THANKSGIVING DAY FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2012

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943. The 1st Thanksgiving game was a 19-0 victory over the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity High School of Westfield. The Fair Lawn-Ridgewood rivalry started in 1944 and ended in 1983. This 2012 history covers the years ending in “2.”

1952 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the MAROONS of Ridgewood 20-12 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. The Maroons led the series, which began in 1944, 6-3 (.667). The B-PIL would become the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956.

1962 – Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS shutout the MAROONS 19-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. The MAROONS led the Annual Classic 12-6-1 (.667).

1972 – Al Reinoso’s CUTTERS were edged 9-7 by Ridgewood. The MAROONS led the series 18-9-2 (.667).

1982 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were beaten 14-6 by the MAROONS. Ridgewood led the series 25-11-3 (.694). It would end with a 20-7 Ridgewood victory in Ridgewood in 1983. The game had been played at what is now SASSO FIELD 1964-82. Ridgewood took the rivalry 26-11-3 (.703). Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

1992 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 33-13 the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in NBIL Division 1 action. The PATRIOTS led the series 4-5 (.444). It would end in 1993 with a 55-14 Wayne Hills victory. Fair Lawn and Wayne Hills each won 5 games. The Fair Lawn – Bergenfield Turkey Day rivalry would begin in 1994.

2002 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 21-6 by the BEARS of Bergenfield in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS led the series 7-2 (.778). They took the 1994-2008 Thanksgiving Day rivalry 11-4 (.733) and the overall 1945-48 and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686).