THE GRIDIRON 11–2010

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High, representing the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, were defeated 41-22 by the VIKINGS of Vernon High, representing the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) American Division last Saturday at SASSO FIELD in “Consolation Game” action. Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis won the coin toss and elected to receive. With Fair Lawn facing 3rd and long, Rosario electrified the crowd with a 75 yard TD run around the right end off blocks by Matt Paisely and Adam Polisi and our CUTTERS led 6-0. The VIKINGS came back and led 7-6. Kevin Osback got off an awesome punt that was downed inside the 1 by Mike Venezia and Walis. On the next play the VIKINGS fumbled and Osback recovered the ball and scored. Rosario’s 2 point conversion run had our CUTTERS on top 14-7. They led 14-13 at the half.

Vernon led 19-14 after 3 quarters and then the VIKINGS pulled away. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS fought back after Vernon took a 34-14 lead. Rosario raced 26 yards for a TD and Anthony Tozzi bulled his way for the 2 point conversion to give our CUTTERS their 22 points. Speedy Davon Johnson made great runs all day and James Hegybeli picked up nice yardage behind center Brandon Sibilio, guards Max Jacobs and Paisely and tackles Steven Sherlock and Polisi. On “D,” Johnson made a TD saving tackle, Walis and Turton recovered fumbles, Junior Roberts sacked the QB and Kris Burger, Kevin Benjamin, Kevin Guy and Sam Vovsi made big plays. Fair Lawn’s record in Consolation Games since their inception in 1998 is now 7-4 (.636).

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division was knocked out of the playoffs in the 1st round. In North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action, its champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute lost a heart breaker 27-25 to the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) Bruins of North Bergen that went down to the last play of the game as the BRUINS stuffed the BULLDOGS’ 2 point conversion try that would have sent the game into overtime. Fair Lawn is 1-1 (.500) against North Bergen having beaten the BRUINS 14-7 in the States in 1989 and lost 33-13 to them in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover action in 2009. Fair Lawn’s 34-14 loss to PCTI this year was the 1st game between the schools.

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division went 3-2 (.600) in Consolation Games. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the GOLDEN EAGLES of Morris Knolls beat the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson 41-25. However, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the COMETS of Hackensack 25-6, the INDIANS of Passaic beat the TIGERS of Memorial of West New York 41-20 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside beat the BENGALS of Bloomfield 31-28. The BNC Liberty Division finished the season 9-21 (.300) against outside teams! Only the Eastside- Kennedy and Clifton-Passaic Thanksgiving games within the Division remain.

Our CUTTERS finished the season 3-7 (.300). It was my great pleasure and privilege to be “The Voice of the Cutters on the Gridiron” again this year with my spotter, Kevin Pepitone. Next week we’ll recall Fair Lawn Thanksgiving Day memories and then look at the playoffs from the point of view of Fair Lawn fans before closing out THE GRIDIRON for 2010 with some final thoughts on the season. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!