THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 5

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 tied the HORNETS of Passaic Valley 6-6 in independent action.  During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round. Fair Lawn had edged PV 7-6 in NNJIL play during the regular season.

1954 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 34-12 by the RAMS of Ramsey in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry against the RAMS by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800) in B-PIL and Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action!

1964 - Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS beat the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 14-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1954-58 independently and 1959-82 in the NNJIL our CUTTERS went 17-11-1 (.607) over the HIGHWAYMEN. Fair Lawn’s 20-6 victory in 2009 in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action put our CUTTERS up 18-11-1 (.621) in the series.

1974 - Al Reinoso’s CUTTERS were edged 20-15 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley in NNJIL action. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS in the NNJIL. The INDIANS left the NNJIL for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981 and Fair Lawn left the NNJIL to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

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 mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 36-14. 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 for now. It remains the longest in either school’s history.  

1994 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were edged 28-21 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills. The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) rivalry 20-5 (.800). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8.

2004 - Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS drew a BYE.