FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECORD 1943 – PRESENT

 

By Dick Engelhardt

LEAGUES  

Independent Schedule 1943-44

B-PIL Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League, 1945-55

NBIL The B-PIL was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League in 1956,

   1956–1958 and 1984-2008

NNJIL Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League, 1959 – 83

North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) 2009    

BNC Big North Conference Liberty Division 2010-15

NJSFC North Jersey Super Football Conference Freedom Division Blue 2016-

                         

The 1940s

1943               4 - 1 - 1 (.800) Independent Schedule                                                

1944                5 - 3 - 1 (.625) Independent Schedule                                                            

1945                4 - 3 - 2 (.571) B-PIL Champs!

1946               6 - 3       (.667) B-PIL Co - Champs with Bogota

1947               8 - 1       (.889) B-PIL Co – Champs with Lyndhurst

1948               4 - 3 - 1 (.571)

1949               7 - 1       (.875)                                             PF                   PA      

TOTALS:       38-15-5 (.717)                                             843                  458

A great start for the new “CUTTERS Of Fair Lawn High” under coaches Marty Fischbein 1943 – 44 and Frank Bennett starting in 1945. Bennett’s CUTTERS joined the B-PIL his first year and won championships in 1945, 46 and 47.

The 1950s

The 1960sThe 1970sThe 1980sThe 1990sThe 2000s

1950                1 - 7       (.125)

1951                3 - 5       (.375)

1952                6 - 2 – 1 (.750)

1953                7 - 1        (.875) B-PIL Champs & Co-State Group III Champs with

                                                       Hackensack

1954                2 - 6       (.250)

1955                7 - 1        (.875) B-PIL Champs

1956                5 - 3        (.625)

1957                3 - 3 - 1  (.500)

1958                2 - 5 - 1  (.286)

1959                6 - 2        (.750)                                                    PF                   PA      

TOTALS:       42-35-3  (.545)                                                   1,358               1,174

1943-59:          80-50-8  (.625)                                                  2,201               1,632

The 1950s saw Bennett’s CUTTERS take 2 more B-PIL titles just missing in 1952. The

League changed its name in ’56 when Hawthorne, the only Passaic County school,

dropped out. Fair Lawn and Ridgewood moved up to the NNJIL in 1959 and the

CUTTERS nearly took the title finishing a half game behind Hackensack though the

CUTTERS had beaten the COMETS 27-6.

 

1960                0-9       (.000)

1961                3-5       (.375)

1962                5-4       (.556)

1963                5-4       (.556)

1964                6-2-1   (.750)

1965                8-0-1   (1.000) NNJIL Champs

1966                8-1       (.889)   NNJIL Champs

1967                3-6       (.333)

1968                5-4       (.556)

1969                6-3       (.667)                                                     PF                   PA      

TOTALS:      49-38-2 (.563)                                                     1,476               1,188

1943-69:    129-88-10 (.594)                                                     3,677               2,820

Wow, what a decade! Legendary Coach Frank Bennett retired from coaching after the

1960 season, Fair Lawn’s first ever-winless season. His 16 years at the helm were the

longest of any coach. Mike Albergue’s 1988-2001 tenure was next longest followed

by Pete Natale’s 1978-87 reign. Coach Ed Sheehy was diagnosed with Cancer after the

1964 season and died before the 1965 season. After losing their first two games in ’64,

Sheehy’s CUTTERS began the wonderful 24 game non-losing streak that ended with

that shocking 40 – 34 upset by the MAROONS of Ridgewood on Thanksgiving Day of

1966 before some 13,000 fans at what is now SASSO FIELD. Coach Frank Devens led

our CUTTERS to NNJIL championships in 1965 and 1966. His 1965 team remains the

only undefeated team in FLHS history.

                                               

                        1970                3-6       (.333)

                        1971                6-3       (.667)

                        1972                3-5-1   (.375)

                        1973                2-7       (.222)

                        1974                2-6-1   (.250)

                        1975                4-5       (.444)

                        1976                0-9       (.000)

                        1977                2-7       (.222)

                        1978                6-3       (.667)

                        1979                7-2-1   (.778) Made The State Playoffs; lost to Clifton 30 – 0                    

                        TOTALS:      35-53-3 (.398)                                                  PF 1,233         PA 1,643

                        1943-79        164-141-13 (.538)                                             PF 4,910         PA 4,463

                        Not a good decade but 1978 did bring Pete Natale as head coach and athletic director after Al Reinoso (1972-74) and Rich Szura (1975-77) couldn’t make our CUTTERS winners. The ‘70s finished strong leading into the successful 80s.

                        1980                9-2       (.818) NNJIL Tri-Champs with Clifton and Passaic Valley

                                                                        and Beat Passaic in States at GIANTS STADIUM

                                                                        before losing 20- 0 to Passaic Valley in finals.

                        1981                2-7       (.222)

                        1982                0-9       (.000)

                        1983                2-7       (.222)

                        1984                7-2       (.778) Returned to NBIL & won Division 1 title

                        1985                9-1       (.900) Took NBIL Division 1 title & lost 36-26 to

                                                                        Passaic in States.

                        1986                7-2       (.778)

                        1987                9-1       (.900) Took NBIL Division 1 title & lost 12-6 to

                                                                        Bayonne in States.

                        1988                6-4       (.600)  Lost 20-6 to JFK of Paterson in States.

                        1989                8-3       (.727) Took NBIL Division 1 title & lost 19-14 to

                                                                       Hoboken in States after beating North Bergen 14-7.                     

                        TOTALS:     59-38     (.608)                                                  PF 1,607         PA 1,306

                        1943-89:  223-179-13 (.555)                                                  PF 6,517         PA 5,769

                        The 1980s were a great decade. 1980 saw our CUTTERS win 9 games for the first

                        time ever. They were Tri-NNJIL Champs with Clifton and Passaic Valley and, in

                        one of the most exciting games in FLHS history they trailed the INDIANS of

                        Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 before roaring back to win 27-18 in the States at GIANTS STADIUM. 1984 saw a return to the NBIL, which Fair Lawn had left in 1959 and our CUTTERS took the Division 1 title in 1984, 85, 87 and 89 and made the State playoffs in 1980, 85, 87 and 89.

1990                4-5       (.444)

1991                4-4-1   (.500)

1992                2-7       (.222)

1993                1-8       (.111)             

1994                5-4       (.556)

1995                7-2       (.778)

1996                6-3       (.667)

1967                5-4       (.556)

1998                4-6       (.400)

1999                5-5       (.500)                                                                                   

TOTALS:   43-48-1    (.473)                                             PF 1,446         PA 1,428

1943-99: 266-227-14  (.540)                                             PF 8,240         PA 7,331

The 1990s were not a great decade for our CUTTERS. 1994-96 were their only winning seasons and the ’95 CUTTERS beat Ramapo and the GREEN RAIDERS’ freshman QB Chris Simms (son of Phil, the great GIANTS QB). The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High would finish out the 20th century with an overall winning record!

2000                7-3       (.700) Made States losing great 14-6 battle with Hackensack!

2001                7-3       (.700)

2002                4-6       (.400)

2003                5-5       (.500)

2004                2-8       (.200)                                                                                     

2005                2-8       (.200)

2006                1-9       (.100)

2007                4-6       (.400)                                                                         

2008                6-4       (.600)

2009                7-4       (.636) Made states beating Passaic 39-38 & losing to Roxbury 42-7

TOTALS:      45-56    (.446)                                               PF    1,960      PA 2,327

1943-2009:  311-283-14         (.524)                                   PF    10,200    PA 9,658

The 2010s

2010                3-7       (.300)                                                 149                  281

2011                1-8       (.111)                                                    72                  345

2012                2-8       (.200)                                                  128                  302

2013                0-9       (.000)                                                    80                  347

2014                2-8       (.200)                                                   118                 320

2015                3-7       (.300)                                                   167                 288

TOTALS        11-47   (.190)                                          PF       714      PA   1,883

1943-2014       322-330-14     (.494)                             PF 10,914       PA 11,541

FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RECORD BY DECADE

Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943. The brand new CUTTERS under coach Marty Fischbein went 4-1-1 (.800) after going 2-1 (.667) in three JV tune-up games. The CUTTERS didn’t have a losing season until 1950!

Here’s the football record by decade:

1940s              38-15-5                      (.717)

1950s               42-35-3                      (.545)

1960s              49-38-2                      (.563)

1970s               35-53-3                      (.398)

1980s              59-38-0                      (.608)

1990s               43-48-1                      (.473)

2000s               45-56-0                      (.446)

2010s               11-47-0                      (.190)             

TOTALS        322-330-14                 (.494)

FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2015

 

By Dick Engelhardt

Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator: Amir Sadaah

Assistant Coaches: Offensive Coordinator, Nick DeStefano; Alonso Escalante, Scott Leathem, Anthony Tozzi and Brendan Walis and volunteer Brian Walis.

Freshman Coaches: Ed Guy, Andy Berninger and volunteer Quintin Lopez.   

Fri. 9/4          AWAY  Fair Lawn              38         Dickinson                                  6

Fri. 9/11        AWAY   Fair Lawn               7          Clifton*                                   21

Fri. 9/18        AWAY   Fair Lawn             14          Ridgewood**                          48

Fri. 9/25        AWAY   Fair Lawn               8          Indian Hills**                           49

Sat. 10/3        HOME   Fair Lawn               7         Eastside*                                  23

Sat. 10/10      HOME   Fair Lawn               6         Passaic Tech*                           43

Fri. 10/16      AWAY   Fair Lawn               0         Hackensack**                          26

Sat. 10/24                                                BYE                       

Fri. 10/30      AWAY   Fair Lawn             35          Passaic**                                  21

Sat. 11/7        HOME   Fair Lawn             32  OT  Kennedy**                               38

Sat. 11/14      HOME   Fair Lawn             20         West Morris Mendham***      13

                                                                 167                                                    288   

*Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division Game

** BNC Crossover Game

*** State Regional Crossover “Consolation” Game

BNC Liberty Division Record:                      0-3 (.000)

BNC Crossover Record:                                 1-4 (.200)

Independent Record:                                       2-0 (1.000) Dickinson and Mendham  

Overall Record:                                               3-7 (.300)

Hoping for a good 73rd season, our CUTTERS got off with a great start beating the RAMS of Dickinson of Jersey City 38-6. After 6 straight losses, they beat the INDIANS of Passaic, who used the Single Wing formation used at Fair Lawn by legendary Coach Frank Bennett (1945-60), 35-21.

  

In State Consolation, now called Regional Crossover, action, our CUTTERS beat the MINUTEMEN of West Morris Mendham 20-13. Fair Lawn is 8-7 (.533) in Consolation Game action since these games began in 1998. The season brought Fair Lawn’s 1943-2015 record to 322-330-14 (.494). The losing season was the 31st in FLHS Gridiron history. There have been 42 winning seasons.

Our heroes received their share of recognition. 1st Team All-BNC Liberty Division Offense honors with automatic All- Bergen County Honorable Mention went to Tarron Douglas (G), and Bradley Ramirez (RB). 1st Team Defense honors with automatic All-Bergen County Honorable Mention went to Mike Laboy (DL), Tyler Pollock (RB) and Ryan Rue (P). 2nd Team Offense had Jonathan Fochesato (WR) and Aaron Guttierez (G). 2nd Team Defense had Alex D’Angelo (LB), Robert Figueroa (L) and Tyler Johnson (DB). Honorable Mention was given Dominick Barbarulo (QB/DB) and Gal Harari (TE/DB).

 

The Kennedy game, the last regularly scheduled home game, was poignant as seniors soon to end their participation in the football program were honored and introduced with their escorts. We said goodbye and wished the best to Lucky Abernathy, Barbarulo, Sefa Bacsci,  Joshua Booker, Douglas, Figueroa, Fochesato, Harari, LaBoy and Pollock. With players coming back and freshmen moving up, our CUTTERS could be strong in 2015.