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.