THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 4

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were beaten 32-14 by the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst in league action. - Fair Lawn took the fierce 1945 – 53 rivalry with Lyndhurst 5-4 (.556). The CUTTERS and GOLDEN BEARS shared the 1947 title. The B-PIL became the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956.

1961 – New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS were beaten 25-12 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.

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 27-8 in NNJIL action. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN. Fair Lawn’s 20-6 victory in 2009 in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action put our CUTTERS up 18-11-1 (.621) in the series.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 20-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round. Fair Lawn shared the 1980 NNJIL title with the HORNETS and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High.

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS lost a 41-34 shootout to the BRAVES of Indian Hills in NBIL interdivisional action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 NBIL interdivisional rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Realignment has ended it for now.

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 34-9 in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1999-2001 and 2007-2008 our CUTTERS have gone 4-1 (.800) over the THUNDERBIRDS in NBIL crossover action.