TURKEY DAY IN FLHS HISTORY

Years Ending In 5

By Dick Engelhardt 

Fair Lawn played on Thanksgiving Day 1943 – 2008 beginning with a 19-0 victory over the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity of Westfield in 1943 and ending with a 42-0 victory over the BEARS of Bergenfield in 2008. During those 66 seasons Fair Lawn went   28-35-3 (.444) on Turkey Day. This history covers years ending in 5.

1945 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champions in their maiden season in the league. Under Coach Marty Fischbein in 1943, the brand new CUTTERS shutout the TERRIORS of Holy Trinity High of Westfield 19-0 and began a 40 year rivalry with the MAROONS of Ridgewood with a 27-0 loss in 1944. The MAROONS made it 2-0 thrashing the CUTTERS 38-0 in 1945. It was an independent game as Ridgewood didn’t join the B-PIL until 1950.

1955 – Bennett’s CUTTERS were B-PIL champs again and this time came from behind to beat Ridgewood 19-7 in the annual classic. The MAROONS led the series 7-5 (.583).

1965 – Frank Devens’ undefeated but tied by Hackensack CUTTERS beat Ridgewood 13-6 and won the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title. The MAROONS led the series 12-8-2 (.600).

1975 – Rich Szura’s CUTTERS were shut out 13-0 by the MAROONS who had now won the last 6 games and led the series 21-9-2 (.700). The rivalry ended in 1984 when Fair Lawn returned to the NBIL. Ridgewood took the 1944-83 series 26-11-3 (.703). 

1985 – Pete Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 (The B-PIL became the NBIL in 1956) champion CUTTERS beat the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills 36-20. They led the rivalry 2-0 (1.000). In 1994 the Turkey Day rivalries were switched and the 1984-93 Fair Lawn – Wayne Hills series wound up all even at 5-5 (.500).

1995 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS shut out the BEARS of Bergenfield 51-0 to lead the Turkey Day rivalry 2-0 (1.000). Fair Lawn leads the 1945-48 and 1962-present Bergenfield rivalry 33-14 (.702). Our CUTTERS have faced the BEARS on Thanksgiving Day since 1994 and lead that rivalry 9-2 (.818) including last year’s thrilling 19-18 last second victory on a TD pass from Vinnie Graff to Stephan Macchiorola.

2005 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 31-24 by the BEARS of Bergenfield. Fair Lawn took the overall 1945-48 and 1962-2008 series 35-16 (.686) and the Thanksgiving rivalry 11-4 (.733). State mandated realignment ended the 51 season series that remains the longest in Fair Lawn or Bergenfield football history.