THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – Week 7 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 went outside their new Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) and were beaten 14-6 by the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes in independent action. During 1945-50 Charlie Benson’s CARDINALS and Bennett’s CUTTERS split their rivalry at 3-3 (.500).

1955 – Bennett’s CUTTERS, on their way to the B-PIL title in the last season before the league became the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), went outside the league to beat the GRAY BEES of St. Benedict’s Pep of Newark 46-7. During 1954-57 the GRAY BEES went 2-1-1 (.667) over Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS. Al Reinoso played for them and became the 5th coach in FLHS history 1972-74.

1965 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS, on their way to an undefeated but tied season and a Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title, mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 38-6 in league 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 NBIL. State realignment has ended the 51 season rivalry, which remains the longest in either school’s history.   

1975 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS beat the SPARTANS of Paramus 31-13 in NNJIL action. During 1962-83 in the NNJIL, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the NBIL in 1984. It resumed in 2010-11 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action where the SPARTANS went 2-0 (1.000) and lead the series 14-10 (.583). 

1985 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS, on their way to the NBIL Division title, beat the BRAVES of Indian Hills 28-13 in crossover action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 NBIL rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Indian Hills’ 45-8 win in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2014 and 49-8 win in ’15 closed Fair Lawn’s series lead to 13-12 (.520). 

1995 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo 37-14 in NBIL Division 1 action. The GREEN RAIDERS took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 NBIL rivalry 17-11 (.607).

2005 – Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS edged the RAMS of Ramsey 14-13 in NBIL crossover 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 NBIL action!