THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 7

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 25-8 by the BULLDOGS of Rutherford in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959–63 in the NNJIL, our CUTTERS went 3-2 (.600) over the BULLDOGS. Rutherford left for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division in ’64.

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were shut out 27-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack in the NNJIL. During 1959-82 in NNJIL action, 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 BNC crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shut out 39-0 by the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic in NNJIL action. In 1981 and 82 the CRUSADERS went 2-0 over Pete Natale’s CUTTERS. The unfair advantage the parochial schools had was the main reason Fair Lawn and Bergenfield left the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) in 1984 and returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), which Fair Lawn had left in 1959. In 2010 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action the 49-7 win brought the record to 3-0 (1.000) with BC ahead 129-7 in scoring

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS thrashed the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/ Old Tappan 39-8 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 rivalry 15–10 (.600).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 14-7 in NBIL inter-divisional action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 rivalry 13-10 (.565).