THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 5

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the RAMS of Ramsey 26-20 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800) in B-PIL and Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action!

1961 – New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS drew a bye.

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS edged the SPARTANS of Paramus 16-14 in NNJIL action. During 1962-83 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action, 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. It resumed in 2010 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and the 42-13 Paramus win put the SPARTANS up 13-10(.565). The teams tangle October 22nd in the Hall of Fame Game at SASSO FIELD.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 42-0 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High in NNJIL action. - During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the (NNJIL) and 2010 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn, including a State playoff victory in 1979. The teams tangle next week at Clifton!

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged the RAMS of Ramsey 10-8 in NBIL interdivisional action. - Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry 28-7 (.800) in B-PIL and NBIL action!

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 31-7 in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS took the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry 13-9 (.591). The 40-0 NV shut out win in 2010 and the 48-10 NORSEMEN win in 2011 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action brought the record to 13-10 (.565) Fair Lawn.