THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 6 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 beat the RAMS of Ramsey 14-6 on their way to a Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) title in their 1st year in the league. 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!  

1955 – Bennett’s CUTTERS, on their way to another B-PIL title before the league became the NBIL in 1956, drew a BYE.   

1965 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 19-6 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action on their way to an 8-0-1 (1.000) record and league title. 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.

1975 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS edged those of HIGHWAYMEN Teaneck 21-20 in the NNJIL.  

1985 Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 26-14 in NBIL action. Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 B-PIL and NBIL rivalry 14-10-1 (.583).

1995 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged those RAMS of Ramsey 16-14 in NBIL action.

2005 Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS were beaten 41-20 by the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984–2008 NBIL rivalry against the GOLDEN KNIGHTS 15–10 (.600).