THE GRIDIRON 6 – 2011

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were idle last week. They were scheduled to play the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic but gladly acquiesced when Bergen Catholic asked if they could play the KNIGHTS of Friendship Collegiate Academy of Washington, D.C. instead. The CRUSADERS beat the KNIGHTS 48-32.

I took in the Clifton-Ridgewood game at Clifton School Stadium and was privileged to again be the guest announcer for the Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band, which they proudly dub “The Show Band of the Northeast!” While there, I helped the stadium announcer “spot,” telling him what player made the tackle, etc. It reminded me of when my twin brother, Bill, who moved to Pennsylvania in 1997, and I were the “spotters” for long time popular Fair Lawn announcer, Joe Hausmann for over 30 seasons ending in 1996. I became “The Voice of the CUTTERS on the Gridiron” in 1997.

In this Big North Conference (BNC) crossover game, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the MAROONS of Ridgewood 12-7. Former Fair Lawn assistant coaches John DiGiorgio and Robert Gentile are on the Ridgewood staff; Gentile is the offensive coordinator. In the other crossover games, the INDIANS of Passaic were stung 39-23 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were shut out 33-0 by the SOARING EAGLES of Union City. Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division went 1-1 (.500) against outside opposition and is 2-12 (.143) so far in ’11. In the only BNC Liberty Division game, the KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute edged the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 13-6

On Friday night at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Clifton to take on those FIGHTING MUSTANGS for the 13th time. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 in the BNC Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn. It started in 1972 when Clifton joined the NNJIL but was not eligible for a championship because an agreement to play Passaic on Thanksgiving prevented the FIGHTING MUSTANGS from playing a full league schedule. They ripped through the league undefeated 1972-74 and, in 1975, when they could have taken the title; the HORNETS of Passaic Valley upset them in Little Falls. In 1979, our CUTTERS shocked Clifton 21-0 in the regular season only to see the FIGHTING MUSTANGS shut them out 30-0 in playoff action! In 1980 Fair Lawn, Clifton and Passaic Valley shared the NNJIL crown and all 3 went to GIANTS STADIUM for the States. In the opening round our CUTTERS came back from 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 deficits to beat the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the most thrilling game in their history to that point, while Clifton lost to Passaic Valley. In the finals, Passaic Valley, a team Fair Lawn had edged 7-6 during the season; shut our CUTTERS out 21-0.

Clifton comes into the game 3-2 (600) having outscored the opposition 90-62 for an average 18-12 victory. The FIGHTING MUSTANGS lost their first 2 games and have won 3 straight since. Fair Lawn is 0-4 and has been outscored 184-33 for an average 46-8 loss. I wish I could foresee a Fair Lawn victory but the tremendous Clifton depth figures to take its toll. I’m sure our “never-say-die” CUTTERS will make a heroic effort and I think they can keep it close. From here it looks like Clifton 18 – Fair Lawn 10. Who knows? If our heroes can keep it close, they might even win! GO CUTTERS GO!!!