THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 3 Yrs Ending In 5

By Dick Engelhardt

Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943. This record covers years ending in 5. 

1945 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS, on the way to a Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (BPIL) title in their maiden season in the league, shut out the MIGHTY MITES (now BEARS) of Bergenfield 32-0. 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.   

1955 – Bennett’s CUTTERS, on their way to their last B-PIL title, scalped the brand new INDIANS of Pascack Valley Regional High of Hillsdale 37-7. The B-PIL became the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956 and Fair Lawn left it in 1959 for a 25 year stint 1959-83 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL). Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry 14-10-1 (.583). The INDIANS’ coach, Craig Nielsen, coached at Fair Lawn under Pete Natale 1980-85.

1965 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS, on their way to an NNJIL title, shut out the RED RAIDERS of Cliffside Park 26-0. It was the 11^th game of that wonderful 24 game non-losing streak 1964-66. Our CUTTERS took the 1959-66 rivalry 6-2 (.750).

1975 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS beat the BOILERMAKERS of Garfield 16-6 in NNJIL action. Fair Lawn swept the 1971-75 series!

1985 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS, on their way to their second consecutive NBIL Division 1 title since returning to the league in ’84, and a playoff appearance, thrashed the CARDINALS of Westwood 34-6. During 1943-44 and 1984-85 our CUTTERS went 3-1 (.750) against the CARDS.

1995 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS, on their way to a 7-2 (.778) season, were edged 28-21 by those pesky INDIANS of Pascack Valley.

2005 – Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS were edged 27-26 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).