PLAYOFF FINALS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2011

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON. Power points only come into play in making the playoffs and in seeding in them.

In 1980 Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shared the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the HORNETS of Passaic Valley. They beat the HORNETS 7-6 during the season but were beaten 20-7 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS who in turn were beaten by the HORNETS. The tri-champions all had 8-1 (.889) NNJIL records. In the opening round of the States in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action, the CUTTERS played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic and the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller. In the finals at GIANTS STADIUM the HORNETS of Passaic Valley avenged the regular season loss with a 20-0 championship shut out victory. Those 1980 CUTTERS were the first team in FLHS history to win 9 games, going 9-2 (.818). The others were Natale’s 1985 and 87 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS who went 9-1 (.900).

THE GRIDIRON 13–2011

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

There was lots of playoff and Thanksgiving Day action of interest to Fair Lawn fans. Let’s look at some of it. I took in a “Consolation” game in Bergenfield and saw the BEARS ambush the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 31-22. I hoped to visit with my friend, Bergenfield announcer Howie Conklin, but he was away. During 1954-58 independently, 1959-82 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2009 in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action our CUTTERS went 18-11-1 (.621) over the HIGHWAYMEN. During 1945-48 in the old Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL), 1962-83 in the NNJIL and 1984-2008 in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), our Cutters went 35-16 (.686) over Bergenfield. In Thanksgiving Day action 1994-2008, Fair Lawn went 11-4 (.733) over the BEARS. The 51 season rivalry remains the longest in either school’s history! Until the 1960s the BEARS were called the MIGHTY MITES because their 1st team in 1940 was so small!

In a North Jersey, Section I, Group I “battle of the birds,” I saw the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes shoot down the FALCONS of Saddle Brook in a 17-14 thriller. The game was broadcast by WGHT Radio (1500 AM) which also broadcast the Fair Lawn – Northern Valley/Demarest game this year. I enjoyed chatting with on-the-air personalities Jon Fass and Pete Gilmartin again. I’ve mentioned that Fair Lawn broke off from Saddle River Township in 1924 and the Township changed its name to Saddle Brook in 1955. Old time Fair Lawn fans remember the fierce 1945-50 rivalry between legendary Fair Lawn Coach Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS and legendary Pompton Lakes Coach Charlie Benson’s CARDINALS. The Pompton Lakes announcer remembered Coach Benson! Each team won 3 games. Benson later became AD at Clifton High. The CARDINALS face the PANTHERS of Glen Rock in the finals.

In Group II I saw the GOLDEN HAWKS of River Dell shutout the Rams of RAMSEY 20-0. In 1958 Fair Lawn and River Dell played each other for the only time ever in the NBIL and, with Bill Parcells at running back, the GOLDEN HAWKS beat our CUTTERS 26-13. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58 B-PIL, and 1984-99 and 2002-06 NBIL rivalry against Ramsey by an astounding 28-7 (.800)! The GOLDEN HAWKS face the KNIGHTS of West Essex in the finals.

In Group III action, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan surprised the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 34-10. Fair Lawn and PV squared off in the B-PIL 1955-56 and in the NBIL 1984-85 and 1988-2008. Pascack Valley took the rivalry 14-10-1 (.583). PV Coach Craig Nielsen was an assistant in Fair Lawn 1980-85 under Pete Natale. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 NBIL rivalry against NV/Old Tappan 15–10 (.600).

In Fair Lawn’s Group IV, the BRUINS of North Bergen edged the SOARING EAGLES of Union City 10-7 in overtime. Coach Vin Ascolese will end a 50 season coaching career against the MOUNTIES of Montclair in the finals. In 1989 our CUTTERS surprised the Bruins 14-7 in the playoffs. Fair Lawn is 1-1 (.500) against North Bergen. In ’09 our CUTTERS beat the SOARING EAGLES 42-14.

Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division closed out its season on Thanksgiving Day. I was privileged to be the “spotter” at Clifton School Stadium where I saw the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High win a 55-29 shootout over the INDIANS of Passaic. In the other BNC Liberty Division game, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside edged the KNIGHTS of JFK 17-12 in the 86th renewal of the annual classic. Next week we’ll look at playoff finals from a Fair Lawn point of view. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

TURKEY DAY IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY 2011

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 18-6 by the MAROONS of Ridgewood in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. The MAROONS led Annual Classic that began in 1944 6-2 (.750). Fair Lawn’s first victory had been 7-6 in 1947.

1961 – New coach Ed Sheehey’s CUTTERS were shut out 19-0 by the MAROONS in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Ridgewood led the series 12-5-1 (.706).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were edged 14-8 by the MAROONS in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 17-9-2 (.654).

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were beaten 12-6 by the MAROONS in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 24-11-3 (.687).

1991 – Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 CUTTERS were edged 24-21 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in a thriller. Fair Lawn had left the NNJIL and returned to the NBIL in 1984. Our CUTTERS led the series 5-3 (.375). The 1984-93 Turkey Day rivalry wound up 5-5 (.500). The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover rivalry 20-5 (.800).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 29-7 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn led the Turkey Day series, which began in 1994, 7-1 (.875)

The 2008 Thanksgiving Day 42-0 victory over Bergenfield ended the holiday classic, at least for now. Fair Lawn took the 1945-48 (when the BEARS were the MIGHTY MITES) and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686) and the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733). At 51 seasons, it remains the longest rivalry in either school’s history!

THE GRIDIRON 12: THANKSGIVING DAY MEMORIES – 2011

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The 2011 football season, the 69th since Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943, is the third season in which our CUTTERS had no Thanksgiving Day football game. Coach Marty Fischbein found an opponent for his new CUTTERS that initial 1943 season in the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity High School of Westfield. Our CUTTERS started their Thanksgiving play with a 19-0 victory on what is now the Center Rec Field before the football field was built. The present Sasso Field, named after the venerable athletic director, teacher, coach and vice principal, Virgil G. Sasso, who served 1944-79, was laid out in 1956 as the gold colored “B Wing” high school addition was being built and took that space. The impressive home stands were constructed for the 1959 season.

In 1944, Fischbein’s CUTTERS began a 40 year Turkey Day rivalry with the MAROONS of Ridgewood which ended in 1984 when Fair Lawn left the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), that Fair Lawn and Ridgewood had left in 1959 for the NNJIL. Ridgewood took the 1944-83 annual classic 26-11-3 (.703).

In 1984 back in the NBIL, our CUTTERS began a 10 year Turkey Day rivalry 1984-93 with the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills that wound up 5-5 (.500). The teams continued to play during the season. Both schools moved to the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 in 2009 and Fair Lawn would be in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division in 2010 and 11. Wayne Hills took the 1984-2009 overall rivalry 20-5 (.800).

In 1994 the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah joined the NBIL, which they had left in the 1960s for the new Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (B-PSL). They wanted to play their old Turkey Day foe, Ramsey. The reshuffling of the Turkey Day NBIL rivalries enabled Fair Lawn to pick up the BEARS of Bergenfield. Fair Lawn took the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733) and the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 overall rivalry, the longest in either school’s history, 35-16 (.686).

Fair Lawn’s 66 season Thanksgiving Day record during 1943-2008 is 28-35-3 (.444). It ended with Fair Lawn’s 42-0 victory over Bergenfield. There were some great memories along the way. In 1947, our CUTTERS shared the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) championship with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. Coach Frank “Mac” Bennett was the New York Daily News North Jersey “Coach of The Year.” The CUTTERS beat the MAROONS 7-6 for the first Fair Lawn victory. Ridgewood led the series 3-1 (.750). In 1953 Bennett’s B-PIL champion CUTTERS shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III title with the COMETS of Hackensack. They beat Ridgewood 26-6. Star running back Dave Sime would become “The World’s Fastest Human!” Ridgewood led the series 6-4 (.600).

Bennett’s 1959 CUTTERS almost took the title in their maiden NNJIL season. Ridgewood’s 13-7 upset victory in which the MAROONS injured Fair Lawn’s star running back, Bob Wright, who went on to play for Army, gave Hackensack the title by half a game even though the CUTTERS had beaten the COMETS 27-6. Ridgewood led the series 10-5-1 (.667).

Ed Sheehy’s 1964 CUTTERS tied Ridgewood 6-6. Sheehy died after the season and Frank Devens’ NNJIL champion CUTTERS went 8-0-1 (1.000) in ’65 and beat Ridgewood 13-6 on Turkey Day. They remain the only FLHS team in history to go undefeated! Devens’ 1966 NNJIL champion CUTTERS brought a 24 game non-losing streak into the game. Sensational running back, Bruce Jankowski would go on to star at Ohio State and play for the Kansas City CHIEFS in the National Football League (NFL) and the Shreveport STEAMER in the World Football League (WFL). He and ’59 star, Bob Wright, along with coaches Bennett and Devens and the late AD, Virgil G. “Virge” Sasso, after whom SASSO FIELD is named, were in the initial group inducted into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2006. Coach Fischbein and the original “cutters” were inducted in ‘09 along with this writer. Before a crowd of 13,000 on Thanksgiving Day in ‘66, Ridgewood upset Fair Lawn in a 40-34 barn burner. The MAROONS led the series 13-8-2 (.619).

What wonderful memories there are of FLHS in action on Thanksgiving Day! Playoffs have eliminated many Turkey Day games now. Next week we’ll look at playoff action of interest to Fair Lawn fans. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-13

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 18, as the 9th seed the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I Mustangs of South Western visited the 1st seeded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Eagles of Cumberland Valley in the quarterfinal round of the District 3 playoffs and lost 42-21, ending a hugely successful season. The Eagles (10-1 overall, 5-1 league) will next host the 5th seeded Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1 Bulldogs of Wilson (11-1 overall, 7-0 league) in the semifinal round at 7PM on November 25.

The Eagles began the game by going three and out and punting as the Mustangs held them to 4-yards. The Mustangs started off like a house afire, driving 15-yards in 3 plays, but then fumbled and the Eagles recovered at the Mustangs 42-yard line. The Eagles then drove 42-yards in eleven plays, featuring a 12-yard pass from Ben Fernback to Jeremy DiPietro and ending with a 1-yard touchdown run by Cole Johnson. Lance Geesey kicked the extra point and the Eagles were up 7-0 with 5:08 to go in the first quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted from their 28-yard line and the Eagles drove 44-yards in six plays, featuring a 25-yard pass from Fernback to DiPietro and ending with a 14-yard touchdown pass to DiPietro. Geesey’s extra point kick put the Eagles up 14-0 with 1:15 to go in the first quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted again. The Eagles drove 62-yards in eight plays, featuring a 14-yard run by DiPietro and a 27-yard run by Fernback, and ending with a 2-yard touchdown plunge by DiPietro. Geesey’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 8:25 to go in the second quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 68-yards in seven plays, featuring a 26-yard run by Dillon Thomas and ending with a beautiful 19-yard touchdown pass from Zach Gross to Mike Felton. Jake Tracy kicked the extra point and the Eagles were up 21-7 with 5:10 left in the first half.

The Mustangs fumbled the second half opening kickoff and the Eagles recovered at the Mustangs 37-yard line. Seven plays later Fernback threw an 11-yard touchdown strike to Alex Cutia and Geesey’s extra point kick put the Eagles up 28-7 with 9:07 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs got off two plays before Joe Dececco intercepted a pass for the Eagles. The Eagles then drove 35-yards in five plays, featuring a 20-yard run by Jeremy Salmon and ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by Salmon. Geesey’s extra point kick put the Eagles up 35-7 with 6:40 to go in the third quarter.

The Eagles poor kickoff ended up being an unintentional onside kick and Max Noonan recovered it for the Eagles. The Eagles then drove 28-yards in two plays, a 3-yard loss and a 31-yard touchdown sprint by Fernback. Geesey’s extra point kick upped the score to 42-7, and invoked the mercy rule, with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles then substituted liberally. The Mustangs drove 33-yards, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Eagles 43-yard line. The Eagles went three and out and punted.

The Mustangs then drove 74-yards in three plays, ending with Mike Felton’s 52-yard touchdown run. Tracy’s extra point kick made the score 42-14 with 10:51 to go in the game.

The Eagles ended up turning the ball over on downs and the Mustangs drove 70-yards in nine plays, featuring a 6-yard pass from Gross to Brandon Krise, an 11-yard run by Reid Cruz, and a 28-yard run by Dillon Thomas, and ending with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Gross. Tracy’s extra point kick made the final score 42-21 in favor of the Eagles with 3:30 to go in the game.

Mike Felton kicked off 4 times for 200-yards, with the longest going for 59-yards, and punted 3 times for 107-yards, with the longest going for 44-yards, for a 35-67-yard average. For the season Felton punted 34 times for 1,411-yards, for a 41.5-yard average. Dillon Langenfeld returned 3 kickoffs for 27-yards, with the longest going for 13-yards, Felton returned 1 kickoff for 15-yards, and Reid Cruz returned 1 kickoff for 4-yards. Felton returned 1 punt for 15-yards and Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 punt for 2-yards, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 16 tackles (giving him a team leading 163 and a new school record on the season) and a pass defense, followed by Chad Kolper with 13 tackles, Mike Felton and Keith Pappas with 11 tackles each, Ryan Dotson with 10 tackles, Devon Ackerman with 88 tackles, Zach Townsend with 7 tackles and a sack, Jeremy Loughlin with 5 tackles and a sack, Reid Cruz and Brandon Stremmel with 5 tackles each, Rich Delea with 4 tackles, Mike Duffy and Jerome Robinson with 3 tackles each, Logan Bowman and Dillon Thomas with 2 tackles each, and Alex Baugher, Brandon Barnhart, Ryan Klinedinst, Jaelen Langenfeld and Eddie Lane with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Dakotah Moses, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 247-yards rushing and 37-yards passing for a total of 284-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 13 carries for 123-yards (including a 52-yard touchdown), followed by Dillon Thomas with 10 for 91-yards (including touchdowns of 20 and 52-yards), Reid Cruz with 5 for 29-yards, Brady Stevenson with 1 carry for 12-yards, and Zach Gross with 4 carries for minus 8-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown). Quarterback Gross completed 5 of 13 passes for 37-yards and 1 touchdown, 1 for 19-yards and a touchdown to Felton, 2 for 11-yards to Brandon Krise, 1 for 4-yards to Jerome Robinson, and 1 for 3-yards to Keith Pappas, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 3 extra points for the Mustangs.

The Eagles gained 276-yards rushing and 61-yards passing for a total of 337-yards gained. Ben Fernback led the Eagles rushing attack with 7 carries for 76-yards (including a 31-yard touchdown), followed by Jeremy Salmon with 10 for 51 (including a 3-yard touchdown), Aaron Hinish with 9 for 45, Cole Johnson with 9 for 32 (including a 1-yard touchdown), Jeremy DiPietro with 8 for 32 (including a 2-yard touchdown), Joe Dececco with 2 for 23, Brady Miller with 1 for 9, Tyler Hartzel with 5 for 8, McClain Fultz with 3 for 2-yards, Tyler Heisey with 1 for 1-yard, and Corey Johnson with 1 carry for minus 3-yards. Quarterback Fernback completed 4 of 7 passes for 61-yards and 2 touchdowns, 3 for 51-yards to DiPietro (including a 14-yard touchdown) and 1 for 11-yards and a touchdown to Alex Cutia, for the Eagles. Lance Geesey kicked 6 extra points, Joe Dececco intercepted a pass, Brian Aunspach, Devon Blewett, and Max Noonan each recovered a fumble, and Zach O’dell recorded a sack, for the Eagles.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Cumberland Valley Eagles Marching Band put on a great pre-game performance with their show “Hoist the Colors,” saluting the Pirates of Penzance. The Mustangs and Eagles Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful in the playoff atmosphere.

The Mustangs of South Western ended their season 9-3-0 overall and 5-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play, taking sole possession of the Division I title.

Don Seidenstricker has a 196-88-1 (.690) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 337-206-8. The results of the 551 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

We bid a fond and tearful farewell and offer our best wishes for the future to the 24 departing seniors. We owe them all our gratitude for their efforts in providing us with exciting football over the course of their high school careers. They are: Brandon Barnhart, Alex Baugher, Tyler Burke, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Michael Felton, Carnie Fryfogle, Jesse Good, Zach Gross, Matt Hawn, Jake Hunt, Ryan Klinedinst, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, Jeremy Loughlin, Daniel McMillen, Keith Pappas, Steven Stambaugh, Brady Stevenson, Brandon Stremmel, Matt Stroda and Zack Townsend.

I want to say a very special thank you to Richard Lupro for faithfully compiling the official Offensive, Special Teams and Scoring statistics for the Mustangs, and for inputting them, and the Defensive statistics, at the Max Preps web site very quickly each week so that they were always available for my use. He was instrumental in coming up with many of the records that will be mentioned below. And a very special thank you also goes to longtime Mustangs line coach Chuck Seidenstricker for providing vital Defensive statistics to me, and to Dick Lupro, for input to the web site, after reviewing game films on very short notice.

The 2011 edition of the Mustangs of South Western gave their fans lots of excitement and thrills.

Temple University bound Mike Felton ended his season with 142 carries for 1,038-yards and 14 touchdowns rushing and 22 pass receptions for 409-yards and 6 touchdowns (putting him in 1st place in school history with 16 career touchdown receptions). For the season Felton punted 34 times for 1,411-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards, for a 41.5-yard average, putting him in 1st place in school history for season punting average. He also is in 4th place on the season punting average list with a 39.4-yard average for 2010. Felton tied for 3rd place in school history for career punting average with 37.3-yards. Felton also set a new school season scoring record with 156-points, a new school career scoring record with 302 points, a new school season touchdown record with 25, a new school record for career touchdowns with 47, a new school career pass reception yardage record with 1,156-yards, and a he finished in second place for career pass receptions with 69 (only 1 behind the record of 70 by Tom Rill), for the Mustangs. Felton will qualify for the “Keystone Club” at the Pennsylvania Football News in multiple categories.

Dillon Thomas ended his season with 146 carries for 1,058-yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and 6 pass receptions for 35-yards. This is believed to be the first time in school history that two players have rushed for over 1,000-yards for the season. This will put him in the “Keystone Club.”

Zach Gross ended his season completing 71 of 128 passes for 1,074-yards and 12 touchdowns, putting him in 4th place in school history for yardage and in a tie for 5th place for touchdown passes in a season, for the Mustangs. This will put him in the “Keystone Club.”

Carnie Fryfogle set a new school record with 163 tackles for the season, breaking the record of 151 set by Jason Gigous in 2006 in a 14 game season. This will put him in the “Keystone Club.”

Jake Tracy kicked 35 extra points for the season, putting him in 4th place in school history.

Felton led the team in scoring with 156 points, from 25 touchdowns and 3 two-point conversions. He was followed by Dillon Thomas with 92 points on 15 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion, Jake Tracy with 35 points on 35 extra point kicks, Zach Gross with 24 points on 4 touchdowns, Carnie Fryfogle with 20 points on 3 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion, Reid Cruz, Dillon Langenfeld, and Jerome Robinson with 12 points on 2 touchdowns each, and Keith Pappas and Bobby Wildasin each with 6 points on 1 touchdown. The team scored 375 points for the season.

Dillon Thomas had 146 carries for 1,058-yards and 15 touchdowns, followed by Mike Felton with 142 carries for 1,038-yards and 14 touchdowns, Dakotah Mosses with 52 carries for 232-yards, Reid Cruz with 32 carries for 186-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 15 carries for 119-yards and 1 touchdown, Dillon Langenfeld with 5 carries for 93-yards and 2 touchdowns, Carnie Fryfogle with 17 carries for 57-yards and 1 touchdown, Brady Stevenson with 9 carries for 39-yards, Jon Hoover with 3 carries for 16-yards, Nick Bond with 2 carries for 11-yards, Tyler Sterner with 1 carry for 1-yard, Daulton James with 4 carries for minus 1-yard, Mike Duffy with 1 carry for minus 3-yards, Wyatt Trostle with 2 carries for minus 4-yards, Jesse Good with 1 carry for minus 9-yards, and Zach Gross with 21 carries for minus 42-yards and 4 touchdowns. There was a team loss of 6-yards on 3 carries. There was a net of 456 carries for 2,785-yards and 37 rushing touchdowns for the season.

Besides Carnie Fryfogle’s 163 tackles for the season, other players with at least 50 tackles for the season were: Keith Pappas with 97, Mike Felton with 92, Reid Cruz with 69, Rich Delea with 64, Ryan Dotson with 57, Jeremy Loughlin and Zach Townsend with 52 each, and Chad Kolper with 51.

Chad Kolper led the team with 6 sacks on the season, followed by Jeremy Loughlin with 5, Ryan Dotson with 4, Zach Townsend with 3, Devon Ackerman, Carnie Fryfogle, and Brandon Stremmel with 2 sacks each, and Logan Bowman, Rich Delea, Reid Cruz, Dakotah Moses, Keith Pappas, and Aaron Utley with 1 sack each. There was a team total of 30 sacks for the season.

In addition to Gross’ passing statistics, Tyler Sterner completed 2 of 7 passes for 5-yards and Mike Duffy completed 2 of 5 passes for 27-yards. The team totaled 75 completions on 141 attempts for 1,106-yards and 12 touchdowns. The season reception leaders were Mike Felton with 22 for 409-yards and 6 touchdowns, followed by Keith Pappas with 10 for 155-yards and 1 touchdown, Jerome Robinson with 8 for 114-yards and 2 touchdowns, Reid Cruz with 7 for 105-yards and 1 touchdown, Carnie Fryfogle with 4 for 96-yards and 2 touchdowns, Brandon Krise with 7 for 51-yards, Jaelen Langenfeld with 3 for 49-yards, Dillon Thomas with 6 for 35-yards, Logan Bowman with 2 for 33-yards, Dakotah Moses with 3 for 28-yards, Daulton James with 1 for 18-yards, Ben Bynaker with 1 for 9-yards, and Brady Stevenson with 1 for 4-yards. That adds up to 75 receptions for 1,106-yards and 12 touchdowns for the season.

The 2011 Mustangs represented their school and league honorably, played hard, never gave up, and they were clearly a team to be remembered. They have a great nucleus of returning players from the junior varsity and solid players coming up within the ranks. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Until then, GO MUSTANGS GO.

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2011

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON. Power points only come into play in making the playoffs and in seeding in them.

In 1989 – Fair Lawn got into the expanded North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV playoffs by virtue of being undefeated at selection time. Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen and the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) 14-7 in the 1st round. In the next round they faced the HCIAA RED WINGS of Hoboken in the “fumble that wasn’t a fumble” game. With Fair Lawn leading 14-0 Hoboken picked up a 1st down but fumbled. Our CUTTERS might well have scored again to ice the game but a second official overruled the fumble and Hoboken scored on the drive and went on to win a 19-14 thriller.

The RED WINGS got their comeuppance losing to the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) INDIANS of Passaic in the finals.

In 2009 Stan Myles’ CUTTERS, playing in the new North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3, made the playoffs. In the first round they edged the INDIANS of Passaic 39-38 in the most thrilling game played in FLHS history. It was the first “Home” playoff game ever at SASSO FIELD. The other two “Home” games were both in 1980 at GIANTS STADIUM.

In the second round our CUTTERS fell 42-7 to the GAELS of Roxbury, champions of the Northwest Jersey Conference (NJC) American Division.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-12

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 11, the 9th seeded York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I Mustangs of South Western (9-2 overall, 5-0 league) visited the 8th seeded Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 Blue Streaks of Manheim Township (8-3 overall, 6-1 league) and edged the Blue Streaks 42-35 in a thriller that saw the winning touchdown scored with 15 seconds left in the game. The Mustangs will next visit the 1st seeded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Eagles of Cumberland Valley (10-1 overall, 5-1 league) in the quarterfinal round.

The Mustangs and the Blue Streaks started off feeling each other out and each ended up punting twice in their first 2 possessions. The Mustangs drew first blood as they drove 57-yards in eight plays, featuring a 15-yard run by Mike Felton and ending with a 6-yard touchdown plunge by Zach Gross. The extra point kick by Jake Tracy put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 10:32 to go in the second quarter.

The Blue Streaks then drove 93-yards in eight plays, featuring pinpoint passing by Brennan Scott, 25-yards to Chase Miller, 12-yards to Tyler Karpinski, 7-yards to Miller, 6-yards to Karpinski, and a 33-yard touchdown strike to Kyle Bushong. Alex Woolley kicked the extra point to tie the score at 7 with 6:59 to go in the half.

The Mustangs then drove 60-yards in three plays, Felton’s 14-yard run, Dillon Thomas’ 15-yard run, and Felton’s 31-yard touchdown jaunt. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-7 with 5:56 to go in the half.

The Blue Streaks came right back with a 55-yard drive, after Miller returned the kickoff 34-yards. The drive featured a 28-yard pass from Brennan to Miller and ended with a 20-yard touchdown strike to Bushong. Woolley’s extra point kick tied the score at 14 with 3:55 to go in the half.

The Mustangs and the Blue Streaks exchanged punts and then the Mustangs drove 53-yards in six plays, ending with a 31-yard touchdown strike from Gross to Felton. This put the Mustangs up 20-14 with 41 seconds to go in the first half.

The Blue Streaks opened the second half by gaining 6-yards and, in a gutsy move turning the ball over on downs at their own 44-yard line. The Mustangs then drove the 44-yards in ten plays, featuring a 16-yard run by Reid Cruz, and ending with a 5-yard touchdown plunge by Thomas. Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton and the Mustangs were up 28-14 with 6:57 to go in the third quarter.

The Blue Streaks stormed back with a 51-yard drive ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brennan to Bushong. Woolley’s extra point kick closed the gap to 28-21 in favor of the Mustangs.

The Mustangs had a short-lived drive end in a fumble that was recovered by Matt Sallade for the Blue Streaks at the Mustangs 45-yard line. Three passing plays later saw the Blue Streaks tie the score at 28 with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Miller and Woolley’s extra point kick, with 2:28 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustang then drove 65-yards in twelve plays, ending with a 5-yard touchdown run by Thomas. Tracy kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were up 35-28 with 9:25 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Streaks then drove 48-yards to the Mustangs 17-yard line, only to have Mike Duffy intercept a pass in the end zone for the Mustangs, giving them the ball at their 20-yard line. The Mustangs then drove 40-yards and punted, and Miller returned the punt 38-yards for the Blue Streaks.

The Blue Streaks then drove 33-yards in four plays, featuring a 15-yard pass to Bushong and ending with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Brennan to Miller. Woolley’s extra point kick tied the score at 35 with 2:35 left in the game.

The Mustangs then drove 66-yards in nine plays, featuring a 24-yard pass from Gross to Felton, a beautiful 28-yard pass from Gross to a wide open Keith Pappas to the Blue Streaks 17-yard line, and a 5-yard touchdown run by Thomas with 15 seconds left in the game. Tracy’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with a thrilling 42-35 victory for the Mustangs.

Mike Felton kicked off 5 times for 194-yards, with the longest going for 57-yards, and punted 4 times for 149-yards, with the longest going for 44-yards. Dillon Langenfeld returned 2 kickoffs for 39-yards, with the longest going for 22-yards, Felton returned 1 kickoff for 20-yards, and Dakotah Moses returned 1 kickoff for 10-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 2 punts for 17-yards, with the longest going for 9-yards, and Dillon Langenfeld returned 1 punt for no yards, for the Mustangs.

Mike Felton led the Mustangs defense with 11 tackles and 4 passes defended, followed by Carnie Fryfogle with 11 tackles (giving him a team leading 147 for the season and putting him in second place in school history, only 4 behind the 151 tackles recorded by Jason Gigous in a 14 game season in 2006), Chad Kolper with 8 tackles, 2 sacks and a pass defense, Keith Pappas with 6 tackles, Mike Duffy with 5 tackles, 1 interception and a pass defense, Reid Cruz and Rich Delea with 4 tackles each, Jeremy Loughlin with 3 tackles and 1 sack, Jerome Robinson with 2 tackles and 3 passes defended, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Brandon Stremmel with 2 tackles each, and Devon Ackerman, Ryan Dotson, and Dakotah Moses with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Dakotah Moses, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 344-yards rushing and 88-yards passing for a total of 432-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 26 carries for 164-yards (including a 31-yard touchdown), followed by Dillon Thomas with 26 for 140 yards (including 3 touchdowns, of 5, 5. and 5-yards), Reid Cruz with 4 for 33-yards, and Zach Gross with 2 carries for 7-yards (including a 6-yard touchdown). Thomas has 967-yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and Felton has 915-yards and 13 touchdowns rushing (as well as 5 receiving and 5 special teams touchdowns for a total of 23 touchdowns). Quarterback Gross completed 4 of 12 passes for 88-yards and 1 touchdown (giving him a season record to date of 66 completions in 115 attempts for 1,037-yards, putting him in 5th place in school history, and 11 touchdowns), 3 for 60-yards to Felton (including a 31-yard touchdown), and 1 for 28-yards to Keith Pappas that spearheaded the winning touchdown drive. Jake Tracy kicked 4 extra points, Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton, Mike Duffy intercepted a pass, Chad Kolper recorded 2 sacks, and Jeremy Loughlin recorded 1 sack, for the Mustangs.

The Blue Streaks gained 54-yards rushing and 391-yards passing for a total of 445-yards gained. Dillon O’Dell led the Blue Streaks rushing attack with 8 carries for 33-yards, followed by Brennan Scott with 4 for 19-yards, and Scott Sallade with 1 carry for 2-yards. Quarterback Scott completed 26 of 46 passes for 391-yards and 5 touchdowns, 11 for 151-yards to Tyler Karpinski, 8 for 118-yards to Chase Miller (including touchdowns of 32 and 7-yards), 5 for 103-yards to Kyle Bushong (including touchdowns of 33, 20, and 13-yards), 1 for 11-yards to Ryan Morgan, and 1 for 8-yards to Andrew Dissinger, for the Blue Streaks. Alex Woolley kicked 5 extra points and Matt Sallade recovered a fumble for the Blue Streaks.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Manheim Township Blue Streaks Marching Band put on a great pre-game performance with their show “Blue,” featuring tunes related to the color. The Mustangs and Blue Streaks Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful in the cold night air.

The Mustangs of South Western are 9-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 196-87-1 (.693) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 337-205-8. The results of the 550 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .622 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

The 9th seeded Mustangs will next visit the 1st seeded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Eagles of Cumberland Valley (10-1 overall, 5-1 league) in the quarterfinal round of the District 3 Playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 11–2011

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High and their hearty fans traveled 45 miles to Bridgewater in Somerset County to face the PANTHERS of Bridgewater-Raritan High School last Friday night in Consolation Game action and lost a 41-12 game that was a thriller into the 3rd quarter. Captains Boris Lifshits, John Pagios and Steve Tatekawa won the coin toss and George Alexandris electrified the crowd running the kickoff to the PANTHERS 23. Alas, the play was nullified by a penalty. Bridgewater-Raritan scored near the end of the 1st quarter and led 7-0. Late in the 2nd quarter, Alexandris intercepted a pass and raced to the 7. Tatekawa ran to the 5 and QB Kevin Osback threw a beautiful fade TD pass to Alexandris. With Fair Lawn trailing 7-6 the PANTHERS scored on a long pass as time ran out and led 14-6 at the half.

The PANTHERS scored again to lead 21-6. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS mounted a drive featuring Osback bulling his way for 9 yards and passing to Alexandris for a 1st down at the 40. Osback ran for more yardage and passed to Alexandris for a 1st down at the 5. Pagios bulled to the 1 and Osback scored behind center Kris Burger and guards Kevin Benjamin and Jeff Welsh to make it 21-12. Then the Bridgewater-Raritan depth showed as the PANTHERS pulled away. Fair Lawn fans, seeing the approximately 80 player strong PANTHERS, wondered how they could have come into the game 1-8 (.111). The announcer and “spotter” told me that the PANTHERS felt they should have won at least 4 of their games which were heart breaking losses. The school has over 3,200 students and plays in the tough Skyland 39 Conference!

On “D,” nice plays were made by Pete Danko, who made TD saving tackles, Benjamin, Nick Hickey, Thomas Koike, Lifshits, Pagios, Brendan Sibilio, Tatekawa and others. Osback was a warrior all over the field! Fair Lawn is 7-5 (.583) in Consolation games 1998-99, 2001-08 and 2010-11.

The game was played at John Barsilone Memorial Field which is named after the World War II hero from Raritan who won the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross and Purple Heart and was killed in action at Iwo Jima. He and 2 other Marines became the basis of the TV series “The Pacific.”

The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band and Color Guard was in Annapolis, MD in national competition. They took 5th Place in the Nation and the Percussion Unit repeated as National Champions! Fair Lawn’s version of Football’s Fabulous Females, the FLHS Cheerleaders, coached by JV Coach Nicole Mattina looked mighty good! Their fine coach, Lauren Gimon, was in a wedding.

Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute, were the only team in the league to make the playoffs. They lost a heart breaker 20-14 in overtime to the BRUINS of North Bergen in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action. In playoff action of special interest to Fair Lawn fans, the FALCONS of Saddle Brook beat THE HERD of Mountain Lakes 30-7 in Group I. Fair Lawn broke off from Saddle River Township in 1924 and the remaining part of the Township changed its name to Saddle Brook in 1955. Fair Lawn’s 1st varsity game in 1943 was a 13-0 victory over Mountain Lakes! Every one in Fair Lawn is rooting for star Saddle Brook player Tyler Vitiello to recover from his neck injury!

In Consolation games the BNC Liberty Division went 2-3 (.400) against outside foes. The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the RAMS of Randolph 27-7 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside buried the HAWKS of J.P. Stephens of Edison 27-0. However, in addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the INDIANS of Passaic were beaten 46-6 by the WARRIORS of Watchung Regional of Warren and the KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy were beaten 28-12 by the EAGLES of Edison. The 2-4 (.333) BNC Liberty Division record on the weekend had Fair Lawn’s league closing out the season with a dismal 6-22 (.214) record against outside foes!

In the coming weeks we’ll reminisce about Fair Lawn Thanksgiving games, look at playoff action of interest to Fair Lawn fans, and close out THE GRIDIRON for the season. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON.

1979 – Pete Natale came to Fair Lawn in 1978 having won championships at Ridgefield Park and made the CUTTERS winners again. They shut out the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 21-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action in the regular season. In the States the roles were reversed as Clifton shut out Fair Lawn 30-0. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the NNJIL and 2010 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-3-1 (.750) over Fair Lawn including that playoff victory.

1980 – Natale’s CUTTERS shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the States they played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller.

1985 – Those INDIANS got revenge as they won a 36-26 thriller over Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS at Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” Passaic School Stadium is now Boverini Stadium, named after the late long time Passaic Athletic Director. Fair Lawn trailed only 28-26 until the final minutes.

1987 – Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS lost a 12-6 heart breaker to the BEES of Bayonne at Bayonne’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in freezing cold and gale force winds. Bayonne Coach Don Ahern said he was thankful for the awful weather because only it, and not his BEES, could thwart Fair Lawn’s vaunted offense.

1988 – Natale’s offensive coordinator, Mike Alberque, took over and led his CUTTERS into the States. They were beaten 20-6 by the KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy of Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium. During 1951-56 and 58, Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. Our CUTTERS shut out the KNIGHTS 20-0 in “Consolation Game” action in 2003 and lead the overall rivalry 6-3 (.667).

1989 – Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the States in the only game played to date between the schools until the BRUINS 33-13 victory in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover play in 2009.

2000 - Alberque’s CUTTERS gave the nationally ranked COMETS of Hackensack all they could handle before losing a 14-6 thriller. During 1959-82 in NNIIL action the COMETS went 16-7-1 against our CUTTERS.

2009 - Stan Myles’ CUTTERS faced the GAILS of Roxbury in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action. The GAILS won 42-7 and went on to take the sectional title.

Fair Lawn is 7-4 (.636) in “Consolation Games” played the first weekend of playoffs since they were instituted in 1998.

THE GRIDIRON 10–2011

By Dick Engelhardt

The injury depleted CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High faced the equally depleted KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy High School of Paterson last week in their final regular season and Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division game for 2011 at SASSO FIELD and were beaten 32-7. Captains Boris Lifshits, Kevin Osback and Steve Tatekawa went out for the coin toss and Kennedy won and deferred the choice to the second half. Our CUTTERS had trouble moving the ball despite some nice running by Corey Carlson, Osback and Tatekawa. Our heroes held Kennedy scoreless through the 1st quarter but the KNIGHTS pulled away and led 18-0 at the half, scoring their 3rd TD with 3 seconds on the clock! Our CUTTERS started the 2nd half with an onside kick alertly recovered by Brendan Sibilio. Carlson ran for a first down but again the drive stalled. With the KNIGHTS leading 32-0 and 42 seconds on the clock, QB Osback threw a picture 57 yard TD pass to Pete Danko. With Mike Nieman snapping and Danko holding, sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point and our “never-say-die” CUTTERS averted a shut out.

On “D,” George Alexandris made TD saving tackles, Carlson sacked the QB, Tatekawa broke up a potential TD pass and Osback teamed up with Kris Burger, John Pagios and LaineWhite on stops. Thomas Koike teamed up with Sibilio on a great stop. Burger led the charge on a great goal line stand at the 1.

It was “Senior Recognition Day” and I was privileged to announce senior cheerleaders Marina Fladung, Rachel Levy, Allison Pollack and Kristen Ralston and football players Kevin Benjamin, Andy Chorlian, Nick Hickey, Lifshits, Dan Prigge and Tatekawa and their escorts. My faithful “Spotter,” Kevin Pepitone, was delayed and Shawn Kerestes and Brendan Lo Dolce did a great job helping out. The award winning Fair Lawn High School Cutter Marching Band and Color Guard was in Old Bridge in competition taking 2nd place. Way to go! FLHS student Julie Roccanova did a fine job singing our National Anthem.

The rest of the BNC Liberty Division teams played outside the division. In yet another example of the disparity between public schools and parochial powerhouses, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were shellacked 56-8 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco costing the FIGHTING MUSTANGS any chance at the playoffs. If that didn’t prove the point, the GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph, the number 3 strongest area parochial power, beat the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills, the premier public school program in the area, 34-10. It was St. Joes’ 3rd straight victory over Wayne Hills; the first broke Wayne Hills’ 55 game winning streak in 2009. The BNC went 2-2 (.500) against outside foes. While Clifton lost and Passaic was shut out 49-0 by Ridgewood, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside buried the KNIGHTS of Bergen Tech 40-0 and the champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute edged the COMETS of Hackensack 27-20 in overtime. The BNC is 4-18 (.818) against outside opposition on the season!

This Friday night at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Bridgewater to take on the PANTHERS of Bridgewater-Raritan High School in a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) “Consolation Game.” During 1998- 99, 2001-08 and 2010, our CUTTERS have gone 7-4 (.636) in Consolation Games. Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-7 (.125) having been outscored 304-60 for an average 38-8 loss. Bridgewater-Raritan comes into the game 1-8 (.111) having been outscored 273-126 for an average 30-14 loss. Our CUTTERS will be looking to send our seniors off with a victory and can be counted on to put forth an all out effort. I think they can do it. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 14 – Bridgewater-Raritan 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-11

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 5, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Rockets of Spring Grove and galloped to a 54-21 win, propelling them to the Division I title outright, their 13th league championship in the past 26-years. Temple bound Mike Felton scored 2 rushing touchdowns and returned a punt 85-yards for another touchdown.

The Rockets opened the game with a three-play drive that ended when Chad Kolper recovered a fumble for the Mustangs, who took over on the Rockets 43-yard line. Five plays later Dillon Thomas plunged in from the 3-yard line and Jake Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 8:26 to go in the first quarter. The rout was on and they never looked back.

The Rockets went three and out and punted. Bobby Wildasin fumbled the punt reception but Ryan Klinedinst recovered it for the Mustangs at the Rockets 42-yard line. Zach Gross threw a 16-yard pass to Brandon Krise, Felton ran for 7-yards, and Gross threw a picture perfect touchdown strike to Carnie Fryfogle in the back of the end zone. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-0 at the 4:52 mark in the first quarter.

The Rockets drove 72-yards in 11 plays, featuring a 36-yard pass from Matthew Runge to Benjamin Inscore, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Mustangs 3-yard line. Undaunted, the Mustangs drove 97-yards in three plays, a 15-yard pass from Gross to Felton, a 62-yard run by Thomas, and a 20-yard touchdown jaunt by Felton. The Mustangs led 20-0 with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Rockets went three and out and punted to the Mustangs 46-yard line. Gross threw a 2-yard pass to Thomas and then Felton sprinted 52-yards for a touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 27-0 at the 9:00 minute mark in the second quarter.

The Rockets drove 18-yards in 5 plays, featuring a 19-yard pass from Runge to Austin Nee, and punted. Felton returned the punt 85-yards for a touchdown and Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 34-0 at the 7:14 mark in the second quarter.

The Rockets drove only 3-yards and attempted to punt but the snap went over the kickers head and the Mustangs took over on the Rockets 15-yard line. Four plays later Gross snuck in from the 2-yard line, upping the score to 40-0 with 3:37 left in the second quarter.

The Rockets started on their 42-yard line, drove to the 50 and were driven back to the 45 by a 5-yard sack by Ryan Dotson for the Mustangs. The Rockets then fumbled and Reid Cruz recovered it for the Mustangs at the Rockets 45-yard line. Thomas dashed off a 30-yard run to the 15 and Bobby Wildasin sprinted the last 15-yards for a touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 47-0 with 1:58 to go in the half. It is believed that the 47 points scored in the first half is a school record.

The Mustangs had already started substituting near the end of the half and the bench was virtually cleared in the second half. Wildasin returned the second half kickoff for 24-yards to the 43-yard line, but the Mustangs went three and out and punted.

The Rockets drove 73-yards in five plays, aided by a 15-yard penalty and featuring a 12-yard run by Runge and a 12-yard run by Jeffrey Delaughter. Runge sprinted 26-yards for a touchdown. Dalton Hall’s extra point kick put the Rockets on the board and the score was 47-7 at the 7:00 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 70-yards in five plays, ending with Dillon Langenfeld’s 65-yard touchdown jaunt. Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 54-7 with 4:34 to go in the third quarter.

The Rockets then drove 63-yards in four plays, featuring a 55-yard pass from Runge to Nee, and ending with Runge’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Jeffrey Delaughter. Hall’s extra point kick made the score 54-14 at the 2:38 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs and the Rockets exchanged punts. Then the Rockets drove 90-yards in four plays, ending with Runge’s 73-yard touchdown strike to Nee. Hall’s extra point kick closed out the scoring in the game, with the final score of 54-21 coming with 8:27 left in the game.

Mike Felton kicked off 6 times for 276-yards, with the longest going for 58-yards, and Jake Tracy kicked off 3 times for 124-yards, with the longest going for 46-yards for the Mustangs. Gabe Morela punted 4 times for 133-yards, for an average of 33.25-yards, with the longest going for 37-yards. Bobby Wildasin returned 2 kickoffs for 36-yards, with the longest going for 24-yards, Jordan Markle returned 1 kickoff for 14-yards, and Wyatt Trostle returned 1 kickoff for 6-yards. Felton returned 1 punt for 85-yards and a touchdown, Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 punt for 6-yards, and Wildasin returned 1 punt for no yards, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles (giving him a team leading 136 on the season and putting him 15 tackles behind the leader and in 4th place in the school record book) and a pass hurry, followed by Zach Townsend with 10 tackles, Chad Kolper with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery, Cruz Reid with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery, Ryan Dotson with 6 tackles and a sack, Jaelen Langenfeld with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Devon Ackerman, Rich Delea, and Keith Pappas with 6 tackles each, Dakotah Moses with 5 tackles and a sack, Brandon Stremmel with 5 tackles and a pass hurry, Gunner Holtz and Jeremy Loughlin with 5 tackles each, Mike Felton with 4 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Duffy with 3 tackles and a pass defense, Jerome Robinson with 3 tackles and a pass defense, Brady Stevenson with 3 tackles and a pass hurry, Aaron Uttley with 2 tackles, an interception returned for 22-yards, and a sack, Ryan Klinedinst with 2 tackles and the recovery of an fumble by the offense, Aaron Doll, Eddie Lane, Dillon Langenfeld, Brandon McMinn, Bobby Wildasin, with 2 tackles, Alex Jones with 1 tackle and a fumble recovery, and Ryan Lane, Jordan Markle, Jake Poe, Eric Roop, Shawn Secola, Dustin Shaffer with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 373-yards rushing and 53yards passing for a total of 426-yards of offense. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 7 carries for 120-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), followed by Mike Felton with 5 for 96 yards (including touchdowns of 20 and 52-yards), Dillon Langenfeld with 3 for 71-yards (including a 65-yard touchdown), Dakotah Moses with 5 for 58-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 4 for 25-yards (including a 15-yard touchdown), Brady Stevenson with 3 for 5-yards, Zach Gross with 1 for 2-yards and a touchdown, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for no yards, and Wyatt Trostle with 2 for minus 4-yards. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 5 of 5 passes for 52-yards and 1 touchdown, 1 for 19-yards and a touchdown to Carnie Fryfogle, 2 for 16-yards to Brandon Krise, 1 for 15-yards to Felton, and 1 for 2-yards to Dillon Thomas, and quarterback Tyler Sterner completed 1 of 4 passes to Moses for 1-yard, for the Mustangs. Felton returned a punt 85-yards for a touchdown, Jake Tracy kicked 6 extra points, Reid Cruz, Alex Jones and Chad Kolper each recovered a fumble, and Aaron Uttley intercepted a pass, for the Mustangs.

The Rockets gained 198-yards rushing and 243-yards passing for a total of 441-yards gained.
Matthew Runge led the Rockets rushing attack with 28 carries for 136-yards, followed by Jeffrey Delaughter with 9 for 26-yards (including a 12-yard touchdown), Austin Nee with 1 carry for 22-yards, Juwan Fitchett with 1 for 7-yards, Seth Hildebrand with 1 for 5-yards, and Ben Inscore with 1 carry for 2-yards. Quarterback Runge completed 6 of 16 passes for 243-yards and 2 touchdowns, 3 for 172-yards to Nee (including a 73-yard touchdown), 2 for 59-yards to Inscore, and 1 for 12-yards and a touchdown to Delaughter, for the Rockets. Dalton Hall kicked 3 extra points for the Rockets.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Spring Grove Rockets Marching Band put on a great post game performance with their show “Ritual,” by Aaron Guidry. The Mustangs and Rockets Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 8-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 195-87-1 (.691) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 336-205-8. The results of the 549 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

The Mustangs are seeded 9 in a field of 30 class AAAA teams in district 3 and the top 16 make the playoffs. The Mustangs will travel to the number 8 seed Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 Blue Streaks of Manheim Township (8-2 overall, 6-1 league) in the first round of the AAAA playoffs, at 7PM on Friday, November 11. GO MUSTANGS GO.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-10

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 28, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) at the Mustang Corral and galloped to a 46-13 victory on the strength of Mike Felton’s fantastic performance. He scored five touchdowns, 2 rushing, 1 on a pass reception, 1 on an interception returned 99-yards, and 1 on a kickoff return for 85-yards. Sophomore sensation Dillon Thomas added two more touchdowns.

The Bearcats opened the game by going three and out and punting. The Mustangs then drove 55-yards in three plays, a 3-yard run by Thomas, a 7-yard run by Reid Cruz, and a 45-yard touchdown run by Felton. Jake Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 8:05 to go in the first quarter.

The Bearcats ran off a short five play drive and punted. The Mustangs drove 67-yards in ten plays, featuring a 21-yard run by Thomas and ending with a 3-yard touchdown jaunt by Thomas. The Mustangs led 13-0 with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats returned the kickoff to their 43-yard line and drove to the 48, only to have Mike Duffy intercept a pass for the Mustangs. On the very next play Jomar Dickerson intercepted a pass for the Bearcats at the Mustangs 30-yard line. A 5-yard penalty and a 4-yard sack by Chad Kolper had the Bearcats punting from the 39.

The Mustangs then drove 67-yards in eight plays, featuring a 23-yard run by Thomas and ending with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Zach Gross to Felton. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 20-0 with 5:26 to go in the first half.

Malcolm Tribuet returned the kickoff 38-yards to the Mustangs 47-yard line. The Bearcats drove 53-yards in six plays, featuring a 12-yard pass from Xavier Garcia-Wilson to Dakeem Dennison and ending with a 22-yard touchdown run by Garcia-Wilson. Thurman Fogleman kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were still up 20-7 with 2:49 left in the first half.

14 seconds later the Mustangs scored again as Felton returned the kickoff 85-yards for a touchdown. The Mustangs were up 26-7 with 2:35 to go in the half.

The Mustangs opened the second half with an 80-yard drive, featuring a 12-yard run by Felton, a 9-yard pass from Gross to Jerome Robinson, and a 50-yard pass from Gross to Felton. Thomas scored on a 2-yard run and Tracy’s extra point put the Mustangs up 33-7 with 8:35 to go in the third quarter.

The Bearcats then drove 57-yards in four plays, featuring a 53-yard run by Garcia-Wilson and ending with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Kelvin Nieves. The Mustangs still led 33-13 with 6:29 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 67-yards in five plays, featuring a 25-yard pass from Gross to Logan Bowman and ending with a 27-yard touchdown run by Felton. Julian Johnson blocked the Mustangs extra point kick for the Bearcats and the Mustangs led 39-13 with 3:57 to go in the third quarter.

The Bearcats returned the kickoff to the Mustangs 43-yard line and drove 39-yards to the Mustangs 4-yard line. Then Felton intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line and returned it 99-yards for a Mustangs touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with the Mustangs up 46-13 with 11:41 to go in the game. The Mustangs substituted liberally for the rest of the game.

Mike Felton kicked off 6 times for 256-yards, with the longest going for 50-yards. Jake Tracy kicked off 2 times for 79-yards, with the longest going for 49-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 kickoff for 18-yards and 2 punts for 22-yards, with the longest going for 16-yards. Felton returned 1 kickoff for 85-yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs. The Mustangs never punted in the game.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles (giving him a team leading 122 on the season), followed by Mike Felton with 10 tackles, a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown, an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and a pass defense, Rich Delea with 7 tackles and a pass hurry, Keith Pappas with 7 tackles, Reid Cruz with 6 tackles, Brandon Stremmel with 5 tackles, a sack, and a pass hurry, Devon Ackerman with 5 tackles and a sack, Jaelen Langenfeld with 5 tackles, Chad Kolper with 4 tackles, a sack and a pass hurry, Ryan Dotson with 4 tackles and a sack, Zach Townsend with 4 tackles, Logan Bowman with 3 tackles and a pass defense, Ryan Klinedinst and Bobby Wildasin with 3 tackles each, Mike Duffy with 2 tackles, an interception and a pass defense, Dillon Langenfeld with 2 tackles and a pass defense, Eddie Lane and Jeremy Loughlin with 2 tackles each, and Alex Baugher and Dillon Thomas with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 295-yards rushing and 117yards passing for a total of 412-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 10 carries for 115-yards (including touchdowns of 45 and 27-yards), followed by Dillon Thomas with 14 for 97-yards (including touchdowns of 3 and 2-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 3 for 51-yards, Reid Cruz with 4 for 20-yards, Dakotah Moses with 2 for 12-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for 4-yards, and Dillon Langenfeld with 1 carry for minus 2-yards. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 5 of 10 passes for 117-yards and 1 touchdown, 2 for 80-yards to Felton (including a 30-yard touchdown), 1 for 25-yards to Logan Bowman, 1 for 9-yards to Jerome Robinson, and 1 for 3-yards to Fryfogle, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 4 extra points, Mike Duffy and Felton each intercepted a pass, and Devon Ackerman, Ryan Dotson, Chad Kolper, and Brandon Stremmel each recorded a sack, for the Mustangs.

The Bearcats gained 156-yards rushing and 154-yards passing for a total of 310-yards gained.
Xavier Garcia-Wilson led the Bearcats rushing attack with 17 carries for 120-yards (including a 22-yard touchdown), followed by Kelvin Nieves with 5 for 18-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), Darryl Simmons with 2 for 8-yards, Loren Lutzinger with 3 for 6-yards, and Dakeem Dennison with 2 carries for 4-yards. Quarterback Garcia-Wilson completed 16 of 25 passes for 154-yards, 7 for 69-yards to Lutzinger, 5 for 38-yards to Dereck Wilson, 3 for 27-yards to Dennison, and 1 for 20-yards to Joseph Smith, for the Bearcats. Thurman Fogelman kicked an extra point for the Bearcats.

Daiquan Dewitt led the Bearcats defense with 8 tackles, followed by Luis Dowling with 7, Kelvin Nieves with 4, Emmanuel Torres with 3, Eliel Flores, Anderson Novalin, and Jared Posey with 2 tackles each, and Xavier Garcia-Wilson with 1 tackle.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring post game performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The William Penn Bearcats Marching Band put on a great half time performance with their show “Beatles,” featuring “Magical Mystery Tour,” “A Hard Days Night,” “Hey Jude,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Yesterday.” The Mustangs and Bearcats Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 7-2-0 overall and 4-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 194-87-1 (.690) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 335-205-8. The results of the 548 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .620 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

After 9 weeks of play the Mustangs are seeded 9 in a field of 30 class AAAA teams in district 3 and only the top 16 make the playoffs. As of now the Mustangs would visit the number 8 seeded Blue Streaks of Manheim Township in the first round of the District 3 playoffs.

Next week the Mustangs will close out the regular season by visiting the Rockets of Spring Grove (1-9 Overall, 0-5 league). The Rockets are coming off of a 27-6 loss to the Wildcats of Dallastown (4-5 overall, 2-2 league). The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way to a regular season ending win and move on to the playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 9–201

By Dick Engelhardt

The injury depleted CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were beaten 28-7 by the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside in heavy rain last Thursday night at Bauerle Field in a Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division game. Captains George Alexandris, Boris Lifshits and Steve Tatakawa won the coin toss and Fair Lawn deferred its choice to the 2nd half. The GHOSTS drove for a TD and led 7-0. In the 2nd quarter they scored again. Then, just before the half, the officials incorrectly called a Fair Lawn incomplete forward pass a lateral and the GHOSTS ran it back for their 3rd TD and led 21-0. The officials realized their mistake too late to do anything about it and the score should have been 14-0.

In the 4th quarter, Corey Carlson ran for big yardage and QB Kevin Osback raced to the 5. He then threw a picture pass to Nick Hickey for a TD and the sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point. Hickey recovered Fair Lawn’s daring onside kick and our CUTTERS were in business. Osback threw to Carlson for a 1st down at the Eastside 15. A real warrior, he then raced to the 3 but was hurt on the play and the ball went over to the GHOSTS who ran out the clock. The score could have easily been 21-14.

On “D,” Osback recovered a fumble and Alexandris made a TD saving tackle. Fine plays were also made by Pete Danko, Lifshits, Brendan Sibilio, Tatakawa, Laine White and others. Fair Lawn still leads the 1947-54, 1983 and 2010-11 rivalry against Eastside 6-5 (.545).

Trying to keep my notes dry, I was welcomed into the Press Box by the announcer (Class of ’81) and the official clock operator (Class of ’72) and we enjoyed reminiscing about the old Fair Lawn rivalries with Eastside and Central/Kennedy. They were aware that, before FLHS opened; most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside! The announcer told me that he spent the 1980 football season chasing sensational Fair Lawn running back Chris Finn for the area scoring title! Coach Pete Natale’s ’80 CUTTERS shared the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with Clifton and Passaic Valley and beat the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in 1st round playoff action at GIANTS STADIUM. They were the first Fair Lawn team ever to win 9 games and were followed in this by Natale’s ’85 and ’87 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS.

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division played all division games. In addition to Eastside’s win, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the KNIGHTS of Paterson’s JFK 27-8. I saw the defending champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute shut out the INDIANS of Passaic 34-0 in the snow at BOVERINI STADIUM and take the title again at 5-0 (1.000).

On Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS play host to those KNIGHTS of JFK in their final BNC Liberty Division and regular season game of the year at SASSO FIELD. Senior football players and cheerleaders will be recognized and escorted onto the field by parents or relatives. The award winning Fair Lawn High School Band and Color Guard were recognized at the Paramus game. The old Paterson Central and the newer JFK have been Eastside’s Turkey Day rivals since Eastside opened in 1926. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over Central. Overall, during 1951-56 independently, in the playoffs in 1988, in a Consolation game in 2003, in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) in 2009 and in the BNC Liberty Division in 2010, Fair Lawn has gone to 8-3 (.727) over Central/ Kennedy.

Both teams come into the game 1-6 (.143). Fair Lawn has been outscored 272-53 for an average 39-8 loss. Kennedy has been outscored 186-50 for an average 27-7 loss. I think our CUTTERS can close out their regular season with a win. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 17–Kennedy 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!