THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 2

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were edged 7-6 by the BEARS of Hawthorne in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Independently in 1944 and in the B-PIL 1945-55, our CUTTERS went 9-3 (.750) over the BEARS. When Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the league, left in ’56, the league was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1961 – Bennett’s CUTTERS were shutout 20-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. 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).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS shut out the BOILERMAKERS of Garfield in the 1st game ever played between the schools. During 1971-75 Fair Lawn went 5-0 (1.000) over Garfield in NNJIL action. The record went to 6-0 (1.000) in 2005 when Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS trounced the BOILERMAKERS 47-7 in a State Consolation game.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 7-0 by the SPARTANS of Paramus in NNJIL action. During 1962-83 in the NNJIL, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984. The rivalry was renewed as the teams squared off in Big North Conference (BNC) Crossover action in 2010. The 42-13 Paramus win put the SPARTANS up 13-10 (.565).

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS fought the INDIANS of Pascack Valley to a 14-14 tie in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 rivalry 14-10-1 (.583) and won the last 5 games.

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were thrashed 58-13 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in NBIL Division 1 action. Ramapo took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 series 17-11 (.607).