THE GRIDIRON 3-2011

By Dick Engelhardt

In a game that was on WGHT Radio (1500 AM) with Jon Fass and Peter Gilmartin broadcasting last week, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High roared out to lead the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 7-0, 7-6 and 10-6 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and then the dam broke leading to a 48-10 loss. Mike Venezia recovered a fumble and QB Kevin Osback ran for a 1st down. Swift Steve Tatekawa scampered to the 3 and Osback bulled in for the TD. With Kevin Benjamin snapping and Pete Danko holding, the sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point and our heroes led 7-0. After the NORSEMEN scored, Venezia blocked the point after kick and our CUTTERS led 7-6. Osback threw a picture pass to George Alexandris for a 1st down, Osback rambled to the 13 and Tatekawa scampered to the 10. When the drive stalled Moslavi booted a 25 yard field goal and Fair Lawn led 10-6. The NORSEMEN went ahead 12-10 and our CUTTERS were holding on until, on the final play as the clock ticked out the 1st half, the NORSEMEN completed a 35 yard pass to score. Their 2 point conversion put them up 18-10.

The flood gates opened in the 2nd half. One highlight was a tremendous goal line stand by Fair Lawn, the final play of which saw Brian Centano lead the charge that stopped the NORSEMEN inside the 1. A safety followed, however and the NORSEMEN led 20-10. After that they were able to pour it on even blocking a punt and scoring a TD. On “D,” fine plays were made by Alexandris, Benjamin, Kris Berger, Danko (who finished up at QB too), Boris Lifshits, Moslavi, Franklyn Ramirez, Jeff Welsh and others. Our CUTTERS took the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry 13-9 (.591). The NORSEMEN are 2-0 in 2010 and 11 Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and Fair Lawn leads the rivalry 13-11 (.552).

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division played all outside foes this weekend and laid a goose egg! In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute were beaten 14-7 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were ambushed 9-0 by the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were shut out 42-0 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills, the INDIANS of Passaic were beaten 55-30 by the RED WINGS of Hoboken and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were shut out 28-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack. The BNC Liberty Division is 0-6 against outside foes so far.

The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band under the direction of Paul Kafer looked great. After their stellar performance, they were off to Scotch Plains for their 1st competition of 2011.

Cheerleader Coach Lauren Gimon was roundly applauded as I announced that Christie Artinger, a member of her first squad in 2002, was a member of the New York Jets Flight Crew Cheerleading squad in 2009 and 10 and is now a member of the San Diego Chargers “Charger Girls” squad! How many high school cheerleading coaches in America can say that one of their cheerleaders has made two National Football League (NFL) cheerleading squads? Way to go Lauren and Christie! Krisann Overmars Guy, Lauren’s predecessor as cheerleading coach, who coached Christie in her early seasons, was on hand too and her daughter, Reilly, was part of the Fair Lawn Football Association cheerleaders’ halftime show.

This Saturday our CUTTERS are home at SASSO FIELD at 1:00 against the 1-1 (.500) BULLDOGS of Passaic Tech in BNC Liberty Division action. The BULLDOGS came from behind to win the initial game between the schools last season 34-14. Having beaten Clifton, they are the favorites to repeat as BNC Liberty Division champions. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 17- PCTI 15. GO GUTTERS GO!!!