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).