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!!!