SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2014-6

By Bill Engelhardt

________

Last Friday evening, September 26, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Panthers of Central York and were edged 20-13 in overtime.  The Panthers scored a touchdown on Terrance Carter’s 10-yard run and then the Mustangs’ Brock Geiman threw a pass into the end zone.  One official signaled touchdown, one signaled incomplete pass, and one signaled interception.  Many observers thought the pass was incomplete because the players were out of bounds but the game ended when the interception call stood.

The Mustangs opened the game with a 14 play 84-yard drive, featuring runs of 16 and 11-yards by Geiman.  Drew Hartlaub ended the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run.  Andrew Slater kicked the extra point and the Mustangs led 7-0 at the 7:23 mark of the first quarter.

The Panthers then drove from their own 35-yard line to the Mustangs 14-yard line, featuring a 24-yard run by Terrance Carter.  They had actually reached the Mustangs 3-yard line but Luke Baugher sacked Nik Strine for an 11-yard loss.  Carter Luckenbaugh then kicked a 31-yard field goal for the Panthers to make the score 7-3 with 2:38 left in the first quarter.

The Mustangs and the Panthers exchanged punts and then the Mustangs drove 66-yards in five plays, featuring a 45-yard pass from Geiman to Hartlaub and a 15-yard run by Bret Hertzog.  Geiman ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown plunge, upping the score to 13-3 in favor of the Mustangs.

The Panthers then drove from their 46-yards in seven plays, featuring a 30-yard run by Pearson Hinkle.  The drive stalled and Luckenbaugh kicked a 37-ysrd field goal, making the score 13-6 with 7:05 left in the second quarter.

The Mustangs ten muffed the Panthers kickoff and Elzir Stroman recovered the ball for the Panthers.  With a short field, the Panthers drove 27-yards in three plays, ending with Carter’s 13-yard touchdown run.  Luckenbaugh kicked the extra point and the score was tied at 13 with 6:14 left in the first half.

In a hard fought battle, the teams went back and forth with no more scoring in regulation play.  The entire second half was scoreless.  A long drive by the Panthers was thwarted when the Mustangs’ Brady Thayer intercepted a Nik Strine pass and returned it for 20-yards.

In the first play in overtime Terrance Carter dashed10-yars for a touchdown and Luckenbaugh’s extra point kick put the Panthers up 20-13.

Then came the controversial game ending play on the Mustangs first play in overtime.

Andrew Slater kicked off 2 times for 80-yards, with the longest going for 43-yards, and Brock Geiman punted 5 times for 180-yards (for an average of 36-yards) with the longest going for 49-yards.  Drew Hartlaub returned 3 kickoffs for 49-yards, with the longest going for 21-yards, for the Mustangs.

Tyler Jachelski, with 9 tackles and 2 pass hurries, led the Mustang defense, followed by Tyler Fulmore and Hunter Palmer with 7 tackles each, Ryan Krebs with 6 tackles and an interception that was returned for 11-yards, Josh Zeroth with 6 tackles, Brady Thayer with 5 tackles, 1 interception returned for 20-yards, and 1 pass defense, Nate VanCampen with 5 tackles, Luke Baugher with 4 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 pass hurries, Seth Janney with 4 tackles, Miles Francis with 3 tackles and 1 pass hurry, Drew Hartlaub with 1 tackle and 1 pass defense, and Corbin Byers, Matt Helwig, Bret Hertzog, Gus Landis, Josh Martin, Matt Smolko, and Jonas Walter, with 1 tackle each.

Luke Baugher, Corbin Byers, Scotty Dickmyer, Mike Farace, Miles Francis, Tyler Fulmore, Matt Helwig, Bret Hertzog, Tyler Jachelski, Seth Janney, Gus Landis, Josh Martin, Austin Reusing, Matt Smolko, Chris Steckel, and Josh Zeroth manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions.

Drew Hartlaub, Ryan Krebs, Hunter Palmer, Brady Thayer and Nate VanCampen patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 150-yards rushing and 11-yards passing for a total of 267-yards of offense. Junior quarterback Brock Geiman completed 4 of 13 passes for the 118-yards, 2 for 78-yards to Drew Hartlaub and 2 for 39-yards to Noah Staub, for the Mustangs.  Hartlaub led the Mustangs rushing attack with 9 carries for 54-yards (including a 24-yard touchdown), followed by Geiman with 9 carries for 33-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), Miles Francis with 6 carries for 29-yards, Robby Harbison with 10 carries for 20-yards, and Bret Hertzog with 1 carry for 15-yards.

Andrew Slater kicked 1 extra point, Brady Thayer intercepted a pass and returned it 67-yards for a touchdown and defended 2 passes, Brady Thayer intercepted a pass and returned it for 20-yards and defended 1 pass, Ryan Krebs intercepted a pass and returned it for 11-yards, Luke Baugher recorded 1 sack and 2 pass hurries, Tyler Jachelski recorded 2 pass hurries, Miles Francis recorded 1 pass hurry, and Hartlaub recorded 1 pass defense, for the Mustangs.

The Panthers gained 214-yards rushing and 141 yards passing for a total of 355 yards gained.  Quarterback Nik Strine completed 9 of 18 passes for 214-yards, 3 for 53-yards to Braden Neal, 3 for 38-yards to Jeremiah Dadeboe, 2 for 38-yards to Terrance Carter, and 1 for 12-yards to Pearson Hinkle, for the Panthers.

Carter led the Panthers rushing attack with 22 carries for 145-yards (including touchdowns of 13 and 10-yards), followed by Hinkle with 12 carries for 48-yards, and Strine with 7 carries for 21-yards.

Carter Luckenbaugh kicked 2 field goals (for 31 and 37-yards) and kicked 2 6 extra points, Elzir Stroman intercepted a pass to end the game and recovered a fumble, and Jackson Loring caused a fumble, for the Panthers.

The 10-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 2014 field show “Nevermore,” based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe.  The show opened with the Overture from “Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim.  Mozart’s 25th Symphony provided the musical material for the first impact before melding into a minor treatment of the “Johanna” theme.  The madness continued with a return to the Overture that dissolved into a final solution.  The Central York Panthers Marching Band gave a crowd-pleasing pre-game performance on Band Night.

The 25 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad (24 girls and a guy) and the Panthers squad were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 1-4-0 overall and 1-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 342-213-8.  The results of the 563 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .616 winning percentage and a .622 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will host the Lions of Red Lion (3-2 overall, 2-0 league).  Red Lion is coming off of a 21-14 victory over the Bobcats of Northeastern.  The Mustangs are still looking to get back on the winning track.  GO MUSTANGS GO. 

THE GRIDIRON 4-2014

 

By Dick Engelhardt 

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High came out firing last week and, after trailing 7-0, took an 8-7 lead over the BRAVES of Indian Hills before falling 45-8 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action last week at SASSO FIELD. Captains Dan Morganstein, Dillon Rinaldo and Deshawn Roberts went out for the coin toss and Indian Hills received. Frank Ortoll recovered a fumble on the 1st play but our heroes couldn’t capitalize. The BRAVES went ahead 7-6. Tyler Johnson’s 13 yard TD run tied it and QB Gal Harari threw a strike to Tight End Dillon Rinaldo for the 2 point conversion to give Fair Lawn the lead. Alas, the bigger BRAVES took control and led 25-8 at the half. They added 20 more points in the 2nd half for the win. A long Johnson run was nullified by a penalty and Morganstein, Roberts and Nick Schepps made nice runs. Ortoll broke up a pass and nice defensive plays were made by Mike Laboy, Anthony Messina, Matt Phillips, Bradley Ramirez and others. Jon Fochesato and Johnson intercepted passes.

The win brings Fair Lawn’s 1984-97 and 2000-2008 and 2014 record against Indian Hills to 13-11 (.542). This was the Hall of Fame Game and at halftime I was privileged to introduce the 2014 inductees to the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame, including the 1965 Football Team which, with a record of 8-0-1 (1.000) remains the only undefeated football team in FLHS history!  And it was nice to see former Fair Lawn High School Band Director Gordon Fisher, now the Indian Hills Band Director, at the game! The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band and Color Guard, under the direction of Jamie Szeinberg, put on its show, “Return of the King,” and headed to Piscataway for its first competition of the season. The Band will host the Marching Band Show and Competition at SASSO FIELD Sunday, October 19th at 1:00.   

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division played all crossover games and went 1-3 (.250). In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, The GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were pummeled 39-0 by the MAROONS of Ridgewood and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were beaten 48-14 by the TIGERS of Memorial of West New York. The defending champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute smashed the KNIGHTS of Paterson’s JFK 34-0 for the only Division win. The Division is 2-4 (.333) against outside opposition so far this season. 

This Thursday at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Bauerle Field in Paterson to take on those GHOSTS of Eastside High in BNC Liberty Division action. During 1947-54 and 1983 Fair Lawn went 5-4 (.556) over the GHOSTS. This was sweetened by the fact that, until FLHS opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. A few students from the Columbia Heights section went to Hawthorne and the Radburn section students went to Ridgewood. Fair Lawn is 1-3(.250) against the GHOSTS in BNC Liberty Division action 2010-13 and Eastside leads the series 7-6 (.538).

Eastside comes into the game 1-2 (.333) having been outscored 86-14 for an average 29-5 loss.  Fair Lawn is 1-2 (.333) and has been outscored 91-36 for an average 30-12 loss. Ridgewood beat Fair Lawn by 40 points and Eastside by 39. Our heroes can chalk up a Division win. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 20 –Eastside 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 4

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

By Dick Engelhardt

Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943. This record covers years ending in 4.

1944 - Marty Fischbein’s CUTTERS thrashed the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity High of Westfield 49-0. In the 1^st Thanksgiving Day game in 1943 Fair Lawn shut the TERRIERS out 19-0. The rivalry ended with Fair Lawn up 2-0 and ahead 62-0 in scoring!

1954 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS drew a BYE.

1964 - Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS beat the RED RAIDERS of Cliffside Park 32-6 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. - Our CUTTERS took the 1959-66 NNJIL rivalry against the RED RAIDERS 6-2 (.750).

1974 - Al Reinoso’s CUTTERS beat the BOILERMAKERS of Garfield 29-6 in NNJIL action. During 1971-75 Fair Lawn went 5-0 (1.000) over Garfield in the NNJIL. The record went to 6–0 (1.000) in 2005 when Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS trounced the BOILERMAKERS 47–7 in a State Consolation game.    

1984 – On their way to a Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 title in their first season back in the league, Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were surprised 29-21 by the CARDINALS of Westwood in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1943-44 independently and 1984-85 in the NBIL, our CUTTERS went 3-1 (.750) against the CARDINALS.

1994 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 26-16 in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 NBIL rivalry 14-10-1 (.583).  

2004 - Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS were beaten 21-14 by the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands in NBIL action. Fair Lawn took the 1986-93 and 1998–2008 NBIL rivalry against the HIGHLANDERS 10-9 (.526).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2014-5

By Bill Engelhardt

________

Last Friday evening, September 19, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Colonials of New Oxford at the Mustang Corral in YAIAA Division II action and eked out a thrilling 34-27 victory.  The come from behind winning score came on a Brock Geiman 1-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left in the game.

The Colonials opened the game by going three and out and punting.  The Mustangs then drove 14-yards in four plays, only to have Keegan Romanoff intercept a Geiman pass for the Colonials.  The Colonials took advantage of terrific field position and drove 26-yards in six plays, ending with Corban Czap’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Shane Rolle.  Trey Parrish kicked the extra point and the Colonials led7-0 at the 3:38 mark of the first quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted.  The Colonials then drove 72-yards in ten plays, featuring a 24-yard run by Hunter Ringrose and ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Czap to Jordan Garner.  Nate VanCampen blocked the extra point kick and the Colonials upped the lead to 13-0 at the 9:44 mark of the second quarter.

The Mustangs then 80-yards in twelve plays, featuring a 12-yard pass from Geiman to Miles Francis, 13 and 10-yard runs by Miles Francis, a 12 and 10--yard runs by Robby Harbison, and a 12-yard pass from Geiman to Nate Staub.  Francis scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run and Andrew Slater kicked an extra point to make the score 13-7 with 3:44 to go in the first half.

The Mustangs opened the second half by punting after a long gain on a pass was negated by a penalty.  The Colonials from their own 45-yard line to the Mustangs 38-yard line, only to have Brady Thayer intercept a pass and return it 67-yards for a touchdown for the Mustangs.  Slater’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-13 at the 7:00 mark of the third quarter.

 The Colonials then went three and out and punted and the Mustangs drove 70-yards in six plays, featuring passes of 12 and 11-yards from Geiman to Staub, an 11-yard run by Hartlaub, and a 31-yard pass from Geiman to Hartlaub.  Francis scored a touchdown on a 4-yard run and the extra point was missed, putting the Mustangs up 20-13 at the 2:59 mark of the third quarter.

The Colonials ended up punting but the Mustangs muffed it and Daulton Snyder recovered for the Colonials at the Mustangs 38-yard line.  Despite the fact that the Mustangs’ Seth Janney recorded a sack for a 3-yard loss, the Colonials drove 38-yards in four plays, ending with 32-yard touchdown run by Keegan Romanoff.  Trey Parrish kicked the extra point and the game was tied at 20-20 with 11:04 left in the game.

The Mustangs then drove 64-yards in fur plays; an incomplete pass, a 13-yard run by Hartlaub, a 2-yard run by Harbison, and a 49-yard touchdown run by Hartlaub.  The extra point was missed and the Mustangs led 26-20 with 9:45 left in the game.

The Colonials then drove 65-yards in eleven plays, featuring a 16-yard pass from Czap to Snyder and ending with Czap’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Snyder.  Parrish kicked the extra point and the Colonials took the lead 27-26 with 4:25 left in the game.

Undaunted, the Mustangs then drove 75-yards in eleven plays, featuring a 32-yard pass from Geiman to Hartlaub with a 15-yard penalty tacked on to the end of the play.  Geiman scored a touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback keeper and then threw a 2-pont conversion pass to Corbin Byers with 13 seconds left in the game, making the final score 34-27 in favor of the Mustangs. 

Andrew Slater kicked off 4 times for 191-yards, with the longest going for 59-yards, and Brock Geiman punted 2 times for 71-yards (for an average of 35.5-yards) with the longest going for 37-yards.  Miles Francis returned 3 punt for 19-yards, with the longest going for 15-yards and 2 kickoffs for 23-yards, with the longest going for 15-yards.  Robby Harbison returned 1 kickoff for 10-yards, and Drew Hartlaub returned 1 kickoff for 7-yards, for the Mustangs.

Tyler Jachelski, with 10 tackles, led the Mustang defense, followed by Seth Janney with 8 tackles and 1 sack for a 3-yard loss, Ryan Krebs with 7 tackles and 1 interception, Gus Landis with 6 tackles, Tyler Fulmore, Drew Hartlaub, and Nate VanCampen with 5 tackles each, Brady Thayer with 4 tackles and 1 interception returned 67-yards for a touchdown, Luke Baugher with 4 tackles and 1 recovered fumble, Josh Zeroth with 4 tackles, Corbin Byers with 3 tackles and 2 pass hurries, Hunter Palmer with 3 tackles, Mike Farace and Bret Hertzog with 2 tackles each, and Miles Francis, Josh Martin, Jacob Muir, and Matt Smolko with 1 tackle each.

Luke Baugher, Corbin Byers, Scotty Dickmyer, Mike Farace, Miles Francis, Tyler Fulmore, Matt Helwig, Bret Hertzog, Tyler Jachelski, Seth Janney, Gus Landis, Josh Martin, Austin Reusing, Matt Smolko, Chris Steckel, and Josh Zeroth manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions.

Drew Hartlaub, Ryan Krebs, Hunter Palmer, Brady Thayer and Nate VanCampen patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 194-yards rushing and 108-yards passing for a total of 302-yards of offense. Junior quarterback Brock Geiman completed 6 of 12 passes for the 108-yards, 2 for 63-yards to Drew Hartlaub, 3 for 33-yards to Noah Staub, and 1 for 12-yards to Miles Francis, for the Mustangs.  Hartlaub led the Mustangs rushing attack with13 carries for 100-yards (including a 49-yard touchdown), followed by Robby Harbison with 15 carries for 53-yards, Miles Francis with 7 carries for 40-yards (including touchdowns of 2 and 4-yards), and Geiman with 2 carries for 2-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown).

Geiman threw a 2-point conversion pass to Corbin Byers, Andrew Slater kicked 2 extra points, Brady Thayer intercepted a pass and returned it 67-yards for a touchdown and defended 2 passes, Ryan Krebs intercepted a pass, Luke Baugher recovered a fumble, Seth Janney recorded 1 sack for a 3-yard loss, and Byers recorded 2 pass hurries, for the Mustangs.

The Colonials gained 229-yards rushing and 52 yards passing for a total of 281-yards gained.  Quarterback Corban Czap completed 5 of 15 passes for the 53-yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 for 21-yards to Shane Rolle (including a 10-yard touchdown), 1 for 17-yards and a touchdown to Daulton Snyder, 1 for 13-yards and a touchdown to Jordan Gardner, and 1 for 2-yards to Elijah Myers, for the Colonials.  Hunter Ringrose led the Colonials rushing attack with 20 carries for 127-yards, followed by Keegan Romanoff with 5 carries for 44-yards (including a 32-yard touchdown), Daulton Snyder with 7 carries for 22-yards, Czap with 7 carries for 20-yards, Kevin Moser with 2 carries for 11-yards, Trevon Brown with 1 carry for 4-yards, and Elijah Myers with 2 carries for 1-yard.

Trey Parrish kicked 3 extra points, Romanoff intercepted a pass, and Snyder recovered a fumble, for the Colonials.

The 10-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 pre-game performance, presenting their 2014 field show “Nevermore,” based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe.  The show opened with the Overture from “Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim.  Mozart’s 25th Symphony provided the musical material for the first impact before melding into a minor treatment of the “Johanna” theme.  The madness continued with a return to the Overture that dissolved into a final solution.  The New Oxford Colonial Marching Band gave a crowd-pleasing half time performance.

The 25 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad (24 girls and a guy) and the Colonials’ squad were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 1-3-0 overall and 1-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 342-212-8.  The results of the 562 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .617 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Panthers of Central York (1-3 overall, 1-0 league) in league action.  Central York is coming off of a 44-17 victory over the Bobcats of Northeastern.  The Mustangs are looking to remain on their winning tradition.  GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 3-2014

 

By Dick Engelhardt 

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High ran into a juggernaut in the MAROONS of Ridgewood last week at SASSO FIELD in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action losing 46-6. Captains Dan Morganstein, Dillon Rinaldo and Deshawn Roberts went out for the coin toss and Ridgewood received. Our heroes came out firing as a Ridgewood player batted Dan Kutuzov’s kickoff in the air and Mark Terwilleger alertly picked it off. A big run by Morganstein was nullified by a penalty and the Fair Lawn drive stalled. The talented and deep MAROONS took over and scored 7 TDs. Showcasing his scholarship prospect QB, Ridgewood Coach Chuck Johnson, with his team ahead 26-0, called time out and passed for a TD as time expired at the half. He did put subs in late in the game and had them take a knee after the last TD instead of going for the extra point.

Our “never say die” CUTTERS fought valiantly. Tyler Johnson ran a kickoff to the 41. Morganstein and Johnson picked up 1^st downs and Alex D’Angelo ran 4 yards for a TD to avert a shutout. Roberts and Tyler Pollock ran the ball well too and defensive plays were made by a host of CUTTERS including Dominick Barbarulo, Anthony Messina, Frank Ortoll, Matt Phillips and Max White. Sefa Basci covered a kickoff. The win brings Ridgewood’s 1944-83 and 2012-14 record against Fair Lawn to 29-11-3 (.725). 

The fans were treated to a fantastic halftime! The award winning Fair Lawn High School CUTTER Marching Band and Color Guard, directed by Jamie Szeinberg, put on its show “Return of The King.” Then the varsity cheerleaders, coached by Melissa McInerny, and the JV cheerleaders, coached by Melissa Maneri, and the Fair Lawn High Dance Team, coached by Jen Bell, put on a great performance. 

In BNC Liberty Division action the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside edged the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 14-8. The BNC Liberty Division went 1-1 (.500) against outside opposition. While Fair Lawn lost, the defending champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute walloped the INDIANS of Passaic 49-7.

This Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS take on the BRAVES of Indian Hills at SASSO FIELD in the Hall of Fame game at which I will introduce the 2014 Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame inductees at halftime. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Indian Hills has not had a winning season since 2003 and has not finished .500 since 2007. The Braves come into the game at 1-1 (500) having outscored the opposition 56-29 for an average 28-15 win. That is bolstered by their 41-0 thrashing of the weak TIGERS of Jersey City’s Snyder High. Fair Lawn is also 1-1 and has been outscored 46-28 for an average 23-14 loss. Our heroes can put the loss behind them and come back against the BRAVES. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 20 – Indian Hills 14. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 3

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

By Dick Engelhardt

Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943. This record covers years ending in 4.

1944 - Marty Fischbein’s CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Hawthorne 21-7. Independently in 1944 and in the Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) 1945-55, our CUTTERS went 9-3 (.750) over the BEARS. When Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the league, left in ’56, the league was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1954 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 39-13 by the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside. During 1947-54 and 1983 Fair Lawn went 5-4 (.556) over the GHOSTS. This was sweetened by the fact that, until FLHS opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. A few students from the Columbia Heights section went to Hawthorne and the Radburn section students went to Ridgewood. Fair Lawn is 1-3(.333) against the GHOSTS in Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action in 2010-13 and Eastside leads the series 7-6 (.538).

1964 - Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 34-6 in NNJIL action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686) and the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733). The teams squared off 1945-48 in the B-PIL, 1962-83 in the NNJIL and 1984-2008 in the NBIL. State realignment has ended the 51 season rivalry, which remains the longest in either school’s history.    

1974 - Al Reinoso’s CUTTERS tied the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 8-8. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the NNJIL and 2010-14 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 11-3-1 (.786) over Fair Lawn, including a State playoff victory in 1979.

1984 - Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shutout the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 21-0 in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984–2008 NBIL rivalry against the GOLDEN KNIGHTS 15–10 (.600). 

1994 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged those GOLDEN KNIGHTS of NVOT 34-33 in NBIL Division 1 action.  

2004 - Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS were beaten 38-3 by the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley, Demarest in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS took the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 NBIL rivalry 13-9 (.591). The NORSEMEN went 2-0 in 2010 and 11 Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and Fair Lawn leads the rivalry 13-11 (.552).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2014-4

By Bill Engelhardt

________

Last Friday evening, September 12, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division’s Thundering Herd of Carlisle and were defeated 34-23 in another donnybrook.  The game was nip and tuck until DaShawn Millington’s 61-yard touchdown scamper early in the 4th quarter decided it.

The Mustangs opened the game with a ten play 44-yard drive from their own 38-yard line to the Thundering Herd 18-yard line, featuring a few nice runs by Robby Harbison and Brock Geiman’s 4-yard pass to Miles Francis and 9-yard pass to Drew Hartlaub.  Andrew Slater kicked a 35-yard field goal and the Mustangs were up 3-0 at the 8:13 mark of the first quarter.

The Thundering Herd then drove 35-yards in eight plays, only to have a fumble recovered by Corbin Byers for the Mustangs at their 47-yard line.  The Mustangs drove 53-yards in five plays, featuring a 25-yard pass from Geiman to Noah Staub, and ending with Geiman’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Byers.  Slater’s extra point kicked put the Mustangs up 10-0 with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Thundering Herd then drove 73-yards in nine plays, featuring a 13-yard run by Tyler Greene, a 13-yard pass from Billy Burger to Deonte Ramsey, and a 22-yard pass from Burger to Glenn Jackson.  Greene then scored a touchdown on a 4-yard run and Millington ran in for a 2-point conversion, making the score 10-8 in favor of the Mustangs with 8:59 left in the second quarter.

Jackson intercepted a Mustangs pass shortly thereafter at the Mustangs 44-yard line.  Four plays later the Thundering Herd turned the ball over on downs.  The Mustangs got one first down and then punted.

The Thundering Herd drove 93-yards from their own 7-yard line five plays, featuring a 25-yard pass from Burger to Ramsey, and a 56-yard pass from Burger to Zion Patterson.  Greene scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run and the Thundering Herd took the lead 14-10 with 2:46 left in the second quarter.

The Mustangs ended up punting but the Thundering Herd muffed it and Matt Smolko recovered the ball for the Mustangs at the Thundering Herd 12-yard line.  Five plays later Geiman threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Hartlaub and Slater’s extra point kick put the Mustangs back on top 17-14 with 10 seconds left in the half.

Millington returned the second half kickoff 58-yards to the Mustangs 27-yard line.  Two plays later Burger threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Ramsey and Millington threw a 2-point conversion pass to Ramsey.  That put the Thundering Herd back on top 22-17 at the 10:52 mark of the third quarter.

The Mustangs and the Thundering Herd then exchanged punts twice.  The Mustangs then drove 51-yards in seven plays, featuring a 14-yard pass from Geiman to Staub and an 11-yard run by Harbison, and ending with Hartlaub’s 17-yard touchdown run.  The Mustangs went back on top 23-22 with 24 seconds left in the third quarter.

Ramsey returned the kickoff 50-yards for the Thundering Herd, to the Mustangs 35-yard line.  Burger then threw a 29-yard pass to Jackson.  Two plays later Greene scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run, putting the Thundering Herd back on top 28-23 with 11:16 left in the game.

The Mustangs ended up punting to the Thundering Herd 39-yard line.  Millington then scampered 61-yards for a touchdown to close out the scoring at 34-23 in favor of the Thundering Herd, with 9:25 left in the game.

Both teams turned the ball over on downs in subsequent drives.

Andrew Slater kicked off 5 times for 239-yards, with the longest going for 57-yards, and Brock Geiman punted 5 times for 182-yards (for an average of 36.4-yards) with the longest going for 44-yards.  Miles Francis returned 1 punt for 17-yards.  Jeff Green returned 2 kickoffs for 22-yards, with the longest going for 13-yards, Drew Hartlaub returned 1 kickoff for 20-yards, and Francis returned 1 kickoff for 6-yards, for the Mustangs.

Ryan Krebs, with 7 tackles and a caused fumble, led the Mustang defense, followed by Hunter Palmer with 6 tackles and 2 passes defended, Tyler Jachelski with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Tyler Fulmore with 6 tackles and a pass hurry, Corbin Byers with 3 tackles and a recovered fumble, Miles Francis with 3 tackles and a pass hurry, Seth Janney with 3 tackles and a pass hurry, Bret Hertzog, Chris Steckel and Nate VanCampen with 3 tackles each, Matt Smolko with 2 tackles and a recovered fumble, Brady Thayer with 2 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Farace and Zach Hughes with 2 tackles each, Marcus Jones with 1 tackle and a pass defense, and Skylar Bowman, Jeff Green, Gus Landis, and Carson Perry with 1 tackle each.

Luke Baugher, Skylar Bowman, Corbin Byers, Scotty Dickmyer, Mike Farace, Miles Francis, Tyler Fulmore, Matt Helwig, Bret Hertzog, Tyler Jachelski, Marcus Jones, Seth Janney, Josh Martin, Matt Smolko, Chris Steckel, and Josh Zeroth manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions.

Miles Francis, Drew Hartlaub, Ryan Krebs, Hunter Palmer, Brady Thayer and Nate VanCampen patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 151-yards rushing and 97-yards passing for a total of 248-yards of offense. Junior quarterback Brock Geiman completed 9 of 24 passes for the 97-yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 for 39-yards to Noah Staub, 1 for 16-yards to Brady Thayer, 2 for 14-yards to Miles Francis, 2 for 11-yards to Drew Hartlaub (including a 1-yard touchdown), 1 for 10-yards and a touchdown to Corbin Byers, and 1 for 7-yards to Robby Harbison, for the Mustangs.  Harbison led the Mustangs rushing attack with16 carries for 67-yards, followed by Hartlaub with 11 carries for 59-yards (including a 17-yard touchdown), Miles Francis with 4 for 17-yards, and Geiman with 8 carries for 8-yards.

Andrew Slater kicked a 35-yard field goal and 2 extra points, Corbin Byers and Matt Smolko each recovered a fumble, Tyler Jachelski defended a pass and hurried a pass, Hunter Palmer defended 2 passes, Brady Thayer and Marcus Jones each defended a pass, Ryan Krebs caused a fumble, and Tyler Fulmore, Miles Francis, and Seth Janney each recorded a pass hurry, for the Mustangs.

The Thundering Herd gained 165-yards rushing and 222 yards passing for a total of 387 yards gained.  Billy Burger completed 16 of 25 passes for 193-yards and DaShawn Millington completed 1 pass for 29-yards, for the Thundering Herd.  Deonte Ramsey caught 9 passes for 80-yards, followed by Glenn Jackson with 5 for 76-yards, Zion Patterson with 1 for 55-yards, Tyler Greene with 1 for 10-yards, and Mike Wuestner who caught 1 pass for 1-yard.  Millington led the Thundering Herd attack with 4 carries for 90-yards (including touchdowns of 3 and 61-yards), followed by Greene with 14 carries for 45-yards (including touchdowns of 4, 1, and 1-yards), Jackson with 4 carries for 26-yards, and Burger with 2 carries for 4-yards.  Millington ran in for a 2-point conversion and threw a 2-point conversion pass to Ramsey, and Jackson intercepted a pass, for the Thundering Herd.

The 10-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 2014 field show “Nevermore,” based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe.  The show opened with the Overture from “Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim.  Mozart’s 25th Symphony provided the musical material for the first impact before melding into a minor treatment of the “Johanna” theme.  The madness continued with a return to the Overture that dissolved into a final solution.  The Carlisle Thundering Herd Marching Band gave a crowd-pleasing pre-game performance.

The 27 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad (26 girls and a guy) and the Thundering Herd’s’ squad were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 0-3-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 341-212-8.  The results of the 561 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .617 winning percentage and a .622 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs host the Colonials of New Oxford (0-3 overall, 0-0 league) to begin YAIAA Division I action for the season.  New Oxford is coming off of a 21-15 loss to the Canners of Biglerville.  The Mustangs are now looking to resume their winning tradition.  GO MUSTANGS GO.