THE GRIDIRON 11-2013

 

By Dick Engelhardt

In State “Consolation Game” action in Montville last Saturday the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High saved their best game of the season for last being edged 13-7 by the MUSTANGS of Montville High. Fair Lawn Captains Thomas Koike, Richard Marchese, Mike Nieman and Nick Perez went out for the coin toss and Fair Lawn received. After Deshawn Roberts bulled for a 1st down, QB Dillon Rinaldo fired a pass to Koike who raced 53 yards for a TD. With Ryan Milnes holding, Ari Moslavi kicked the extra point and out heroes led 7-0. The MUSTANGS scored next but Milnes blocked the extra point try and our heroes led 7-6. A Fair Lawn drive that started on the 2 yard line got the ball out to the 48 before it stalled. It featured runs by Rinaldo and passes to David Rodriguez. Justin Williams recovered a fumble at the Fair Lawn 5 but an interception gave the ball back and the MUSTANGS scored taking a 13-7 lead into the half.

The second half saw our “never-say-die” CUTTERS fighting to win. Roberts picked up yardage and Rinaldo passes to Rodriguez clicked. Nieman recovered a fumble at the 37 but the MUSTANGS got the ball back. Our heroes held and Marc Terwilliger returned a punt to the 36. In the closing seconds a bomb to Koike that would have resulted in a TD and probable victory with sure footed Moslavi on hand, just missed! The MUSTANGS and their fans breathed a sigh of relief as the game ended! Great plays were made on “D” as Gal Harari nearly intercepted a pass and Terwilliger made a great stop on 3rd down forcing a punt. Jacob Baron, Koike, Anthony Messina, Dan Morganstein, Anthony Nesmith, Zach Parisi, Perez and others made plays. The Montville win brought the MUSTANGS’ record in Consolation games against Fair Lawn to 2-1 (.667). Fair Lawn’s record in the games since they began in 1998 is 8-6 (.571).    

Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division saw its champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute beat the COMETS of Hackensack 40-6 in North Jersey, Section 1, Group V playoff action. The BULLDOGS will face the MAROONS of Ridgewood, who beat the JAGUARS of East Orange Campus 63-34, at Ridgewood Friday night. With my “spotter” Shawn Kerestes, I was privileged to announce that Ridgewood - East Orange game.  In Consolation Game action the Division went 0-3. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were beaten 20-14 by the TIGERS of Memorial of West New York and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were beaten 35-6 by the LANCERS of Livingston. The Division is 8-16 (.333) against outside opposition.  

Our CUTTERS tried hard to avoid only the 4th winless season in Fair Lawn’s 71 season GRIDIRON history. More about the season coming up in THE GRIDIRON. Next week we’ll have Thanksgiving Day memories in Fair Lawn history. Until then GO CUTTERS GO!!!