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!