THE GRIDIRON 5-2014

 

By Dick Engelhardt 

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were in a thriller against the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside in Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action last Thursday at Bauerle Field. The lead changed hands 3 times before the GHOSTS ran off with a 44-23 victory. Captains Dan Morganstein, Dillon Rinaldo and Deshawn Roberts went out for the coin toss and Eastside received. The GHOSTS went 3 and out thanks to heroic plays by Mike Laboy and Dan  Morganstein and a fantastic sack by Frank Ortoll and Tyler Pollack! Jake Schwartz recovered a punt at the 12 and QB Gal Harari threw a picture TD pass to Tyler Johnson. With Damien Rongo holding, the sure footed Ryan Rue kicked the extra point and Fair Lawn led 7-0. After Eastside took an 8-7 lead, a safety put Fair Lawn on top again 9-8. The GHOSTS led 22-9 at the half.

Undaunted, Fair Lawn battled back. Johnson electrified the crowd returning the kickoff for a TD and Rue’s extra point kick made it 22-16. The GHOSTS scored 3 more times but our CUTTERS gave the crowd excitement too! Roberts scampered right for a thrilling long TD run with right guard Matt Phillips and right tackle Sefa Basci blocking and Rue’s kick closed out the scoring.    

The Eastside victory puts the GHOSTS ahead 8-6 (.571) in the 1947-54, 1983 and 2010-14 rivalry. The loss brings Fair Lawn’s 1943 to the present record to 318-318-15 (.500). The last time our CUTTERS were at .500 was November 1st, 1943 when the brand new team was 1-1-1 after its first 3 varsity games. Those CUTTERS, coached by Marty Fischbein (1943-44), went 3-0 after that and posted a remarkable 4-1-1 (.800) record in Fair Lawn’s first season on THE GRIDIRON! The CUTTERS didn’t have a losing season until 1950 and finished the ‘40s at 38-15-5 (.717). 

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division went 1-0 (1.000) against outside foes. The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High had a Bye and the defending champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute manhandled the previously unbeaten COMETS of Hackensack 35-7. The COMETS could do nothing against the BULLDOGS and would not have scored if it were not for a blocked punt. The Division is 3-4 (.429) against outside opposition so far this season. 

This Friday at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Wayne to take on those BNC Liberty Division defending champion BULLDOGS. The BULLDOGS began the rivalry with a come-from-behind 34-14 victory in 2010 on their way to the championship. In 2011, the BULLDOGS romped 49-9. They came from behind in 2012 to win 32-7. In 2013 their 60-0 shutout was the worst loss in FLHS history and brought the Passaic Tech record to 4-0 (1.000) over Fair Lawn. The BULLDOGS have won the BNC Liberty Division title every year since the league was established in 2010.

Passaic Tech comes into the game 4-0 (1.000) having outscored the opposition 157-14 for an average 39-4 win. Fair Lawn is 1-3 (.250) and has been outscored 135-59 for an average 34-15 loss. The BULLDOGS are really strong and figure to remain undefeated until they face Don Bosco and Ridgewood. I won’t predict a score for this one but I know our “never-say-die” CUTTERS will give it their all and put up a fight! Let’s all be in Wayne Friday night to support them! GO CUTTERS GO!!!