SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2014-10

By Bill Engelhardt

________

Last Friday evening, October 24, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Bobcats of Northeastern and galloped to a 16-7 victory.  The swarming Mustang defense registered 7 sacks for a mind boggling 69-yards in losses, including a safety.

The Bobcats opened the game by going three and out, including a sack of quarterback Blake Einsig by Luke Baugher for a 13-yard loss, and punted.  The punt only netted three yards and the Mustangs took over on the Bobcats 26-yard line.  Brock Geiman threw a 10-yard pass to Noah Staub, Robby Harbison rambled for 12-yards to the 4, and Miles Francis scampered in for a 4-yard touchdown.  Andrew Slater kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were up 7-0 at the 9:18 mark of the first quarter.

The Bobcats then started on their own 23-yard line, were penalized to the 13, and gained a yard to the 14-yard line.  The Mustangs’ Seth Janney then sacked Einsig in the end zone for a 14-yard loss and a safety.  That put the Mustangs up 9-0 at the 7:52 mark in the game.

The Mustangs started a drive at the Bobcats 42-yard line and drove to the 17 in six plays, featuring a 12-yaed pass from Geiman to Staub.  The drive ended when the Mustangs misfired on a 35-yard field goal attempt.

The Bobcats then drove from their own 20-yard line to the Mustangs 17-yard line in nine plays, featuring passes of 25 and 14-yards from Einsig to Jordan Zirkle and an 11-yard pass from Einsig to David Ankney.  However, a sack by Janney for an 11-yard loss followed by a sack by Josh Zeroth for a 2-yard loss ended that drive and the Bobcats punted.

The Mustangs next drive ended when Houston Hoffman intercepted a Geiman pass at the Bobcats 32-yard line.  The Bobcats went three and out and punted and the Mustangs ended up punting after a short drive.

The Bobcats then drove 76-yards in two plays, ending with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Einsig to Ankney.  Chase Sasala kicked the extra point and the score was 9-7 in favor of the Mustangs with 3:26 left in the second quarter.

The Mustangs next drive ended when Taemar Willis intercepted a Geiman pass and returned it 13-yards.  The Mustangs returned the favor on the next play when Zach Hughes intercepted an Einsig pass and returned it 9-yards to the Bobcats 24-yard line.  The Mustangs ended up misfiring on a 29-yard field goal attempt.

The Mustangs and the Bobcats opened the second half by exchanging punts.  The Bobcats’ drive was thwarted by a sack by Baugher and a sack by Janney (who had three sacks in the game).  After Miles Francis returned the Bobcats punt 21-yards to the Bobcats 44-yard line the Mustangs ended a nine-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run by Bret Hetzog.  Slater’s extra point kick closed out the scoring at 16-7 in favor of the Mustangs at the 2:01 mark of the third quarter.

Each team turned the ball over on downs and each team punted.  The Bobcats last drive went from their own 24-yard line to the Mustangs 44-yard line, featuring a 28-yard pass from Einsig to Zirkle, but ended when Brady Thayer intercepted an Einsig pass and returned it 13-yards for the Mustangs.

Andrew Slater kicked off 2 times for 106-yards, with the longest going for 54-yards, and Brock Geiman punted 3 times for 97-yards (for an average of 32.3-yards) with the longest going for 37-yards.  Miles Francis returned 3 kickoffs for 55-yards, with the longest going for 24-yards, and 1 punt for 21-yards for the Mustangs.

Tyler Jachelski, with 12 tackles, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Luke Baugher with 8 tackles, 3 sacks for 29-yards in losses, and 1 pass defense, Ryan Krebs with 7 tackles and 2 pass hurries, Seth Janney with 6 tackles, 3 sacks for 39-yards in losses, and 1 pass hurry, Tyler Fulmore with 6 tackles and 1 pass hurry, Josh Zeroth with 5 tackles and 1 sack for a 1-yard loss, Gus Landis with 5 tackles, Zach Hughes with 3 tackles and 1 interception returned for 9-yards, Marcus Jones with 3 tackles and 1 pass hurry, Miles Francis and Hunter Palmer with 2 tackles each, Matt Smolko with 1 tackle for a 1-yard loss, Corbin Byers, Jacob Muir, Carson Perry, Evan Raubenstine, and Nate VanCampen with 1 tackle each, and Brady Thayer with 1 interception returned for 13-yards.

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

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

The Mustangs gained 146-yards rushing and 51-yards passing for a total of 197-yards of offense. Junior quarterback Brock Geiman completed 5 of 14 passes for the 51-yards, 3 for 26-yards to Noah Staub, 1for 15-yards to Robby Harbison, and 1 for 10-yards to Hunter Palmer, for the Mustangs.

Robby Harbison led the Mustangs rushing attack with 19 carries for 80-yards, followed by Bret Hertzog with 13 carries for 58-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), Miles Francis with 8 carries for 14-yards, and Brock Geiman with 2 carries for minus 3-yards.

Andrew Slater kicked 2 extra points, Brady Thayer intercepted 1 pass and returned it for 13-yards, Zach Hughes intercepted 1 pass and returned it for 9-yards, Luke Baugher recorded 3 sacks for 29-yards in losses, and recorded 2 pass hurries, Seth Janney recorded 3 sacks for 39-yards in losses, and recorded 1 pass hurry, Josh Zeroth recorded 1 sack for a 1-yard loss, Tyler Jachelski registered 12 tackles, Ryan Krebs recorded 2 pass hurries, and Tyler Fulmore and Marcus Jones each recorded 1 pass hurry, for the Mustangs.

The Bobcats gained a net of minus 46-yards rushing and 192 yards passing for a total of 146 yards gained.  Blake Einsig completed 9 of 14 passes for the 192-yards and 1 touchdown, 6 for 101-yards to Jordan Zirkle and 3 for 91-yards to David Ankney (including a 75-yard touchdown) for the Bobcats.

Fred Mulbah led the Bobcats rushing attack with 5 carries for 23-yards, followed by Kody Reeser with 11 carries for 10-yards, Chris Whack with 3 carries for 7-yards, Ankney with 1 carry for minus 5-yards, and Einsig with 10 carries for minus 81-yards.

Chase Sasala kicked 1 extra point, Houston Hoffman intercepted a pass, and an unknown player intercepted a pass and returned it 13-yards, for the Bobcats.

The 66-member 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 post game performance, presenting their 2014 field show “Nevermore,” based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe, on Band Night.  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 ballad began with beautiful sonorities from the front ensemble.  Freshman trumpet soloist, John Dyson, introduced the ‘Johanna’ theme as the narrator’s thoughts turn to his lost love, Lenore.  The passion built to a climax as he longed to be reunited with her, but alas, they shall be together, nevermore.  The closer brought a return to the narrator’s earlier thoughts as he peers deep into the darkness.  The music reached an emotional culmination with the Mozart and Verdi Requiems, before the percussion section took over with a short feature.

The 61-member Northeastern Bobcats Marching Band gave a crowd-pleasing post-game performance of its show “Adventures in Cinema,” including “Overture” from “Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves,” “Cadillac of the Skies” from “Empire of the Sun,” “Skyfall” from “Skyfall,” and “Into the West” from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

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

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-5-0 overall and 4-2-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 345-214-8.  The results of the 567 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 host the Rockets (3-6 overall, 1-5 league).  Spring Grove is coming off of a 42-28 loss to the Lions of Red Lion.  The Mustangs are looking to remain on the winning track.  GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 8-2014

 

By Dick Engelhardt 

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High traveled to New Canaan Connecticut last week and fell 37-6 to the STORM of St. Luke’s High School. The STORM had a star running back that simply could not be stopped. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS fought valiantly and with the score 20-0, Deshawn Roberts electrified the crowd running the second half kickoff back 90 yards for a TD! Fair Lawn’s record against parochial schools 1943-present is 3-14-2 (.176). Marty Fischbein’s CUTTERS beat the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity of Westfield on that first Thanksgiving Day in ’43 and again during the regular season in ’44. His ’43 CUTTERS tied Good Council of Newark. Frank Bennett’s 1955 Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champion CUTTERS beat the GRAY BEES of St. Benedicts of Newark and his CUTTERS tied them in ‘57. GRAY BEES player Al Reinoso became the 5th coach at Fair Lawn 1972-74.

 

Fair Lawn managed to schedule this out of state game instead of playing the PALADINS of Paramus Catholic, who walloped the HONEY BADGERS of Eastern Christian Academy of Elkton, Maryland 63-28. By scheduling these parochial behemoths against public schools, the league puts the public school between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.” Playing these essentially college program teams puts your players at great risk of injury and is hopeless. But if the parochial school agrees to play somebody else, the public school has to seek another game. With the schedules already set it’s almost impossible to find a local game. Last year Fair Lawn had no game that week. On October 11th, neighboring Paramus traveled to Hamden, Connecticut to play Hamden Hall Country Day. It would have been great to see a renewal of the 1962-83 and 2010-11 Fair Lawn – Paramus rivalry! The SPARTANS lead it 14-10 (.583).      

Fair Lawn’s game was the only Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division game against outside opposition. The loss brings the BNC record against outside foes to 4-10 (.286) so far. In Division action, the defending champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute mauled the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 55-6. The victory clinched the Division championship for the 5th straight year for the BULLDOGS, who have won it every season since the league was organized in 2010. The GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside, who play the KNIGHTS of JFK on Thanksgiving Day, had their Bye.

This Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS are home at SASSO FIELD at 1:00 against the winless INDIANS of Passaic. Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the INDIANS 27-18 in 1st round playoff action at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980 and lost a 1985 playoff game 36-26 at Passaic’s BOVERINI STADIUM. Stan Myles’ CUTTERS edged the INDIANS 39-38 in the 1st “Home” playoff game ever played at SASSO FIELD in 2009. That game replaced the 1980 game against Passaic as the most thrilling in FLHS history. The other 2 “Home” Fair Lawn playoff games were those at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980. The 2-2 record in 2010-13 BNC Liberty Division action has our CUTTERS leading the rivalry with Passaic 4-3 (.571).  

Passaic comes into the game 0-7 having been outscored 299-51 for an average 43-5 loss. Fair Lawn is 1-6 (.143) and has been outscored 241-72 for an average 34-10 loss. With an all out effort, our heroes can win this one. Lets all be at SASSO FIELD to welcome them home. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21–Passaic 6 CO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 8

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 CARDINALS of Westwood 20-6 in independent action. During 1943-44 independently and 1984-85 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action, our CUTTERS went 3-1 (.750) against the CARDINALS.

1954 – Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the BUCCANEERS of Bogota 20-12 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn and Bogota shared the 1946 B-PIL title and our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry with the BUCCANEERS 6-3-2 (.667).  

1964 – Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS beat the RAMS of Lodi 52-6 in independent action. - During 1964-66 Fair Lawn went 3-0 (1.000) over Lodi. Fair Lawn’s first football game in 1943 saw Coach Marty Fischbein’s brand new CUTTERS lose 7-6 to Lodi in JV action.

1974 – Al Reinoso’s CUTTERS were shutout 36-0 by the BEARS of Bergenfield in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (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 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL). The 51-season rivalry remains the longest in either school’s history.   

1984 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS edged the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo 22-20 in their return to the NBIL after 25 seasons in the NNJIL. of Ramapo took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 rivalry 17-11 (.607). Natale never lost to legendary Ramapo coach Mike Miello 1984-87.

1994 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 43-21 by the COWBOYS of Pascack Hills in NBIL crossover action. During 1984-86 and 1994-98 our CUTTERS went 6-2 (.750) over the COWBOYS.

2004 – Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS were shutout 21-0 by the BRAVES of Indian Hills in NBIL crossover action.  Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Indian Hills’ 45-8 win in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2014 closed Fair Lawn’s series lead to 13-11 (.542). 

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2014-9

By Bill Engelhardt

________

Last Friday evening, October 17, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Bearcats of William Penn (York High) and galloped and passed to a convincing 41-29 victory.  The Mustangs rang up 18 first downs and six runners galloped up and down the field.  Some timely passes gained more than a few of those first downs as junior quarterback Brock Geiman went over the 200-yard passing mark for the third week in a row.

The Mustangs opened the game with a 2 play 81-yard drive.  Geiman threw a 42-yard pass to Robby Harbison and a 39-yard touchdown pass to Drew Hartlaub.  Andrew Slater’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 thirty seconds into the game.

Sae’Quan Whitaker returned the kickoff 49-yards, setting the Bearcats up on the Mustangs 18-yard line.  James Way II threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Bryshon Sweeney and the extra point attempt failed.  The Mustangs led 7-6 at the 11:10 mark of the first quarter.

The Mustangs then had a drive ended when Whitaker intercepted a Geiman pass.  The Mustangs soon returned the favor when Tyler Fulmore recovered a Bearcats’ fumble.  The Mustangs then drove 77-yards in eleven plays, featuring a 14-yard run by Robby Harbison and a 15-yad pass from Geiman to Harbison.  Hartlaub ended the drive with an 18-yard touchdown scamper.  Slater’s extra point kick upped the score to 14-6 in favor of the Mustangs with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter.

The Bearcats then drove 45-yards in ten plays, ending with a 14-yard touchdown run by quarterback James Way III.  Way III threw a 2-point conversion pass to Danny Acevedo and the game was tied at 14 at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter.

The Mustangs drove 54-yards in six plays, featuring a 36-yard pass from Geiman to Hartlaub and ending with a 4-yard touchdown run by Miles Francis.  Slater’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 21-14 at the 4:25 mark of the second quarter.

The Bearcats had a short drive thwarted when Ryan Krebs intercepted a Way III pass and the Mustangs drove 28-yards in one play with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Geiman to Noah Staub.  Slater’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 28-14 with 3:17 left in the second quarter.

The Bearcats then drove 81-yards in ten plays, featuring a 15-yard run by Way III an 11-yard pass from Way III to Nate Delmotte, and ending with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Way III to Acevedo.  Ethan Fogelman kicked the extra point and the score was 28-21 in favor of the Mustangs with 19 seconds left in the first half.

The Bearcats ended up punting from deep in their own territory on their first possession of the second half.  The Mustangs drove 40-yards in three plays, runs of 8 and 22-yards by Harbison, and a 10-yard touchdown run by Francis.  The extra point was missed and the Mustangs were up 34-21 at the 8:15 point in the third quarter.

Whitaker returned the Mustangs kickoff 53-yards to the Mustangs 25-yard line.  The Bearcats turned the ball over on downs on the Mustangs 24-yard line.  The Mustangs then drove 76-yards in nine plays, featuring a 20-yard run by Francis, a 19-yard run by Harbison, a 19-yard pass from Geiman to Bret Hertzog, and ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by Hertzog.  Slater’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 41-21 at the 3:34 point in the third quarter.

Whitaker returned the Mustangs kickoff 72-yards to the Mustangs 21-yard line.  However, after The Mustangs’ Seth Janney sacked Way III for an 11-yard loss the Bearcats turned the ball over on downs.  The Mustangs then drove 43-yards before turning the ball over on downs at the Bearcats 31-yard line.

Ryan Krebs intercepted his second pass of the game for the Mustangs on the Bearcats next drive, but the Mustangs ended up punting.  The Bearcats then drove 84-yards in four plays, featuring a 47-yard run by Bryshon Sweeney.  Zack Ingram ended the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.  Sweeney ran in for a 2-point conversion and that made the final score 41-29 in favor of the Mustangs with 7:02 left in the game.

Whitaker’s 5 kickoff returns for 202-yards, for a 40.4-yard average, had kept it interesting for the Bearcats.  But that wasn’t enough to overcome the Mustangs stampede.

Andrew Slater kicked off 7 times for 328-yards, with the longest going for 56-yards, and Brock Geiman punted 2 times for 58-yards (for an average of 29.0-yards) with the longest going for 34-yards.  Roby Harbison returned 2 kickoffs for 22-yards, with the longest going foe 14-yards, Miles Francis returned1 kickoff for 15-yards, Jonas Walter returned 1 kickoff for 9-yards, and Drew Hartlaub returned 1 kickoff for 5-yards, and Francis returned 1 punt for 16-yards for the Mustangs.

Tyler Jachelski, with 10 tackles and 1 pass hurry, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Ryan Krebs with 6 tackles and 2 interceptions, Gus Landis with 5 tackles and 3 pass hurries, Tyler Fulmore with 4 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass hurry, Corbin Byers and Matt Smolko with 4 tackles each, Seth Janney with 3 tackles and 1 sack for an 11-yard loss, Luke Baugher with 3 tackles and 1 pass hurry, Hunter Palmer and Andrew Slater with 3 tackles each, Josh Zeroth with 2 tackles and 3 pass hurries, Josh Martin with 2 tackles and 2 pass hurries, Brady Thayer and Nate VanCampen with 2 tackles and 1 pass defense each, and Miles Francis, Zach Hughes, and Chris Steckel with 1 tackle each.

Luke Baugher, Corbin Byers, Scotty Dickmyer, Mike Farace, Miles Francis, Tyler Fulmore, Matt Helwig, Bret Hertzog, Tyler Jachelski, Seth Janney, Marcus Jones, 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 228-yards rushing and 203-yards passing for a total of 431-yards of offense. Junior quarterback Brock Geiman completed 9 of 16 passes for the 203-yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 for 75-yards to Drew Hartlaub (including a 39-yard touchdown), 3 for 67-yards to Robby Harbison, 2 for 37-yards to Noah Staub (including a 28-yard touchdown), 1 for 19-yards to Bret Hertzog, and 1 for 5-yards to Miles Francis, for the Mustangs.

Robby Harbison led the Mustangs rushing attack with 13 carries for 100-yards, followed by Francis with 9 carries for 47-yards (including touchdowns of 4 and 10-yards), Hertzog with 9 carries for 33-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), Hartlaub with 5 carries for 29-yards, (including an 18-yard touchdown), Tyler Fulmore with 3 carries for 22-yards, and Geiman with 3 carries for minus 1-yard.

Andrew Slater kicked 5 extra points, Ryan Krebs recovered 2 fumbles, Tyler Fulmore recovered 1 fumble and recorded 1 pass hurry, Seth Janney recorded 1 sack for an 11-yard loss, Gus Landis and Josh Zeroth each recorded 3 pass hurries, Josh Martin recorded 2 pass hurries, Luke Baugher and Tyler Jachelski each recorded 1 pass hurry, and Brady Thayer and Nate VanCampen each defended 1 pass, for the Mustangs.

The Bearcats gained 141-yards rushing and 105 yards passing for a total of 246 yards gained.  James Way III completed 9 of 21 passes for the 105-yards and 2 touchdowns, 4 for 42-yards to Nate Delmotte, 2 for 28-yards to Danny Acevedo (including a 27-yard touchdown), 1 for 18-yards and a touchdown to Bryshon Sweeney, and 2 for 17-yards to Sae’Quan Whitaker, for the Bearcats. 

Sweeney led the Bearcats rushing attack with 13 carries for 88-yards, followed by Way III with 15 carries for 52-yards (including a 14-yard touchdown), and Zack Ingram with 3 carries for 1-yard (including a 3-yard touchdown).

Way III threw a 2-point conversion pass to Acevedo, Sweeney ran in for a 2-point conversion, Ethan Fogleman kicked 1 extra point, and Whitaker intercepted a pass, for the Bearcats.

On Band Night at the Mustang Corral the 125 member strong Emory H Markle Intermediate School Marching Band put on a pre-game show featuring a Latin piece “El Conquistador.”  The Mustangs Marching Band then joined the show and the combined bands performed “Gimme Some Lovin” and closed the pre-game show with The Fighting Mustang song, “Victors.”

The 66-member 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 post game performance, presenting their 2014 field show “Nevermore,” based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe, on Band Night.  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 ballad began with beautiful sonorities from the front ensemble.  Freshman trumpet soloist, John Dyson, introduced the ‘Johanna’ theme as the narrator’s thoughts turn to his lost love, Lenore.  The passion built to a climax as he longed to be reunited with her, but alas, they shall be together, nevermore.  The closer brought a return to the narrator’s earlier thoughts as he peers deep into the darkness.  The music reached an emotional culmination with the Mozart and Verdi Requiems, before the percussion section took over with a short feature.

The 55-member William Penn Bearcats Marching Band gave a crowd-pleasing half-time performance of its show “When Music Was Music: A Tribute to the Rock Bands of the 1970s,” including “Rock and Roll All Nite,” Stairway to Heaven,” and “Dream On.”

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

The Mustangs of South Western are 3-5-0 overall and 3-2-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 344-214-8.  The results of the 566 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 visit the Bobcats of Northeastern (4-4 overall, 1-4 league).  Northeastern is coming off of a 27-10 victory over the Rockets of Spring Grove.  The Mustangs are looking to remain on the winning track.  GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 7-2014

 

By Dick Engelhardt 

The injury depleted CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High gave the COMETS of Hackensack a whale of a battle last Saturday at SASSO FIELD before losing 21-7. Captains Dan Morganstein, Matt Philips Dillon Rinaldo and Deshawn Roberts went out for the coin toss and Hackensack won and deferred. Fair Lawn’s 1st drive stalled. Tylor Pollock caused and recovered a fumble at the 16 and heroic defensive plays were made by Dominick Barbarulo, Jon Fochesato, Johnson, Mike Laboy, Anthony Messina, Phillips, Roberts, Jake Schwartz and others. Pollock and Frank Ortoll teamed up on a great stop! With Hackensack up 14-0, Tyler Johnson electrified the crowd with a 27 yard TD gallop. With Damien Rongo holding, the sure footed Dan Kutuzov kicked the extra point. Fair Lawn was down only 14-7 at the half and the COMETS knew they were in a game! Hackensack eventually prevailed, scoring only once more in the second half. Gal Harari made a great stop and Roberts and Laboy teamed up on a great hit. Harari threw a picture pass to Roberts for a 1st down! Ryan Rue once again boomed great punts!

Interim AD Mike Miello, who is serving while Fair Lawn AD Cory Robinson recovers from surgery, had high praise for the way our CUTTERS fought! He remembers that, while coaching the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo, he went 0-4 against Fair Lawn coach Pete Natale 1984-87. He also coached the COMETS years ago! The Hackensack victory brings the COMETS’ 1959-82 and 2010-14 record against Fair Lawn to 28-7-1 (.800).

 

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division went 1-3 (.000) against outside foes. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were beaten 44-6 by the KNIGHTS of JFK and the undefeated defending champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute were shutout 38-0 by the IRONMEN of Bon Bosco. The GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside chalked up the only win beating the INDIANS of Passaic 44-7. The Division is 4-9 (.308) against outside opposition on the season.

This Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS travel to New Canaan, Connecticut to take on the STORM of St. Luke’s High School at 2:00. The game was scheduled when the PALADINS of Paramus Catholic, who Fair Lawn was scheduled to play, asked if it was alright if they play the HONEY BADGERS of Eastern Christian Academy in Elkton, Maryland instead. It certainly was! It is absurd to schedule any public school against one of the parochial behemoths unless the public school is willing to play them. What they do is not high school football but resembles college football with all that implies. The folly of this is seen in St. Josephs 42 - Northern Valley/Old Tappan 0, DePaul 35 – Pascack Valley 14 and Don Bosco 38– Passaic Tech 0 scores. Even great public school programs can’t compete with these all star programs. A few years ago Wayne Hills had a 55 game winning streak going until the PATRIOTS were forced to play St. Joes. Even they couldn’t win!

St. Luke’s comes into the game 4-2 (.667) having outscored the opposition 188-118 for an average 31-20 win. Fair Lawn is 1-5 (.167) and has been outscored 204-66 for an average 34-11 loss. St. Luke’s opponents are not the likes of Ridgewood, Passaic Tech or Hackensack! This is a game our CUTTERS can win. For the 1st time Fair Lawn is not outmanned. According to MaxPreps.com, St. Luke’s has a roster of 30 compared to Fair Lawn’s 39. Our heroes will give it all they have. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – St. Luke’s 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!