming off of a 21-0 loss to the undefeated Wildcats of Dallastown. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track and a .500 season. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 9–2010

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) Division II action last Saturday at SASSO FIELD, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High spotted the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside an 8-0 lead and roared back to notch a scintillating 40-16 victory! Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis went out for the coin toss which Eastside won but elected to defer their choice to the 2nd half. Davon Johnson ran the kickoff to the 34 but our CUTTERS turned the ball over on downs. The GHOSTS drove for a TD and their 2 point conversion put them up 8-0. Johnson ran the kickoff to the Eastside 47 and Rosario electrified the crowd with a 47 yard TD run that was nullified by a penalty. No matter, Rosario scampered 45 yards for a TD and Tatekawa’s 2 point conversion run tied the score at 8. Fair Lawn never looked back! Behind center, Alex Callons, guards, Max Jacobs and Matt Paisely and tackles Tyler Argott and Adam Polisi, running backs Rosario, Tatekawa and Anthony Tozzi picked up yardage. Rosario’s 3 yard TD run had Fair Lawn up 14-8 at the half.

Tozzi continued to wear the Ghosts down with bulldozing runs and his TD run put Fair Lawn up 20-8. Bryan Turton’s interception led to a Tatekawa TD run and, with Callons snapping and Walis holding, Turton kicked the extra point for a 27-8 Fair Lawn lead. Tatekawa’s 18 yard TD scamper put our CUTTERS on top 33-8. Turton’s fumble recovery and 25 yard TD run after Rosario knocked the ball loose made it 39-8. Turton’s extra point kick made it 40-8 and the GHOSTS scored late in the game. On “D,” Kevin Benjamin, Callons, John Pagios, Paisely, Dave Pinuel, Junior Roberts, Demetri Rodriguez, Brandon Sibileo, Eric Simeonoglu, Turton, Mike Venezia and Michael Williams made nice plays. Kevin Osback recovered the ball in kickoff coverage and teamed up with Turton in breaking up a pass and Kevin Guy recovered a fumble. Our CUTTERS lead the 1947-54 independent, 1983 Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 BNC Division II rivalry 6-4 (.600).

At this last scheduled home game the senior football players and cheerleaders were honored as I was privileged to introduce them with their escorts. Fair Lawn’s version of “Football’s Fabulous Females,” those Fair Lawn High Cheerleaders and their coach, Lauren Gimon, put on a great show all season, as did the junior varsity cheerleaders and their coach, Nicole Mattina! Christie Artinger, a member of Lauren’s 1st squad in 2002, has made the New York Jets Flight Crew cheerleading squad for the 2nd year in a row. Way to go Christie!

In the other BNC Division II games, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute clinched the title at 5-0 (1.000) shutting out the INDIANS of Passaic 26-0 and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson 44-20.

Friday at 7:00, in BNC Division II action, our CUTTERS travel to Bauerle Field in Paterson to take on those KNIGHTS of JFK. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over then Paterson Central High. 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. Fair Lawn’s 12-8 victory in 2009 in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) action brought our CUTTERS’ record against Central/Kennedy to 7-3 (.700). Fair Lawn comes into the game 2-6 (.250) having been outscored 220-105 for an average 28-13 loss while Kennedy comes into the game 1-6 (.143) having been outscored 273-74 for an average 39-11 loss.

The Knights can’t be taken lightly and I’m sure our CUTTERS will make an all out effort to close out the regular season with a win. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 - Kennedy 6. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 8

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS. Were beaten 25-19 by the BUCCANEERS of Bogota in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn and Bogota shared the 1946 B-PIL title and our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry 6-3-2 (.667).

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 33-6 by the BULLDOGS of Rutherford in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959 – 63 in the NNJIL, our CUTTERS went 3-2 (.600) over the BULLDOGS. Rutherford left for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division in ’64.

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS stung the Hornets of Passaic Valley 34-8 in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL, the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Wayne Valley 28-8 in NNJIL action. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS in the NNJIL. They left the league for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 35-14 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic league (NBIL) interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1986-93 and 1998 – 2008 rivalry 10-9 (.526).

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 28-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 rivalry 14-10-1 (.583).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-9

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 22, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Lions of Red Lion at the Mustang Corral in YAIAA Division I action and the Lions came out on the top of a 28-10 score. The offensive and defensive lines of the Lions featured starters that were all over six feet tall and averaged over 250 pounds. That was combined with Tanner Klinefelter’s two long aerial touchdowns for the Lions to thwart the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle got the Mustangs off to a good start b y returning the opening kickoff 22-yards to the Mustangs 42-yard line. They drove to the Lions 19-yard line in a four play drive, featuring 25-yards in penalties against the Lions and an 11-yard run by Mike Felton. That drive ended when Dalton Miller recovered a fumble for the Lions at the 18-yard line.

The Lions and the Mustangs exchanged punts and the Lions started a drive at the 50-yard line. Jeremy Knaub dashed 11-yards to the Mustangs 39-yard line and then 23-yards to the 16. Four plays later Klinefelter completed an 8-yard pass to Branden Kessler to the 1-yard line. Knaub plunged in form the 1-yard line and Pete Pitilis kicked the extra point to put the Lions up 7-0 with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.

Mike Pugh returned the ensuing kickoff 67-yards to put the Mustangs in business at the Lions 26-yard line. The Mustangs drove to the 5-yard line in five plays, featuring a 6-yard pass from Jesse Good to Jeff Hacker. Brendan Lawson then kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Mustangs, making the score 7-3 at the 9:17 point in the second quarter.

The Lions drove from their 27-yard line to the Mustangs 27-yard line, only to see Ryan Sexton recover the fumble of a Lions’ pitchout for the Mustangs. The Mustangs ended up punting and the Lions took over on the Mustangs 48-yard line. Five plays later, on a drive that featured a 26-yard run by Knaub, Klinefelter scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run. The extra point by Pitilis upped the score to 14-3 with 1:01 left in the second quarter.

The Lions and the Mustangs each punted in the third quarter. Then Matt Funk recovered a Lions fumble for the Mustangs, only to see them have to punt again. The Lions took over on the Mustangs 35-yard line and four plays later Klinefelter lofted a 34-yard touchdown pass to Erik Althoff. The Pitilis extra point kick upped the score to 21-3 with 3:58 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted again. The Lions dove 61-yards in five plays, ending with Klinefelter’s 44-yard touchdown strike to Joe Baublitz. The extra point kick by Pitilis upped the score to 28-3 with one second left in the third quarter.

The never say die Mustangs launched a ten play 81-yard drive that started with an 11-yard dash by Fryfogle and featured a 20-yard dash by Pugh, and a 25-yard dash by Pugh. Pugh then ended the drive with a 21-yard touchdown jaunt. Brendan Lawson’s extra point kick for the Mustangs made the final score 28-10 in favor of the Lions with 2:39 left in the game.

Brendan Lawson kicked off 3 times for 132-yards, with the longest going for 51-yards. Jeff Hacker punted 3 times for 91-yards, for an average of 30.33-yards, with the longest going for 33-yards, and Mike Felton punted 2 times for 75-yards, for an average of 37.5-yards, with the longest going for 40-yards, for the Mustangs.

Cody Kephart led the Mustangs defense with 19 tackles, followed by Jake Shaffer with 14, Ryan Sexton with 10, Matt Funk with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery, Tyler Frederick with 7, Aaron Bosley with 6, Marty Deal, Ryan Dotson, Mike Pugh and Leonard Sturgis with 5 tackles each, Carnie Fryfogle with 4 tackles and a pass hurry, Mike Felton and Keith Pappas with 4 tackles each, Brady Conroy, Rich Delea, Casey Froehlich, Brandon Krise, and Jeremy Loughlin with 2 tackles each, Dakotah with 1 tackle and a sack, and Derek Schneider with 1 tackle.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Tyler Frederick, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeremy Loughlin, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Marty Deal, Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Jeff Hacker, Brandon Krise, and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 135-yards rushing and 52yards passing for a total of 187-yards of offense. Jeff Hacker led the Mustangs rushing attack with 15 carries for 67-yards, followed by Mike Pugh with 4 for 66-yards (including a 21-yard touchdown), Mike Felton with 5 for 31 (before leaving the game with a hip pointer at the end of the first quarter), Carnie Fryfogle with 4 for 9, Ryan Sexton with 3 for 9-yards, and Jesse Good with 8 carries for minus 47-yards. Quarterback Good completed 2 of 6 passes for 52-yards, 1 for 46-yards to Fryfogle and 1 for 6-yards to Hacker, for the Mustangs. Brendan Lawson kicked a 22-yard field goal and an extra point and Matt Funk and Sexton each recovered a fumble for the Mustangs.

The Lions gained 201-yards rushing and 131-yards passing for a total of 332-yards gained. Jeremy Knaub led the Lions rushing attack with 13 carries for 98-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), followed by Tanner Klinefelter with 12 for 54 (including a 5-yard touchdown), Jason Milton with 9 for 43, Erick Toscano with 2 for 9-yards, and Mike Gray with 2 carries for minus 3-yards. Quarterback Klinefelter completed 8 of 14 passes for 131-yards and 2 touchdowns, 4 for 73-yards to Joe Baublitz (including a 44-yard touchdown), 3 for 34-yards to Branden Kessler, and 1 for 34-yards and a touchdown to Erik Althoff, for the Lions. Pete Pitilis kicked 4 extra points.

Kessler led the Lions defense with 9 tackles, followed by Gray and David Telp with 5, Brooks Arnold, Mitch Fisher, Johnson, and Miller with 4, Harry Darrah, Toscano, and Zeller with 3, Althoff, Knaub, and Kocman with 2 tackles, and Tyler Hoover, Pitilis, Cody Tyson, Adam Weigle, and Dwayne Wolfe with 1 tackle each. Dalton Miller recovered a fumble, Kessler intercepted a pass, Telp and Andrew Zeller each recorded 2 sacks, Warren Johnson and Nick Kocman each recorded 1 sack, and Toscano recorded a half sack, for the Lions.

It was Band Night at the Mustang Corral and the 105 member Emory H Markle Middle School Band performed their pre-game program “Aztec Fire,” after which they were joined by the Mustangs Marching Band for a stirring performance of “This Is My Country.” The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a post game presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Red Lion Marching Band put on a spirited half time show entitled “Silence Is Golden.” The Mustangs 25 gals, and a guy, and the Lions cheerleaders excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-84-1 (.690) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-201-8. The results of the 537 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .620 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will visit the den of the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) (3-5 Overall, 0-3 league). The Bearcats are coming off of a 43-20 loss to the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 8–2010

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action last Friday night at Hodgins Field in Paramus, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High faced one of the best 2-3 (.400) teams in North Jersey and fell 42-13 to the SPARTANS. Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis went out for the coin toss which Paramus won and elected to receive and the SPARTANS never looked back. They ran and passed at will and led 28-0 at halftime. Our CUTTERS were not without heroics, however. In the 2nd half Steven Tatekawa electrified the crowd with a sensational 75 yard TD run. Later, Anthony Tozzi bulled his way for 22 yards to the 7, Davon Johnson scampered to the 2 and Tozzi scored. With Alex Callons snapping and Walis holding, Bryan Turton kicked the extra point closing out the scoring.

On “D,” Kevin Benjamin sacked the QB, Kevin Osback got off great punts and made a TD saving tackle, as did Tatekawa. Johnson, Adam Polisi, Tozzi, and Walis made big plays. Paramus and Fair Lawn fans alike applauded and cheered honoring a real warrior, Steven Sherlock, as he was wheeled on a gurney to an ambulance with a leg injury. We all wish him well! Paramus leads the 1962-83 and 2010 rivalry 13-10 (.565).

Fair Lawn’s BNC Division II went 0-4 in crossover play. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the BNC Division II leading BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute were shellacked 63-0 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco in the latest parochial powerhouse versus public school travesty, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were shutout 45-0 by the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic in the second such mismatch and the INDIANS of Passaic lost a 35-34 thriller to the INDIANS of Wayne Valley. The BNC Division II is now 4-16 (.200) against outside teams! The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson drew a Bye.

Saturday at 1:00, in BNC Division II action, our CUTTERS play host to the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside at SASSO FIELD. Before Fair Lawn High opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside while the Radburn area students attended Ridgewood High and a few students near Lincoln Avenue attended Hawthorne High. During 1947-54 our CUTTERS and the GHOSTS each won 4 games in the fierce rivalry in which some Fair Lawn fans actually rooted for their alma mater – Eastside! In 1983 Fair Lawn’s thrilling 20-18 win in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) interdivisional action put our CUTTERS up 5-4 (.556).

Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-6 (.143) having been outscored 204-65 for an average 29-9 loss while Eastside comes into the game 2-4 (.333) having been outscored 188-31 for an average 31-5 loss. Fair Lawn fans were shocked to read the story in the paper about the sad state of football at both Eastside and Kennedy. While we feel sorry about that, Fair Lawn fans are disappointed in our season and want a win. The GHOSTS can’t be taken lightly and I’m sure our CUTTERS will make an all out effort in this game. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 - Eastside 6. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 7

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 6-0 by the TIGERS of Tenafly in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Fair Lawn joined the NNJIL in 1959 and the TIGERS made our undefeated CUTTERS play in a hurricane. In the only game played in North Jersey that awful day, Tenafly won 6-0. That loss, combined with the 13-7 Thanksgiving Day upset by the MAROONS of Ridgewood, gave the NNJIL title by half a game to the COMETS of Hackensack, who our CUTTERS had beaten 27-6. The TIGERS took the 1959-61 rivalry 3-0 (1.000) before leaving for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL).

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were edged 7-3 by the COMETS of Hackensack in NNJIL action. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL, the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. 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. The 12-6 Hackensack win in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).


1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the BENGALS of Bloomfield 20-14 in NNJIL action. Our CUTTERS took the 1977 independent and 1978-81 NNJIL rivalry 4-1 (.800). In ’77 Bloomfield was not yet a full NNJIL member because of a commitment to play Irvington on Thanksgiving.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan 28-7 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 rivalry 15–10 (.600). State realignment has ended it, at least for now.

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 34-0 in NBIL inter- divisional action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Realignment has ended it for now.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-8

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 15, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Panthers of Central York in YAIAA Division I action and, in the second overtime game in the 51-year history of the school, won the game 20-14 in the first overtime period. The Mustangs are batting 1.000 in overtime games, having defeated Carlisle in overtime in 1999.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted to open the game. Jalil Ford returned the kickoff 44-yards to the Mustangs 23-yard line and Marques Fells scored on a 17-yard run six plays later. Aaron Goodyear’s extra point kick put the Panthers up 7-0 at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter.

The Mustangs held the ball for 6 plays, including a successful fake punt on fourth down, and punted. The Panthers muffed the punt and Rich Delea recovered for the Mustangs at the Panthers 31-yard line. Jesse Good threw a nifty 25-yard pass to Mike Felton to the 6-yard line. He followed that with a 5-yard pass to Ryan Sexton to the 1-yard line and then Good ran in for the touchdown himself. Felton’s extra point kick tied the game at 7 with 3:39 left in the first quarter.

Seven punts later, three by the Mustangs and four by the Panthers, the last into a stiff wind, the Mustangs had the ball at the Panthers 30-yard line. Jeff Hacker darted the 30-yards for a touchdown. Felton’s extra point put the Mustangs up 14-7 with 4:16 left in the first half.

The Mustangs received the kickoff to start the second half and went three and out and punted. The Panthers started at the Mustangs 30-yard line and Saladin Dickson scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run nine plays later. Goodyear’s extra point kick tied the score at 14 with 6:19 left in the third quarter. And that’s the way the score remained throughout the rest of regulation time.

The Panthers got first crack at scoring in overtime. After three incomplete passes, Goodyear attempted a 20-yard field goal and it went wide.

The Mustangs started at the 10-yard line and Felton darted to the 2-yard line on the first play. Then Jeff Hacker won the game for the Mustangs with a 2-yard touchdown plunge.

Felton kicked off 2 times for 105-yards, with the longest going for 55-yards, and he punted 10 times for 384-yards, for an average of 38.4-yards, with the longest going for 48-yards. Mike Felton returned 2 kickoffs for 13-yards, with the longest going for 18-yards, and Mike Pugh returned 2 punts for 4-yards, with the longest going for 5-yards, for the Mustangs.

Jake Shaffer led the Mustangs defense with 18 tackles and 3 pass hurries, followed by Carnie Fryfogle with 15 tackles and a pass defense, Ryan Sexton with 13 tackles and 3 pass hurries,
Leonard Sturgis with 10 tackles, Aaron Bosley with 9 tackles, a fumble recovery, and 3 pass hurries, Matt Funk with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery, Mike Pugh with 7 tackles, Mike Felton with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Casey Froehlich with 5 tackles, Jeff Hacker with 4 tackles and a pass defense, Ryan Dotson with 2 tackles and a fumble recovery, Rich Delea with 1 tackle and a fumble recovery, and Brady Conroy, Dakotah Moses, Tommy Nicklas, and Mike Trish with 1 tackle each.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeff Hacker, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Jeff Hacker, Tommy Nicklas and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 140-yards rushing and 37yards passing for a total of 177-yards of offense. Jeff Hacker led the Mustangs rushing attack with 14 carries for 72-yards (including touchdowns of 30 and 2-yards), followed by Mike Felton with 10 for 37-yards, Jesse Good with 10 for 22, Mike Pugh with 2 for 9, Ryan Sexton with 3 carries for 2-yards, and a team loss of 2-yards. Quarterback Good completed 5 of 14 passes for 37-yards, 1 for 25-yards to Felton, 2 for 9-yards to Hacker, and 2 for 3-yards to Sexton, for the Mustangs. Felton kicked 2 extra points, and Aaron Bosley, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson and Matt Funk each recovered a fumble, and for the Mustangs.

The Panthers gained 102-yards rushing and 65-yards passing for a total of 167-yards gained. Saladin Dickson led the Panthers rushing attack with 17 carries for 47-yards (including a 2-yard touchdown), followed by Marques Fells with 15 for 25-yards (including a 17-yard touchdown), Jalil Ford with 4 for 15-yards, Brandon Baker with 3 for 14-yards, and Jonah Plymire with 1 carry for 1-yard. Quarterback Baker completed 8 of 23 passes for 65-yards, 5 for 38-yards to Ford, 1 for 15-yards to Lialdon Donovan-Greene, and 2 for 12-yards to Dickson, for the Panthers. Aaron Goodyear kicked 2 extra points, Travis Shaffer intercepted a pass, Logan Neff recorded 2 sacks, Kwe Parker recorded 1.5 sacks, Ryan Troup recorded a sack, and Kevin O’Grady recorded a half sack, for the Panthers.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a half time presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Central York Marching Band put on a spirited post game show. The Mustangs 24 gals, one guy and Mustang Mascot, and the Panthers cheerleaders and mascot excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-83-1 (.693) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-200-8. The results of the 536 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will host the Lions of Red Lion (5-2 Overall, 1-1 league) at the Mustang Corral. The Lions are coming off of a 36-14 loss to the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way along on the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 7 – 2010

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) Division II action last Saturday at SASSO FIELD, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were shutout 21-0 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High. Our heroes had their chances to win this one. Kelvin Rosario’s over 50 yard scamper to the 10 was followed by a sure TD pass from QB Dan Prigge that the wind blew just over the head of Kevin Guy. Alas, our Cutters turned the ball over on downs. At the half the FIGHTING MUSTANGS led 14-0. A pitchout from Prigge to Rosario took the ball to the 19 where, once again, the drive stalled. The defense played its heart out with Mike Venezia intercepting a pass and Kevin Osback breaking up a pass. Guy sacked the QB for a big loss and Brendan Walis smashed the halfback causing an option pass to misfire! Davon Johnson made a fantastic open field tackle stopping a fake punt run. Tyler Argott, Kevin Benjamin, Adam Polisi, Junior Roberts, Steven Tatekawa, Anthony Tozzi, Bryan Turton and Sam Vovsi all made big plays.

The shutout loss was Fair Lawn’s first since the CUTTERS’ 35-0 loss to the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in 2007. Since their beginning in 1943, our CUTTERS have shutout their opponents 82 times and have been shutout themselves 82 times! During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 in the BNC Division II, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn, including a State playoff victory in 1979.

The Bergen County champion Fair Lawn High School CUTTER Marching Band and Color Guard under the direction of Paul A. Kafer looked mighty fine. They’ll be in competition October 30th when Fair Lawn hosts Paterson Eastside so it was my privilege to announce the seniors and their escorts as they were honored at halftime.

The Class of 1960 was in town celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Class of 1985 was in town celebrating its 25th. The ’59 CUTTERS moved up to the NNJIL from the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) and nearly won the title. A heart breaking 6-0 loss to the TIGERS of Tenafly in a hurricane (The TIGERS refused to postpone the game!) and a 13-7 upset loss to the MAROONS of Ridgewood on Thanksgiving gave our CUTTERS two losses while the COMETS of Hackensack, a team they beat 27-6, took the championship with that loss and a tie with Ridgewood, the other new team in the league. The ‘84 CUTTERS took the NBIL Division 1 title their first year back in their old league.

The schedule had all 6 BNC Division II teams playing within the division. In addition to the Fair Lawn game, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute shutout the Knights of JFK of Paterson 33-0 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside edged the INDIANS of Passaic 7-6.

Friday night at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Paramus to take on the SPARTANS for the 23rd time. During 1962-83 in NNJIL action, Paramus won 12 games and Fair Lawn won 10 in a great neighboring rivalry. Fair Lawn’s move back to the NBIL in 1984 ended it. Our Cutters come into the game 1-5 (.167) having been outscored 162-52 for an average 27-9 loss. The SPARTANS, fresh off a 28-6 pasting of the COMETS of Hackensack, come into the game 2-3 (.400) having been outscored 147-131 for an average 29-26 loss. The SPARTANS are in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III playoff mix and need this game. It figures to be a whale of a battle and I think our CUTTERS can win it with an all-out effort and their loyal fans cheering them on. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 -Paramus 20. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 6

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were shutout 25-0 by the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes in independent action. During 1945-50 Charlie Benson’s CARDS and Bennett’s CUTTERS split their fierce rivalry at 3-3 (.500).

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 38-6 by the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. In independent action 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 31-8 in NNJIL action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686) and the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733). The teams squared off 1945-48 in the B-PIL, 1962-83 in the NNJIL and 1984-2008 in the NBIL. State realignment has ended the 51 season rivalry.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were beaten 20-7 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High in NNJIL action. During 1972-74 independently and 1975-81 in the NNJIL Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including a State playoff victory in 1979.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 14-7 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action. Ramapo took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 rivalry 17-11 (.607).

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 41-6 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in NBIL action. The PATRIOTS lead the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) 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. The 1984-93 Thanksgiving rivalry would up 5-5 (.500).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-7

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 8, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Wildcats of Dallastown to begin YAIAA Division I action for the 2010 season and were defeated 21-7 in a hard fought contest. The teams played to a 7-7 tie in the first half the Wildcats won the second half and the game.

The Wildcats fumbled the opening kickoff and Keith Pappas recovered it for the Mustangs at the Wildcats 24-yard line. The Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the 11 eight plays later. The Wildcats then drove to the Mustangs 44-yard line and punted. Ryan Behrmann racked up big chunks of yardage and two penalties erased a lot of it.

The Mustangs drove from their 20 to the Wildcats 46-yard line. Then George Christas made the first of his two interceptions for the Wildcats. The Wildcats started at the Mustangs 49-yard line and ended up punting from the 38. The Mustangs then drove from their own 8-yard line to the 23 and punted.

Andrew Heird returned that punt 64-yards for a touchdown. Behrmann’s extra point kick put the Wildcats up 7-0 with 8:28 left in the second quarter.

Mike Felton returned the Wildcats kickoff for 57-yards, setting up the Mustangs on the Wildcats 41-yard line. They turned the ball over on downs at the 24. Three plays later Brady Conroy recovered a Wildcats fumble for the Mustangs at the Wildcats 35-yard line. A penalty moved the ball back to the 40 and quarterback Jesse Good launched a 33-yard pass to Mike Felton to the 7-yard line. Three plays later Jeff Hacker plunged in from the 1-yard line. Brendan Lawson kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7 with 6:38 left in the first half.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted to open the second half. The Wildcats drove 69-yards in eight plays, ending with Adam Lawicki’s 3-yard touchdown run. Behrmann’s extra point kick put the Wildcats on top 14-7 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 26-yards to the Wildcats 41-yard line but a penalty knocked them back to their own 47. They punted and the Wildcats drove 73-yards in seven plays, topped off with Ben Kline’s 49-yard touchdown jaunt. Behrmann’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with the Wildcats up 21-7 with 10:52 left in the game.

The Mustangs last opportunity vanished when Christas had his second pass interception and the Wildcats ran out the clock.

Felton kicked off 2 times for 84-yards, with the longest going for 44-yards, and he punted 4 times for 158-yards, for an average of 39.5-yards, with the longest going for 41-yards. Mike Felton returned 1 kickoff for 57-yards, Carnie Fryfogle returned 2 kickoffs for 37-yards with the longest going for 19-yards, and Mike Pugh returned 1 kickoff for 19-yards, for the Mustangs.

Mike Felton led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles and a pass defense, followed by Jake Shaffer with 12 tackles, Cody Kephart with 11 tackles, Matt Funk with 9 tackles and a sack, Mike Pugh with 9 tackles, Aaron Bosley with 8 tackles and a pass hurry, Carnie Fryfogle and Ryan Sexton, each with 7 tackles and a sack, Ryan Dotson and Leonard Sturgis with 6 tackles each, Brady Conroy with 3 tackles and a fumble recovery, Keith Pappas with 2 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass defense, Rich Delea, Jeff Hacker , and Jeremy Loughlin with 2 tackles each, and Zach Townsend with 1 tackle.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeff Hacker, Cody Kephart, Jeremy Loughlin, Keith Pappas, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Jeff Hacker and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary, with help from Brandon Krise, for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 135-yards rushing and 52yards passing for a total of 187-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 11 carries for 50-yards, followed by Jeff Hacker with 11 for 46-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), Jesse Good with 7 for 33, Mike Pugh with 1 for 4, and Ryan Sexton with 3 carries for 2-yards. Quarterback Good completed 7 of 15 passes for 52-yards, 3 for 36-yards to Felton, 1 for 12-yards to Keith Pappas, 1 for 9-yards to Casey Froehlich, 1 for minus 2-yards to Ryan Sexton, and 1 for minus 3-yards to Mike Pugh, for the Mustangs. Brendan Lawson kicked an extra point, Brady Conroy and Keith Pappas each recovered a fumble, and Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, and Ryan Sexton each recorded a sack, for the Mustangs.

The Wildcats gained 270-yards rushing and no yards passing for a total of 270-yards gained. Ryan Behrmann led the Wildcats rushing attack with 22 carries for 112-yards, followed by Ben Kline with 5 for 73-yards (including a 49-yard touchdown), Adam Lawicki with 11 for 59-yards (including a 3-yad touchdown), Josh Luckenbaugh with 10 for 22-yards, and Austin Quinones with 1 carry for 4-yards. Quarterback Luckenbaugh failed to complete a pass in 3 attempts. Andrew Heird returned a punt 64-yards for a touchdown, Behrmann kicked 3 extra points, George Christas intercepted 2 passes, Bobby Esiaba recorded 1.5 sacks, and Jesse Davis and Kline each recorded a half sack, for the Wildcats.

Ben Kline led the Wildcats defense with 14 tackles, followed by Bobby Esiaba with 12, George Christas with 9 tackles and 2 interceptions, Brooks Morrison with 8 tackles, Garrett Hartman and Jake Margavitch with 6 tackles each, Jesse Davis and Adam Lawicki with 5 tackles each, Derrick Mayfield with 3 tackles, Nick Reed and Ford Reinalda with 2 tackles each, and Isaiah Haugh, Andrew Heird, Austin Quinones, and Zach Rittle with 1 tackle each.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a half time presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Dallastown Marching Band put on a spirited post-game show. The Mustangs 24 gals, one guy and Mustang Mascot, and the Wildcats 22 gals and Willie & Wilma the Wildcat Mascots excited the faithful with their rousing cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 3-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 186-83-1 (.692) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 327-200-8. The results of the 535 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Panthers of Central York (4-2 overall, 1-0 league). Central York is coming off of a 31-12 victory over the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 6 – 2010

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action last Saturday in Oradell, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High ran into the behemoth CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic and the 49-7 thrashing was what can be expected whenever a public school is forced to play one of the parochial powerhouses that can recruit all-star players from all over the tri-State area. They run college or semi-pro like operations. And this didn’t have to be. Fair Lawn had lined up the SOARING EAGLES of Union City, who were willing to play them but, since they would then have to play the MARAUDERS of St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City, the CRUSADERS refused to let Fair Lawn reschedule. Of course they should be playing teams like St. Peter’s! They should be in the Division with them.

Captains Bryan Turton and Kelvin Rosario went out for the coin toss which Bergen Catholic won and elected to receive. The CRUSADERS drove for 2 TDs and led 14-0 when Rosario electrified the crowd with a 70 yard TD gallop. With Alex Callons snapping and Brendan Walis holding, Danny Granja kicked the extra point and it was 14-7. The pass happy CRUSADERS led 42-7 at the half and their subs scored once more in the second half. In a valiant effort, Junior Roberts and Adam Polisi teamed up on a sack, Kevin Guy sacked the QB too and Steven Tatekawa made a TD saving tackle. Kevin Benjamin made a great stop and Anthony Tozzi and Tatekawa teamed up on a punt return stop. Corey Carlson teamed up with Guy on a stop and Davon Johnson made several sure tackles. Kevin Osback smartly eluded a sure tackle and got off a fabulous punt! Tozzi tipped a pass and Roberts picked it off. Dan Prigge started at QB and did a yeoman’s job but Joe Namath wouldn’t have had a chance in this game. The win brings Bergen Catholic’s 1981 and 82 and 2010 record against Fair Lawn to 3-0 (1.000) and the CRUSADERS have outscored our CUTTERS 129-7.

In crossover action Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Division II went 0-4 (.000) against outside teams. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were beaten 35-14 by the MAROONS of Ridgewood, the INDIANS of Passaic were stung 7-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley and, in the biggest parochial versus public school travesty of the day, the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were drubbed 58-6 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco. To his credit, Bosco Coach Greg Toal, a Fair Lawn assistant under Pete Natale 1978-81, has said he’d just as soon not be in a public school league and would rather be free to play teams that could give the Ironmen a challenge. In the only BNC Division II, game the KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute shutout the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 43-0. The BNC Division II is now 4-12 (250) against outside teams!

This Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS host the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High at SASSO FIELD. During 1972-74 independently and 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including a 30-0 State playoff victory in 1979. During the regular season, Natale’s CUTTERS had shocked the FIGHTING MUSTANGS 21-0! Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-4 (.200) having been outscored 141-52 for an average 28-10 loss. Clifton comes into the game 3-2 (.600) having outscored the opposition 123-81 for an average 25-16 win. Shaking off the Bergen Catholic loss, our CUTTERS have a real shot in this one. With an all out effort they can get back in the win column. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 - Clifton 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 5

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 26-13 by the RAMS of Ramsey in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)!

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 19-6 by the KNIGHTS of Morris Hills in independent action. The teams split the 1959-60 rivalry 1-1 (.500).

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS edged the SPARTANS of Paramus 9-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1962-83, 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.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS stung the HORNETS of Passaic Valley 7-6 in NNJIL action. The HORNETS would win 20-0 in the North Jersey, Section I, Group IV final at GIANTS STADIUM. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS shutout the RAMS of Ramsey 13-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800) in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (BPIL) and Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action!

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 43-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. The shocking 40-0 NV victory in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010 brought the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 and 2010 rivalry to 13-10 (.565) Fair Lawn.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-6

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 1, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the YAIAA Division II Bulldogs of West York at the Mustang Corral and were upended 34-19. The night belonged to Brett Campbell as his 2 pass receptions for touchdowns and his 100-yard return of an interception for another touchdown were the big difference in the game. The Mustangs actually out gained the Bulldogs by 63-yards for the game but 3 interceptions and 3 lost fumbles were just too much to overcome.

The Mustangs fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Austin Whitehead recovered for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs drove 44-yards and attempted a field goal but it missed. The Mustangs went three and out and punted. Brett Campbell returned the punt for 55-yards to the Mustangs 26-yard line. Seven plays later Mike Felton intercepted a Bulldogs pass and the Mustangs took over on their own 9-yard line. They got out to the 42 and punted.

The Bulldogs put together a sustained drive from their 24-yard line to the Mustangs 29-yard line, only to turn the ball over on downs. The drive featured a 49-yard pass from Kaden Hepler to Campbell.

The Mustangs ended up punting and Brandon Krise intercepted a Bulldogs pass two plays later. Aaron James recovered a fumble on the next play and the Bulldogs had the ball back at the Mustangs 23-yard line. Workhorse Zach Trone got to the 10-yard line on 2 carries and Hepler threw a 10-yard touchdown strike to Campbell. Blake Shaffer’s extra point kick put the Bulldogs up 7-0 at the 4:20 mark in the second quarter.

The Mustangs drove 41-yards to the Bulldogs 24-yard line in six plays, only to have Jerrin Toomey intercept a pass for the Bulldogs. Hepler threw a 77-yard touchdown bomb to Campbell and Shafer’s extra point kick upped the score to 14-0 with 1:25 to go in the first half.

The Bulldogs launched a 61-yard drive early in the third quarter. Trone ran 10-yards for a touchdown only to have it called back due to a penalty. After an incomplete pass, Trone raced 19-yards for the touchdown. He fumbled at the goal line but recovered his own fumble in the end zone. Shaffer’s extra point upped the score to 21-0 at the 6:50 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustang punted again and Campbell returned it 53-yards to the Mustangs 17-yard line for the Bulldogs. The Mustang’s Jake Shaffer sack Hepler for a 7-yard loss. Hepler then launched a 27-yard touchdown strike to Leland Tate and the Bulldogs went up 27-0 at the 1:49 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 63-yards in four plays, featuring a 10-yard pass from Jesse Good to Mike Felton and a 37-yard pass from Good to Ryan Sexton. Felton jaunted 15-yards for a touchdown and his extra point made the score 27-7 with 27 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs launched a 78-yard thirteen-play drive, featuring a 17-yard run by Felton, and a 14-yard pass from Good to Felton. Unfortunately for the Mustangs Campbell intercepted a pass at the goal line and returned it 100-yards for a touchdown. Shaffer’s extra point kick upped the score to 34-7 in favor of the Bulldogs with 6:56 left in the game.

The never say die Mustangs drive 80-yards in five plays, featuring an 18-yard run by Ryan Sexton, a 20-yard run by Jeff Hacker. Hacker ended the drive with a 26-yard touchdown scamper with 4:08 left in the game.

Matt Funk recovered an onsides kick for the Mustangs and Mark Fox intercepted a pass for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs ended up punting.

The Mustangs then drove 61-yards, featuring a 59-yard pass from Good to Felton, and Mike Pugh plunged in for a 6-yard touchdown. That made the final score 34-19 with 20 seconds left in the game.

Felton kicked off 1 time for 55-yards and he punted 5 times for 209-yards, for an average of 41.8-yards, with the longest going for 49-yards. Mike Pugh returned 6 kickoffs for 77-yards, with the longest going for 20-yards. Felton returned 1 punt for 8-yards, and Pugh returned a punt for no yards, for the Mustangs.

Jake Shaffer led the Mustangs defense with 12 tackles, a sack, and a pass defense, followed by Cody Kephart with 12 tackles, Matt Funk with 10 tackles, Leonard Sturgis with 9 tackles, Ryan Sexton with 8 tackles, and a sack, Aaron Bosley with 7 tackles, a sack and a pass hurry, Mike Felton with 6 tackles, an interception and a pass defense, Mike Pugh with 6 tackles, Brady Conroy and Keith Pappas with 4 tackles each, Carnie Fryfogle with 3 tackles, Zach Townsend with 2 tackles, and Brandon Krise with an interception.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeff Hacker, Cody Kephart, Jeremy Loughlin, Keith Pappas, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Brandon Krise and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary, with help from Jeff Hacker, for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 247-yards rushing and 156-yards passing for a total of 403-yards of offense. Jeff Hacker led the Mustangs rushing attack with 18 carries for 118-yards (including a 26-yard touchdown), followed by Mike Felton with 13 for 93-yards (including a 15-yard touchdown), Ryan Sexton with 5 for 29, Mike Pugh with 1 for a 6-yard touchdown, and Jesse Good with 5 carries for 1-yard. Quarterback Good completed 8 of 20 passes for 156-yards, 5 for 98-yards to Felton, 1 for 37-yards to Sexton, 1 for 11-yards to Cody Kephart, and 1 for 10-yards to Hacker, for the Mustangs. Felton kicked an extra point, Felton and Brandon Krise each intercepted a pass, and Aaron Bosley, Sexton, and Jake Shaffer each recorded a sack, for the Mustangs.

The Bulldogs gained 121-yards rushing and 219 yards passing for a total of 340-yards gained. Zach Trone led the Bulldogs rushing attack with 26 carries for 119-yards (including a touchdown when he fumbled in the end zone and recovered it himself), followed by Leland Tate with 1 for 14-yards and a touchdown, Brock Snellbaker with 3 for 6-yards, and Kaden Hepler with 7 for minus 18-yards. Quarterback Hepler completed 8 of 16 passes for 219-yards and 3 touchdowns, 4 for 152-yards to Campbell (including touchdowns of 10 and 77-yards), 3 for 41-yards to Jerrin Toomey, and 1 for 26-yards and a touchdown to Tate, for the Bulldogs. Mark Fox, Campbell, and Toomey each intercepted a pass, Aaron James, Isaiah Wallace, and Austin Whitehead each recovered a fumble, Aaron Tate recorded a sack, and Blake Shaffer kicked 4 extra points, for the Bulldogs.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a homecoming night post-game presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The West York Bulldogs Marching Band put on a spirited half time show. The 24 gals, one guy and the Mustang Mascot, and the Bulldogs, Cheerleading squads excited the faithful with their rousing cheering. During the entire third quarter the Mustangs Cheerleaders were joined by those from all levels from the middle school on up to the junior varsity, to form a group in remarkable sync that was too large to count.

The Mustangs of South Western are 3-2-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 186-81-1 (.697) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 327-199-8. The results of the 534 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 visit the Wildcats of Dallastown (5-0 overall, 0-0 league). Dallastown is coming off of a 40-13 victory over the Bobcats of Northeastern. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 5 – 2010

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High lost a heart breaking 12-6 thriller to the COMETS of Hackensack last Friday at SASSO FIELD in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action. Captains Bryan Turton, Kelvin Rosario and Tim Schrettner went out for the coin toss which the COMETS won and elected to receive. They drove deep into Fair Lawn territory but Kevin Benjamin, Kevin Guy, Davon Johnson, Anthony Tozzi, Mike Venezia and Brendan Walis made heroic plays to stop them. Then Walis blocked a field goad attempt at the 9! Our CUTTERS moved the ball with big runs by James Hegybeli, Rosario and Steven Tatakawa behind center, Alex Callons, guards Max Jacobs and Matt Paisely and tackles Adam Polisi and Steve Sherlock. Our CUTTERS got to the 9 yard line before QB Kevin Osback was intercepted in the end zone. A Fair Lawn fumble resulted in a TD run by the COMETS who led 6-0 at halftime.

The COMETS scored again and then the 2nd half featured a beautiful long pass by Osback that just missed Walis and more runs by Fair Lawn’s talented backs including Corey Carlson. Hegybeli broke lose for a 25 yard TD run and it was 12-6. An on-side kick failed and the favored (Though not here!) COMETS held on for the win knowing they’d been in a tough ballgame. On “D” Tozzi recovered a fumble at the Fair Lawn 8 yard line, and Benjamin recovered one at the Fair Lawn 7. Dan Prigge broke up a long pass attempt and Polisi and Sherlock made some great stops. The win brings the Hackensack record against Fair Lawn during 1959-82 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL), 2000 in the playoffs and now 2010 in BNC crossover action to 18-7-1 (.720).

In crossover action Fair Lawn’s BNC Division II went 2-2 (.500) against outside teams. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute were shut out 21-0 by the LANCERS of Lakeland. However, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the KNIGHTS of Bergen Tech 42-13 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside edged the BEARS of Bergenfield 12-9. The BNC Division II is 4-8 (.333) against outside teams so far. In the only BNC Division II game, the INDIANS of Passaic beat KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson 26-6.

This Saturday our CUTTERS travel to Oradell to take on the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic. In 1981 and 82 the CRUSADERS went 2-0 over Pete Natale’s CUTTERS outscoring them 80-0. The unfair advantage the parochial schools have over public schools was the main reason Fair Lawn and Bergenfield left the NNJIL in 1984 and returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), which Fair Lawn had left in 1959. More about that next week. BC has a real Fair Lawn connection. The CRUSADER’S head coach is Nunzio Campanile. His Dad, Mike, was a fabulous junior football coach for many years with the Fair Lawn Football Association where all the boys played. Sons Anthony, Nick and Vito coached at Fair Lawn High under Greg Tanzer. Anthony and Nick played for Fair Lawn after Mike’s stint as head coach of the PALADINS of Paramus Catholic ended. The Campanile family joins the Graff and Guy families as families most heavily involved in football in Fair Lawn over the years. BC comes into the game 3-1 (.750) having outscored the opposition 128-78 for an average 32-20 win. Fair Lawn comes into the game at 1-3 (.250) having been outscored 92-45 for an average 23-11 loss. It’s David against Goliath and I know our heroes will give it all they have. Like all public schools playing the parochial powerhouses, they’ll be outgunned, but will fight to keep it close. I hope I’m wrong but, from here it looks like Bergen Catholic 35 –Fair Lawn 20. GO CUTTERS GO!!!