Bill Engelhardt's MUSTANGS GRIDIRON Corner

FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2011

2011-12-27T19:27:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Head Coach: Amir Sadaah
Assistant Coaches: Offensive Coordinator Billy Lynn, Defensive Coordinator Bobby Guy James Beshaw, Joseph Borkowski, Ed Guy, Daniel Iozzia
Volunteer Coach: Joseph Brislin

Sat. 9/10 AWAY Fair Lawn 14 Passaic* 46
Sat. 9/17 HOME Fair Lawn 10 NV/Demarest 48
Sat. 9/24 HOME Fair Lawn 9 Passaic County Tech* 49
Sat. 10/1 AWAY Fair Lawn 0 Hackensack 41
Sat. 10/8 BYE
Fri. 10/14 AWAY Fair Lawn 13 Clifton* 12
Sat. 10/22 HOME Fair Lawn 0 Paramus 48
Fri. 10/28 AWAY Fair Lawn 7 Paterson Eastside* 28
Sat. 11/05 HOME Fair Lawn 7 Paterson Kennedy* 32
Fri. 11/11 AWAY Fair Lawn 12 Bridgewater-Raritan** 41 72 345
* Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division Game
** State Consolation Game (Bridgewater-Raritan)
BNC Liberty Division Record: 1-4 (.200)
BNC Crossover Record: 0-3 (.000)
Independent Record: 0-1 (.000) Consolation Game
Overall Record: 1-8 (.111)

Amir Saadah became the the 11th coach in FLHS history since FLHS opened September 13th, 1943, following Marty Fischbein 9-4-2 (.692) during 1943-44, Frank Bennett 71-55-6 (.564) during 1945-60, Ed Sheehy 19-15-1 (.559) during 1961-64, Frank Devens 39-23-1 (.629) during 1965-71, Al Reinoso 7-18-2 (.280) during 1972-74, Rich Szura 6-21 (.222) during 1965-77, Pete Natale 58-36-1 (.617) during 1978-87, Mike Alberque 71-61-1 (.538) during 1988-2001, Greg Tanzer 14-36 (.280) during 2002-06 and Stan Myles 20-21 (.488) during 2007-10. The disappointing 2011 season featured just one win, a thrilling and surprising 13-12 upset of the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High!

Fair Lawn players have received a number of honors. Boris Lifshits and Kevin Osback made 1st Team All-BNC Liberty Division and George Alexandris, Kris Burger and Steve Tatekawa made 2nd Team. Honorable mention was given Kevin Benjamin and John Pagios. Lifshits, Nick Hickey and Osback received honorable mention All-Bergen County!

The last regularly scheduled home game against Kennedy was poignant as seniors soon to end
their participation in the football program were honored and introduced. We said goodbye and
wished the best to Benjamin, Andy Chorlian, Hickey, Lifshits, Dan Prigge and Tatekawa. Our
CUTTERS could be strong in 2012 with a number of players returning and freshmen moving
up.

THE GRIDIRON 15–2011

2011-12-11T10:37:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Amir Saadah became the 11th coach in FLHS Gridiron history following Marty Fischbein 1943-44, Frank Bennett 1945-60, Ed Sheehy 1961-64, Frank Devens 1965-71, Al Reinoso 1972-74, Rich Szura 1975-77, Pete Natale 1978-87, Mike Alberque 1988-2001, Greg Tanzer 2002-06 and Stan Myles 2007-10. After good scrimmages including a 33-0 shutout of the BLUE BEARS of Barringer High of Newark, our CUTTERS had high hopes for a successful season. A harbinger of things to come, however, was the loss of star player Dan Prigge for the season to a concussion in that Barringer scrimmage. Star running back Corey Carlson was sidelined a good part of the season by appendicitis. Our heroes faced the INDIANS of Passaic to begin their Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division title quest. The 46-14 Passaic victory at BOVERINI STADIUM was a shock. Fair Lawn would face its 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) and 2010 BNC Crossover foe, the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest, at SASSO FIELD next. Fair Lawn led the rivalry 13-10 (.565) and our CUTTERS and their fans hoped for a victory. The 48-10 loss to the NORSEMEN was a first class stunner! John Fass and Pete Gilmartin broadcasted the game on WGHT Radio (1500 AM) ghtradio.com.

Next, our CUTTERS went up against the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute and fell 49-9 to the eventual BNC Liberty Division repeat champs who would go 5-0 in Division play. Then came the COMETS of Hackensack, who administered a 41-0 shutout in BNC crossover action. Hackensack coach Mike Miello retired at the end of the season. One piece of his career he once told me he doesn’t like to remember was losing all 4 games to Fair Lawn coach Pete Natale 1984-87 when he coached the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo!

The CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic would have been next but they asked if they could play the KNIGHTS of Friendship Collegiate Academy of Washington, D.C. instead and Fair Lawn said, “Go right ahead!” The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) may exempt Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco from the requirement to play 70% of their games against New Jersey teams so public schools won’t be forced to play these parochial behemoths. If that fails, these powerhouses could be put into their own league. A good start would be adding the GREEN WAVE of Delbarton, the MARAUDERS of St. Peter’s Prep and the PIRATES of Seton Hall Prep to the BNC United Division. With 8 teams, this would be a super parochial conference and its teams could fill out their schedules with 2 games against out of State powerhouses and NJ teams willing to play them.

If anyone told me Fair Lawn would win only 1 game this year and that would be against the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High, I would have told them they were crazy! That’s exactly what happened as our CUTTERS edged Clifton 13-12 in a thriller. I was privileged to be the “spotter” at 5 Clifton games and to announce the Clifton High School MUSTANG Marching Band, the “Show Band of the Northeast,” at 4 games, including that Fair Lawn game! Losses to the SPARTANS of Paramus, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside and the KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy followed. In State Consolation action, the PANTHERS of Bridewater-Raritan beat our CUTTERS 41-12 closing out the season. Fair Lawn is 7-4 (.636) in Consolation Game action since these games began in 1998.

Our CUTTERS finished the season 1-8 (.111) bringing their 1943-2011 record to 315-298-14 (.514). The BNC Liberty Division final standings were: Passaic County Technical Institute 5-0 (1.000), Clifton and Eastside 3-2 (.600), Kennedy 2-3 (.400) and Fair Lawn and Passaic 1-4 (.200).

At this writing Fair Lawn players have received a number of honors. Boris Lifshits and Kevin Osback made 1st Team All-BNC Liberty Division and George Alexandris, Kris Burger and Steve Tatekawa made 2nd Team. Honorable mention was given Kevin Benjamin and John Pagios. Lifshits, Nick Hickey and Osback received honorable mention All-Bergen County!

The Eastside game, the last regularly scheduled home game, was poignant as seniors soon to end their participation in the football program were honored and introduced. We said goodbye and wished the best to: Benjamin, Andy Chorlian, Hickey, Lifshits, Prigge and Tatekawa and their escorts. The return of a number of players next season and freshmen moving up could see our CUTTERS improve. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THE GRIDIRON 14–2011

2011-12-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) introduced the playoff system in 1974. Prior to that, teams were declared State Champions in the various sections based on records and power points. Often there was lots of discussion about the choice, especially if the teams didn’t play each other. Frank Bennett’s 1953 Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champion CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High shared the North Jersey Section 1, Group III State Championship with Tom Della Torre’s Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) champion COMETS of Hackensack. That Fair Lawn team featured Dave Sime, who also starred in track and would later become known as “The World’s Fastest Human!”

Fair Lawn fans, young and old, had lots of rooting interests in the playoff finals at MetLife Stadium. In Group I heard the game on WGHT 1500AM, (ghtradio.com) as the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes shut out the PANTHERS of Glen Rock 20-0. Jon Fass and Pete Gilmartin, who had broadcast the Fair Lawn – NV/Demarest game this year, did the honors. I imagine Glen Rock fans aren’t too happy that their PANTHERS blew away their Thanksgiving game against the BEARS of Hawthorne saving their starters for the playoffs and getting shut out 34-0. Pompton Lakes took its Turkey Day game seriously and beat the BULLDOGS of Butler 15-7. Fair Lawn fans remember the rivalry between Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS and Charlie Benson’s Cardinals. It began with a 14-6 Pompton Lakes victory over new Coach Bennett’s B-PIL champion CUTTERS in 1945 and ended in 1950 with a 25-0 shutout Pompton Lakes win. Fair Lawn and Pompton Lakes each won 3 games. Before Glen Rock High School opened, Glen Rock students attended Ridgewood High. So did students from the Radburn section of Fair Lawn before FLHS opened in 1943. The fierce Fair Lawn – Ridgewood 1944-83 Turkey Day rivalry wound up 26-11-3 (.703) Ridgewood.

In Group II at MetLife Stadium, I saw the GOLDEN HAWKS of River Dell fall 32-14 to the KNIGHTS of West Essex. In 1958, with Bill Parcells lugging the pig skin, the GOLDEN HAWKS beat Fair Lawn 26-13 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action.

In Group III at the stadium, I saw the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills come from behind to edge the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan 15-12. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 NBIL rivalry with NVOT 15–10 (.600). The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) rivalry with Fair Lawn 20-5 (.800). The 1984-93 Thanksgiving Day rivalry wound up 5-5 (.500). I imagine GOLDEN KNIGHTS fans weren’t too happy that their team also blew off its Thanksgiving game, saving its starters for the playoffs and being smashed 59-14 by NV/Demarest.

In Group IV, in the most poignant game at the stadium, I saw the BRUINS of North Bergen dismount the MOUNTIES of Montclair 14-13 with a miracle 22 yard TD pass as time expired. Coach Vin Ascolese finished a 50 season coaching career at Hoboken and North Bergen with the most dramatic victory you could imagine! Shades of 2004 when our CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 19-18 on Thanksgiving. With 4 seconds on the clock, QB Vinnie Graff threw 16 yards to Stephen Macchairola in the corner of the end zone and Fair Lawn fans were delirious with joy! In 1978 Graff’s uncle, Richie, threw a 25 yard TD pass to Steve Jubelt to beat the MAROONS of Ridgewood 15-7 on Turkey Day as time expired. Screams of “He caught it! He caught it!” were heard then and, 26 years later, the nephew teamed up with Macchairola to do it again! Fair Lawn fans remember 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS surprised Ascolese’s BRUINS 14-7 in the opening round of the playoffs.

Next week we’ll wrap up the 2011 season. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

PLAYOFF FINALS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2011

2011-11-27T16:08:00.001-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON. Power points only come into play in making the playoffs and in seeding in them.

In 1980 Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shared the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the HORNETS of Passaic Valley. They beat the HORNETS 7-6 during the season but were beaten 20-7 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS who in turn were beaten by the HORNETS. The tri-champions all had 8-1 (.889) NNJIL records. In the opening round of the States in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action, the CUTTERS played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic and the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller. In the finals at GIANTS STADIUM the HORNETS of Passaic Valley avenged the regular season loss with a 20-0 championship shut out victory. Those 1980 CUTTERS were the first team in FLHS history to win 9 games, going 9-2 (.818). The others were Natale’s 1985 and 87 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS who went 9-1 (.900).

THE GRIDIRON 13–2011

2011-11-27T16:02:00.000-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

There was lots of playoff and Thanksgiving Day action of interest to Fair Lawn fans. Let’s look at some of it. I took in a “Consolation” game in Bergenfield and saw the BEARS ambush the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 31-22. I hoped to visit with my friend, Bergenfield announcer Howie Conklin, but he was away. During 1954-58 independently, 1959-82 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2009 in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action our CUTTERS went 18-11-1 (.621) over the HIGHWAYMEN. During 1945-48 in the old Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL), 1962-83 in the NNJIL and 1984-2008 in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), our Cutters went 35-16 (.686) over Bergenfield. In Thanksgiving Day action 1994-2008, Fair Lawn went 11-4 (.733) over the BEARS. The 51 season rivalry remains the longest in either school’s history! Until the 1960s the BEARS were called the MIGHTY MITES because their 1st team in 1940 was so small!

In a North Jersey, Section I, Group I “battle of the birds,” I saw the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes shoot down the FALCONS of Saddle Brook in a 17-14 thriller. The game was broadcast by WGHT Radio (1500 AM) which also broadcast the Fair Lawn – Northern Valley/Demarest game this year. I enjoyed chatting with on-the-air personalities Jon Fass and Pete Gilmartin again. I’ve mentioned that Fair Lawn broke off from Saddle River Township in 1924 and the Township changed its name to Saddle Brook in 1955. Old time Fair Lawn fans remember the fierce 1945-50 rivalry between legendary Fair Lawn Coach Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS and legendary Pompton Lakes Coach Charlie Benson’s CARDINALS. The Pompton Lakes announcer remembered Coach Benson! Each team won 3 games. Benson later became AD at Clifton High. The CARDINALS face the PANTHERS of Glen Rock in the finals.

In Group II I saw the GOLDEN HAWKS of River Dell shutout the Rams of RAMSEY 20-0. In 1958 Fair Lawn and River Dell played each other for the only time ever in the NBIL and, with Bill Parcells at running back, the GOLDEN HAWKS beat our CUTTERS 26-13. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58 B-PIL, and 1984-99 and 2002-06 NBIL rivalry against Ramsey by an astounding 28-7 (.800)! The GOLDEN HAWKS face the KNIGHTS of West Essex in the finals.

In Group III action, the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan surprised the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 34-10. Fair Lawn and PV squared off in the B-PIL 1955-56 and in the NBIL 1984-85 and 1988-2008. Pascack Valley took the rivalry 14-10-1 (.583). PV Coach Craig Nielsen was an assistant in Fair Lawn 1980-85 under Pete Natale. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 NBIL rivalry against NV/Old Tappan 15–10 (.600).

In Fair Lawn’s Group IV, the BRUINS of North Bergen edged the SOARING EAGLES of Union City 10-7 in overtime. Coach Vin Ascolese will end a 50 season coaching career against the MOUNTIES of Montclair in the finals. In 1989 our CUTTERS surprised the Bruins 14-7 in the playoffs. Fair Lawn is 1-1 (.500) against North Bergen. In ’09 our CUTTERS beat the SOARING EAGLES 42-14.

Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division closed out its season on Thanksgiving Day. I was privileged to be the “spotter” at Clifton School Stadium where I saw the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High win a 55-29 shootout over the INDIANS of Passaic. In the other BNC Liberty Division game, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside edged the KNIGHTS of JFK 17-12 in the 86th renewal of the annual classic. Next week we’ll look at playoff finals from a Fair Lawn point of view. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

TURKEY DAY IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY 2011

2011-11-23T11:51:00.001-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 18-6 by the MAROONS of Ridgewood in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. The MAROONS led Annual Classic that began in 1944 6-2 (.750). Fair Lawn’s first victory had been 7-6 in 1947.

1961 – New coach Ed Sheehey’s CUTTERS were shut out 19-0 by the MAROONS in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Ridgewood led the series 12-5-1 (.706).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were edged 14-8 by the MAROONS in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 17-9-2 (.654).

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were beaten 12-6 by the MAROONS in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 24-11-3 (.687).

1991 – Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 CUTTERS were edged 24-21 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in a thriller. Fair Lawn had left the NNJIL and returned to the NBIL in 1984. Our CUTTERS led the series 5-3 (.375). The 1984-93 Turkey Day rivalry wound up 5-5 (.500). The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover rivalry 20-5 (.800).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 29-7 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn led the Turkey Day series, which began in 1994, 7-1 (.875)

The 2008 Thanksgiving Day 42-0 victory over Bergenfield ended the holiday classic, at least for now. Fair Lawn took the 1945-48 (when the BEARS were the MIGHTY MITES) and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686) and the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733). At 51 seasons, it remains the longest rivalry in either school’s history!

THE GRIDIRON 12: THANKSGIVING DAY MEMORIES – 2011

2011-11-23T11:50:00.001-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The 2011 football season, the 69th since Fair Lawn High School opened September 13th, 1943, is the third season in which our CUTTERS had no Thanksgiving Day football game. Coach Marty Fischbein found an opponent for his new CUTTERS that initial 1943 season in the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity High School of Westfield. Our CUTTERS started their Thanksgiving play with a 19-0 victory on what is now the Center Rec Field before the football field was built. The present Sasso Field, named after the venerable athletic director, teacher, coach and vice principal, Virgil G. Sasso, who served 1944-79, was laid out in 1956 as the gold colored “B Wing” high school addition was being built and took that space. The impressive home stands were constructed for the 1959 season.

In 1944, Fischbein’s CUTTERS began a 40 year Turkey Day rivalry with the MAROONS of Ridgewood which ended in 1984 when Fair Lawn left the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), that Fair Lawn and Ridgewood had left in 1959 for the NNJIL. Ridgewood took the 1944-83 annual classic 26-11-3 (.703).

In 1984 back in the NBIL, our CUTTERS began a 10 year Turkey Day rivalry 1984-93 with the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills that wound up 5-5 (.500). The teams continued to play during the season. Both schools moved to the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 in 2009 and Fair Lawn would be in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division in 2010 and 11. Wayne Hills took the 1984-2009 overall rivalry 20-5 (.800).

In 1994 the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah joined the NBIL, which they had left in the 1960s for the new Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (B-PSL). They wanted to play their old Turkey Day foe, Ramsey. The reshuffling of the Turkey Day NBIL rivalries enabled Fair Lawn to pick up the BEARS of Bergenfield. Fair Lawn took the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733) and the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 overall rivalry, the longest in either school’s history, 35-16 (.686).

Fair Lawn’s 66 season Thanksgiving Day record during 1943-2008 is 28-35-3 (.444). It ended with Fair Lawn’s 42-0 victory over Bergenfield. There were some great memories along the way. In 1947, our CUTTERS shared the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) championship with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. Coach Frank “Mac” Bennett was the New York Daily News North Jersey “Coach of The Year.” The CUTTERS beat the MAROONS 7-6 for the first Fair Lawn victory. Ridgewood led the series 3-1 (.750). In 1953 Bennett’s B-PIL champion CUTTERS shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III title with the COMETS of Hackensack. They beat Ridgewood 26-6. Star running back Dave Sime would become “The World’s Fastest Human!” Ridgewood led the series 6-4 (.600).

Bennett’s 1959 CUTTERS almost took the title in their maiden NNJIL season. Ridgewood’s 13-7 upset victory in which the MAROONS injured Fair Lawn’s star running back, Bob Wright, who went on to play for Army, gave Hackensack the title by half a game even though the CUTTERS had beaten the COMETS 27-6. Ridgewood led the series 10-5-1 (.667).

Ed Sheehy’s 1964 CUTTERS tied Ridgewood 6-6. Sheehy died after the season and Frank Devens’ NNJIL champion CUTTERS went 8-0-1 (1.000) in ’65 and beat Ridgewood 13-6 on Turkey Day. They remain the only FLHS team in history to go undefeated! Devens’ 1966 NNJIL champion CUTTERS brought a 24 game non-losing streak into the game. Sensational running back, Bruce Jankowski would go on to star at Ohio State and play for the Kansas City CHIEFS in the National Football League (NFL) and the Shreveport STEAMER in the World Football League (WFL). He and ’59 star, Bob Wright, along with coaches Bennett and Devens and the late AD, Virgil G. “Virge” Sasso, after whom SASSO FIELD is named, were in the initial group inducted into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall Of Fame in 2006. Coach Fischbein and the original “cutters” were inducted in ‘09 along with this writer. Before a crowd of 13,000 on Thanksgiving Day in ‘66, Ridgewood upset Fair Lawn in a 40-34 barn burner. The MAROONS led the series 13-8-2 (.619).

What wonderful memories there are of FLHS in action on Thanksgiving Day! Playoffs have eliminated many Turkey Day games now. Next week we’ll look at playoff action of interest to Fair Lawn fans. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-13

2011-11-22T16:19:00.001-08:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 18, as the 9th seed the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I Mustangs of South Western visited the 1st seeded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Eagles of Cumberland Valley in the quarterfinal round of the District 3 playoffs and lost 42-21, ending a hugely successful season. The Eagles (10-1 overall, 5-1 league) will next host the 5th seeded Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1 Bulldogs of Wilson (11-1 overall, 7-0 league) in the semifinal round at 7PM on November 25.

The Eagles began the game by going three and out and punting as the Mustangs held them to 4-yards. The Mustangs started off like a house afire, driving 15-yards in 3 plays, but then fumbled and the Eagles recovered at the Mustangs 42-yard line. The Eagles then drove 42-yards in eleven plays, featuring a 12-yard pass from Ben Fernback to Jeremy DiPietro and ending with a 1-yard touchdown run by Cole Johnson. Lance Geesey kicked the extra point and the Eagles were up 7-0 with 5:08 to go in the first quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted from their 28-yard line and the Eagles drove 44-yards in six plays, featuring a 25-yard pass from Fernback to DiPietro and ending with a 14-yard touchdown pass to DiPietro. Geesey’s extra point kick put the Eagles up 14-0 with 1:15 to go in the first quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted again. The Eagles drove 62-yards in eight plays, featuring a 14-yard run by DiPietro and a 27-yard run by Fernback, and ending with a 2-yard touchdown plunge by DiPietro. Geesey’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 8:25 to go in the second quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 68-yards in seven plays, featuring a 26-yard run by Dillon Thomas and ending with a beautiful 19-yard touchdown pass from Zach Gross to Mike Felton. Jake Tracy kicked the extra point and the Eagles were up 21-7 with 5:10 left in the first half.

The Mustangs fumbled the second half opening kickoff and the Eagles recovered at the Mustangs 37-yard line. Seven plays later Fernback threw an 11-yard touchdown strike to Alex Cutia and Geesey’s extra point kick put the Eagles up 28-7 with 9:07 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs got off two plays before Joe Dececco intercepted a pass for the Eagles. The Eagles then drove 35-yards in five plays, featuring a 20-yard run by Jeremy Salmon and ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by Salmon. Geesey’s extra point kick put the Eagles up 35-7 with 6:40 to go in the third quarter.

The Eagles poor kickoff ended up being an unintentional onside kick and Max Noonan recovered it for the Eagles. The Eagles then drove 28-yards in two plays, a 3-yard loss and a 31-yard touchdown sprint by Fernback. Geesey’s extra point kick upped the score to 42-7, and invoked the mercy rule, with 5:50 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles then substituted liberally. The Mustangs drove 33-yards, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Eagles 43-yard line. The Eagles went three and out and punted.

The Mustangs then drove 74-yards in three plays, ending with Mike Felton’s 52-yard touchdown run. Tracy’s extra point kick made the score 42-14 with 10:51 to go in the game.

The Eagles ended up turning the ball over on downs and the Mustangs drove 70-yards in nine plays, featuring a 6-yard pass from Gross to Brandon Krise, an 11-yard run by Reid Cruz, and a 28-yard run by Dillon Thomas, and ending with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Gross. Tracy’s extra point kick made the final score 42-21 in favor of the Eagles with 3:30 to go in the game.

Mike Felton kicked off 4 times for 200-yards, with the longest going for 59-yards, and punted 3 times for 107-yards, with the longest going for 44-yards, for a 35-67-yard average. For the season Felton punted 34 times for 1,411-yards, for a 41.5-yard average. Dillon Langenfeld returned 3 kickoffs for 27-yards, with the longest going for 13-yards, Felton returned 1 kickoff for 15-yards, and Reid Cruz returned 1 kickoff for 4-yards. Felton returned 1 punt for 15-yards and Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 punt for 2-yards, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 16 tackles (giving him a team leading 163 and a new school record on the season) and a pass defense, followed by Chad Kolper with 13 tackles, Mike Felton and Keith Pappas with 11 tackles each, Ryan Dotson with 10 tackles, Devon Ackerman with 88 tackles, Zach Townsend with 7 tackles and a sack, Jeremy Loughlin with 5 tackles and a sack, Reid Cruz and Brandon Stremmel with 5 tackles each, Rich Delea with 4 tackles, Mike Duffy and Jerome Robinson with 3 tackles each, Logan Bowman and Dillon Thomas with 2 tackles each, and Alex Baugher, Brandon Barnhart, Ryan Klinedinst, Jaelen Langenfeld and Eddie Lane with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Dakotah Moses, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 247-yards rushing and 37-yards passing for a total of 284-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 13 carries for 123-yards (including a 52-yard touchdown), followed by Dillon Thomas with 10 for 91-yards (including touchdowns of 20 and 52-yards), Reid Cruz with 5 for 29-yards, Brady Stevenson with 1 carry for 12-yards, and Zach Gross with 4 carries for minus 8-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown). Quarterback Gross completed 5 of 13 passes for 37-yards and 1 touchdown, 1 for 19-yards and a touchdown to Felton, 2 for 11-yards to Brandon Krise, 1 for 4-yards to Jerome Robinson, and 1 for 3-yards to Keith Pappas, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 3 extra points for the Mustangs.

The Eagles gained 276-yards rushing and 61-yards passing for a total of 337-yards gained. Ben Fernback led the Eagles rushing attack with 7 carries for 76-yards (including a 31-yard touchdown), followed by Jeremy Salmon with 10 for 51 (including a 3-yard touchdown), Aaron Hinish with 9 for 45, Cole Johnson with 9 for 32 (including a 1-yard touchdown), Jeremy DiPietro with 8 for 32 (including a 2-yard touchdown), Joe Dececco with 2 for 23, Brady Miller with 1 for 9, Tyler Hartzel with 5 for 8, McClain Fultz with 3 for 2-yards, Tyler Heisey with 1 for 1-yard, and Corey Johnson with 1 carry for minus 3-yards. Quarterback Fernback completed 4 of 7 passes for 61-yards and 2 touchdowns, 3 for 51-yards to DiPietro (including a 14-yard touchdown) and 1 for 11-yards and a touchdown to Alex Cutia, for the Eagles. Lance Geesey kicked 6 extra points, Joe Dececco intercepted a pass, Brian Aunspach, Devon Blewett, and Max Noonan each recovered a fumble, and Zach O’dell recorded a sack, for the Eagles.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Cumberland Valley Eagles Marching Band put on a great pre-game performance with their show “Hoist the Colors,” saluting the Pirates of Penzance. The Mustangs and Eagles Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful in the playoff atmosphere.

The Mustangs of South Western ended their season 9-3-0 overall and 5-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play, taking sole possession of the Division I title.

Don Seidenstricker has a 196-88-1 (.690) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 337-206-8. The results of the 551 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

We bid a fond and tearful farewell and offer our best wishes for the future to the 24 departing seniors. We owe them all our gratitude for their efforts in providing us with exciting football over the course of their high school careers. They are: Brandon Barnhart, Alex Baugher, Tyler Burke, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Michael Felton, Carnie Fryfogle, Jesse Good, Zach Gross, Matt Hawn, Jake Hunt, Ryan Klinedinst, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, Jeremy Loughlin, Daniel McMillen, Keith Pappas, Steven Stambaugh, Brady Stevenson, Brandon Stremmel, Matt Stroda and Zack Townsend.

I want to say a very special thank you to Richard Lupro for faithfully compiling the official Offensive, Special Teams and Scoring statistics for the Mustangs, and for inputting them, and the Defensive statistics, at the Max Preps web site very quickly each week so that they were always available for my use. He was instrumental in coming up with many of the records that will be mentioned below. And a very special thank you also goes to longtime Mustangs line coach Chuck Seidenstricker for providing vital Defensive statistics to me, and to Dick Lupro, for input to the web site, after reviewing game films on very short notice.

The 2011 edition of the Mustangs of South Western gave their fans lots of excitement and thrills.

Temple University bound Mike Felton ended his season with 142 carries for 1,038-yards and 14 touchdowns rushing and 22 pass receptions for 409-yards and 6 touchdowns (putting him in 1st place in school history with 16 career touchdown receptions). For the season Felton punted 34 times for 1,411-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards, for a 41.5-yard average, putting him in 1st place in school history for season punting average. He also is in 4th place on the season punting average list with a 39.4-yard average for 2010. Felton tied for 3rd place in school history for career punting average with 37.3-yards. Felton also set a new school season scoring record with 156-points, a new school career scoring record with 302 points, a new school season touchdown record with 25, a new school record for career touchdowns with 47, a new school career pass reception yardage record with 1,156-yards, and a he finished in second place for career pass receptions with 69 (only 1 behind the record of 70 by Tom Rill), for the Mustangs. Felton will qualify for the “Keystone Club” at the Pennsylvania Football News in multiple categories.

Dillon Thomas ended his season with 146 carries for 1,058-yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and 6 pass receptions for 35-yards. This is believed to be the first time in school history that two players have rushed for over 1,000-yards for the season. This will put him in the “Keystone Club.”

Zach Gross ended his season completing 71 of 128 passes for 1,074-yards and 12 touchdowns, putting him in 4th place in school history for yardage and in a tie for 5th place for touchdown passes in a season, for the Mustangs. This will put him in the “Keystone Club.”

Carnie Fryfogle set a new school record with 163 tackles for the season, breaking the record of 151 set by Jason Gigous in 2006 in a 14 game season. This will put him in the “Keystone Club.”

Jake Tracy kicked 35 extra points for the season, putting him in 4th place in school history.

Felton led the team in scoring with 156 points, from 25 touchdowns and 3 two-point conversions. He was followed by Dillon Thomas with 92 points on 15 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion, Jake Tracy with 35 points on 35 extra point kicks, Zach Gross with 24 points on 4 touchdowns, Carnie Fryfogle with 20 points on 3 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion, Reid Cruz, Dillon Langenfeld, and Jerome Robinson with 12 points on 2 touchdowns each, and Keith Pappas and Bobby Wildasin each with 6 points on 1 touchdown. The team scored 375 points for the season.

Dillon Thomas had 146 carries for 1,058-yards and 15 touchdowns, followed by Mike Felton with 142 carries for 1,038-yards and 14 touchdowns, Dakotah Mosses with 52 carries for 232-yards, Reid Cruz with 32 carries for 186-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 15 carries for 119-yards and 1 touchdown, Dillon Langenfeld with 5 carries for 93-yards and 2 touchdowns, Carnie Fryfogle with 17 carries for 57-yards and 1 touchdown, Brady Stevenson with 9 carries for 39-yards, Jon Hoover with 3 carries for 16-yards, Nick Bond with 2 carries for 11-yards, Tyler Sterner with 1 carry for 1-yard, Daulton James with 4 carries for minus 1-yard, Mike Duffy with 1 carry for minus 3-yards, Wyatt Trostle with 2 carries for minus 4-yards, Jesse Good with 1 carry for minus 9-yards, and Zach Gross with 21 carries for minus 42-yards and 4 touchdowns. There was a team loss of 6-yards on 3 carries. There was a net of 456 carries for 2,785-yards and 37 rushing touchdowns for the season.

Besides Carnie Fryfogle’s 163 tackles for the season, other players with at least 50 tackles for the season were: Keith Pappas with 97, Mike Felton with 92, Reid Cruz with 69, Rich Delea with 64, Ryan Dotson with 57, Jeremy Loughlin and Zach Townsend with 52 each, and Chad Kolper with 51.

Chad Kolper led the team with 6 sacks on the season, followed by Jeremy Loughlin with 5, Ryan Dotson with 4, Zach Townsend with 3, Devon Ackerman, Carnie Fryfogle, and Brandon Stremmel with 2 sacks each, and Logan Bowman, Rich Delea, Reid Cruz, Dakotah Moses, Keith Pappas, and Aaron Utley with 1 sack each. There was a team total of 30 sacks for the season.

In addition to Gross’ passing statistics, Tyler Sterner completed 2 of 7 passes for 5-yards and Mike Duffy completed 2 of 5 passes for 27-yards. The team totaled 75 completions on 141 attempts for 1,106-yards and 12 touchdowns. The season reception leaders were Mike Felton with 22 for 409-yards and 6 touchdowns, followed by Keith Pappas with 10 for 155-yards and 1 touchdown, Jerome Robinson with 8 for 114-yards and 2 touchdowns, Reid Cruz with 7 for 105-yards and 1 touchdown, Carnie Fryfogle with 4 for 96-yards and 2 touchdowns, Brandon Krise with 7 for 51-yards, Jaelen Langenfeld with 3 for 49-yards, Dillon Thomas with 6 for 35-yards, Logan Bowman with 2 for 33-yards, Dakotah Moses with 3 for 28-yards, Daulton James with 1 for 18-yards, Ben Bynaker with 1 for 9-yards, and Brady Stevenson with 1 for 4-yards. That adds up to 75 receptions for 1,106-yards and 12 touchdowns for the season.

The 2011 Mustangs represented their school and league honorably, played hard, never gave up, and they were clearly a team to be remembered. They have a great nucleus of returning players from the junior varsity and solid players coming up within the ranks. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Until then, GO MUSTANGS GO.

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2011

2011-11-15T14:54:00.001-08:00

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-12

2011-11-14T12:05:00.001-08:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 11, the 9th seeded York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I Mustangs of South Western (9-2 overall, 5-0 league) visited the 8th seeded Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 Blue Streaks of Manheim Township (8-3 overall, 6-1 league) and edged the Blue Streaks 42-35 in a thriller that saw the winning touchdown scored with 15 seconds left in the game. The Mustangs will next visit the 1st seeded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Eagles of Cumberland Valley (10-1 overall, 5-1 league) in the quarterfinal round.

The Mustangs and the Blue Streaks started off feeling each other out and each ended up punting twice in their first 2 possessions. The Mustangs drew first blood as they drove 57-yards in eight plays, featuring a 15-yard run by Mike Felton and ending with a 6-yard touchdown plunge by Zach Gross. The extra point kick by Jake Tracy put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 10:32 to go in the second quarter.

The Blue Streaks then drove 93-yards in eight plays, featuring pinpoint passing by Brennan Scott, 25-yards to Chase Miller, 12-yards to Tyler Karpinski, 7-yards to Miller, 6-yards to Karpinski, and a 33-yard touchdown strike to Kyle Bushong. Alex Woolley kicked the extra point to tie the score at 7 with 6:59 to go in the half.

The Mustangs then drove 60-yards in three plays, Felton’s 14-yard run, Dillon Thomas’ 15-yard run, and Felton’s 31-yard touchdown jaunt. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-7 with 5:56 to go in the half.

The Blue Streaks came right back with a 55-yard drive, after Miller returned the kickoff 34-yards. The drive featured a 28-yard pass from Brennan to Miller and ended with a 20-yard touchdown strike to Bushong. Woolley’s extra point kick tied the score at 14 with 3:55 to go in the half.

The Mustangs and the Blue Streaks exchanged punts and then the Mustangs drove 53-yards in six plays, ending with a 31-yard touchdown strike from Gross to Felton. This put the Mustangs up 20-14 with 41 seconds to go in the first half.

The Blue Streaks opened the second half by gaining 6-yards and, in a gutsy move turning the ball over on downs at their own 44-yard line. The Mustangs then drove the 44-yards in ten plays, featuring a 16-yard run by Reid Cruz, and ending with a 5-yard touchdown plunge by Thomas. Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton and the Mustangs were up 28-14 with 6:57 to go in the third quarter.

The Blue Streaks stormed back with a 51-yard drive ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Brennan to Bushong. Woolley’s extra point kick closed the gap to 28-21 in favor of the Mustangs.

The Mustangs had a short-lived drive end in a fumble that was recovered by Matt Sallade for the Blue Streaks at the Mustangs 45-yard line. Three passing plays later saw the Blue Streaks tie the score at 28 with a 32-yard touchdown pass to Miller and Woolley’s extra point kick, with 2:28 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustang then drove 65-yards in twelve plays, ending with a 5-yard touchdown run by Thomas. Tracy kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were up 35-28 with 9:25 to go in the fourth quarter.

The Blue Streaks then drove 48-yards to the Mustangs 17-yard line, only to have Mike Duffy intercept a pass in the end zone for the Mustangs, giving them the ball at their 20-yard line. The Mustangs then drove 40-yards and punted, and Miller returned the punt 38-yards for the Blue Streaks.

The Blue Streaks then drove 33-yards in four plays, featuring a 15-yard pass to Bushong and ending with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Brennan to Miller. Woolley’s extra point kick tied the score at 35 with 2:35 left in the game.

The Mustangs then drove 66-yards in nine plays, featuring a 24-yard pass from Gross to Felton, a beautiful 28-yard pass from Gross to a wide open Keith Pappas to the Blue Streaks 17-yard line, and a 5-yard touchdown run by Thomas with 15 seconds left in the game. Tracy’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with a thrilling 42-35 victory for the Mustangs.

Mike Felton kicked off 5 times for 194-yards, with the longest going for 57-yards, and punted 4 times for 149-yards, with the longest going for 44-yards. Dillon Langenfeld returned 2 kickoffs for 39-yards, with the longest going for 22-yards, Felton returned 1 kickoff for 20-yards, and Dakotah Moses returned 1 kickoff for 10-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 2 punts for 17-yards, with the longest going for 9-yards, and Dillon Langenfeld returned 1 punt for no yards, for the Mustangs.

Mike Felton led the Mustangs defense with 11 tackles and 4 passes defended, followed by Carnie Fryfogle with 11 tackles (giving him a team leading 147 for the season and putting him in second place in school history, only 4 behind the 151 tackles recorded by Jason Gigous in a 14 game season in 2006), Chad Kolper with 8 tackles, 2 sacks and a pass defense, Keith Pappas with 6 tackles, Mike Duffy with 5 tackles, 1 interception and a pass defense, Reid Cruz and Rich Delea with 4 tackles each, Jeremy Loughlin with 3 tackles and 1 sack, Jerome Robinson with 2 tackles and 3 passes defended, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Brandon Stremmel with 2 tackles each, and Devon Ackerman, Ryan Dotson, and Dakotah Moses with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Dakotah Moses, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 344-yards rushing and 88-yards passing for a total of 432-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 26 carries for 164-yards (including a 31-yard touchdown), followed by Dillon Thomas with 26 for 140 yards (including 3 touchdowns, of 5, 5. and 5-yards), Reid Cruz with 4 for 33-yards, and Zach Gross with 2 carries for 7-yards (including a 6-yard touchdown). Thomas has 967-yards and 15 touchdowns rushing and Felton has 915-yards and 13 touchdowns rushing (as well as 5 receiving and 5 special teams touchdowns for a total of 23 touchdowns). Quarterback Gross completed 4 of 12 passes for 88-yards and 1 touchdown (giving him a season record to date of 66 completions in 115 attempts for 1,037-yards, putting him in 5th place in school history, and 11 touchdowns), 3 for 60-yards to Felton (including a 31-yard touchdown), and 1 for 28-yards to Keith Pappas that spearheaded the winning touchdown drive. Jake Tracy kicked 4 extra points, Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton, Mike Duffy intercepted a pass, Chad Kolper recorded 2 sacks, and Jeremy Loughlin recorded 1 sack, for the Mustangs.

The Blue Streaks gained 54-yards rushing and 391-yards passing for a total of 445-yards gained. Dillon O’Dell led the Blue Streaks rushing attack with 8 carries for 33-yards, followed by Brennan Scott with 4 for 19-yards, and Scott Sallade with 1 carry for 2-yards. Quarterback Scott completed 26 of 46 passes for 391-yards and 5 touchdowns, 11 for 151-yards to Tyler Karpinski, 8 for 118-yards to Chase Miller (including touchdowns of 32 and 7-yards), 5 for 103-yards to Kyle Bushong (including touchdowns of 33, 20, and 13-yards), 1 for 11-yards to Ryan Morgan, and 1 for 8-yards to Andrew Dissinger, for the Blue Streaks. Alex Woolley kicked 5 extra points and Matt Sallade recovered a fumble for the Blue Streaks.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Manheim Township Blue Streaks Marching Band put on a great pre-game performance with their show “Blue,” featuring tunes related to the color. The Mustangs and Blue Streaks Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful in the cold night air.

The Mustangs of South Western are 9-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 196-87-1 (.693) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 337-205-8. The results of the 550 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .622 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

The 9th seeded Mustangs will next visit the 1st seeded Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division Eagles of Cumberland Valley (10-1 overall, 5-1 league) in the quarterfinal round of the District 3 Playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 11–2011

2011-11-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High and their hearty fans traveled 45 miles to Bridgewater in Somerset County to face the PANTHERS of Bridgewater-Raritan High School last Friday night in Consolation Game action and lost a 41-12 game that was a thriller into the 3rd quarter. Captains Boris Lifshits, John Pagios and Steve Tatekawa won the coin toss and George Alexandris electrified the crowd running the kickoff to the PANTHERS 23. Alas, the play was nullified by a penalty. Bridgewater-Raritan scored near the end of the 1st quarter and led 7-0. Late in the 2nd quarter, Alexandris intercepted a pass and raced to the 7. Tatekawa ran to the 5 and QB Kevin Osback threw a beautiful fade TD pass to Alexandris. With Fair Lawn trailing 7-6 the PANTHERS scored on a long pass as time ran out and led 14-6 at the half.

The PANTHERS scored again to lead 21-6. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS mounted a drive featuring Osback bulling his way for 9 yards and passing to Alexandris for a 1st down at the 40. Osback ran for more yardage and passed to Alexandris for a 1st down at the 5. Pagios bulled to the 1 and Osback scored behind center Kris Burger and guards Kevin Benjamin and Jeff Welsh to make it 21-12. Then the Bridgewater-Raritan depth showed as the PANTHERS pulled away. Fair Lawn fans, seeing the approximately 80 player strong PANTHERS, wondered how they could have come into the game 1-8 (.111). The announcer and “spotter” told me that the PANTHERS felt they should have won at least 4 of their games which were heart breaking losses. The school has over 3,200 students and plays in the tough Skyland 39 Conference!

On “D,” nice plays were made by Pete Danko, who made TD saving tackles, Benjamin, Nick Hickey, Thomas Koike, Lifshits, Pagios, Brendan Sibilio, Tatekawa and others. Osback was a warrior all over the field! Fair Lawn is 7-5 (.583) in Consolation games 1998-99, 2001-08 and 2010-11.

The game was played at John Barsilone Memorial Field which is named after the World War II hero from Raritan who won the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross and Purple Heart and was killed in action at Iwo Jima. He and 2 other Marines became the basis of the TV series “The Pacific.”

The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band and Color Guard was in Annapolis, MD in national competition. They took 5th Place in the Nation and the Percussion Unit repeated as National Champions! Fair Lawn’s version of Football’s Fabulous Females, the FLHS Cheerleaders, coached by JV Coach Nicole Mattina looked mighty good! Their fine coach, Lauren Gimon, was in a wedding.

Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute, were the only team in the league to make the playoffs. They lost a heart breaker 20-14 in overtime to the BRUINS of North Bergen in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action. In playoff action of special interest to Fair Lawn fans, the FALCONS of Saddle Brook beat THE HERD of Mountain Lakes 30-7 in Group I. Fair Lawn broke off from Saddle River Township in 1924 and the remaining part of the Township changed its name to Saddle Brook in 1955. Fair Lawn’s 1st varsity game in 1943 was a 13-0 victory over Mountain Lakes! Every one in Fair Lawn is rooting for star Saddle Brook player Tyler Vitiello to recover from his neck injury!

In Consolation games the BNC Liberty Division went 2-3 (.400) against outside foes. The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the RAMS of Randolph 27-7 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside buried the HAWKS of J.P. Stephens of Edison 27-0. However, in addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the INDIANS of Passaic were beaten 46-6 by the WARRIORS of Watchung Regional of Warren and the KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy were beaten 28-12 by the EAGLES of Edison. The 2-4 (.333) BNC Liberty Division record on the weekend had Fair Lawn’s league closing out the season with a dismal 6-22 (.214) record against outside foes!

In the coming weeks we’ll reminisce about Fair Lawn Thanksgiving games, look at playoff action of interest to Fair Lawn fans, and close out THE GRIDIRON for the season. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY

2011-11-12T13:06:00.002-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON.

1979 – Pete Natale came to Fair Lawn in 1978 having won championships at Ridgefield Park and made the CUTTERS winners again. They shut out the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 21-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action in the regular season. In the States the roles were reversed as Clifton shut out Fair Lawn 30-0. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the NNJIL and 2010 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-3-1 (.750) over Fair Lawn including that playoff victory.

1980 – Natale’s CUTTERS shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the States they played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller.

1985 – Those INDIANS got revenge as they won a 36-26 thriller over Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS at Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” Passaic School Stadium is now Boverini Stadium, named after the late long time Passaic Athletic Director. Fair Lawn trailed only 28-26 until the final minutes.

1987 – Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS lost a 12-6 heart breaker to the BEES of Bayonne at Bayonne’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in freezing cold and gale force winds. Bayonne Coach Don Ahern said he was thankful for the awful weather because only it, and not his BEES, could thwart Fair Lawn’s vaunted offense.

1988 – Natale’s offensive coordinator, Mike Alberque, took over and led his CUTTERS into the States. They were beaten 20-6 by the KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy of Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium. During 1951-56 and 58, Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. Our CUTTERS shut out the KNIGHTS 20-0 in “Consolation Game” action in 2003 and lead the overall rivalry 6-3 (.667).

1989 – Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the States in the only game played to date between the schools until the BRUINS 33-13 victory in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover play in 2009.

2000 - Alberque’s CUTTERS gave the nationally ranked COMETS of Hackensack all they could handle before losing a 14-6 thriller. During 1959-82 in NNIIL action the COMETS went 16-7-1 against our CUTTERS.

2009 - Stan Myles’ CUTTERS faced the GAILS of Roxbury in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action. The GAILS won 42-7 and went on to take the sectional title.

Fair Lawn is 7-4 (.636) in “Consolation Games” played the first weekend of playoffs since they were instituted in 1998.

THE GRIDIRON 10–2011

2011-11-12T13:06:00.001-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The injury depleted CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High faced the equally depleted KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy High School of Paterson last week in their final regular season and Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division game for 2011 at SASSO FIELD and were beaten 32-7. Captains Boris Lifshits, Kevin Osback and Steve Tatekawa went out for the coin toss and Kennedy won and deferred the choice to the second half. Our CUTTERS had trouble moving the ball despite some nice running by Corey Carlson, Osback and Tatekawa. Our heroes held Kennedy scoreless through the 1st quarter but the KNIGHTS pulled away and led 18-0 at the half, scoring their 3rd TD with 3 seconds on the clock! Our CUTTERS started the 2nd half with an onside kick alertly recovered by Brendan Sibilio. Carlson ran for a first down but again the drive stalled. With the KNIGHTS leading 32-0 and 42 seconds on the clock, QB Osback threw a picture 57 yard TD pass to Pete Danko. With Mike Nieman snapping and Danko holding, sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point and our “never-say-die” CUTTERS averted a shut out.

On “D,” George Alexandris made TD saving tackles, Carlson sacked the QB, Tatekawa broke up a potential TD pass and Osback teamed up with Kris Burger, John Pagios and LaineWhite on stops. Thomas Koike teamed up with Sibilio on a great stop. Burger led the charge on a great goal line stand at the 1.

It was “Senior Recognition Day” and I was privileged to announce senior cheerleaders Marina Fladung, Rachel Levy, Allison Pollack and Kristen Ralston and football players Kevin Benjamin, Andy Chorlian, Nick Hickey, Lifshits, Dan Prigge and Tatekawa and their escorts. My faithful “Spotter,” Kevin Pepitone, was delayed and Shawn Kerestes and Brendan Lo Dolce did a great job helping out. The award winning Fair Lawn High School Cutter Marching Band and Color Guard was in Old Bridge in competition taking 2nd place. Way to go! FLHS student Julie Roccanova did a fine job singing our National Anthem.

The rest of the BNC Liberty Division teams played outside the division. In yet another example of the disparity between public schools and parochial powerhouses, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were shellacked 56-8 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco costing the FIGHTING MUSTANGS any chance at the playoffs. If that didn’t prove the point, the GREEN KNIGHTS of St. Joseph, the number 3 strongest area parochial power, beat the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills, the premier public school program in the area, 34-10. It was St. Joes’ 3rd straight victory over Wayne Hills; the first broke Wayne Hills’ 55 game winning streak in 2009. The BNC went 2-2 (.500) against outside foes. While Clifton lost and Passaic was shut out 49-0 by Ridgewood, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside buried the KNIGHTS of Bergen Tech 40-0 and the champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute edged the COMETS of Hackensack 27-20 in overtime. The BNC is 4-18 (.818) against outside opposition on the season!

This Friday night at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Bridgewater to take on the PANTHERS of Bridgewater-Raritan High School in a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) “Consolation Game.” During 1998- 99, 2001-08 and 2010, our CUTTERS have gone 7-4 (.636) in Consolation Games. Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-7 (.125) having been outscored 304-60 for an average 38-8 loss. Bridgewater-Raritan comes into the game 1-8 (.111) having been outscored 273-126 for an average 30-14 loss. Our CUTTERS will be looking to send our seniors off with a victory and can be counted on to put forth an all out effort. I think they can do it. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 14 – Bridgewater-Raritan 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-11

2011-11-12T13:02:00.000-08:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 5, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Rockets of Spring Grove and galloped to a 54-21 win, propelling them to the Division I title outright, their 13th league championship in the past 26-years. Temple bound Mike Felton scored 2 rushing touchdowns and returned a punt 85-yards for another touchdown.

The Rockets opened the game with a three-play drive that ended when Chad Kolper recovered a fumble for the Mustangs, who took over on the Rockets 43-yard line. Five plays later Dillon Thomas plunged in from the 3-yard line and Jake Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 8:26 to go in the first quarter. The rout was on and they never looked back.

The Rockets went three and out and punted. Bobby Wildasin fumbled the punt reception but Ryan Klinedinst recovered it for the Mustangs at the Rockets 42-yard line. Zach Gross threw a 16-yard pass to Brandon Krise, Felton ran for 7-yards, and Gross threw a picture perfect touchdown strike to Carnie Fryfogle in the back of the end zone. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-0 at the 4:52 mark in the first quarter.

The Rockets drove 72-yards in 11 plays, featuring a 36-yard pass from Matthew Runge to Benjamin Inscore, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Mustangs 3-yard line. Undaunted, the Mustangs drove 97-yards in three plays, a 15-yard pass from Gross to Felton, a 62-yard run by Thomas, and a 20-yard touchdown jaunt by Felton. The Mustangs led 20-0 with 46 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Rockets went three and out and punted to the Mustangs 46-yard line. Gross threw a 2-yard pass to Thomas and then Felton sprinted 52-yards for a touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 27-0 at the 9:00 minute mark in the second quarter.

The Rockets drove 18-yards in 5 plays, featuring a 19-yard pass from Runge to Austin Nee, and punted. Felton returned the punt 85-yards for a touchdown and Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 34-0 at the 7:14 mark in the second quarter.

The Rockets drove only 3-yards and attempted to punt but the snap went over the kickers head and the Mustangs took over on the Rockets 15-yard line. Four plays later Gross snuck in from the 2-yard line, upping the score to 40-0 with 3:37 left in the second quarter.

The Rockets started on their 42-yard line, drove to the 50 and were driven back to the 45 by a 5-yard sack by Ryan Dotson for the Mustangs. The Rockets then fumbled and Reid Cruz recovered it for the Mustangs at the Rockets 45-yard line. Thomas dashed off a 30-yard run to the 15 and Bobby Wildasin sprinted the last 15-yards for a touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 47-0 with 1:58 to go in the half. It is believed that the 47 points scored in the first half is a school record.

The Mustangs had already started substituting near the end of the half and the bench was virtually cleared in the second half. Wildasin returned the second half kickoff for 24-yards to the 43-yard line, but the Mustangs went three and out and punted.

The Rockets drove 73-yards in five plays, aided by a 15-yard penalty and featuring a 12-yard run by Runge and a 12-yard run by Jeffrey Delaughter. Runge sprinted 26-yards for a touchdown. Dalton Hall’s extra point kick put the Rockets on the board and the score was 47-7 at the 7:00 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 70-yards in five plays, ending with Dillon Langenfeld’s 65-yard touchdown jaunt. Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 54-7 with 4:34 to go in the third quarter.

The Rockets then drove 63-yards in four plays, featuring a 55-yard pass from Runge to Nee, and ending with Runge’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Jeffrey Delaughter. Hall’s extra point kick made the score 54-14 at the 2:38 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs and the Rockets exchanged punts. Then the Rockets drove 90-yards in four plays, ending with Runge’s 73-yard touchdown strike to Nee. Hall’s extra point kick closed out the scoring in the game, with the final score of 54-21 coming with 8:27 left in the game.

Mike Felton kicked off 6 times for 276-yards, with the longest going for 58-yards, and Jake Tracy kicked off 3 times for 124-yards, with the longest going for 46-yards for the Mustangs. Gabe Morela punted 4 times for 133-yards, for an average of 33.25-yards, with the longest going for 37-yards. Bobby Wildasin returned 2 kickoffs for 36-yards, with the longest going for 24-yards, Jordan Markle returned 1 kickoff for 14-yards, and Wyatt Trostle returned 1 kickoff for 6-yards. Felton returned 1 punt for 85-yards and a touchdown, Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 punt for 6-yards, and Wildasin returned 1 punt for no yards, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles (giving him a team leading 136 on the season and putting him 15 tackles behind the leader and in 4th place in the school record book) and a pass hurry, followed by Zach Townsend with 10 tackles, Chad Kolper with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery, Cruz Reid with 6 tackles and a fumble recovery, Ryan Dotson with 6 tackles and a sack, Jaelen Langenfeld with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Devon Ackerman, Rich Delea, and Keith Pappas with 6 tackles each, Dakotah Moses with 5 tackles and a sack, Brandon Stremmel with 5 tackles and a pass hurry, Gunner Holtz and Jeremy Loughlin with 5 tackles each, Mike Felton with 4 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Duffy with 3 tackles and a pass defense, Jerome Robinson with 3 tackles and a pass defense, Brady Stevenson with 3 tackles and a pass hurry, Aaron Uttley with 2 tackles, an interception returned for 22-yards, and a sack, Ryan Klinedinst with 2 tackles and the recovery of an fumble by the offense, Aaron Doll, Eddie Lane, Dillon Langenfeld, Brandon McMinn, Bobby Wildasin, with 2 tackles, Alex Jones with 1 tackle and a fumble recovery, and Ryan Lane, Jordan Markle, Jake Poe, Eric Roop, Shawn Secola, Dustin Shaffer with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 373-yards rushing and 53yards passing for a total of 426-yards of offense. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 7 carries for 120-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), followed by Mike Felton with 5 for 96 yards (including touchdowns of 20 and 52-yards), Dillon Langenfeld with 3 for 71-yards (including a 65-yard touchdown), Dakotah Moses with 5 for 58-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 4 for 25-yards (including a 15-yard touchdown), Brady Stevenson with 3 for 5-yards, Zach Gross with 1 for 2-yards and a touchdown, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for no yards, and Wyatt Trostle with 2 for minus 4-yards. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 5 of 5 passes for 52-yards and 1 touchdown, 1 for 19-yards and a touchdown to Carnie Fryfogle, 2 for 16-yards to Brandon Krise, 1 for 15-yards to Felton, and 1 for 2-yards to Dillon Thomas, and quarterback Tyler Sterner completed 1 of 4 passes to Moses for 1-yard, for the Mustangs. Felton returned a punt 85-yards for a touchdown, Jake Tracy kicked 6 extra points, Reid Cruz, Alex Jones and Chad Kolper each recovered a fumble, and Aaron Uttley intercepted a pass, for the Mustangs.

The Rockets gained 198-yards rushing and 243-yards passing for a total of 441-yards gained.
Matthew Runge led the Rockets rushing attack with 28 carries for 136-yards, followed by Jeffrey Delaughter with 9 for 26-yards (including a 12-yard touchdown), Austin Nee with 1 carry for 22-yards, Juwan Fitchett with 1 for 7-yards, Seth Hildebrand with 1 for 5-yards, and Ben Inscore with 1 carry for 2-yards. Quarterback Runge completed 6 of 16 passes for 243-yards and 2 touchdowns, 3 for 172-yards to Nee (including a 73-yard touchdown), 2 for 59-yards to Inscore, and 1 for 12-yards and a touchdown to Delaughter, for the Rockets. Dalton Hall kicked 3 extra points for the Rockets.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Spring Grove Rockets Marching Band put on a great post game performance with their show “Ritual,” by Aaron Guidry. The Mustangs and Rockets Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 8-2-0 overall and 5-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 195-87-1 (.691) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 336-205-8. The results of the 549 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

The Mustangs are seeded 9 in a field of 30 class AAAA teams in district 3 and the top 16 make the playoffs. The Mustangs will travel to the number 8 seed Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 Blue Streaks of Manheim Township (8-2 overall, 6-1 league) in the first round of the AAAA playoffs, at 7PM on Friday, November 11. GO MUSTANGS GO.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-10

2011-11-01T10:25:00.001-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 28, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) at the Mustang Corral and galloped to a 46-13 victory on the strength of Mike Felton’s fantastic performance. He scored five touchdowns, 2 rushing, 1 on a pass reception, 1 on an interception returned 99-yards, and 1 on a kickoff return for 85-yards. Sophomore sensation Dillon Thomas added two more touchdowns.

The Bearcats opened the game by going three and out and punting. The Mustangs then drove 55-yards in three plays, a 3-yard run by Thomas, a 7-yard run by Reid Cruz, and a 45-yard touchdown run by Felton. Jake Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 8:05 to go in the first quarter.

The Bearcats ran off a short five play drive and punted. The Mustangs drove 67-yards in ten plays, featuring a 21-yard run by Thomas and ending with a 3-yard touchdown jaunt by Thomas. The Mustangs led 13-0 with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats returned the kickoff to their 43-yard line and drove to the 48, only to have Mike Duffy intercept a pass for the Mustangs. On the very next play Jomar Dickerson intercepted a pass for the Bearcats at the Mustangs 30-yard line. A 5-yard penalty and a 4-yard sack by Chad Kolper had the Bearcats punting from the 39.

The Mustangs then drove 67-yards in eight plays, featuring a 23-yard run by Thomas and ending with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Zach Gross to Felton. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 20-0 with 5:26 to go in the first half.

Malcolm Tribuet returned the kickoff 38-yards to the Mustangs 47-yard line. The Bearcats drove 53-yards in six plays, featuring a 12-yard pass from Xavier Garcia-Wilson to Dakeem Dennison and ending with a 22-yard touchdown run by Garcia-Wilson. Thurman Fogleman kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were still up 20-7 with 2:49 left in the first half.

14 seconds later the Mustangs scored again as Felton returned the kickoff 85-yards for a touchdown. The Mustangs were up 26-7 with 2:35 to go in the half.

The Mustangs opened the second half with an 80-yard drive, featuring a 12-yard run by Felton, a 9-yard pass from Gross to Jerome Robinson, and a 50-yard pass from Gross to Felton. Thomas scored on a 2-yard run and Tracy’s extra point put the Mustangs up 33-7 with 8:35 to go in the third quarter.

The Bearcats then drove 57-yards in four plays, featuring a 53-yard run by Garcia-Wilson and ending with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Kelvin Nieves. The Mustangs still led 33-13 with 6:29 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 67-yards in five plays, featuring a 25-yard pass from Gross to Logan Bowman and ending with a 27-yard touchdown run by Felton. Julian Johnson blocked the Mustangs extra point kick for the Bearcats and the Mustangs led 39-13 with 3:57 to go in the third quarter.

The Bearcats returned the kickoff to the Mustangs 43-yard line and drove 39-yards to the Mustangs 4-yard line. Then Felton intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line and returned it 99-yards for a Mustangs touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with the Mustangs up 46-13 with 11:41 to go in the game. The Mustangs substituted liberally for the rest of the game.

Mike Felton kicked off 6 times for 256-yards, with the longest going for 50-yards. Jake Tracy kicked off 2 times for 79-yards, with the longest going for 49-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 kickoff for 18-yards and 2 punts for 22-yards, with the longest going for 16-yards. Felton returned 1 kickoff for 85-yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs. The Mustangs never punted in the game.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles (giving him a team leading 122 on the season), followed by Mike Felton with 10 tackles, a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown, an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and a pass defense, Rich Delea with 7 tackles and a pass hurry, Keith Pappas with 7 tackles, Reid Cruz with 6 tackles, Brandon Stremmel with 5 tackles, a sack, and a pass hurry, Devon Ackerman with 5 tackles and a sack, Jaelen Langenfeld with 5 tackles, Chad Kolper with 4 tackles, a sack and a pass hurry, Ryan Dotson with 4 tackles and a sack, Zach Townsend with 4 tackles, Logan Bowman with 3 tackles and a pass defense, Ryan Klinedinst and Bobby Wildasin with 3 tackles each, Mike Duffy with 2 tackles, an interception and a pass defense, Dillon Langenfeld with 2 tackles and a pass defense, Eddie Lane and Jeremy Loughlin with 2 tackles each, and Alex Baugher and Dillon Thomas with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise and the Langenfeld twins, Dillon and Jaelen.

The Mustangs gained 295-yards rushing and 117yards passing for a total of 412-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 10 carries for 115-yards (including touchdowns of 45 and 27-yards), followed by Dillon Thomas with 14 for 97-yards (including touchdowns of 3 and 2-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 3 for 51-yards, Reid Cruz with 4 for 20-yards, Dakotah Moses with 2 for 12-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for 4-yards, and Dillon Langenfeld with 1 carry for minus 2-yards. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 5 of 10 passes for 117-yards and 1 touchdown, 2 for 80-yards to Felton (including a 30-yard touchdown), 1 for 25-yards to Logan Bowman, 1 for 9-yards to Jerome Robinson, and 1 for 3-yards to Fryfogle, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 4 extra points, Mike Duffy and Felton each intercepted a pass, and Devon Ackerman, Ryan Dotson, Chad Kolper, and Brandon Stremmel each recorded a sack, for the Mustangs.

The Bearcats gained 156-yards rushing and 154-yards passing for a total of 310-yards gained.
Xavier Garcia-Wilson led the Bearcats rushing attack with 17 carries for 120-yards (including a 22-yard touchdown), followed by Kelvin Nieves with 5 for 18-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), Darryl Simmons with 2 for 8-yards, Loren Lutzinger with 3 for 6-yards, and Dakeem Dennison with 2 carries for 4-yards. Quarterback Garcia-Wilson completed 16 of 25 passes for 154-yards, 7 for 69-yards to Lutzinger, 5 for 38-yards to Dereck Wilson, 3 for 27-yards to Dennison, and 1 for 20-yards to Joseph Smith, for the Bearcats. Thurman Fogelman kicked an extra point for the Bearcats.

Daiquan Dewitt led the Bearcats defense with 8 tackles, followed by Luis Dowling with 7, Kelvin Nieves with 4, Emmanuel Torres with 3, Eliel Flores, Anderson Novalin, and Jared Posey with 2 tackles each, and Xavier Garcia-Wilson with 1 tackle.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring post game performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The William Penn Bearcats Marching Band put on a great half time performance with their show “Beatles,” featuring “Magical Mystery Tour,” “A Hard Days Night,” “Hey Jude,” “Eleanor Rigby,” and “Yesterday.” The Mustangs and Bearcats Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 7-2-0 overall and 4-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 194-87-1 (.690) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 335-205-8. The results of the 548 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .620 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

After 9 weeks of play the Mustangs are seeded 9 in a field of 30 class AAAA teams in district 3 and only the top 16 make the playoffs. As of now the Mustangs would visit the number 8 seeded Blue Streaks of Manheim Township in the first round of the District 3 playoffs.

Next week the Mustangs will close out the regular season by visiting the Rockets of Spring Grove (1-9 Overall, 0-5 league). The Rockets are coming off of a 27-6 loss to the Wildcats of Dallastown (4-5 overall, 2-2 league). The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way to a regular season ending win and move on to the playoffs. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 9–201

2011-11-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The injury depleted CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were beaten 28-7 by the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside in heavy rain last Thursday night at Bauerle Field in a Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division game. Captains George Alexandris, Boris Lifshits and Steve Tatakawa won the coin toss and Fair Lawn deferred its choice to the 2nd half. The GHOSTS drove for a TD and led 7-0. In the 2nd quarter they scored again. Then, just before the half, the officials incorrectly called a Fair Lawn incomplete forward pass a lateral and the GHOSTS ran it back for their 3rd TD and led 21-0. The officials realized their mistake too late to do anything about it and the score should have been 14-0.

In the 4th quarter, Corey Carlson ran for big yardage and QB Kevin Osback raced to the 5. He then threw a picture pass to Nick Hickey for a TD and the sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point. Hickey recovered Fair Lawn’s daring onside kick and our CUTTERS were in business. Osback threw to Carlson for a 1st down at the Eastside 15. A real warrior, he then raced to the 3 but was hurt on the play and the ball went over to the GHOSTS who ran out the clock. The score could have easily been 21-14.

On “D,” Osback recovered a fumble and Alexandris made a TD saving tackle. Fine plays were also made by Pete Danko, Lifshits, Brendan Sibilio, Tatakawa, Laine White and others. Fair Lawn still leads the 1947-54, 1983 and 2010-11 rivalry against Eastside 6-5 (.545).

Trying to keep my notes dry, I was welcomed into the Press Box by the announcer (Class of ’81) and the official clock operator (Class of ’72) and we enjoyed reminiscing about the old Fair Lawn rivalries with Eastside and Central/Kennedy. They were aware that, before FLHS opened; most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside! The announcer told me that he spent the 1980 football season chasing sensational Fair Lawn running back Chris Finn for the area scoring title! Coach Pete Natale’s ’80 CUTTERS shared the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title with Clifton and Passaic Valley and beat the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in 1st round playoff action at GIANTS STADIUM. They were the first Fair Lawn team ever to win 9 games and were followed in this by Natale’s ’85 and ’87 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS.

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division played all division games. In addition to Eastside’s win, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the KNIGHTS of Paterson’s JFK 27-8. I saw the defending champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute shut out the INDIANS of Passaic 34-0 in the snow at BOVERINI STADIUM and take the title again at 5-0 (1.000).

On Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS play host to those KNIGHTS of JFK in their final BNC Liberty Division and regular season game of the year at SASSO FIELD. Senior football players and cheerleaders will be recognized and escorted onto the field by parents or relatives. The award winning Fair Lawn High School Band and Color Guard were recognized at the Paramus game. The old Paterson Central and the newer JFK have been Eastside’s Turkey Day rivals since Eastside opened in 1926. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over Central. Overall, during 1951-56 independently, in the playoffs in 1988, in a Consolation game in 2003, in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) in 2009 and in the BNC Liberty Division in 2010, Fair Lawn has gone to 8-3 (.727) over Central/ Kennedy.

Both teams come into the game 1-6 (.143). Fair Lawn has been outscored 272-53 for an average 39-8 loss. Kennedy has been outscored 186-50 for an average 27-7 loss. I think our CUTTERS can close out their regular season with a win. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 17–Kennedy 7. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 8

2011-10-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the BUCCANEERS of Bogota 20-7 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. - Fair Lawn and Bogota shared the 1946 B-PIL title and our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry 6-3-2 (.667).

1961 – New coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 39-6 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. 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.

1971 – Frank Devens CUTTERS were stung 33-16 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL, the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS shut out the BEARS of Bergenfield 7-0 in NNJIL 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. The 51 season rivalry was the longest in either school’s history.

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 26-12 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action. Fair Lawn took the 1986-93 and 1998 – 2008 rivalry 10-9 (.526).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 27-12 in NBIL inter- divisional action. - Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 rivalry 14-10-1 (.583).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-9

2011-10-23T16:18:00.001-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 21, the Mustangs of South Western traveled to the den of the Lions of Red Lion in YAIAA Division I action and galloped to a 21-14 victory on the fleet feet of sophomore Dillon Thomas. The Mustangs sit alone at the top of Division I of the YAIAA and are in great shape to vie for the title.

The Lions opened the game with a 12 play drive for 34-yards, only to punt. The Mustangs went three and out and punted and the Lions returned the favor with their own three and out and punt. The Mustangs ran two plays and fumbled and Brooks Arnold recovered for the Lions at the Mustangs 28-yard line.

The Lions took full advantage of the short field. An incomplete pass was followed by a 28-yard touchdown pass from Tanner Klinefelter to Erik Althoff. Sure-footed Pete Pitilis drilled the extra point kick and the Lions were on top 7-0 with 1:18 to go in the first quarter.

The defenses prevailed for a while as the Mustangs and the Lions exchanged punts twice. Then the Mustangs punted again. The Lions started at their 20-yard line. Dan Althoff ran to the 32 and then the 35. Jeremy Loughlin caused Klinefelter to fumble as he was being sacked on the next play and Devon Ackerman recovered the ball for the Mustangs at the Lions 29-yard line.

Zach Gross was sacked at the 35-yard line but then threw a 10-yard pass to Jaelen Langenfeld. Mike Felton the scampered 18-yards to the 9-yard line and Thomas scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 9-yard run. The extra point was missed and the Lions still led 7-6 with 2:38 to go in the first half.

The Mustangs opened the second half pounding the ball down the field. Felton and Thomas took turns chalking up chunks of yardage as the Mustangs moved from the 24-yard line to the 47-yard line in five plays. Thomas topped it off with a 53-yard touchdown sprint and Felton ran in for a 2-point conversion. The Mustangs went on top 14-7 at the 9:52 point in the third quarter.

The Lions went three and out and punted. The Mustangs drove from their 31-yaed line to the Lions 36-yard line in eight plays, featuring a 9-yard run by Felton, a 5-yard run by Carnie Fryfogle, a 4-yard run by Reid Cruz, and an 8-yard pass from Gross to Thomas, only to fumble and have Ben Axe recover the first of his two fumble recoveries. The Lions ended up punting and the Mustangs punted after five plays and 21-yards.

The Lions took over on their 29-yard line and three plays later Mike Duffy intercepted a pass at the Mustangs 43-yard line. Four runs by Thomas brought the pigskin to the Lions 33-yard line. Thomas’s fifth run was a 33-yard touchdown jaunt and the all Thomas 57-yard touchdown drive and the extra point kick by Jake Tracy put the Mustangs up 21-7 with 9:49 to go in the game.

The Lions went three and out and threw an incomplete pass on a fake punt attempt. The Mustangs took over on the Lions 34-yard line, only to fumble three plays later and have Ben Axe recover his second fumble for the Lions. The Lions then drove 63-yards in seven plays, featuring five completed passes by Klinefelter. A 14-yard strike to Damien Hess put the Lions in Mustang territory at the 43-yard line. A 16-yard pass to Seth Haight moved the ball to the 20, a 12-yard scamper by Klinefelter got to the 8-yard line and Klinefelter threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Erik Althoff. Pitilis added the extra point kick and the Lions closed to within 21-14 with 5:05 left in the game.

However, that ended the scoring in the game. The Mustangs punted and the Lions had one more shot at it but a drive that started on the Mustangs 48-yard line was thwarted by a sack by Fryfogle for a three yard loss, two incomplete passes, and a turnover on downs.

The Mustangs were then able to run out the clock, ending the game by taking a knee.

Felton kicked off 4 times for 175-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback, and he punted 7 times for 262-yards, for an average of 37.43-yards, with the longest going for 43-yards. Dillon Langenfeld returned 1 kickoff for 11-yards and returned 2 punts for 14 yards, with the longest going for 13-yards, twin brother Jaelen Langenfeld returned 1 kickoff for 8-yards, and 2 punts for 34-yards, with the longest going for 22-yards, Dillon Thomas returned 1 kickoff for 2-yards, and Carnie Fryfogle fair caught 1 punt, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the defense again with 13 tackles (giving him a team leading 108 for the season) and a sack, followed by Keith Pappas with 11 tackles, Mike Felton with 10 tackles and a pass defense, Reid Cruz with 6 tackles and a pass hurry, Ryan Dotson with 5 tackles, a sack and a pass hurry, Jeremy Loughlin with 5 tackles and a sack, Chad Kolper with 4 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 pass hurries, Zach Townsend with 4 tackles, Devon Ackerman with 3 tackles and a fumble recovery, Rich Delea with 3 tackles, and Eddie Lane, Jerome Robinson and Bobby Wildasin with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 273-yards rushing and 20-yards passing for a total of 293-yards of offense. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 27 carries for 201-yards (including touchdowns of 9. 53, and 33-yards), followed by Mike Felton with 14 for 57-yards, Reid Cruz with 1 for 20-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 2 for 1-yard, Dakotah Moses with 1 for no yards, and Zach Gross with 2 for minus 6-yards. Quarterback Gross completed 5 of 8 passes for 20-yards, 2 for 10-yards to Thomas, 1 for 10-yards to Jaelen Langenfeld, and 2 for no yards to Felton, for the Mustangs. Felton ran in for a 2-point conversion, Jake Tracy kicked 1 extra point, Mike Duffy intercepted a pass and Devon Ackerman recovered a fumble, for the Mustangs.

The Lions gained 59-yards rushing and 149-yards passing for a total of 208-yards gained. Dan Althoff led the Lions rushing attack with 16 carries for 62-yards, followed by Erick Toscano with 2 for 5-yards, Erik Althoff with 1 for 1-yard, and Tanner Klinefelter with 11 carries for minus 9-yards. Quarterback Klinefelter completed 17 of 26 passes for 149-yards and 2 touchdowns, 7 for 58-yards to Erik Althoff (including touchdowns of 28 and 8-yards), 2 for 50-yards to Seth Haight, 4 for 20-yards to Mitch Baublitz, 1 for 13-yards to Damien Hess, 2 for 5-yards to Dan Althoff, and 1 for 3-yards to Toscano, for the Lions. Pete Pitilis kicked 2 extra points, Ben Axe recovered 2 fumbles, Brooks Arnold recovered 1 fumble, and Nick Kocman recorded a sack, for the Lions.

Toscano led the Lions defense with 15 tackles, followed by Axe with 14, AJ Hungerford with 9, Erik Althoff with 7, Arnold and Zach Nichols with 6 tackles each, Dalton Fishel and Kocman with 5 tackles each, Mitch Baublitz with 3, Don Gurreri with 2 tackles, and Dan Althoff, Roland Brown-Morrow, Haight, and Matt Wanbaugh with 1 tackle each.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Red Lion Lions Marching Band put on a great post game performance with their show “24 Frames Per Second,” featuring themes from “Mission Impossible,” “Cadillac of the Skies,” “The Simpsons,” and “Psycho.” The Mustangs and Lions Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 6-2-0 overall and 3-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 193-87-1 (.689) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 334-205-8. The results of the 547 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .620 winning percentage and a .625 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will host the Bearcats of York High, William Penn (2-6 Overall, 1-2 league). The Bearcats are coming off of a 42-20 victory over the Rockets of Spring Grove (1-7 overall, 0-3 league). The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way on to victory. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 8–2011

2011-10-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High started out strong and moved the ball well before our injury depleted heroes fell victim to an avalanche of points losing a 48-0 shut out to the SPARTANS of Paramus in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action last week. Captains Andy Chorlian, Boris Lifshits and Steve Tatekawa won the coin toss and deferred the choice to the second half. Our heroes held with great plays by Pete Danko, Kevin Osback Franklyn Ramirez and others. Then behind center Kris Burger (who would later go out with an injury), guards Lifshits and Brendan Sibilio, tackles Brian Centeno and Jeff Welsh and tight end Nick Hickey, backs Corey Carlson and Tatekawa picked up yardage. Osback sneaked for a first down behind Burger. After a scoreless 1st quarter, the pounding and passing of the SPARTANS took its toll and the score ballooned to 48-18 by the end of the game. Our heroes never gave up and fine defensive plays were made by Malik Contee, Mike Nieman, Tatekawa, Laine White and others. The win brings the 1962-83 and 2010-11 record of the SPARTANS over our CUTTERS to 14-10 (.583). The shut out loss was the 84th in Fair Lawn’s 69 seasons and our CUTTERS have shut out their opponents 82 times. The Class of ’66 was in town for their 45 year reunion. Their ’65 CUTTERS, under new coach Frank Devens, went 8-0-1 (1.000) and won the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) title.

The game was broadcast live by MSG Varsity and Fair Lawn fans experienced commercial breaks for the first time! It could be watched on msgvarsity.com and, if you had them, TV channels 14 and 614 Monday night. At halftime the 2011 inductees into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame were introduced. The Hall was established in 2006 and one of the initial inductees was the late athletic director 1944-78, Virgil “Virge” Sasso, after whom SASSO FIELD is named. Each inductee was escorted onto the field by 2 of Fair Lawn’s version of “Football’s Fabulous Females,” FLHS Cheerleaders under the direction of their coach, Lauren Gimon!

It was senior recognition Saturday for the band and color guard senior members who were introduced and escorted onto the field by parents and/or relatives. Then the award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band and Color Guard gave a stellar performance of their show, “Bound.”

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division played its games against outsiders. The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the KNIGHTS of Paterson’s JFK drew byes. In two grotesque mismatches of parochial powerhouses against public schools, the BNC Liberty Division defending champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute were mauled 63-15 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were buried 54-0 by the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic. The INDIANS of Passaic were beaten 48-13 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley. With Fair Lawn’s loss the weekend BNC Liberty Division record against outsiders was 0-4 bringing the year to date record to a dismal 2-16 (.111).

In a game moved up because of the unavailability of the field, our CUTTERS travel on Thursday night at 6:00 to BAUERLE FIELD in Paterson to take on the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside for the 11th time. The rivalry is sweetened by the fact that, until FLHS opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. A few students from the Columbia Heights section went to Hawthorne and the Radburn section students went to Ridgewood. During 1947-54 in independent action, 1983 in the NNJIL and 2010 in BNC crossover action, our CUTTERS have gone 6-4 (.600) against the GHOSTS.

Fair Lawn and Eastside come into the game 1-5 (.167). Our CUTTERS have been outscored 244-46 for an average 41-8 loss. Eastside has been outscored 153-35 for an average 26-6 loss. Our CUTTERS can win this game with an all out effort. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 14–Eastside 6. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 7

2011-10-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 25-8 by the BULLDOGS of Rutherford in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959–63 in the NNJIL, our CUTTERS went 3-2 (.600) over the BULLDOGS. Rutherford left for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division in ’64.

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were shut out 27-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack in the NNJIL. During 1959-82 in NNJIL action, the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. The 12-6 Hackensack win in BNC crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shut out 39-0 by the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic in NNJIL action. In 1981 and 82 the CRUSADERS went 2-0 over Pete Natale’s CUTTERS. The unfair advantage the parochial schools had was the main reason Fair Lawn and Bergenfield left the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) in 1984 and returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), which Fair Lawn had left in 1959. In 2010 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action the 49-7 win brought the record to 3-0 (1.000) with BC ahead 129-7 in scoring

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS thrashed the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/ Old Tappan 39-8 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 rivalry 15–10 (.600).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 14-7 in NBIL inter-divisional action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 rivalry 13-10 (.565).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-8

2011-10-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 14, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Panthers of Central York in YAIAA Division I action and came away with a thrilling 26-20 victory. The Mustangs played the game with a heavy heart because one of their players, Ben Bynaker, was a victim in a murder-suicide last weekend. Ben’s father killed his wife, Tammy, and Ben, and then himself.

In a heartwarming spirit of unity in sympathy and support, every one of the 22 teams in the York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association wore a decal on their helmets this weekend, with a Mustang and the number 81. The Mustangs helmet had that decal and the black Mustang on each side, with the initials BB on one of them and the number 81 on the other. The Mustangs entered the field before the game from the isles of the grandstands and lofted white balloons after a stirring tribute to Ben by Stadium Announcer Carroll Granger. Just before the start of the game the entire Central York team lined up along their sideline and walked over to the Mustangs sideline to shake hands with all of the Mustangs. Needless to say there was hardly a dry eye in the house after this magnanimous gesture.

The Mustangs opened the game by going three and out and punting. The Panthers then drove 46-yards in eight plays, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Mustangs 27-yard line.

The Mustangs then drove 73-yards in twelve plays, featuring a 28-yard pass from Zach Gross to Keith Pappas, and ending with Mike Felton’s 3-yard touchdown plunge. The Mustangs were up 6-0 at the 2:30 mark in the first quarter.

The Panthers then drove 50-yards in five plays, featuring a 57-yard run by Marquis Fells, only to turn the ball over on downs again at the Mustangs 16-yard line. Rich Delea’s tackle of Sherief Sutton for a 7-yard loss was followed by 2 incomplete passes to end the Panthers’ drive.

The Mustangs then ended up losing yardage to the 11 and Felton got off a 58-yard punt. The Panthers then drove 70-yards in four plays, featuring a 57-yard pass from Brandon Baker to Jake Sinkovitz, and ending with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Baker to Jalil Ford. Tom Flinchbaugh’s extra point kick put the Panthers up 7-6 at the 9:23 mark in the second quarter.

Dillon Langenfeld returned the kickoff 19-yards to the Mustangs 44-yard line, but they ended up punting. The Panthers drove 86-yards in nine plays, featuring runs of 16 and 45-yards by Marquis Fells, only to turn the ball over on downs for the third time, this time at the Mustangs 4-yard line.

The Mustangs ended up punting and the Panthers started a six-play drive at the Mustangs 34-yard line. Baker threw a 20-yard scoring strike to Ford and the Panthers were up 13-6 with 37 seconds left in the first half.

The Panthers opened the second half at their 14-yard line with a 2-yard loss by Fells and then Jerome Robinson intercepted a pass from Baker for the Mustangs at the Panthers 30-yard line. The Mustangs’ six-play drive, featuring an 18-yard pass from Gross to Dillon Thomas, ended with a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Gross. The Panthers were still up 13-12 at the 8:17 mark in the third quarter.

The Panthers then drove 62-yards in nine plays, featuring a 29-yard pass from Baker to Corey Hartz to the Mustangs 31-yard line and ending with Baker’s 29-yard touchdown pass to Hartz. Flinchbaugh’s extra point kick upped the score to 20-12 in favor of the Panthers with 2:02 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then started a drive at the Panthers 37-yard line after a 32-yard kickoff return by Jaelen Langenfeld. Eight plays later the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the Panthers 9-yard line. The Panthers ended up punting and the Mustangs took over on their 40-yard line. Felton gained 2-yards to the 42-yard line and Gross threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Jerome Robinson. This made the score 20-18, still in favor of the Panthers, with 8:28 to go in the game.

The Panthers then went three and out and punted. The Mustangs then drove 56-yards in 15 plays, featuring a 7-yard pass from Gross to Pappas, and a 9-yad run by Dillon Thomas, and ending with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Gross to Robinson. Thomas ran in for a 2-point conversion and the Mustangs took a 26-20 lead for the first time with one minute left in the game.

The Panthers turned over the ball on downs in four plays, sealing the victory for the Mustangs.

Felton kicked off 5 times for 231-yards, with the longest going for 51-yards, and he punted 4 times for 171-yards, for an average of 42.75-yards, with the longest going for 58-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 2 kickoffs for 32-yards, with the longest going for 25-yards, and twin brother Dillon Langenfeld returned 1 kickoff for 19-yards and returned 2 punts for no yards.

Carnie Fryfogle led the defense again as usual with 11 tackles (giving him a team leading 95 for the season), followed by Mike Felton with 8 tackles, Rich Delea with 7 tackles, 1 sack and 1 pass hurry, Chad Kolper with 7 tackles and a pass hurry, Keith Pappas with 7 tackles, Reid Cruz with 6 tackles, Zach Townsend with 5 tackles, Devon Ackerman and Jeremy Loughlin with 4 tackles each, Jerome Robinson with 3 tackles, and an interception, Ryan Dotson with 2 tackles, and Dillon Langenfeld and Eddie Lane with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, and Jerome Robinson patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, and Jaelen Langenfeld.

The Mustangs gained 132-yards rushing and 109-yards passing for a total of 241-yards of offense. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 20 carries for 69-yards, followed by Mike Felton with 19 for 56-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), Dakotah Moses with 3 for 3-yards, Reid Cruz with 2 for 2-yards, and Zach Gross with 2 carries for 2-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown). Quarterback Gross completed 6 of 10 passes for 109-yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 for 64-yards to Jerome Robinson (including touchdowns of 58 and 6-yards), 2 for 34-yards to Keith Pappas, 1 for 18-yards to Thomas, and 1 for minus 7-yards to Felton, for the Mustangs. Dillon ran in for a 2-point conversion and Robinson intercepted a pass for the Mustangs.

The Panthers gained 196-yards rushing and 185-yards passing for a total of 381-yards gained. Marques Fells led the Panthers rushing attack with 13 carries for 143-yards, followed by Saladin Dickson with 6 for 30-yards, Sherief Sutton with 7 for 16-yards, and Brandon Baker with 5 carries for 7-yards. Quarterback Baker completed 11 of 24 passes for 185-yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 for 60-yards to Jake Sinkovitz, 2 for 55-yards to Corey Hartz (including a 29-yard touchdown), 5 for 37-yards to Jalil Ford (including touchdowns of 3 and 20-yards), 1 for 21-yards to Fells, and 1 for 12-yards to Travis Shaffer, for the Panthers. Thomas Flinchbaugh kicked 2 extra points for the Panthers.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring pre-game performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt.

The Central York Panthers Marching Band put on a rousing half time performance with their show “US Tour 2011,” featuring “Georgia on my Mind,” “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “New York State of Mind,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “Surfin’ USA.” Unfortunately, wet field conditions forced both bands to perform on the track, with no marching. The Mustangs and Panthers Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 5-2-0 overall and 2-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 192-87-1 (.688) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 333-205-8. The results of the 546 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .619 winning percentage and a .625 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will visit the Lions of Red Lion (5-2 Overall, 1-1 league). The Lions are coming off of a 49-7 victory over the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop and pass their way along on the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 7–2011

2011-10-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High came out firing last Friday night at Clifton School Stadium and upset the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 13-12 in a Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division thriller! Captains Nick Hickey, Boris Lifshits and Steve Tatekawa won the coin toss and our CUTTERS deferred their choice to the 2nd half. Kicker Aryeh Moslavi made a TD saving tackle on the kickoff and with great plays by George Alexandris, Corey Carlson, Lifshits, Kevin Osback, Franklyn Ramirez and Laine White, they held the Fighting Mustangs off. Kris Burger made a hellacious hit sacking Clifton’s talented QB and knocking him out of the game with an ankle injury. It wasn’t until 7:06 in the 2nd quarter that Clifton scored. Our “never-say die” CUTTERS came right back as Osback threw to Carlson for 2 big first downs. His picture TD pass to Hickey was nullified by a penalty but Osback bulled in for the tying TD and the Clifton crowd, expecting an easy win, grew very quiet!

In the 2nd half the Fair Lawn heroics continued. The teams battled back and forth and Alexandris’ interception led to Osback throwing a beautiful TD pass to John Pagios with 4:39 on the clock. With Mike Nieman snapping and Pete Danko holding, Moslavi kicked the extra point to put Fair Lawn ahead 13-6. With 1:16 on the clock, Clifton scored but a sensational stop on the 2 point conversion try by Lifshits kept our Cutters in front 13-12. Osback’s interception of a desperation Clifton pass had Fair Lawn fans screaming with unbounded joy! Fine defensive plays were made by a plethora of Cutters including Brian Centeno, Carlos Carlone, Danko, Andy Chorlian, Dan Laboy, Scott Marcoux, Brendan Sibilio and Jeff Welsh. Shame on me for predicting an 18-10 Clifton win! Once again privileged to announce the Clifton Mustang Marching Band and also to help the stadium announcer “spot,” I witnessed almost the exact opposite happen.

During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010-11 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-3-1 (.750) over Fair Lawn. Our CUTTERS are 1-1 (.500) against Clifton in BNC Liberty Division play and this delicious victory is their first over the FIGHTING MUSTANGS since 1979 when Pete Natale’s Cutters shocked them 21-0 in NNJIL play before falling 30-0 to them in the States.

The weekend saw Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division playing Division games. In addition to Fair Lawn’s win, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute beat the Knights of JFK of Paterson 35-12 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside shut out the INDIANS of Passaic 22-0.

On Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS are home at SASSO FIELD to take on the SPARTANS of Paramus for the 24th time. During 1962-83 in NNJIL action, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984. It resumed in 2010 in BNC crossover action and the 42-13 Paramus win put the SPARTANS up 13-10 (.565). This is the “Hall of Fame Game” and the 2011 inductees to the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame will be introduced at halftime. Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-4 (200) having been outscored 196-46 for an average 39-9 loss. Paramus comes into the game 3-2 (.600) having been outscored 103-73 for an average 21-15 loss. I know our CUTTERS will make an all out effort and I think thy can beat the SPARTANS. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 17 – Paramus 14. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 6

2011-10-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS stepped out of their Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) to edge the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) COLTS of Paterson Central 19-18. Those COLTS are now the KNIGHTS of JFK. Paterson Central was the Turkey Day rival of the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside and most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside before FLHS opened in 1943. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over Central. In 1988 the successor KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy beat our CUTTERS 20-6 in the States while, in the 2003 State “Consolation Game,” our CUTTERS prevailed 20-0. During 1951-56 independently, in the playoffs in 1988, in a Consolation game in 2003, in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) in 2009 and in 2010 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Fair Lawn has gone to 8-3 (.727) over Central/Kennedy.

1961 – New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS were beaten 19-7 by the TIGERS of Tenafly in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Fair Lawn joined the NNJIL in 1959 and the TIGERS made our undefeated CUTTERS play in a hurricane. In the only game played in North Jersey that awful day, Tenafly won 6-0. That loss, combined with the 13-7 Thanksgiving Day upset by the MAROONS of Ridgewood, gave the NNJIL title by half a game to the COMETS of Hackensack, who our CUTTERS had beaten 27-6. The TIGERS took the 1959-61 rivalry 3-0 (1.000) before leaving for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS shut out the BEARS of Bergenfield 7-0 in NNJIL 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 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the BENGALS of Bloomfield 20-7 in NNJIL action. Our CUTTERS took the 1977 independent and 1978-81 NNJIL rivalry 4-1 (.800). In ’77 Bloomfield was not yet a full NNJIL member because of a commitment to play Irvington on Thanksgiving.

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo 19-14 in NBIL Division 1 action. Ramapo took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 rivalry 17-11 (.607).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 34-20 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in NBIL Division 1 action. The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) rivalry 20-5 (.800). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8. The teams went 5-5 (.500) against each other in their 1984-93 Turkey Day rivalry.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-7

2011-10-09T11:46:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 7, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Wildcats of Dallastown at the Mustang Corral on Homecoming Night to begin YAIAA Division I action for the 2011 season and galloped to a 29-21 come from behind victory. The Wildcats led 15-0 at the half and the Mustangs stormed back in the second half to win the game.

The Mustangs started the game with a three-play drive that ended when Jack Margavitch intercepted a Zach Gross pass and returned it 28-yards for the Wildcats. The Wildcats drove 32-yards in eight plays, featuring a 12-yard pass from Andrew Henry to Josh Chronister, and ending with Henry’s 4-yard touchdown plunge. The extra point kick by Margavitch put the Wildcats up 7-0 at the 6:16 mark in the first quarter.

The defenses of the Mustangs and the Wildcats stiffened and they exchanged punts. The Mustangs ended up punting again and the Wildcats drove 56-yards in two plays, ending with a 52-yard touchdown jaunt by Andrew Quinones. The extra point snap was high and Quinones came to the rescue with a 2-point conversion pass to David Butler, upping the score to 15-0 with 10:15 to go in the second quarter.

The Mustangs turned the ball over on downs and the Wildcats punted, but Brooks Morrison recovered the muffed punt for the Wildcats. The Wildcats then turned the ball over on downs and the first half came to an end.

The Wildcats drove 35-yards in eight plays, featuring a 15-yard pass from Henry to Keith Matthews, but ended up punting. Dillon Langenfeld returned the punt for 45-yards, setting the Mustangs up on the Wildcats 29-yard line. Dakotah Moses gained 11-yards, then 3-yards, and Mike Felton finished off the three-play drive with a nifty 15-yard touchdown run. Jake Tracy kicked the extra point and the score was 15-7 at the 6:02 mark in the third quarter.

The Wildcats next possession was short lived and ended when Reid Cruz recovered a Wildcats fumble for the Mustangs. The Mustangs then drove 44-yards in five plays, featuring a 32-yard pass from Gross to Jaelen Langenfeld, and ending with a 5-yard touchdown run by Dillon Thomas. Gross then threw a picture perfect 2-point conversion pass to Fryfogle and the Mustangs tied the game at 15 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

On the next play from scrimmage Felton intercepted a Wildcats pass, but the Mustangs couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs. The Wildcats ended up punting but Margavitch recovered the muffed punt for the Wildcats. The Wildcats drove 32-yards in four plays, featuring a 26-yard pass from Henry to Margavitch and ending with a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Quinones. The score went to 21-15 in favor of the wildcats with 9:11 left in the game.

The Mustangs then drove 60-yards in six plays. Gross threw a beautiful 44-yard touchdown pass to Reid Cruz and Tracy’s extra point kick gave the Mustangs a 22-21 lead with 6:07 left in the game.

The game was still up for grabs and the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs at the Mustangs 40-yard line with 1:20 left in the game. Dakotah Moses gained 3-yards and then Dillon Thomas sealed the victory with a 57-yard touchdown run. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 29-21 and closed out the scoring with 1:05 left in the game.

Felton kicked off 5 times for 248-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback, and he punted 3 times for 126-yards, for an average of 42.0-yards, with the longest going for 48-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 3 kickoffs for 59-yards, with the longest going for 25-yards, Carnie Fryfogle returned 1 kickoff for 9-yards, and Dillon Langenfeld fielded 1 punt with a fair catch, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the defense again (a fairly regular occurrence) with 20 tackles (giving him a team leading 84 for the season), followed by Mike Felton with 15 tackles, an interception and a pass defense, Keith Pappas with 12 tackles, Ryan Dotson with 8 tackles and a sack, Chad Kolper with 8 tackles, Reid Cruz with 7 tackles and a fumble recovery, Jeremy Loughlin with 7 tackles and a sack, Jerome Robinson with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Brandon Stremmel with 6 tackles, Logan Bowman with 5 tackles, a sack and a pass defense, Devon Ackerman with 5 tackles, Rich Delea with 3 tackles and a fumble recovery, Dillon Langenfeld and Dillon Thomas with 2 tackles each, Brandon Krise with 1 tackle and a pass defense, and Alex Baugher, Eddie Lane, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Aram Moffit with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Chad Kolper, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Jerome Robinson, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 198-yards rushing and 78-yards passing for a total of 276-yards of offense. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 9 carries for 82-yards (including touchdowns of 5 and 57-yards), followed by Mike Felton with 12 for 71-yards (including a 15-yard touchdown), Dakotah Moses with 8 for 37-yards, Reid Cruz with 3 for 4-yards, and Carnie Fryfogle with 1 carry for 4-yards. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 3 of 9 passes for 78-yars and 1 touchdown, 1 for 44-yards and a touchdown to Cruz, 1 for 32-yards to Jaelen Langenfeld, and 1 for 2 yards to Thomas, for the Mustangs. Gross through a perfect 2-pont conversion pass to Fryfogle, Jake Tracy kicked 3 extra points, Felton intercepted a pass, and Cruz and Rich Delea each recovered a fumble, for the Mustangs.

The Wildcats gained 212-yards rushing and 131-yards passing for a total of 343-yards gained. Andrew Quinones led the Wildcats rushing attack with 9 carries for 75-yards (including touchdowns of 52 and 2-yards), followed by Keith Matthews with 21 for 75-yards, Andrew Henry with 18 for 59-yards (including a 4-yard touchdown), and Andrew Heird with 1 carry for 3-yards. Quarterback Henry completed 11 of 17 passes for 131-yards, 7 for 77-yards to David Butler, 2 for 25-yards to Josh Chronister, 1 for 15-yards to Drew Romesberg, and 1 for 14-yards to Matthews, for the Wildcats. Quinones threw a 2-point conversion pass to Butler, Jack Margavitch kicked 1 extra point and intercepted a pass and returned it for 28-yards, and Brooks Morrison recovered a muffed punt, for the Wildcats.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring post-game performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt. The Dallastown Wildcats Marching Band put on a rousing half time performance with their show “The Music of Elvis,” featuring “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” “Burning Love,””CC Rider,” “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” The Mustangs and Wildcatss Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful. For the third quarter the Mustangs fielded the cheer leading squads from the middle school through the high school and nearly 100 cheerleaders performed in unison to put on an awesome show.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-2-0 overall and 1-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 191-87-1 (.688) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 332-205-8. The results of the 545 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .618 winning percentage and a .624 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Panthers of Central York (5-1 overall, 1-0 league). Central York is coming off of a 49-0 victory over the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to continue their winning ways. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 6 – 2011

2011-10-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were idle last week. They were scheduled to play the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic but gladly acquiesced when Bergen Catholic asked if they could play the KNIGHTS of Friendship Collegiate Academy of Washington, D.C. instead. The CRUSADERS beat the KNIGHTS 48-32.

I took in the Clifton-Ridgewood game at Clifton School Stadium and was privileged to again be the guest announcer for the Clifton High School Mustang Marching Band, which they proudly dub “The Show Band of the Northeast!” While there, I helped the stadium announcer “spot,” telling him what player made the tackle, etc. It reminded me of when my twin brother, Bill, who moved to Pennsylvania in 1997, and I were the “spotters” for long time popular Fair Lawn announcer, Joe Hausmann for over 30 seasons ending in 1996. I became “The Voice of the CUTTERS on the Gridiron” in 1997.

In this Big North Conference (BNC) crossover game, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the MAROONS of Ridgewood 12-7. Former Fair Lawn assistant coaches John DiGiorgio and Robert Gentile are on the Ridgewood staff; Gentile is the offensive coordinator. In the other crossover games, the INDIANS of Passaic were stung 39-23 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were shut out 33-0 by the SOARING EAGLES of Union City. Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division went 1-1 (.500) against outside opposition and is 2-12 (.143) so far in ’11. In the only BNC Liberty Division game, the KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute edged the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 13-6

On Friday night at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Clifton to take on those FIGHTING MUSTANGS for the 13th time. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 in the BNC Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn. It started in 1972 when Clifton joined the NNJIL but was not eligible for a championship because an agreement to play Passaic on Thanksgiving prevented the FIGHTING MUSTANGS from playing a full league schedule. They ripped through the league undefeated 1972-74 and, in 1975, when they could have taken the title; the HORNETS of Passaic Valley upset them in Little Falls. In 1979, our CUTTERS shocked Clifton 21-0 in the regular season only to see the FIGHTING MUSTANGS shut them out 30-0 in playoff action! In 1980 Fair Lawn, Clifton and Passaic Valley shared the NNJIL crown and all 3 went to GIANTS STADIUM for the States. In the opening round our CUTTERS came back from 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 deficits to beat the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the most thrilling game in their history to that point, while Clifton lost to Passaic Valley. In the finals, Passaic Valley, a team Fair Lawn had edged 7-6 during the season; shut our CUTTERS out 21-0.

Clifton comes into the game 3-2 (600) having outscored the opposition 90-62 for an average 18-12 victory. The FIGHTING MUSTANGS lost their first 2 games and have won 3 straight since. Fair Lawn is 0-4 and has been outscored 184-33 for an average 46-8 loss. I wish I could foresee a Fair Lawn victory but the tremendous Clifton depth figures to take its toll. I’m sure our “never-say-die” CUTTERS will make a heroic effort and I think they can keep it close. From here it looks like Clifton 18 – Fair Lawn 10. Who knows? If our heroes can keep it close, they might even win! GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 5

2011-10-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS beat the RAMS of Ramsey 26-20 in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800) in B-PIL and Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action!

1961 – New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS drew a bye.

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS edged the SPARTANS of Paramus 16-14 in NNJIL action. During 1962-83 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984. It resumed in 2010 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and the 42-13 Paramus win put the SPARTANS up 13-10(.565). The teams tangle October 22nd in the Hall of Fame Game at SASSO FIELD.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 42-0 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High in NNJIL action. - During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the (NNJIL) and 2010 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn, including a State playoff victory in 1979. The teams tangle next week at Clifton!

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS edged the RAMS of Ramsey 10-8 in NBIL interdivisional action. - Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry 28-7 (.800) in B-PIL and NBIL action!

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 31-7 in NBIL Division 1 action. Our CUTTERS took the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry 13-9 (.591). The 40-0 NV shut out win in 2010 and the 48-10 NORSEMEN win in 2011 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action brought the record to 13-10 (.565) Fair Lawn.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-6

2011-10-02T14:50:00.001-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, September 30, the Mustangs of South Western visited the YAIAA Division II Bulldogs of West York and were defeated 49-14. The 4-1 Bulldogs were not to be denied as the solid running of Mike Bell and Brock Snellbaker and the pinpoint passing of Kaden Hepler combined for nearly 500-yards of offense.

The Bulldogs opened the game with a thirteen play 66-yard drive, featuring a 20-yard pass from Hepler to Jerrin Toomey and a fake punt that saw Zack Smith gain 16-yards and a first down, but ending in a turnover on downs at the Mustangs 14-yard line. The Mustangs only got off two plays before Toomey intercepted a Zach Gross pass and returned it to the 4-yard line. Three plays later Hepler scored on a 1-yard plunge and Chris Markel’s extra point kick put the Bulldogs up 7-0 at the 5:21 mark in the first quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and Mike Felton boomed a 60-yard punt. The Bulldogs started at their 7-yard line and drove 93-yards in five plays, featuring a 15-yard pass to Zack Smith and a 49-yard touchdown run by Mike Bell. Markel’s extra point kick made the score 14-0 with 2:43 to go in the first quarter.

The Mustangs got off 2 plays before Brock Gladfelter intercepted a Gross pass and retuned it 43-yards for a touchdown. Markel’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 1:19 to go in the first quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 60-yards in eight plays, featuring a 10-yard pass to Jerome Robinson and ending with a 35-yard touchdown scamper by Dillon Thomas. Jake Tracy’s extra point kick made the score 21-7 at the 9:42 point in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs came right back with a 61-yard drive, featuring Mike Bell’s 16-yard run, a 19-yard pass from Hepler to Toomey, and an 11-yard touchdown pass from Hepler to Zack Smith. Markel’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-7 with 7:33 to go in the first half.

The Mustangs fumbled the kickoff and the Bulldogs got the ball at the Mustang 40-yard line. Six plays later Bell scored on a 14-yard run. Markel’s extra point kick upped the score to 35-7 with 5:27 to go in the half.

The Mustangs punted after four plays and the Bulldogs drove 80-yards in twelve plays, ending with Hepler’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Smith. Markel’s extra point kick upped the score to 42-7 with 25 seconds left in the fist half.

The Mustangs fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half and Gladfelter recovered his second fumble for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs eventually turned the ball over on downs. The Bulldogs got it right back when Toomey intercepted his second pass. The Bulldogs again turned the ball over on downs. By this time both teams were substituting liberally. The Mustangs got off a booming 56-yard punt after a short drive. The Bulldogs punted.

The Mustangs drove 50-yards in four plays, featuring Felton’s 25-yard run and Felton’s 21-yard touchdown sprint. Tracy’s extra point kick made the score 42-14 with 9:27 left in the game.

The Bulldogs drove 66-yards in three plays, ending with a 55-yard touchdown run by Qy Hall. Markel’s sure-footed extra point kick closed out thee scoring at 49-14 with 6:44 left in the game.

Felton kicked off 1 time for 60-yards and a touchback and he punted 4 times for 215-yards, for an average of 53.75-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards. Jake Tracy kicked off 1 time for 45-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 4 kickoffs for 83-yards, with the longest going for 35-yards, Felton returned 1 kickoff for 25-yards, Carnie Fryfogle returned 1 kickoff for 10-yards, and Jerome Robinson returned 1 kickoff for 8-yards, and Dillon Langenfeld returned 1 punt for minus 3-yards, for the Mustangs.

Keith Pappas, who had 11 tackles and a sack, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Reid Cruz with 11 tackles, Carnie Fryfogle with 10 tackles (giving him a team leading 64 for the season), Mike Felton with 7 tackles and a pass hurry, Ryan Dotson, Mike Duffy, Brandon Krise, and Rich Delea with 6 tackles each, Dillon Langenfeld with 4 tackles and a pass defense, Devon Ackerman and Jeremy Loughlin with 4 tackles each, Alex Baugher with 3 tackles, Jaelen Langenfeld with 2 tackles and a pass hurry, Aram Moffit, Jerome Robinson, Brandon Stremmel, and Zach Townsend with 2 tackles each, and Logan Bowman and Daulton James with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Jerome Robinson, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 185-yards rushing and 16-yards passing for a total of 201-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 5 carries for 63-yards (including a 21-yard touchdown), followed by Dillon Thomas with 5 for 45-yards (including a 35-yard touchdown), Bobby Wildasin with 3 for23-yards, Brady Stevenson with 4 for 22-yards, Dakotah Moses with 5 for 11-yards, Nick Bond with 2 for 11-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 6 for 9-yards, and Tyler Sterner with 1 carry for 1-yard. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 3 of 8 passes for 12-yards, 1 for 10-yards to Jerome Robinson and 2 for 2-yards to Felton, and quarterback Sterner completed 1 of 3 passes for 4-yards to Stevenson, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 2 extra points for the Mustangs.

The Bulldogs gained 328-yards rushing and 164 yards passing for a total of 492-yards gained. Mike Bell led the Bulldogs rushing attack with 14 carries for 138-yards (including touchdowns of 49 and 14-yards) followed by Brock Snellbaker with 18 for 71, Qy Hall with 5 for 53, Kaden Hepler with 7 for 33 (including a 1-yard touchdown), Ross Campbell with 3 for 16, Zack Smith with 1 for 16, Steven Wilson with 1 for 4-yards, and Austin Bowser with 1 for minus 3-yards. Quarterback Hepler completed 12 of 18 passes for 164-yards and 2 touchdowns, 6 for 75-yards to Zack Smith (including touchdowns of 11 and 2-yards), 4 for 72-yards to Jerrin Toomey, 1 for 12-yards to Brandon Kinneman, and 1 for 5-yards to Jeremy Stauffer, for the Bulldogs. Brock Gladfelter returned an interception 42-yards for a touchdown and recovered 2 fumbles of kickoffs, Chris Markel kicked 7 extra points, and Toomey intercepted 2 passes, for the Bulldogs.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt. The West York Area Bulldogs Marching Band put on a rousing pre-game performance, The Music of Elvis, including “Can’t Help Falling in Live,” “Burning Love,” “CC Rider,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” and “Jail House Rock.” The show ended with the announcement, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Elvis has left the Building.” The Mustangs and Bulldogs Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 3-2-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 190-87-1 (.686) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 331-205-8. The results of the 544 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .617 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Wildcats of Dallastown (2-3 overall, 0-0 league). Dallastown is coming off of a 7-6 victory over the Bobcats of Northeastern. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 5 – 2011

2011-10-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were shut out 41-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack last week in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action at Tom Della Torre Field, named after the late legendary long time Hackensack coach. Captains Boris Lifshits, Steve Tatekawa and Jeff Welsh went out for the coin toss. The COMETS took the opening kick off and our CUTTERS held with big plays by Brian Centeno, Brendan Sibilio and Thomas Koike. Fair Lawn’s first drive was stopped but Pete Danko’s fumble recovery put our CUTTERS in business at the 26 yard line. It was Fair Lawn’s best chance of the day to score but, alas, the drive stalled and the COMETS took over on downs.

Then the flood gates opened as our injury depleted CUTTERS fought hard but succumbed to the size, depth and speed of the COMETS. The halftime score of 35-0 had the clock continuously running under the special 35 point differential rule throughout the second half. The COMETS would score only once more as Hackensack Coach Mike Miello showed class by inserting subs. He could have held a grudge since, during 1984-87; Fair Lawn Coach Pete Natale’s CUTTERS went 4-0 against his GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo! On “D,” Matt Ferry blocked an extra point attempt, Tatekawa and Kevin Osback teamed up on a TD saving tackle, George Alexandris broke up a pass, Franklyn Ramirez made a great stop, and Laine White and others made plays. Osback boomed a punt all the way to the 8 yard line. Our heroes also blocked a punt!

During 1959-82 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) the Comets went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Legendary Fair Lawn Coach Frank Bennett’s 1953 Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. The 2-0 Hackensack lead in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010-11 has the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS 19-7-1 (.731).

The shut out loss was Fair Lawn’s first since our CUTTERS’ 21-0 loss to the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High last year. Since their beginning in 1943, our CUTTERS have shut their opponents out 82 times and have been shut out themselves 83 times!

In the only game played in Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division, the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson surprised the INDIANS of Passaic 30-20. The league finally won a game against outsiders as the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the KNIGHTS of Bergen Tech 35-16. In addition to Fair Lawn’s crossover loss, despite 268 year old “Thomas Jefferson” running for three touchdowns, the BNC Liberty Division defending champion KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute were upended 40-36 by the LANCERS of Lakeland. The GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were shut out 7-0 by the BEARS of Bergenfield. The 1-3 (.250) weekend record against outsiders brought the BNC Liberty Division record in crossover action to 1-10 (.091) so far!

This week our CUTTERS have a Bye. They were scheduled to play the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic in yet another grotesque match up of a public school against a parochial behemoth and were happy to say “Go right ahead!” when Bergen Catholic asked if they could play out of State power Friendship Collegiate Academy of Washington, D.C. instead. In next weeks column, we’ll check out games of interest to Fair Lawn fans and look ahead to Fair Lawn’s appearance on Friday October 14th at 7:00 at Clifton Schools Stadium. Til then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 4

2011-09-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were beaten 32-14 by the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst in league action. - Fair Lawn took the fierce 1945 – 53 rivalry with Lyndhurst 5-4 (.556). The CUTTERS and GOLDEN BEARS shared the 1947 title. The B-PIL became the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956.

1961 – New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS were beaten 25-12 by the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. In independent action 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS ambushed the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck 27-8 in NNJIL action. 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.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 20-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round. Fair Lawn shared the 1980 NNJIL title with the HORNETS and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High.

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS lost a 41-34 shootout to the BRAVES of Indian Hills in NBIL interdivisional action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 NBIL interdivisional rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Realignment has ended it for now.

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah 34-9 in NBIL interdivisional action. During 1999-2001 and 2007-2008 our CUTTERS have gone 4-1 (.800) over the THUNDERBIRDS in NBIL crossover action.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-5

2011-09-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, September 23, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the YAIAA Division II Warriors of Susquehannock at the Mustang Corral and galloped and passed their way to a 40-0 shutout victory. Temple University bound Mike Felton led the way again, this time with two rushing and 2 receiving touchdowns.

Jeremy Loughlin set the Mustangs up in good field position by recovering the Warriors opening squib kick at the Mustangs 42-yard line. Five plays later Felton scored on a nifty 32-yard run and Jake Tracy kicked the extra point to put the Mustangs up 7-0 at 10:14, just one minute and 46 seconds into the game.

The Warriors got two plays in before Felton intercepted a pass and returned it 20-yards to the Warriors 10-yard line for the Mustangs. Joshua Mueller sacked Zach Gross at the 18-yard line and then Gross threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Felton. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-0 at the 7:01 mark in the first quarter.

The Warriors again got off just two plays before Reid Cruz intercepted a pass and returned it 5-yards to the Warriors 33-yard line. Gross immediately threw a picture perfect 33-yard touchdown pass to Keith Pappas and Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 5:15 still left in the first quarter.

The Warriors went three and out and punted. The Mustangs then drove 60-yards in nine plays, featuring an 8-yard run by Carnie Fryfogle, a 10-yard run by Dillon Thomas, an 11-yard pass from Gross to Fryfogle, and a 23-yard pass from Gross to Pappas. The drive ended with Felton’s 8-yard touchdown run and Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-0 with 10:04 to go in the second quarter.

The Warriors then put on a 12 play, 42-yard drive, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Mustangs 26-yard line. The Mustangs then drove 74-yards in nine plays, featuring six passes from Gross, a 10-yard pass to Brandon Krise, a 12-yard pass to Dakotah Moses, a 15-yard pass to Felton, a 14-yard pass to Felton, an 8-yard pass to Logan Bowman, and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Felton. That upped the score to 34-0 with 12 seconds left in the first half.

The Warriors opened the second half and moved only 4-yards before punting. The Mustangs then drove 58-yards in four plays, ending with a Dillon Thomas 46-yard touchdown jaunt. That upped the score to 40-0 at the 7:44 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs kicked off to the Warriors and then the Mustangs varsity defense came off the field in mass. The Mustangs substituted liberally on offense and defense for the rest of the game.

Felton kicked off 7 times for 352-yards, with the longest going for 57-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 3 punts for 19-yards, with the longest going for 11-yards for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle, who had 13 tackles, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Reid Cruz with 5 tackles and an interception, Rich Delea and Keith Pappas with 5 tackles each, Zach Townsend and Wyatt Trostle with 4 tackles each, Mike Felton with 3 tackles, an interception and a pass defense, Brandon Stremmel with 3 tackles and 2 pass hurries, Ryan Dotson, Eddie Lane, and Dillon Langenfeld with 3 tackles each, Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Aram Moffit, Zach Osborne, Jerome Robinson, and Dillon Thomas with 2 tackles each, Jeremy Loughlin with 1 tackle and a pass hurry, and Rick Bosse, Domnick Holcombe, Jake Hunt, Daulton James, Alex Jones, Ryan Klinedinst, Jaelen Langenfeld, Jordan Markle, Dakotah Moses, David Schaub, Shawn Secola, and Bobby Wildasin with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, Dillon Thomas, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dakotah Moses. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Jerome Robinson, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 180-yards rushing and 191-yards passing for a total of 371-yards of offense. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 4 carries for 60-yards (including a 46-yard touchdown), followed by Mike Felton with 5 for 54-yards (including touchdowns of 32 and 8-yards), Dakotah Moses with 6 for 21-yards, Reid Cruz with 3 for 19-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 4 for18-yards, Jon Hoover with 2 for 13-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for 8-yards, Brady Stevenson with 1 for no yards, Daulton James with 4 for minus 1-yard, Mike Duffy with 1 for minus 3-yards, and Zach Gross with 1 carry for minus 9-yards. Quarterback Gross completed 12 of 13 passes for 164-yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 for 56-yards to Keith Pappas (including a 33-yard touchdown), 3 for 50-yards to Felton (including touchdowns of 18 and 19-yards), 2 for 18-yards to Cruz, 1 for 11-yards to Fryfogle, 1 for 10-yards to Brandon Krise, 1 for 8-yards to Logan Bowman, 1 for 8-yards to Moses, and 1 for 3-yards to Thomas, for the Mustangs. Quarterback Mike Duffy completed 2 of 2 passes for 27-yards, 1 for 18-yards to James and 1 for 9-yards to Ben Bynaker, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 4 extra points, Felton intercepted a pass and returned it 20-yards, Cruz intercepted a pass and returned it 5-yards, and Fryfogle registered 13 tackles, for the Mustangs.

The Warriors rang up 115-yards rushing and minus 2-yards passing for a total of 113 yards gained. Phillip Norris led the Warriors rushing attack with 10 carries for 56-yards, followed by Austin Sauble with 9 for 33, Samuel H. Miller with 4 for 13, Bryan Kerr with 4 for 5, Stephen Ward with 3 for 4, and Josh Mueller with 2 for 4-yards. Quarterback Norris completed 1 of 4 passes for minus 1-yard to Kyle Miller and quarterback Kerr completed 1 of 3 passes for minus 1-yard to Sauble for the Warriors.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring pre-game performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt. The Susquehannock Marching Band put on a rousing half time performance. Unfortunately, due to the weather and field conditions, both bands played their music while standing on the track so we missed out on their precision marching. The Mustangs and Warriors Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 3-1-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 190-86-1 (.688) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 331-204-8. The results of the 543 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .619 winning percentage and a .624 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Division II Bulldogs of West York (3-1 overall, 0-0 league). West York is coming off of a hard fought 21-13 victory over the Wildcats of Dallastown. The Mustangs are looking to gallop along in their winning tradition. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 4 – 2011

2011-09-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The scrappy CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High came out smoking and led the vaunted BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute 3-0 before falling 49-9 last week in Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action. Captains Kris Burger, Boris Lifshits and Steve Tatekawa went out for the coin toss. PCTI received the opening kickoff and their fumble was alertly recovered by Nick Hickey. After Tatekawa carried, QB Kevin Osback ran to the 11. The drive stalled and, with Kevin Benjamin snapping and Pete Danko holding, the sure footed Aryeh Moslavi booted a 25 yard field goal to give our CUTTERS a 3-0 lead on the defending BNC Liberty Division champs. The BULLDOGS scored quickly despite a TD run being nullified by a penalty. They led 21-3 at the half.

The 2nd half began with a PCTI squib kick taken by Thomas Koike. That drive stalled and Koike then made a TD saving tackle. Osback got off booming punts; one to the 10. Tatekawa electrified the crowd with an 89 yard gallop to the 1 and Osback snuck for the TD making it 28-9. The speed and depth of the BULLDOGS showed as the score mounted and the game ended with the BULLDOGS taking a knee. On “D,” Benjamin recovered a fumble, Burger and Brendan Sibilio stopped a drive and nice plays were made by Brian Centeno, Danko, Lifshits Franklyn Ramirez, Jeff Welsh and others. Passaic Tech leads the new rivalry 2-0. The BULLDOGS are clearly the class of the BNC Liberty Division and figure to defend their title.

In the other BNC Liberty Division game, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High demolished the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 37-7 (The same score by which the New York GIANTS lost the 1961 National Football League title to the Green Pay PACKERS!). In BNC crossover action, the KNIGHTS of Paterson’s JFK were stung 17-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley. Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division is 0-7 against outside competition so far!

The award winning Fair Lawn High School CUTTER Marching Band, having taken 1st place in Group IV open competition the week before, put on a great show before heading to Piscataway for their 2nd competition. Fair Lawn’s version of “Football’s Fabulous Females,” the cheerleaders, were led this week by JV coach Nicole Mattina whose JV squad performed nicely also.

The Class of 1956 was in town for their 55th anniversary reunion. Their ’55 CUTTERS, with my twin brother, Bill, and me serving as “water boys,” were Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champs.

This Saturday at 2:30 our CUTTERS travel to Hackensack to take on the Comets for the 27th time. During 1959-82 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) the Comets went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS beat the COMETS 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. The 12-6 Hackensack win in BNC crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).

Fair Lawn is 0-3. Hackensack is 2-1 (.667) having lost to powerful Wayne Hills and beaten weak JFK and Bergen Tech. Our CUTTERS play tough against the COMETS and I know they’ll make an all out effort again. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 10 - Hackensack 8. Let’s have another Moslavi field goal! GO GUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 3

2011-09-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were beaten 34-12 by the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) WILDCATS of East Rutherford, now Becton Dickinson Regional. During 1950-53 the WILDCATS went 2-1-1 (.667) against our CUTTERS.

1961 – New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS beat the RED RAIDERS of Cliffside Park 13-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Our CUTTERS took the 1959-66 rivalry against the RED RAIDERS 6-2 (.750).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Wayne Valley 16-6 in NNJIL action. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS. They left the NNJIL for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981 and Fair Lawn left the NNJIL to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 21-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack in NNJIL action. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. The 12-6 Hackensack win in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were edged 15-14 by the BEARS of Bergenfield in NBIL Division 1 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.

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley, Old Tappan 22-6 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn took the 1984 – 2008 rivalry 15–10 (.600).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-4

2011-09-19T13:53:00.001-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, September 17, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Mid-Penn Keystone Division Falcons of Lower Dauphin at the beautiful Hershey Park Stadium and galloped and passed to a 34-28 victory in a thriller. Dillon Thomas scored the winning touchdown on a 10-yard run with 33 seconds left in the game. But the rest of the night belonged to Temple University bound Mike Felton. Felton had 333 all-purpose yards (89 rushing, 124 receiving, and 120-yards on kickoff returns) and accounted for 20 points for the Mustangs. He scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, and on a 96-yard kickoff return, and caught a 2-point conversion pass.

The Mustangs opened the game with a 37-yard drive, featuring a 23-yard run by Reid Cruz, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Falcons 36-yard line. The Falcons drove 20-yards in six plays and their kicker, Joe Julius, attempted a 62-yard field goal that fell short.

The Mustangs then ended a drive with a punt. The Falcons then drove 79-yards in ten plays. Travis Morrill scored on a 20-yard run and the extra point kick by Julius put the Falcons up 7-0 at the 10:31 mark in the second quarter.

The Mustangs immediately retaliated when Felton returned the kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown. Jake Tracy’s extra point kick tied the score at 7 with 10:17 to go in the quarter.

The Falcons went three and out and punted and the Mustangs drove 50-yards in two plays, an 8-yard run by Dakotah Moses and a 42-yard touchdown sprint by Felton. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-7 with 8:37 to go in the quarter.

The Falcons drove 27-yards to the Mustangs 34-yard line and Julius attempted a field goal. Dillon Langenfeld blocked the field goal, recovered the ball and returned it to the Falcons 30-yard line. Five plays later Thomas ran it in from the 5-yard line, upping the score to 20-7 in favor of the Mustangs with 2:21 left in the first half.

A Falcons drive was ended by Cruz sacking the quarterback. The Falcons punted and Dillon Langenfeld returned it 43-yards to the Falcons 24-yard line. The Mustangs drove to the 3-yard line and missed on a field goal attempt. That ended the first half.

The Falcons came out inspired to open the second half and drove 80-yards in eight plays, featuring a 37-yard pass from Ben Goss to Jack Miller and a 30-yard touchdown strike from Goss to Miller. The extra point kick by Julius made the score 20-14 with 7:22 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted and the Falcons drove 66-yards in eight plays, featuring a 27-yard run by Josh Palmer and a 14-yard touchdown pass from Goss to Miller. The extra point kick by Julius put the Falcons up 21-20 with 2:21 to go in the third quarter.

Goss ended a Mustangs drive with an interception and Zach Townsend pretty much ended a Falcons drive with a sack. The Falcons punted and the Mustangs drove 79-yards in two plays, a 1-yard run by Felton and a 78-yard touchdown pass from Zach Gross to Felton. Gross then threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton to put the Mustangs up 28-21 with 10:12 to go in the game.

Palmer returned the kickoff 42-yards to set the Falcons up at the Mustangs 38-yard line. A five-play drive, featuring a 23-yard pass from Goss to Quincy Nissley, ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Goss to Nissley. The extra point kick by Julius tied the score at 28 with 7:27 left in the game.

The Mustangs ended up punting and the Falcons gave the ball back to the Mustangs when Felton recovered a fumble at the Falcons 21-yard line. Gross then threw a touchdown strike to Felton but it was called back due to a penalty. The Mustangs punted from the 34-yard line and the Falcons took over on their 20. Loughlin ended that drive with another sack and the Falcons punted.

The Mustangs then drove 45-yards in four plays, featuring a 17-yard pass from Gross to Keith Pappas, an 11-yard run by Thomas, a 7-yard run by Felton, and ending with a 10-yard touchdown run by Thomas with 33 seconds left in the game. That made the final score 34-28 in favor of the Mustangs.

Felton kicked off 5 times for 225-yards, with the longest going for 54-yards, punted 4 times for 164-yards and a 41.0-yard average and returned 2 kickoffs for 120-yards, with the longest going for 96-yards for the Mustangs.

Keith Pappas, who had 13 tackles and a pass defense, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Carnie Fryfogle with 12 tackles, a sack and a pass defense, Jeremy Loughlin with 9 tackles, a sack and a pass hurry, Zach Townsend with 9 tackles and a sack, Brandon Krise with 9 tackles, Mike Felton with 8 tackles and a fumble recovery, Dillon Langenfeld with 7 tackles, a blocked field goal attempt, a fumble recovery and a pass defense, Reid Cruz with 7 tackles, a sack and a pass hurry, Ryan Dotson with 7 tackles, Devon Ackerman with 5 tackles, Brandon Stremmel with 4 tackles and a sack, Alex Baugher 4 tackles, Aram Moffit with 3 tackles, Rich Delea and Jaelen Langenfeld with 2 tackles each, Daulton James with 1 tackle and a caused fumble, and Logan Bowman with 1 tackle.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Keith Pappas, Brandon Stremmel, and Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Dillon Thomas. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, and Jerome Robinson, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 181-yards rushing and 170-yards passing for a total of 351-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 14 carries for 89-yards (including a 42-yard touchdown), followed by Reid Cruz with 4 carries for 45-yards, Dillon Thomas with 5 carries for 39-yards (including touchdowns of 5 and 10-yards), Dakotah Moses with 10 carries for 20-yards, and Zach Gross with 2 carries for minus 12-yards. Quarterback Gross completed 7 of 12 passes for 170-yards and 1 touchdown), 3 for 124-yards to Felton (including a 78-yard touchdown), 1 for 19-yards to Moses, 2 for 17-yards to Keith Pappas, and 1 for 10-yards to Reid Cruz, for the Mustangs. Felton returned a kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown and recovered a fumble, Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton, Jake Tracy kicked 2 extra points, Dillon Langenfeld blocked a field goal attempt and recovered a fumble, Cruz, Carnie Fryfogle, Jeremy Loughlin, Brandon Stremmel, and Zach Townsend each recorded a sack, Keith Pappas registered 13 tackles and Fryfogle registered 12 tackles, for the Mustangs.

The Lower Dauphin Falcons rang up 123-yards rushing and 210-yards passing for a total of 333 yards gained. Travis Morill led the Falcons rushing attack with 18 carries for 74-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), followed by Josh Palmer with 10 carries for 68-yards, Cole Robinson with 1 carry for 3-yards, Kenton Heinbaugh with 2 carries for minus 1-yard, and Zach Goss with 8 carries for minus 21-yards. Quarterback Goss completed 14 of 23 passes for 210-yards and 3 touchdowns, 5 for 114-yards to Miller (including touchdowns of 30 and 14-yards), 7 for 74-yards to Quincy Nissley (including an 11-yard touchdown), and 1 for 11-yards to Wade Weiser, for the Falcons. Joey Julius kicked 4 extra points for the Falcons.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt. The Lower Dauphin Falcons Marching Band put on a rousing pre-game performance. The Mustangs and Falcons Cheer Leading squads were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 2-1-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 189-86-1 (.687) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 330-204-8. The results of the 542 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .618 winning percentage and a .624 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs host the Division II Warriors of Susquehannock (0-3 overall, 0-0 league). Susquehannock is coming off of a 54-17 loss to the Panthers of Central Dauphin East. The Mustangs are looking to gallop along in their winning tradition. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 3-2011

2011-09-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

In a game that was on WGHT Radio (1500 AM) with Jon Fass and Peter Gilmartin broadcasting last week, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High roared out to lead the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 7-0, 7-6 and 10-6 in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and then the dam broke leading to a 48-10 loss. Mike Venezia recovered a fumble and QB Kevin Osback ran for a 1st down. Swift Steve Tatekawa scampered to the 3 and Osback bulled in for the TD. With Kevin Benjamin snapping and Pete Danko holding, the sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point and our heroes led 7-0. After the NORSEMEN scored, Venezia blocked the point after kick and our CUTTERS led 7-6. Osback threw a picture pass to George Alexandris for a 1st down, Osback rambled to the 13 and Tatekawa scampered to the 10. When the drive stalled Moslavi booted a 25 yard field goal and Fair Lawn led 10-6. The NORSEMEN went ahead 12-10 and our CUTTERS were holding on until, on the final play as the clock ticked out the 1st half, the NORSEMEN completed a 35 yard pass to score. Their 2 point conversion put them up 18-10.

The flood gates opened in the 2nd half. One highlight was a tremendous goal line stand by Fair Lawn, the final play of which saw Brian Centano lead the charge that stopped the NORSEMEN inside the 1. A safety followed, however and the NORSEMEN led 20-10. After that they were able to pour it on even blocking a punt and scoring a TD. On “D,” fine plays were made by Alexandris, Benjamin, Kris Berger, Danko (who finished up at QB too), Boris Lifshits, Moslavi, Franklyn Ramirez, Jeff Welsh and others. Our CUTTERS took the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry 13-9 (.591). The NORSEMEN are 2-0 in 2010 and 11 Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action and Fair Lawn leads the rivalry 13-11 (.552).

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division played all outside foes this weekend and laid a goose egg! In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute were beaten 14-7 by the INDIANS of Wayne Valley, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were ambushed 9-0 by the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were shut out 42-0 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills, the INDIANS of Passaic were beaten 55-30 by the RED WINGS of Hoboken and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were shut out 28-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack. The BNC Liberty Division is 0-6 against outside foes so far.

The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band under the direction of Paul Kafer looked great. After their stellar performance, they were off to Scotch Plains for their 1st competition of 2011.

Cheerleader Coach Lauren Gimon was roundly applauded as I announced that Christie Artinger, a member of her first squad in 2002, was a member of the New York Jets Flight Crew Cheerleading squad in 2009 and 10 and is now a member of the San Diego Chargers “Charger Girls” squad! How many high school cheerleading coaches in America can say that one of their cheerleaders has made two National Football League (NFL) cheerleading squads? Way to go Lauren and Christie! Krisann Overmars Guy, Lauren’s predecessor as cheerleading coach, who coached Christie in her early seasons, was on hand too and her daughter, Reilly, was part of the Fair Lawn Football Association cheerleaders’ halftime show.

This Saturday our CUTTERS are home at SASSO FIELD at 1:00 against the 1-1 (.500) BULLDOGS of Passaic Tech in BNC Liberty Division action. The BULLDOGS came from behind to win the initial game between the schools last season 34-14. Having beaten Clifton, they are the favorites to repeat as BNC Liberty Division champions. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 17- PCTI 15. GO GUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 2

2011-09-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were edged 7-6 by the BEARS of Hawthorne in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Independently in 1944 and in the B-PIL 1945-55, our CUTTERS went 9-3 (.750) over the BEARS. When Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County school in the league, left in ’56, the league was renamed the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL).

1961 – Bennett’s CUTTERS were shutout 20-0 by the COMETS of Hackensack in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. In 1959, Fair Lawn’s maiden season in the league, our CUTTERS won 27-6 and yet saw Hackensack take the title by half a game. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. The 12-6 Hackensack win in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS shut out the BOILERMAKERS of Garfield in the 1st game ever played between the schools. During 1971-75 Fair Lawn went 5-0 (1.000) over Garfield in NNJIL action. The record went to 6-0 (1.000) in 2005 when Greg Tanzer’s CUTTERS trounced the BOILERMAKERS 47-7 in a State Consolation game.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were shutout 7-0 by the SPARTANS of Paramus 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 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984. The rivalry was renewed as the teams squared off in Big North Conference (BNC) Crossover action in 2010. The 42-13 Paramus win put the SPARTANS up 13-10 (.565).

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS fought the INDIANS of Pascack Valley to a 14-14 tie in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 rivalry 14-10-1 (.583) and won the last 5 games.

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were thrashed 58-13 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in NBIL Division 1 action. Ramapo took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 series 17-11 (.607).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-3

2011-09-14T17:49:00.001-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Monday evening, September 9, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Mid-Penn Keystone Division Colts of Cedar Cliff at the Mustang Corral and were defeated 34-7. The quarterback and running back duo of Tyler Orris and Joel Chapman for the Colts was virtually unstoppable. Originally scheduled for Friday night, weather forced a postponement to Sunday night. Then, with 2:03 to go in the first half lightning stopped the game. After waiting about an hour it was called for the night and resumed where it left off late Monday afternoon.

The Colts took the opening kickoff and drove 65-yards in eight plays, featuring a 10-yard pass from Orris to William Hopkins, a 10-yard pass from Orris to Nol Aru, and a 15-yard pass from Orris to Aru. Orris ended the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run and Leon Van Buskirk’s extra point kick put the Colts up 7-0 at the 8:33 mark in the first quarter.

The Mustangs countered with a very impressive 13-play drive, featuring a 15-yard run by Mike Felton and a 9-yard pass from Zach Gross to Brandon Krise. Unfortunately it resulted in no points when Matt Sowers recovered a Mustangs fumble and the Colts took over on their 15-yard line.

The Colts then drove 85-yards in 12 plays, featuring a 19-yard run by Orris and his 16-yard touchdown pass to Adam Brenneman. Buskirk’s extra point kick made the score 14-0 with 10:09 to go in the second quarter.

The Mustangs again countered with another impressive drive, this time for 80-yards in 12 plays, featuring a 13-yard pass from Gross to Jerome Robinson and runs of 14 and 12-yards by Dillon Thomas. Unfortunately, this drive also ended with no points when Kyler Smith intercepted a Mustangs pass in the end zone.

The Colts then drove 80-yards in eight plays, featuring some fancy running by Joel Chapman and passes by backup quarterback Andrew Ford. Ford’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Aru (the speedster from the Sudan) and Buskirk’s extra point kick upped the score to 21-0 with 2:31 to go in the first half.

The Mustangs ran two plays for 1-yard and, with 2:03 to go in the half, lightening stopped the game and it wasn’t resumed until the next day. At which point finished the eight play 37-yard drive with a punt. This was the first punt by either team in the game and it came just at the end of the half.

The Mustangs took the second half kickoff and drove from their own 27-yard line to the Colts 43. They turned the ball over on downs when a run on a fake punt failed to gain a first down.

Five plays and 57-yards later, Orris ran in for a colts touchdown from the 3-yard line. Zac Collins extra point kick made the score 28-0 with 7:19 to go in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove from their own 38-yard line to the Colts 48 and punted.

The Colts then drove 85-yards in 12 plays, featuring a 10-yard pass from Jake Scott, a 14-yard pass to Brenneman, and some flashy running by Scott and Chapman. Orris threw a 33-yard touchdown bomb to William Hopkins to close out the Colt’s scoring with 11:44 to go in the game.

The Mustangs had a short drive end with Kyler Smith’s second interception for the Colts. The Colts failed to move the ball and a sack by Rich Delea and Brandon Stremmel cost them 10-yards. They punted and the Mustangs went three and out and punted. The Colts also went three and out and punted.

The Mustangs then drove 63-yards in nine plays, featuring a 10-yard run by Thomas and an 8-yard run by Reid Cruz with a 15-yard penalty tacked onto the end of it. Carnie Fryfogle plunged his way into the end zone from the 5-yard line for a Mustangs touchdown with 1:44 to go in the game. Jake Tracy kicked an extra point and the final score was 34-7 in favor of the Colts.

Felton kicked off 2 times for 114-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback, and punted 3 times for 137-yards and a 45.67-yard average, with the longest going for 57-yards. Felton returned 5 kickoffs for 99-yards, with the longest going for 26, yards, and Carnie Fryfogle returned 1 kickoff for 3-yards. Jaelen Langenfeld returned 2 punts for 5-yards, with the longest going for 5-yards, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle, who had 17 tackles, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Rich Delea with 7 tackles, Dillon Langenfeld with 6 tackles, Mike Duffy with 5 tackles and a pass defense, Reid Cruz, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, and Keith Pappas with 5 tackles each, Dillon Thomas with 4 tackles and a pass hurry, Alex Baugher with 4 tackles, Jeremy Loughlin, Mike Mooradian, and Zach Townsend with 3 tackles each, Devon Ackerman, Ryan Dotson, Jaelen Langenfeld, Aram Moffit, and Jerome Robinson with 2 tackles each, and Logan Bowman with 1 tackle.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Mike Mooradian, Keith Pappas, Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Ryan Klinedinst, Chad Kolper, and Dillon Thomas. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, Jerome Robinson, and Brandon Stremmel, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 177-yards rushing and 79-yards passing for a total of 256-yards of offense. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 9 of 19 passes for 79-yards, 2 for 24-yards to Jerome Robinson. 2 for 23-yards to Mike Felton, 2 for 14-yards to Brandon Krise, 1 for 7-yards to Jaelen Langenfeld, 1 for 6-yards to Keith Pappas, and 1 for 5-yards to Reid Cruz, for the Mustangs. Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 12 carries for 77-yards, followed by Dakotah Moses with 10 carries for 49-yards, Mike Felton with 11 carries for 47-yards, Reid Cruz with 4 carries for 15-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 2 carries for 5-yards (including a 5-yard touchdown), and Zach Gross with 6 carries for minus 16-yards. Jake Tracy kicked 1 extra point for the Mustangs.

The Cedar Cliff Colts rang up 177-yards rushing and 175 yards passing for a total of 352 yards gained. Tyler Orris completed 10 of 14 passes for 132-yards and 1 touchdown and Andrew Ford completed 5 of 5 passes for 43-yards and 2 touchdowns. Adam Breneman caught 5 passes for 55-yards, Nol Aru caught 5 passes for 50-yards, William Hopkins caught 2 passes for 44-yards, Jake Scott caught 2 passes for 22-yards, and Jaquan McIntyre caught 1 pass for 4-yards, for the Colts. Joel Chapman led the Colts rushing attack with 15 carries for 119-yards (including), followed by Orris with 11 carries for 52-yards (including), DeShaun Woodson with 4 carries for 6-yards, Youssef Ajlane with 2 carries for 5-yards, Scott with 1 carry for 5-yards, Noah Malone with 1 carry for minus 3-yards, and Ford with 1 carry for minus 7-yards. Leon Van Buskirk kicked 3 extra points, Zac Collins kicked 1 extra point, Kyler Smith intercepted 2 passes, and Matt Sowers recovered a fumble, for the Colts.

Due to the weather conditions and the split night/next day completion of the game, neither great band performed this week. The 23-member (plus Mustangs Mascot) Mustangs Cheer Leading squad was very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 1-1-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 188-86-1 (.686) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 329-204-8. The results of the 541 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .617 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Falcons of Lower Dauphin (1-0 overall, 0-0 Mid-Penn Keystone Division) at the beautiful Hershey Park Stadium. Lower Dauphin is coming off of a 27-0 shutout over the Thundering Herd of Carlisle. The Mustangs are looking to return to their winning tradition. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 2-2011

2011-09-13T18:04:00.001-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Last week the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were surprised 46-14 by the INDIANS of Passaic in Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action. Captains Kevin Benjamin, Boris Lifshits and Steve Tatekawa went out for the coin toss. Passaic won and deferred their choice to the 2nd half. Faced with an avalanche of speed and miscues, our heroes trailed 20-0. Just before the half, they were driving at the Passaic 5 when an interception resulted in a 98 yard Passaic TD run and, instead of closing the score to 20-7, our CUTTERS trailed 27-0 at the half. Laine White’s fumble recovery led to Tatekawa running to the 1. QB Kevin Osback snuck it in. With Benjamin snapping and Pete Danko holding, sure footed Aryeh Moslavi kicked the extra point and it was 27-7. The INDIANS scored again to lead 33-7. Our never-say-die CUTTERS drove as Osback passed to John Pagios and Mike Venezia for 1st downs and ran to the 13 for another. His TD pass to Nick Hickey and Moslavi’s kick made it 33-13. Moslavi not only kicked well all day but recovered a fumble on one kickoff! White blocked a PAT and Tyler Argot sacked the QB. Good defensive plays were made by Kris Burger, Carlos Carlone, Lifshits, Osback, Brendan Sibilio, and others. Fair Lawn leads the rivalry 3-2 (.600).

Coach Amir Saadah joins Al Reinoso (1972), Rich Szura (1975), Greg Tanzer (2002) and Stan Myles (2007) in losing his first game. It all started September 13th, 1943 when FLHS opened without seniors, who stayed at Paterson Eastside, Hawthorne and Ridgewood to graduate in 1944. Coach Marty Fischbein led the CUTTERS to a fine 9-4-2 (.692) record in independent action in 1943 and 44 after starting up with 3 JV games. Some called the new team the COMETS because they scored quickly in that 1st JV game, a 7-6 loss to Lodi, and others called them the CLIPPERS. It’s been said that some team members would leave school early to visit Doc Gurney, after whom Gurney Terrace is named, for taping and disappear for a time forcing Coach Fischbein to wait for the arrival of these "cutters" before he could run a full practice. Then, before the Leonia game, team captain Jack Van Olden led Tony DiNegri, Art Jaeggi, Jack Knowles, Al Livingstone and Bill Perkins on a sneak trip to the Rivoli Theater in Paterson to see a movie during school hours. The miscreants were caught and coach Fischbein kept those “cutters” out of the game. With the Lions up 12-0 he put our heroes in and Fair Lawn roared back to win 13-12. Livingstone took a pass from Van Olden and ran it 43 yards for a TD. In the 4th quarter, he ran 20 yards for a TD and plunged for the extra point winning the game. The student body, having chosen Crimson and Gray as the school colors, said “The CUTTERS won the game!” They insisted that the athletic teams be known as “The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High.” And so it is 68 seasons later! The “original” 1943 CUTTERS were inducted into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 along with this writer and others. Van Olden had been inducted individually in 2007.

In the other BNC Liberty Division game, the defending champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute beat the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 23-3. In BNC crossover action, the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were shut out 26-0 by the HIGHLANDERS of West Milford bringing the BNC Liberty Division record against outsiders to 0-1. The GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were idle.

On Sunday I took in the Clifton-Passaic County Technical Institute game. While saying hello to Clifton Band Director, Bob Morgan, I was recruited to be the anonymous “Guest Announcer” for the Clifton High School FIGHTING MUSTANG Marching Band halftime show at Clifton Stadium!

This Saturday our CUTTERS are home at SASSO FIELD to take on the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/ Demarest for the 24th time. Our CUTTERS took the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) rivalry 13-9 (.591). The 40-0 NV shut out win in 2010 in BNC crossover action brought the record to 13-10 (.565) Fair Lawn.

In their opener, the NORSEMEN fell 34-16 to the LANCERS of Lakeland. Representing their BNC Liberty Division against an outsider, our Cutters will fight hard. They’ve lost a game they won last year; now it’s time to win a game they lost last year! From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21- NV/Demarest 15. GO GUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2011 Week 1

2011-09-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1951 – Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were shutout 33-0 by the Passaic Valley Conference (PVC) GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside in independent action. During 1947-54 and 1983 Fair Lawn went 5-4 (.556) over the GHOSTS. This was sweetened by the fact that, until FLHS opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. A few students from the Columbia Heights section went to Hawthorne and the Radburn section students went to Ridgewood. The 4-4 (.500) deadlock was broken by the 20-18 Fair Lawn victory in 1983. In 2010 the GHOSTS and CUTTERS found themselves in the new Big North Conference (BNC) Division II, which became the Liberty Division. Fair Lawn’s 40-16 victory brought the record of our CUTTERS to 6-4 (.600) over the GHOSTS.

1961 –New Coach Ed Sheehy’s CUTTERS mauled the TIGERS of Dover 19-0 in independent action closing out the rivalry at 1-1 (.500).

1971 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS edged the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 2-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. In independent action 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1981 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were ambushed 47-14 by the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck in NNJIL action. 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.

1991 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were shut out 13-0 by the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn leads the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 and 2010 rivalry 13-10 (.565).

2001 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 23-7 by the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn took the 1986-93 and 1998 – 2008 rivalry 10-9 (.526).

THE GRIDIRON 1-2011

2011-09-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

It’s great to be on THE GRIDIRON again as the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High begin their 69th football season with a 1943-2010 record of 314-290-14 (.520). Amir Saadah, a 2000 FLHS graduate who played for Mike Alberque’s 1997-99 CUTTERS, takes over as the 11th Football coach in FLHS history. He follows Marty Fischbein 9-4-2 (.692) during 1943-44, Frank Bennett 71-55-6 (.564) during 1945-60, Ed Sheehy 19-15-1 (.559) during 1961-64, Frank Devens 39-23-1 (.629) during 1965-71, Al Reinoso 7-18-2 (.280) during 1972-74, Rich Szura 6-21 (.222) during 1965-77, Pete Natale 58-36-1 (.617) during 1978-87, Mike Alberque 71-61-1 (.538) during 1988-2001, Greg Tanzer 14-36 (.280) during 2002-06 and Stan Myles 20-21 (.488) during 2007-10.

Championships came in the Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) in 1945, 53 and 55 with co-championships in ’46 with BUCCANEERS of Bogota and ’47 with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst; the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) in 1965 and 66 with a tri-championship in ’80 with the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the HORNETS of Passaic Valley and the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 in 1984, 85, 87 and 89. The State playoff system began in 1974 and our CUTTERS were in the playoffs in 1979, 80, 85, 88, 89, 2000 and 2009.

Saadah has an all-star coaching staff. Billy Lynn is offensive coordinator, Bobby Guy is defensive coordinator and Dan Iozzia and Joe Borkowski are assistants. Jim Beshaw and Ed Guy coach the freshmen team. The names Beshaw, Guy, Iozzia, Lynn and Saadah are big in FLHS Gridiron history and Joe Borkowski is a nephew of former Fair Lawn Coach Mike Alberque!

FLHS Cheerleader Coach Lauren Gimon is proud as a peacock as Christie Artinger, a member of her first squad in 2002, was a member of the New York JETS Flight Crew Cheerleading squad in 2009 and 10 and is now a member of the San Diego CHARGERS “CHARGER GIRLS” squad! How many other high school cheerleading coaches in America can say that one of their cheerleaders has made, not one, but two, National Football League (NFL) cheerleading squads? Way to go Lauren and Christie!

This Saturday our CUTTERS travel to Passaic to take on the INDIANS at Boverini Stadium. Pete Natale’s CUTTERS roared from behind to beat the INDIANS 27-18 in 1st round playoff action at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980 in the most thrilling game in FLHS history to date and lost a 1985 playoff game 36-26 at Passaic in 1985. Stan Myles’ CUTTERS edged the INDIANS 39-38 in the first “Home” playoff game ever played at SASSO FIELD in 2009 in a game that edged out the 1980 game as the most thrilling ever played by our CUTTERS. The other 2 “Home” Fair Lawn playoff games were at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980. In 2010 in Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action, Fair Lawn’s 25-6 victory put our CUTTERS up 3-1 (.750) over the INDIANS. The games have been fierce as our CUTTERS averaged a 29-25 winning score through the four games.

Our heroes got ready for the season with scrimmages against the BLUE BEARS of Barringer High of Newark, the CRIMSON of Morristown Beard, the HAWKS of Hudson Catholic of Jersey City and the TIGERS of Tenafly. I look forward to seeing our heroes get off to a good start in their quest for a BNC Liberty Division title and a playoff spot. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21- Passaic 7. GO GUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-2

2011-09-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, September 3, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Warriors of Gettysburg and galloped and passed to a resounding 41-0 shutout. Mustangs running back Mike Felton kept the offense moving with 103-yards rushing on 8 carries. He scored 2 rushing touchdowns and scored another touchdown on an electrifying 95-yard kickoff return, accounting for 18 of the 41 points for the Mustangs. Zach Gross accounted for 148-yards passing on 7 completions to round out the balanced offense.

The Warriors opened the game and went three and out, punting to the Mustangs. The Mustangs opened with a neat 15-yard run by Dakotah Moses, but the drive stalled and they turned the ball over on downs.

The Warriors only got in two plays before Reid Cruz intercepted a pass and returned it 40-yards for a touchdown for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 7:07 to go in the first quarter.

The Warriors went three and out and punted again. The Mustangs drove 67-yards in six plays, featuring a 29-yard run by Carnie Fryfogle, only to lose the ball on a fumble at the Warriors 6-yard line.

The Warriors gained 15-yards and punted. The Mustangs got the ball at their 49-yard line and Felton galloped 51-yards for a touchdown on the first play. Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-0 at the 11:50 mark in the second quarter.

The Warriors and the Mustangs exchanged punts and the Warriors punted again. The Mustangs then drove 55-yards in five plays, featuring passes of 19 and 24-yards from Gross to Felton. Felton scored a touchdown on a nifty 24-yard run and Tracy’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 21-0 with 2:35 to go in the first half.

Mike Felton opened the second half with his 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Tracy’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-0 at the 11:50 mark in the third quarter.

The Warriors drove 42-yards, featuring a 32-yard pass from Chase Whitman to Benttion Hendricks, only to turn the ball over on downs. Felton then raced 74-yards for an apparent touchdown, only to have it come back due to a penalty. Not to be denied, three plays later Gross connected with the speedy Carnie Fryfogle for a 63-yard touchdown pass. Tracy’s extra point upped the score to 35-0 at the 7:48 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs substituted liberally after that and tacked on another score. Logan Bowman intercepted a Warriors pass and returned it 24-yards to the Warriors 35-yard line. A penalty moved the ball to the 24-yard line and Dillon Langenfeld jaunted in for a 24-yard touchdown with 8:25 remaining in the game. That made the final score 41-0 in favor of the Mustangs.

Felton kicked off 3 times for 137-yards, with the longest going for 52-yards, and punted 2 times for 80-yards (for an average of 40-yards), with the longest going for 41-yards. Ryan Lane kicked off 2 times for 73-yards, with the longest going for 38-yards, and Jake Hunt kicked off 2 times for 66-yards, with the longest going for 43-yards, for the Mustangs. Gabe Morela punted 1 time for 29-yards for the Mustangs. Felton returned a kickoff for 95-yards and a touchdown and fair caught 1 punt, and Jaelen Langenfeld returned 3 punts for 9-yards, for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle, who had 12 tackles, led the Mustangs defense; followed by Rich Delea with 10 tackles, Dillon Langenfeld with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Logan Bowman with 4 tackles and an interception, Zach Townsend with 4 tackles and a sack, Dakotah Moses and Jeremy Loughlin with 4 tackles each, Aram Moffit with 3 tackles and a pass hurry, Brandon Krise with 3 tackles and 2 pass defenses, Shawn Secola, Ryan Dotson, Mike Mooradian, and Keith Pappas with 3 tackles each, Reid Cruz with 1 tackle and an interception, Alex Jones with 1 tackle and a fumble recovery, Devon Ackerman with 1 tackle and a sack, Jon Hoover, Daulton James, Chad Kolper, Eddie Lane, Jaelen Langenfeld, Dan McMillen with 1 tackle each, and Dillon Thomas with a pass defense.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Baugher, Logan Bowman, Reid Cruz, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Hawn, Jeremy Loughlin, Aram Moffit, Mike Mooradian, Keith Pappas, Zach Townsend, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Ryan Klinedinst, Chad Kolper, and Dillon Thomas. Mike Duffy, Mike Felton, Brandon Krise, Dillon Langenfeld, Jaelen Langenfeld, Jerome Robinson, and Brandon Stremmel, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 204-yards rushing and 148-yards passing for a total of 352-yards of offense. Quarterback Zach Gross completed 7 of 9 passes for 148 and a touchdown, 1 for 63-yards and a touchdown to Carnie Fryfogle, 2 for 43-yards to Mike Felton, 2 for 28-yards to Reid Cruz, 1 for 11-yards to Keith Pappas, and 1 for 3-yards to Jerome Robinson, for the Mustangs. Quarterbacks Jesse Good and Mike Duffy each had 1 pass attempt with no completions, for the Mustangs. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with his 8 carries for 103-yards (including touchdowns of 51 and 24-yards), followed by Dillon Thomas with 7 for 37-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 3 for 26-yards, Dakotah Moses with 2 for 21-yards, Dillon Langenfeld with 1 for 24-yards and a touchdown, Jon Hoover with 1 for 3-yards, Bobby Wildasin with 1 for 2-yards, Gross with 1 for minus 2-yards, and Good with 1 for minus 9-yards, for the Mustangs. Jake Tracy kicked 5 extra points for the Mustangs.

The Gettysburg Warriors rang up 52-yards rushing and 61-yards passing for a total of 113-yards gained. Quarterback Chase Whiteman completed 6 of 19 passes for the 61-yards, 3 for 46-yards to Benttion Hendricks, 1 for 9-yards to Dane Purdy, 1 for 8-yards to Kurt Hoffman, and 1 for 2-yards to Darren Hartzell, for the Warriors. Whitman led the Warriors rushing attack with 10 carries for 32-yards, followed by Hendricks with 3 for 18-yards, Jordan Stouch with 5 for 10-yards, Kurt Hoffman with 2 for 7-yards, and Jesse Stouch with 5 for 5-yards, for the Warriors.

The Mustangs are hoping to contend for the Division I championship in the YAIAA this year.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance, presenting their 2011 field show “The Colors of Dreams.” The relaxing mallet introduction led to the haunting sound of “The Dream is Collapsing” from Inception, followed by “Zooster’s Rebellion” from Madagascar, the sorrowful longing of “Hummel Gets the Rockets,” from the Rock, and the show closed with “The Burning Bush,” from Prince of Egypt. The Gettysburg Warriors Marching Band put on a rousing pregame performance. The Mustangs Cheer Leading squad was very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 1-0-0 overall and 0-0-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 188-85-1 (.689) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 329-203-8. The results of the 540 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .618 winning percentage and a .624 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs host the Colts of Cedar Cliff. Cedar Cliff opened the season with a 45-14 win over the Bears of Elizabethtown. The Mustangs played great offense and great defense in their season opener. They are looking to continue in their winning tradition and make this a season to remember. GO MUSTANGS GO.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2011-1

2011-08-20T14:02:00.001-07:00

Preseason Review

By Bill Engelhardt
________

The Mustangs of South Western return to gridiron action Friday night, September 2, as they visit the Warriors of Gettysburg to kick off the 2011 season. The Mustangs are looking forward to a successful season as they enter the 52nd year of the football program. They have a career 328-203-8 record with a .618 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage. They are 323-194-8 in regular season play. This year the Mustangs have a large group of returning seniors, a good group of returning starters and lettermen and some exciting new players to watch, and hope to resume the winning tradition, which includes 11 league titles since 1990 and 15 in the history of the school.

Seniors Ryan Dotson, Mike Felton, Carnie Fryfogle, Jesse Good, Jeremy Loughlin, Brandon Krise, and Keith Pappas are returning starters. Seniors Rich Delea, Zach Gross, twins Dillon and Jaelen Langenfeld, Matt Stroda, and Zach Townsend, and juniors Devon Ackerman, Chad Kolper, Dakotah Moses, and Jerome Robinson are also returning lettermen. Seniors Alex Baugher and Reid Cruz and junior Mike Mooradian are up and comers to watch this year.

The graduation of key players Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Tyler Frederick, Matt Funk, Jeff Hacker, Josh Hertz, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis still leaves the Mustangs with a very good group of seasoned players. Seniors Good and Gross are contending to be the starting quarterback. Good was the starter last year but both saw significant playing time and the stiff competition should bring out the best in both of them and leave the Mustangs in good shape at that position.

We look for Mike Felton, who already is in third place in the history of the school in career pass receptions with 47, fourth place in touchdown pass receptions with 10, fourth place in career pass receiving yardage with 747-yards, and tied for third place in punting with a season average of 39.04-yards, to be all over the field this year. He has already committed to attend Temple University next year.

Felton should lead the vaunted rushing attack and Cruz, Fryfogle, Dillon Langenfeld, Moses, and Stroda will vie for playing time and continue the great running tradition of the Mustangs.

We are looking for Felton, Krise, Jaelen Langenfeld, Robinson and Mooradian to form the nucleus of a solid receiving corps. As a junior, Felton led the receiving corps with 23 receptions for 378-yards and 4 touchdowns, for a 16.44-yard average last year. Krise and Jaelen Langenfeld also have experience at catching passes, and Fryfogle could get into the act here too.

Among the returning players, Pappas (35 tackles), Dotson (22 tackles), Delea (12 tackles), Townsend (10 tackles), Loughlin (8 tackles), and Ackerman (3 tackles), have significant experience on either the offensive or defensive line and should figure prominently again this year, with help from up and comers Baugher and Mooradian. With the lack of additional experience or depth, the development of the rest of the trenches will be a significant factor in the success of the Mustangs this year.

Fryfogle (62 tackles), Pappas (35 tackles), Moses (8 tackles), Stroda (6 tackles), and Good leave the Mustangs in great shape at the linebacker position. All are seasoned veterans. And Cruz, Kolper, and Mooradian should fit in nicely here as well. Felton (74 tackles), Krise (9 tackles), Jaelen Langenfeld (3 tackles), Dillon Langenfeld (2 tackles), Robinson (1 tackle), and Gross, should all see plenty of action in the secondary.

The punting game is in the capable hands of senior Mike Felton. Last year he punted 28 times for an average of 39.04-yards, with the longest going for 71-yards. Kickoffs are also in the very capable hands of Felton. Last year he registered 30 kickoffs for 1351-yards. Cruz also has experience in this area. Felton is also the go to guy for extra points.

Don Seidenstricker is going into his 34th year with the Mustang program and has a 187-85-1 (.688) record, including 12 league championships, 9 District 3 playoff appearances, and 9 times League Coach of the Year, as he goes into his 26th year as head coach. As always, Don is ready and eager to lead the Mustangs into a new season against the Warriors of Gettysburg. In his preseason outlook he said, “We should experience a lot of offensive excitement with the return of three year starter, and Temple bound, Mike Felton. For three seasons he has produced some outstanding moments as a running back, wide receiver, and kick returner. In addition his presence has been felt defensively from outside linebacker and in the secondary.

We do return significant playing experience at linebacker with both Carnie Fryfogle and Keith Pappas returning inside where they made a lot of contribution last season. Further, both Ryan Dotson and Jeremy Loughlin return to line positions where they both saw quality time in 2010, and Brandon Krise returns to split end on offense and corner back on defense where he started most of the season.

There will be a battle at quarterback where we return starter Jesse Good in addition to Zach Gross who started one game and saw significant action in a few others.

A few players do NOT a team make and there are a lot of questions marks in the south Western Corral. We have significant questions in both lines and very little depth in these positions. The off-season work ethic in the weight room, 7 v 7s, voluntary camps, and instructional sessions was excellent. The up and coming sophomores (Dillon Thomas, Logan Bowman, Tyler Sterner, Payton Taylor, and Wyatt Trostle) worked tirelessly this summer and may contribute to the returning players and lettermen.

The absolute, number one, positive with this group has been the bond of classes and willingness to work together. There has been outstanding senior/junior leadership from returning starters and lettermen, and players to watch, and these young men really want to return to our past winning ways.”

From here it looks like the South Western Mustangs are primed and ready to provide all the thrills and excitement their faithful fans have come to expect in their 52nd season. I think the Mustangs are up to the challenge of resuming their winning ways. I can’t wait for the start of the 2011 season. GO MUSTANGS GO.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS RECORD BOOK: 1960-2010

2011-08-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

TEAM DEFENSE
POINTS SURRENDERED
1994 - 53 pts.
1982 - 62 pts.
1985 - 67 pts.
1977 - 78 pts.
1970 - 84 pts.

TEAM DEFENSE
RUSHING YARDS SURRENDERED
1994 - 497 yds.
1981 - 761 yds.
1982 - 791 yds.
1986 - 913 yds.
1992 - 952 yds.

TEAM DEFENSE
PASSING YARDS SURRENDERED
1978 - 614 yds.
1984 - 726 yds.
1985 - 728 yds.
1990 - 746 yds.
1999 - 748 yds.

TEAM DEFENSE
TOTAL YARDS SURRENDERED
1994 - 1348 yds.
1982 - 1613 yds.
1986 - 1795 yds.
1992 - 1800 yds.
1981 - 1857 yds.

TEAM DEFENSE
MOST SHUTOUTS
1994 - 5
1984 - 5
2006 - 4
1995 - 4
1982 - 4
1980 - 4
1972 - 4
1965 - 4

TEAM DEFENSE
SCORES
1984 – 6 TD’s
2006 – 5 TD’s, 2 safeties
1886 - 5 TD’s, 1 safety
1976 - 5 TD’s
1990 - 4 TD’s, 2 safeties

TEAM DEFENSE
QUARTERBACK SACKS
1993 - 44
1986 - 40
2003 - 37
2006 - 36
2000 - 34

TEAM DEFENSE
INTERCEPTIONS
1985 - 22
1995 - 20
1992 - 20
1982 - 20
2000 - 18

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE
SEASON TACKLES
151 – Jason Gigous - 2006
145 - Justin Mummert – 2000
139 – Jake Myers – 2009
132 - Adam Lawrence - 2001
127 - Matt Hladio - 1990

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE
CAREER TACKLES
290 - Brian Hart
286 - Jeff Fritz
266 – Jake Myers
257 - Kyle Wildasin
255 - Justin Mummert

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE
SEASON QB SACKS
16 - Zack Topper - 1993
16 - Mike McFalls - 1986
14 - Nate Stetter - 1995
13 - Scott Baublitz - 1979
10 – Jeremy Renoll - 2005
10 – Jeremie Ecker - 2000

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE
CAREER QB SACKS
23 - Zack Topper
21 – Jeremy Renoll
17 - Bob Bealing
16 - Mike McFalls
15 - Scott Baublitz
15 - Jeremie Ecker

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE
SEASON INTERCEPTIONS
8 - Aaron Brady – 1992
7 - Zach Krise - 2004
7 - Matt Schmidt – 2003
7 - Kyle Wildasin – 1999
6 – Duane Rowlette – 2007
6 - Doug Seidenstricker - 1990
6 - Andy Stauffer - 1984
6 - Paige Wingert - 1982

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE
CAREER INTERCEPTIONS
12 - Aaron Brady
11 - Andy Stauffer
9 - Kyle Wildasin
9 - Jason Zinn
9 - Paige Wingert
9 - Gerry Fuhrman

TEAM OFFENSE
POINTS SCORED
2006 - 441 pts.
1994 - 404 pts.
2000 - 403 pts.
1997 - 391 pts.
1993 - 379 pts.

TEAM OFFENSE
POINTS SCORED IN ONE GAME
69 pts. - Dallastown - 2006
68 pts. - New Oxford - 2004
68 pts. - Central York - 1993
62 pts. - Dover - 2000
62 pts. - Central York - 1994
62 pts. - Kennard Dale - 1985

TEAM OFFENSE
RUSHING YARDS GAINED
1997 - 3,091 yds.
2000 - 3,042 yds.
1991 - 3,029 yds.
1994 - 2,900 yds.
1992 - 2,896 yds.

TEAM OFFENSE
PASSING YARDS GAINED
2009 – 1,583 yds.
2006 - 1,276 yds.
1990 - 1,242 yds.
1980 - 1,164 yds.
1981 - 1,140 yds.

TEAM OFFENSE
TOTAL YARDS GAINED
2009 – 4,132 yds.
2006 - 4,071 yds.
1997 - 3,967 yds.
1991 - 3,967 yds.
1994 - 3,904 yds.

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON SCORING
142 pts – Tim Smith - 2006
132 pts. - Andrew Kern - 2000
126 pts. - Joe Myers - 1991
121 pts – Drew Snyder - 2006
108 pts. - Allen Bittinger - 1999
108 pts. - Mike Tracy - 1994
108 pts. - Don Parr - 1960

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER SCORING
228 pts. - Drew Snyder
216 pts. - Allen Bittinger
213 pts. - Glenn Geiman
205 pts. - Doug Morela
186 pts. - Andrew Kern

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON TOUCHDOWNS
23 - Tim Smith - 2006
21 - Andrew Kern - 2000
21 - Joe Myers - 1991
18 - Allen Bittinger - 1999
18 - Mike Tracy - 1994
18 - Don Parr - 1960

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER TOUCHDOWNS
36 - Allen Bittinger
34 - Doug Morela
31 - Glenn Geiman
30 - Andrew Kern
26 - Dustin Permenter

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON RUSHING
1,525 yds. - Joe Myers - 1991
1,458 yds. - Allen Bittinger - 1999
1,263 yds. - Mike Tracy – 1994
1,232 yds. - Dustin Permenter - 2004
1,176 yds. - Shawn Ault - 1996

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER RUSHING
2,871 yds. - Allen Bittinger
2,775 yds. - Dustin Permenter
2,351 yds. - Doug Morela
2,165 yds. - Glenn Geiman
2,088 yds. - Bob Barthold

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON PASSING

1,483 yds. – Ian Smith – 2009
1,259 yds. – J.C. Laughlin - 2006
1,188 yds. - Doug Seidenstricker - 1990
1,055 yds. - Andy Adams - 1981
1,021 yds. - Andy Adams – 1980

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER PASSING
2,894 yds. - Andy Adams
2,159 yds. – J.C. Laughlin
2,094 yds. - Aaron Brady
1,876 yds. - Doug Seidenstricker
1,714 yds. – Ian Smith

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON TOUCHDOWN PASSES
20 - J.C. Laughlin – 2006
16 – Ian Smith – 2009
14 – David Sager – 2008
13 - Matt Schmidt - 2003
12 - Dave Schuman - 1985

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASSES
29 – J.C. Laughlin
24 - Andy Adams
24 – David Sager
21 - Aaron Brady
18 - Doug Seidenstricker

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON PASS RECEPTIONS
45 - Tim Rill - 1990
31 - Brian Bidelspach - 1980
30 - Jim Stetter - 1978
29 - Jason Zinn - 1995
29 - Tim Redding - 1996
29 - Scott Baublitz - 1979

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER PASS RECEPTIONS
70 - Tim Rill
66 - Corry Rutters
47 – Mike Felton (active)
40 - Zach Krise
39 - Brian Bidelspach

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON PASS RECEPTION YARDAGE
599 - Tim Rill – 1990
503 - Drew Snyder - 2006
487 - Drew Snyder - 2005
480 - Jim Stetter - 1978
468 - Aaron Soullaird - 1988

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER PASS RECEPTION YARDAGE
992 - Tim Rill
990 - Drew Snyder
871 - Cory Rutter
747- Mike Felton (active)
651 - Bob Flemmens

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
10 - Drew Snyder - 2006
7 - Zach Krise - 2003
7 - Tim Rill – 1989
7 – Drew Sneeringer – 2008
6 – Mike Felton – 2009
6 - Tim Rill - 1990
6 - Phil Null - 1973

INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE
CAREER TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
14 - Drew Snyder
13 - Tim Rill
11 – Drew Sneeringer
10 – Mike Felton (active)
9 - Corry Rutters

PUNTING
SEASON AVERAGE PER PUNT
40.2 yds. - Rod Gross – 1982
39.8 yds. – Drew Snyder – 2005
39.4 yds – Mike Felton (active)
39.0 yds. - Allen Zepp - 1977
37.8 yds. - Jeremie Ecker - 1999

PUNTING
CAREER AVERAGE PER PUNT
39.0 yds – Mike Felton (active)
39.0 yds. - Allen Zepp
37.3 yds. – Drew Snyder
37.2 yds. - Rod Gross
37.0 yds. - Jeremie Ecker

KICKING SEASON X-POINTS
44 - Ryan Wickline - 1994
38 - Josh Galemore - 1997
36 – Ian Smith – 2009
34 - Drew Snyder - 2006
34 - Jamie Taylor - 2000
34 - Gene Gobrecht - 1982

KICKING
CAREER X-POINTS
105 - Ryan Wickline
81 - Drew Snyder
56 - Gene Gobrecht
55 - Josh Galemore
44 – Zak Kruger

KICKING
SEASON FIELD GOALS
8 - Drew Snyder - 2004
8 - Josh Galemore - 1996
7 - Drew Snyder - 2006
5 - Ryan Gallagher - 1998
5 - Gene Gobrecht - 1982
5 - Paul Novak - 1986

KICKING
CAREER FIELD GOALS
19 - Drew Snyder
10 - Ryan Wickline
9 - Josh Galemore
8 - Drew Snyder
7 - Gene Gobrecht
7 - Fred Shafer

KICKING
LONGEST FIELD GOAL
51 yds. - Drew Snyder - 2006
47 yds. - Drew Snyder - 2005
45 yds. - Dean Frock - 1977
43 yds. - Paul Novak - 1987
41 yds. - Gene Gobrecht – 1982
41 yds – Zak Kruger – 2008

BEST TEAM RECORDS
2000 - 11-1 (10-0 Regular Season
1990 - 11-1 (11-0 Regular Season)
1995 - 10-1 (10-0 Regular Season)
1994 - 10-1 (10-0 Regular Season)
2006 – 12-2 (9-1 regular season)
1982 - 9-1
1997 - 9-2
1993 - 9-2
1992 - 9-2

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS
2009 – YAIAA Division I Co-Champions/Hanover City Cup/District III Quarterfinals
2008 – Hanover City Cup
2006 – District III Runner-up/YAIAA Division I Champions/Hanover City Cup
2005 – Hanover City Cup
2004 - YAIAA Division I Champions,
Hanover City Cup
2003 - Hanover City Cup
2000 - YAIAA Division I Champions
Hanover City Cup I, District III Runner-up
1999 - Hanover City Cup
1998 - Hanover City Cup
1997 - YAIAA Division I Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1996 - YAIAA Division I Co-Champions
1995 - YAIAA Division I Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1994 - YAIAA Division I Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1993 - YAIAA Division I Co-Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1992 - YAIAA Division I Tri-Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1991 - Hanover City Cup
1990 - YCIAA Division I Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1989 - YCIAA Division I Co-Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1985 - YCIAA Division II Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1984 – Hanover City Cup
1982 – YCIAA Division II Co-Champions,
Hanover City Cup
1977 – YCIAA Division II Co-Champions

LONGEST WINNING STREAK
23 games Regular Season 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
15 games - Regular Season 1989-1990
12 games - 1999-2000, 2006

OVERALL RECORD: 1960-2009

Year Record

1960 = 8-2-0
1961 = 7-3-0
1962 = 6-4-0
1963 = 4-6-0
1964 = 4-4-2
1965 = 5-5-0
1966 = 4-7-0
1967 = 2-8-0
1968 = 5-5-0
1969 = 5-5-0
1970 = 6-4-0
1971 = 5-5-0
1972 = 5-5-0
1973 = 4-6-0
1974 = 3-6-1
1975 = 2-8-0
1976 = 6-3-1
1977 = 6-3-1
1978 = 4-5-2
1979 = 4-7-0
1980 = 7-4-0
1981 = 8-2-0
1982 = 9-1-0
1983 = 5-5-0
1984 = 8-3-0
1985 = 10-1-0
1986 = 7-4-0
1987 = 6-5-0
1988 = 5-5-1
1989 = 9-2-0 (0-1 playoffs)
1990 = 11-0-0 (0-1 playoffs)
1991 = 8-3-0
1992 = 9-2-0
1993 = 9-2-0
1994 = 10-0-0 (0-1 playoffs)
1995 = 10-0-0 (0-1 playoffs)
1996 = 8-2-0
1997 = 9-1-0 (0-1 playoffs)
1998 = 4-7-0
1999 = 8-2-0
2000 = 10-0-0 (1-1 playoffs)
2001 = 7-3-0
2002 = 2-8-0
2003 = 8-2-0
2004 = 8-2-0 (0-1 playoffs)
2005 = 4-6-0
2006 = 9-1-0 (3-1 playoffs)
2007 = 3-7-0
2008= 4-6-0
2009= 9-1-0 (1-1 playoffs)
2010= 4-6-0

Regular Season Total = 323-194-8

Playoffs = 5-9-0

Grand Total = 328-203-8

JUNIOR HIGH CHAMPIONSHIPS
2006 - YAIAA Division I Champions
2003 - YAIAA Division I Champions
1998 - YAIAA Division I Champions
1994 - YAIAA Division I Champions
1992 - YAIAA Division I Champions
1986 - YCIAA Division II Champions
1983 - YCIAA Division II Champions
1982 - YCIAA Division II Champions
1981 - YCIAA Division II Co-Champions
1980 - YCIAA Division II Champions

THE GRIDIRON

2011-04-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

Remembering the Legacy of the 1959 CUTTERS
By Dick Engelhardt

In 1958 Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were playing their final football season in the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) before moving up to the tough Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) in 1959. Plagued by dissention they went 2-5-1 (286). But oh that “1.” On Thanksgiving Day at Ridgewood’s Veterans’ Field before 9,000 fans, the MAROONS were favored by 3 touchdowns and wanted to send 14 year coach Frank Mozeleski off to a happy retirement. The CUTTERS moved deep into Ridgewood territory three times and, in the closing minutes, were stopped at the ½ yard line! Fair Lawn’s vaunted defense kept the MAROONS at bay and our heroes sent the NBIL champs off with a scoreless tie. The team carried Bennett off the field on its shoulders.

Before the ’59 season, team co-captains Bob Wright and Fred Conte visited Bennett at the Radburn Pool where he worked summers and showed him a strict list of rules the team would follow. Astonished, Bennett told the boys they would be responsible for making sure those rules were followed. The team had a vision of duplicating Bennett’s first season in Fair Lawn when his 1945 CUTTERS, in their 3rd season on THE GRIDIRON, won the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) title in their first year in the league. Could history repeat itself with an NNJIL title in ‘59? It seemed so! They opened the season with a 12-7 upset over the HIGHWAYMEN of Teaneck, whom they had never beaten in 4 independent games, and then shocked the league favorite COMETS of Hackensack 27-6. Then the RED RAIDERS of Cliffside Park fell 32-0. In independent action our heroes thrashed the KNIGHTS of Morris Hills 53-12. Back in NNJIL action Fair Lawn edged the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood 13-12 earning our CUTTERS their 1st victory after 4 independent losses to Englewood. The CUTTERS were ranked #3 among all high schools in North and Central New Jersey. Then came the awful “hurricane” game. It was the only game played in North Jersey that day. The TIGERS of Tenafly, a 5 touchdown underdog, knew the conditions presented their only real chance to beat Fair Lawn and refused to call the game off. They took an early 6-0 lead and neither team could move the ball after that. The loss had Fair Lawn 4-1 (800) in the NNJIL and 5-1 (.833) overall. Our CUTTERS rebounded with a 28-0 shutout victory over the BULLDOGS of Rutherford. Going into the Thanksgiving Day game against the MAROONS of Ridgewood, a win or tie would give our CUTTERS the NNJIL crown in their maiden season. Alas, it was not to be as new coach Roger Sweeney’s MAROONS, with Fair Lawn star Bob Wright injured early in the game, and before 12,000 fans at what is now Sasso Field, upset our CUTTERS 13-7. Hackensack, with the loss to Fair Lawn and a tie against Ridgewood, the other new team in the NNJIL, won the title by half a game over our CUTTERS who had 2 losses.
The 1959 CUTTERS team was not one of individual stars; although five of its members were selected "All-County" by The Record and a few selected "All-State." Rather, the team, led by its seniors, epitomized the concept of teamwork and "being the best you can be." It was a diverse, predominately "blue-collar" team, from varying ethnic backgrounds and included, at the time, the first and only African-American to don the CUTTER uniform, Jim Waddy. The seniors of the 1959 CUTTERS made it happen against all odds and beyond anyone's expectations. In addition to Neil Cooper, Steve Crevani and Wright, who are in the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall Of Fame, there were first-Team All-County Tackle Don Glazer, second Team All-County Guard Vince Ficca, Backs Fred Conte, Stan Leida (suffered a season-ending injury in the Englewood game), Bob Roughgarden and Waddy, Ends Walt Pivinski and Ken Martell, Tackles Rich Tankel (deceased), Len Altamura and Henry Myers (suffered a season-ending injury in the Teaneck game), Guards Paul Abate and Doug Leidner, and Center Dave Kells. Junior Back Tom Bertero and Junior Guard Dave Tedesco (deceased) also played key roles in the team’s success.
The synergy between the spirit of the student body and the team's success on the playing field seemed almost magical. Lifted by the character of the CUTTERS team and the special relationship between the players and their beloved coach, the class of 1960 dedicated its yearbook to Frank Bennett. My twin brother, Bill, and I were “Water Boys” on his 1955 B-PIL championship team. The gym is now “The Frank Bennett Gymnasium” and Frank’s Hall of Fame Plaque is on the wall outside it! What a pleasure it is for me to remember the legacy of those 1959 CUTTERS!

THE GRIDIRON

2011-01-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES
By Dick Engelhardt

With the resignation of Coach Stan Miles to spend more time with his young family, I thought it would be fun to look at the 10 Head Football Coaches at Fair Lawn High since the school opened September 13th, 1943:

1943-44 Martin “Marty” Fischbein 9-4-2 (.692). Marty’s brand new team went 2-1 (.697) in JV action to get started and then posted 4-1-1 (.800) and 5-3-1 (.625) records in those 1st 2 seasons. After some players cut class before the Leonia JV game, he kept those “cutters” out of the game for the 1st half. With Fair Lawn trailing 12-0, he put the miscreants in for the 2nd half and they won the game 13-12. “The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High” were born! Marty and those original CUTTERS were inducted into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

1945-60 Frank Bennett 71-55-6 (.564). Frank’s CUTTERS won Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) titles outright in 1945, 53 and 55 and shared the ’46 title with the BUCCANEERS of Bogota and the ’47 title with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. He was NY Daily News “Coach of the Year in ’47. His ’53 CUTTERS shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III title with the COMETS of Hackensack. Bennett was one of the original inductees into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

1961-64 Ed Sheehy 19-15-1 (.559). Ed’s short career was ended when he died from Cancer at a young age. In his final season, 1964, his CUTTERS went 6-2-1 (.750) and notched the 1st 7 games of the fabulous 24 game non-losing streak 1964-66.

1965-71 Frank Devens 39-23-1 (.629). Frank’s CUTTERS notched the final 16 games of “The Streak” that ended on Thanksgiving Day 1966 before 13,000 fans at what is now SASSO FIELD as the MAROONS of Ridgewood upset our CUTTERS 40-34. His 1965 team went 8-0-1 (1.000) and remains the only Fair Lawn team to date that batted 1.000! His ’65 and ’66 CUTTERS were Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) champs. Frank was one of the original inductees into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.

1972-74 Al Reinoso 7-18-2 (.280). Al played for the GRAY BEES of St. Benedict’s Prep of Newark who went 2-1-1 (.667) against Fair Lawn during 1954-57. He came to Fair Lawn from Abraham Clark High in Roselle in Union County where he coached the RAMS who’s Red and Gray colors match the Crimson and Gray of our CUTTERS.

1975-77 Rich Szura 6-21 (.222). Although Rich had a disappointing tenure as Head Football coach, this long time popular teacher was a successful head coach in Baseball, Girls Basketball and Boys and Girls Volleyball.

1978-87 Pete Natale 58-36-1 (.617). Pete came to Fair Lawn from Ridgefield Park where he had led the SCARLETS to numerous Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division and State titles. He remains the only coach to take the CUTTERS to 9 wins and he did it 3 times, in 1980, 85 and 87. His 1980 CUTTERS were tri-NNJIL champs with the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the HORNETS of Passaic Valley. His 1984, 85 and 87 CUTTERS were Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champs and his CUTTERS made the playoffs in 1979, 1980, 1985 and 1987 going 1-4 (.200). The win was a thrilling come-from-behind 27-18 opening round 1980 victory over the INDIANS of Passaic at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980. That was the most exciting football game played to date in FLHS GRIDIRON history! Pete was inducted into the New Jersey Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988 and the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

1988-2001 Mike Alberque 71-61-1 (.538). Mike’s CUTTERS took the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 title in ’89. His CUTTERS made the playoffs in ’88, ’89 and ’00 going 1-3 (.250). The win was 14-7 over the BRUINS of North Bergen in ’89.

2002-06 Greg Tanzer 14-36 (.280) Although Coach Tanzer, the 1st FLHS grad to take the helm, did not lead the CUTTERS to a league title or the playoffs, his CUTTERS went 4-1 (.800) in State Consolation games.

2007-10 Stan Myles 20-21 (.488). Stan took the CUTTERS to the playoffs in ’09 going 1-1 (.500). His CUTTERS led the INDIANS of Passaic 32-6 at halftime in the ’09 playoffs 1st round and hung on to win a 39-38 thriller that replaced that 1980 GIANTS STADIUM game against Passaic as the most exciting in FLHS GRIDIRON history! Stan’s CUTTERS were 1-2 (.333) in State Consolation games. The win was 38-3 over the WILDCATS of High Point in 2007. Stan resigned after the 2010 season to spend more time with his young family.

2011 Amir Saadah, a 2000 Fair Lawn High graduate who played for Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS, 1997-99 has been hired as the 11th Head Football Coach in FLHS history. He comes to Fair Lawn from Hawthorne where he was an assistant coach on the BEARS team that reached the North Jersey, Section 1, Group I playoffs and lost 35-7 to the HERD of Mountain Lakes. The then LAKERS were the first varsity opponents of the brand new CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High in 1943 and our CUTTERS shut them out 13-0!

Total Fair Lawn High School Football Record 1943-2010: 314-290-14 (.520)

THE BEST 10 FAIR LAWN HIGH GRIDIRON TEAMS

2011-01-14T15:26:00.001-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Fair Lawn High school opened in 1943.Here are Dick Engelhardt’s nominees for the best 10 GRIDIRON teams in FLHS history as of 2004, which was requested by recent grad Joe Toronto:

1. 1980 Pete Natale's CUTTERS went 9-2 (.818) and shared NNJIL crown with Clifton and Passaic Valley. They won a 27-18 thriller in GIANTS STADIUM before losing 20-0 to Passaic Valley in finals.

2 1965 Frank Devens' CUTTERS went 8-0-1 (1.000) and took the NNJIL title. Their 12-12 tie with Hackensack was the only thing between them and a perfect season.

3. 1966 Devens' CUTTERS went 8-1 (.889) and took the NNJIL title. The wonderful Bruce Jankowski years come to an end and the 24-game non-losing streak (including a 6-6 tie with Ridgewood in '64 and that Hackensack tie in '65) was broken when Ridgewood upset Fair Lawn in a 40-34 shootout on Thanksgiving.

4. 1953 Frank Bennett's CUTTERS went 7-1 (.875) and took the then Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) title. The B-PIL became the NBIL in 1956. They shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III title with the COMETS of Hackensack. The team featured Dave Sime, then the "World's Fastest Human," who went on to be an ophthalmologist in Florida (serving the Miami Dolphins). His daughter is married to former NY GIANTS and Denver BRONCOS receiver Ed McCaffery. Dave was just inducted into the New Jersey Sports Hall Of Fame.

5. 1985 Natale's CUTTERS went 9-1 (.900) and took the NBIL Division 1 title. They lost a 36-26 thriller to Passaic in the States.

6. 1987 Natale’s CUTTERS went 9-1 (.900) and took the NBIL Division 1 title. They lost a 12-6 heartbreaker playoff game against the BEES of Bayonne in gale force winds.

7. 1955 Bennett's CUTTERS, with myself and my twin brother, Bill, as managers (or "water boys") went 7-1 (.875) and took the B-PIL title.

8. 1947 Bennett's CUTTERS went 8-1 (.889) and shared the B-PIL title with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst. Their 7-6 Thanksgiving Day victory over the MAROONS of Ridgewood was the first in the 1944-83 rivalry, which Ridgewood took 26-11-3 (.703).

9. 1989 Mike Alberque's CUTTERS went 8-3 (.727) and took the NBIL Division 1 title. They lost a heart breaking 19-14 game against the RED WINGS of Hoboken in the States after beating the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the first round.

10. 1946 Bennett's CUTTERS went 6-3 (.667) and shared the B-PIL title with the BUCCANEERS of Bogota.

There were other fine teams as well. I think of new coach Pete Natale's 1978 CUTTERS turning the program around and going 6-3 (.667). They beat Ridgewood 15-7 on Thanksgiving on a 25-yard Richie Graff to Steve Jubelt TD pass as time expired, ending an 8-year Turkey Day losing streak. Natale’s ‘79 CUTTERS went 7-1-1 (.875) and shut Clifton out 21-0 during the season before losing 30-0 to the FIGHTING MUSTANGS in the States. Then there is Frank Bennett's 1959 team that nearly took the NNJIL title in Fair Lawn's first year in the "big league." The 6-0 loss to the TIGERS of Tenafly in a hurricane and 12-7 to Ridgewood on Thanksgiving ruined this and Hackensack, though beaten 27-6 by Fair Lawn, took the title by half a game. Bennett began his 1945-60 coaching career at Fair Lawn taking our CUTTERS to a 4-3-2 (.571) record and the B-PIL title in his first year. Mike Alberque's 1988 CUTTERS made the States losing 20-6 to the KNIGHTS of JFK High of Paterson. His 2000 team made the States and gave nationally ranked Hackensack a battle before losing 14-6. Ed Sheehy’s 1964 CUTTERS lost their first 2 games and then went 6-0-1 (1.000) beginning that 24 game non-losing streak of 1964-66.

FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2010

2011-01-14T15:20:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Head Coach: Stan Myles
Assistant Coaches: James Beshaw, John DiGiorgio, Robert Gentile, Ryan Ramiccio and Ed Guy
Volunteer Coach: Joseph Brislin

Sat. 9/11 HOME Fair Lawn 25 Passaic* 6
Thur. 9/16 AWAY Fair Lawn 0 NV/Demarest 40
Fri. 9/24 AWAY Fair Lawn 14 Passaic County Tech* 34
Fri. 10/1 HOME Fair Lawn 6 Hackensack 12
Sat. 10/09 AWAY Fair Lawn 0 Bergen Catholic 37
Sat. 10/16 HOME Fair Lawn 0 Clifton* 21
Fri. 10/22 AWAY Fair Lawn 13 Paramus 42
Sat. 10/30 HOME Fair Lawn 40 Paterson Eastside* 16
Fri. 11/05 AWAY Fair Lawn 22 Paterson Kennedy* 20
Sat. 11/13 HOME Fair Lawn 22 Vernon** 41 142 269
* Big North Conference (BNC) Division II (Liberty) Game
** State Consolation Game (Vernon)
BNC Liberty Division Record: 3-2 (.600)
BNC Crossover Record: 0-4 (.000)
Independent Record: 0-1 (.000) Vernon Consolation Game
Overall Record: 3-7 (.300)

The 2010 season was a disappointing one for Coach Stan Myles’ CUTTERS. They started out #4 on the WGHT Radio http://www.ghtradio.com/ All-Area Top 10 list but soon were off it. Our CUTTERS received their share of honors. All BNC Division II (Liberty) 1st team offense: Kevin Guy (TE) & Adam Polisi (T). 2nd team: Max Jacobs (G), Kelvin Rosario (RB) & Sam Vovsi (WR). 1st Team Defense: Brendan Walis (LB). 2nd Team: Kevin Benjamin (L) & Anthony Tozzi (LB). Honorable Mention: James Hegybeli & Junior Roberts.

The last regularly scheduled home game against Eastside was poignant as seniors soon to end their participation in the football program were honored and introduced. We said goodbye and wished the best to: Alex Callons, James Choe, Kevin Guy, Kevin Flynn, Max Jacobs, Davon Johnson, Kyle McGowen, Matt Paisley, Matt Peligretto, Dave Pinuel, Adam Polisi, Junior Roberts, Kelvin Rosario, Tim Schrettner, Steven Sherlock, Eric Simeonoglu, Sertoc Tarcan, Anthony Tozzi, Bryan Turton, Sam Vovsi and Brendan Walis. However, our CUTTERS could be strong in 2011 with experienced players like Tyler Argott, Benjamin, Kris Burger, Corey Carlson, Andy Chorlian, Hegybeli, Kevin Osback, John Pagios, Dan Prigge, Dimetri Rodriguez, Rickey Rodriguez, Brandon Sibilio, Steven Tatekawa, Brandon Torrez, Mike Venezia, Jeff Welsh and Michael Williams back.

THE GRIDIRON 15 - 2010

2010-12-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Following good scrimmages and the 25-6 opening day victory over the Indians of Passaic in their inaugural Big North Conference (BNC) Division II game (Division II would later be named the Liberty Division), Fair Lawn fans were singing the 1959 Frank Sinatra classic “High Hopes” that won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in the film “A Hole in The Head.” Stan Myles’ CUTTERS had many good players back, including the entire offensive line, and expected a great season! They would face their 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) foe, the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest, next. Fair Lawn had gone 13-9 (.591) over NV/Demarest and they and their fans expected a victory in this BNC crossover game. The 40-0 shutout at the hands of the NORSEMEN was a first class shock. John Fass and Marco Balletti, who would broadcast the Fair Lawn-Clifton game on WGHT Radio (1500 AM) http://www.ghtradio.com/ and had Fair Lawn, rated #4 in their top 10 listening area teams, wondered on the air what happened.

Next, our CUTTERS were tied at 14 at the half against the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute before falling 34-14 to the eventual BNC Liberty Division champs who would go 5-0 in Division play. Then came the 49-7 shellacking by Bergen Catholic. To his credit, BC Coach Nunzio Campanile put his JV in for the 2nd half. The Campanile family is well connected to Fair Lawn! Nunzio’s Dad, Mike, was a highly successful junior football coach for many years with the Fair Lawn Football Association where all the boys played. Sons Anthony, Nick and Vito coached at Fair Lawn High under Greg Tanzer. Anthony and Nick played for Fair Lawn after Mike’s stint as head coach of Paramus Catholic ended. The Campanile family joins the Graff and Guy families and others who have been heavily involved in football in Fair Lawn over the years. Some parochial parents were upset by the excellent New York Times article in which Clifton Coach Ron Anello was quoted about the injustice of the public schools having to play parochial behemoths but Anello, whose FIGHTING MUSTANGS’ playoff hopes were dashed by a 48-13 loss to the IRONMEN of Don Bosco, was right. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has indicated it will look at this again. They could start by adding the GREEN WAVE of Delbarton, the MARAUDERS of St. Peter’s Prep and the PIRATES of Seton Hall Prep to the BNC Division I (United). With 8 teams, this would be a super parochial conference and its teams could fill out their schedules with 2 games against out of State powerhouses like Don Bosco likes to do, and NJ teams willing to play them. The IRONMEN have already scheduled the DIABLOS of Mission Viejo, California, the alma mater of NY Jets QB Mark Sanchez, as their 2011 home opener.

Losses to the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton and the SPARTANS of Paramus were followed by wins over the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside and the KNIGHTS of Paterson JFK. In State Consolation action, the VIKINGS of Vernon came from behind to beat our CUTTERS 41-22. Fair Lawn is 7-4 (.636) in Consolation Game action since these games began in 1998.

Our CUTTERS finished the season 3-7 (.300) bringing their 1943-2010 record to 314-290-14 (.520) and Coach Stan Myles’ 2007 through 2010 record to 20-21 (.488). The BNC Division II (Liberty) final standings were: Passaic County Technical Institute 5-0 (1.000), Clifton 4-1 (.800), Fair Lawn 3-2 (.600) and Eastside, JFK and Passaic 1-4 (.200).

The Eastside game, the last regularly scheduled home game, was poignant as seniors soon to end their participation in the football program were honored and introduced. We said goodbye and wished the best to: Alex Callons, James Choe, Kevin Guy, Kevin Flynn, Max Jacobs, Davon Johnson, Kyle McGowen, Matt Paisley, Matt Peligretto, Dave Pinuel, Adam Polisi, Junior Roberts, Kelvin Rosario, Tim Schrettner, Steven Sherlock, Eric Simeonoglu, Sertoc Tarcan, Anthony Tozzi, Bryan Turton, Sam Vovsi and Brendan Walis. The turnout of over 50 players plus some 35 freshman was great this year and next season many good players return augmented by freshmen moving up. I can hardly wait! This edition of THE GRIDIRON closes out 2010. After the league all-star designations are known I’ll put out the FAIR LAWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 2010 page and look forward to next year. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THE GRIDIRON 14 - 2010

2010-12-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Last week Fair Lawn fans enjoyed seeing venerable foes in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) playoff finals. The Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) was founded in 1943 by Bergenfield, Bogota, Hawthorne, Lyndhurst and Ramsey. Fair Lawn High School opened that same year but Coach Marty Fischbein’s CUTTERS played an independent schedule in 1943 and 1944. They opened with 3 JV games to get started, going 2-1 (.667) and then posted a remarkable 4-1-1 (.800) varsity record. In 1944, Fischbein’s CUTTERS had another winning season, going 5-3-1 (.625).

In 1945 Fischbein returned to Florence High School in Burlington County where he coached the FLASHES through the 1958 season. Fischbein and his original CUTTERS were inducted into the Fair Lawn High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 along with this writer. Athletic Director Virgil “Virge” Sasso, after whom SASSO FIELD is named, brought his college friend, Frank Bennett to Fair Lawn in 1945 and our CUTTERS joined the B-PIL. They would be champions in ’45, co-champions with the BUCCANEERS of Bogota in 46 and the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst in ’47 when Bennett would be named “Coach of the Year,” and champions again in 1953 when they would share the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III title with the COMETS of Hackensack and 1955, when my twin brother, Bill, and I were water boys. Bennett and Sasso were in the initial 2006 group of inductees into the Hall of Fame.

Fair Lawn’s entrance into the B-PIL in 1945 saw the beginning of a wonderful long-time rivalry with the RAMS of Ramsey. The B-PIL would become the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1956 when the BEARS of Hawthorne, then the only Passaic County member, dropped out. During 1945-58, the CUTTERS and RAMS squared off in B-PIL/NBIL action. Fair Lawn left the NBIL in 1959 for the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL). In 1984, Fair Lawn, Bergenfield and Ramsey all returned to their old NBIL. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry with Ramsey by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)!

And now, in North Jersey, Section 1, Group II action at Kean University in Union, I saw the LANCERS of Lakeland Regional High School of Wanaque shutout those RAMS of Ramsey 20-0 for the State Championship. WGHT Radio (1500 AM) of Pompton Lakes broadcasted the game and it was nice to see on-air personalities John Fass and Marco Balletti there. The LANCERS looked just like the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High in their spanking Red and Silver uniforms. Fair Lawn’s Crimson and Gray uniforms are identical except for their Crimson helmets with the Gray Michigan Wolverine symbol.

In North Jersey, Section 1, Group III action at the New Meadowlands Stadium, the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills took the title edging the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan 24-21. NV took a 21-17 lead with 23 seconds on the clock. The ensuing kickoff return featured a lateral and Hills took it to the house winning the game with 5 seconds on the clock! I listened to Fass and Balletti describing the astonishing finish on ghtradio.com. The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL Division 1 and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) rivalry with Fair Lawn 20-5 (.800). The 1984-93 Turkey Day rivalry between Fair Lawn and Wayne Hills wound up 5-5 (.500). Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 NBIL Division 1 rivalry with NV/Old Tappan 15–10 (.600). The RAMS of Randolph took the North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV title Fair Lawn had aspired to shutting out the MONTIES of Montclair 19-0.

Next week we’ll close out THE GRIDIRON with observations on the 2010 season. Until then GO CUTTERS GO!!!

PLAYOFF FINALS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2010

2010-11-27T11:14:00.001-08:00

THE GRIDIRON 13 - 2010

2010-11-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

Over the last few weeks I took in playoff and Thanksgiving games that brought back great memories to me as a Fair Lawn fan. In the opening round of the North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV playoffs, I saw the BRUINS of North Bergen edge the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute 27-25 knocking Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division out of the playoffs. Fair Lawn is 1-1 (.500) against the BRUINS having beaten them 14-7 in the playoffs in ’89 and lost 33-13 to them in North Jersey Tri-Conference (NJTCC) Division 3 action in ’09. Our CUTTERS lost 34-14 to BNC Liberty Division champion Passaic Tech this year. If that weren’t bad enough, the MONTIES of Montclair knocked Bergen County out of the Group IV playoffs beating the MAROONS of Ridgewood 38-28. During 1944-83 Ridgewood went 26-11-3 (.703) against Fair Lawn in the Thanksgiving Day classic. Fair Lawn, Hackensack and Ridgewood are the only Group IV schools in Bergen County and only Ridgewood made the playoffs.

I took a real “walk down memory lane” in the second round of the playoffs, going to O’Donnell Field in Mountain Lakes to see THE HERD come from behind 7-0 to beat the BEARS of Hawthorne 35-7 in North Jersey, Section 1, Group I action. Coach Marty Fischbein’s new CUTTERS went 1-1 (.500) against the then LAKERS of Mountain Lakes in 1943 and 44. Fair Lawn’s 13-0 victory in ’43 was the 1st varsity game ever for our brand new CUTTERS. After going 2-1 (.667) in JV action to get started, they posted a remarkable 4-1-1 (.800) varsity record! Those original CUTTERS and Coach Fischbein were inducted into the FLHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 along with this writer. Today the Mountain Lakes athletic teams are the LAKERS except for the football team, which is called THE HERD because of its tremendous numbers for a small school. Before FLHS opened in 1943, a handful of Fair Lawn students in the Maple Ave/Lincoln Ave area attended Hawthorne High. Our CUTTERS and the BEARS squared off independently in 1944 and in the old Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) 1945-55 with Fair Lawn going 9-3 (.750). My twin brother, Bill, and I were “waterboys” on Frank Bennett’s 1955 B-PIL champion CUTTERS team that shut out the BEARS 33-0.

On Thanksgiving Day, Fair Lawn fans enjoyed seeing Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division foes go at it in games that are still played on Turkey Day. I saw the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High shutout the INDIANS of Passaic 42-0 at Passaic’s Boverini Stadium. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 in the BNC Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn, including a State playoff victory in 1979. Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the Indians 27-18 in 1st round playoff action at GIANTS STADIUM in 1980 and lost a 1985 playoff game 36-26 at Passaic. Stan Myles’ CUTTERS edged the INDIANS 39-38 in the 1st “Home” playoff game ever played at SASSO FIELD in 2009. In 2010 BNC Liberty Division action, Fair Lawn’s 25-6 victory put our CUTTERS up 3-1 (.750) against Passaic. At the game I met Lou Poles, the unofficial Clifton historian. He told me Clifton High opened in 1906 and began playing football in 1921. They played their football games at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson and Passaic School Stadium, now Boverini Stadium, until Clifton School Stadium opened in 1950. As the unofficial Fair Lawn High School Football Historian, I enjoyed swopping stories with Lou, who remembers watching Charlie “Choo Choo” Motta roaming THE GRIDIRON for Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS in that memorable 1947 B-PIL championship season. Fair Lawn shared the title with the GOLDEN BEARS of Lyndhurst and Bennett was “Coach of the Year.” Fair Lawn star 1965-66, Bruce Jankowski, once worked for Lou. Bob Morgan, Clifton’s renowned band director, told me that when the Delawanna section of Passaic annexed itself to Clifton years ago, the shape of Clifton as a horseshoe surrounding Passaic came about. Hence the nickname, “FIGHTING MUSTANGS!”

At Bauerle Field in Paterson, the KNIGHTS of JFK beat the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 20-14 to lead the 86 year old classic 40-39-7 (.506). Fair Lawn has a special connection to Eastside. Before FLHS opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside. Next week we’ll look at playoff finals from a Fair Lawn fan’s view point and then we’ll close out 2010 with comments on the season. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF ACTION IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY - 2010

2010-11-24T17:35:00.000-08:00

TURKEY DAY IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY 2010

2010-11-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 – The MAROONS of Ridgewood joined the Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) making the annual classic a league affair. Ridgewood’s 38-2 victory over Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS ended Fair Lawn’s first losing season at 1-7 (.125). FLHS opened September 13th, 1943 The MAROONS led Annual Classic 5-2 (.667). Fair Lawn’s first victory had been 7-6 in 1947.

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS finished their first ever winless season at 0-9 falling 27-7 to the MAROONS in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Ridgewood led the series 11-5-1 (.688).

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were shutout 22-0 by the MAROONS in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 16-9-2 (.640).

1980 – Pete Natale’s NNJIL champion and playoff team CUTTERS beat the MAROONS 26-14 in NNJIL action. Ridgewood led the series 23-11-2 (.676).

1990 – Mike Alberque’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 CUTTERS were beaten 34-6 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in league action. Fair Lawn had left the NNJIL and returned to the NBIL in 1984. Our CUTTERS led the series 5-2 (.714). The 1984-93 Turkey Day rivalry wound up 5-5 (.500). The PATRIOTS took the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover rivalry 20-5 (.800).

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the BEARS of Bergenfield 31-8 in NBIL Division 1 action. Fair Lawn led the Turkey Day series, which began in 1994, 6-1 (.857).

The 2008 Thanksgiving Day 42-0 victory over Bergenfield ended the holiday classic, at least for now. Fair Lawn took the 1945-48 (when the BEARS were the MIGHTY MITES) and 1962-2008 rivalry 35-16 (.686) and the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733). At 51 seasons, it remains the longest rivalry in either school’s history!

THE GRIDIRON 12–2010

2010-11-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

THANKSGIVING DAY MEMORIES
By Dick Engelhardt

The 2010 football season, Fair Lawn’s 68th since FLHS opened September 13th, 1943, is the second season in which our CUTTERS had no Thanksgiving Day football game. Coach Marty Fischbein found an opponent for his new CUTTERS that initial 1943 season in the TERRIERS of Holy Trinity High School of Westfield. Our CUTTERS started their Thanksgiving series off with a 19-0 victory!

In 1944, Fischbein’s CUTTERS began a 40 year Turkey Day rivalry with the MAROONS of Ridgewood which ended in 1984 when Fair Lawn left the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) to return to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL), that Fair Lawn and Ridgewood had left in 1959. Ridgewood took the annual classic 26-11-3 (.703).

In 1984 back in the NBIL, our CUTTERS began a 10 year Turkey Day rivalry 1984-93 with the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills that wound up 5-5 (.500). The teams continued to play during the regular season through 2009. The Patriots took the overall rivalry 20-5 (.800). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound Cutters thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8.

In 1994 the THUNDERBIRDS of Mahwah joined the NBIL, which they had left in the 1960s for the new Bergen-Passaic Scholastic League (B-PSL). They wanted to play their old Turkey Day foe, Ramsey, but the RAMS were playing the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands. The reshuffling of the Turkey Day NBIL rivalries enabled Fair Lawn to pick up the BEARS of Bergenfield. Fair Lawn took the 1994-2008 Turkey Day rivalry 11-4 (.733) and the 1945-48 and 1962-2008 overall rivalry, at 51 seasons, the longest in either school’s history, 35-16 (.686).

Fair Lawn’s Thanksgiving Day record for those 66 seasons, 1943-2008, is 28-35-3 (.444). Several of the games stand out in my memory. In 1953 Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) champion CUTTERS, led by Dave Sime, who would become “The World’s Fastest Human,” beat the MAROONS of Ridgewood 26-6 to take the title. They shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State championship with the COMETS of Hackensack. In 1955, with my twin brother, Bill, and I working the game as “waterboys,” Bennett’s CUTTERS came from behind to beat Ridgewood 19-7 and take the B-PIL title again. The league would become the NBIL in 1956. In 1958, our heavy underdog CUTTERS fought Ridgewood to a scoreless tie spoiling the retirement of long time Ridgewood coach and friend of Coach Bennett, Frank Mozewleski.

In 1959, Fair Lawn and Ridgewood moved up to the NNJIL and our CUTTERS needed only to tie or beat Ridgewood to take the title. The MAROONS went after Fair Lawn star Bob Wright, who went on to play for Army, and their 13-7 upset win gave the COMETS of Hackensack the title even though our CUTTERS had beaten the COMETS 27-6.

And who can forget Turkey Day 1966 when Frank Devens’ CUTTERS, led by Bruce Jankowski, who went on to play for Ohio State, the NFL Kansas City CHIEFS and the World Football League (WFL) Shreveport STEAMER, came into the game with a 24 game non-losing streak that had begun in 1964 under coach Ed Sheehy. With 13,000 fans looking on at what is now SASSO FIELD, the MAROONS shocked our NNJIL champion CUTTERS 40-34!

Thanksgiving Day is chock full of great memories for this Fair Lawn fan. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THE GRIDIRON 11–2010

2010-11-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

The CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High, representing the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, were defeated 41-22 by the VIKINGS of Vernon High, representing the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) American Division last Saturday at SASSO FIELD in “Consolation Game” action. Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis won the coin toss and elected to receive. With Fair Lawn facing 3rd and long, Rosario electrified the crowd with a 75 yard TD run around the right end off blocks by Matt Paisely and Adam Polisi and our CUTTERS led 6-0. The VIKINGS came back and led 7-6. Kevin Osback got off an awesome punt that was downed inside the 1 by Mike Venezia and Walis. On the next play the VIKINGS fumbled and Osback recovered the ball and scored. Rosario’s 2 point conversion run had our CUTTERS on top 14-7. They led 14-13 at the half.

Vernon led 19-14 after 3 quarters and then the VIKINGS pulled away. Our “never-say-die” CUTTERS fought back after Vernon took a 34-14 lead. Rosario raced 26 yards for a TD and Anthony Tozzi bulled his way for the 2 point conversion to give our CUTTERS their 22 points. Speedy Davon Johnson made great runs all day and James Hegybeli picked up nice yardage behind center Brandon Sibilio, guards Max Jacobs and Paisely and tackles Steven Sherlock and Polisi. On “D,” Johnson made a TD saving tackle, Walis and Turton recovered fumbles, Junior Roberts sacked the QB and Kris Burger, Kevin Benjamin, Kevin Guy and Sam Vovsi made big plays. Fair Lawn’s record in Consolation Games since their inception in 1998 is now 7-4 (.636).

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division was knocked out of the playoffs in the 1st round. In North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action, its champion BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute lost a heart breaker 27-25 to the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (HCIAA) Bruins of North Bergen that went down to the last play of the game as the BRUINS stuffed the BULLDOGS’ 2 point conversion try that would have sent the game into overtime. Fair Lawn is 1-1 (.500) against North Bergen having beaten the BRUINS 14-7 in the States in 1989 and lost 33-13 to them in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover action in 2009. Fair Lawn’s 34-14 loss to PCTI this year was the 1st game between the schools.

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division went 3-2 (.600) in Consolation Games. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the GOLDEN EAGLES of Morris Knolls beat the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson 41-25. However, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the COMETS of Hackensack 25-6, the INDIANS of Passaic beat the TIGERS of Memorial of West New York 41-20 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside beat the BENGALS of Bloomfield 31-28. The BNC Liberty Division finished the season 9-21 (.300) against outside teams! Only the Eastside- Kennedy and Clifton-Passaic Thanksgiving games within the Division remain.

Our CUTTERS finished the season 3-7 (.300). It was my great pleasure and privilege to be “The Voice of the Cutters on the Gridiron” again this year with my spotter, Kevin Pepitone. Next week we’ll recall Fair Lawn Thanksgiving Day memories and then look at the playoffs from the point of view of Fair Lawn fans before closing out THE GRIDIRON for 2010 with some final thoughts on the season. Until then, GO CUTTERS GO!!!

FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY

2010-11-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) instituted playoffs in 1974. Before that, sectional and group championships were awarded using power points. Now they are decided on the GRIDIRON.

1979 – Pete Natale came to Fair Lawn in 1978 having won championships at Ridgefield Park and made the CUTTERS winners again. They shut out the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High 21-0 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action in the regular season. In the States the roles were reversed as Clifton shut out Fair Lawn 30-0. During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the NNJIL and 2010 in the Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn including that playoff victory.

1980 – Natale’s CUTTERS shared the NNJIL title with Clifton and Passaic Valley. In the States they played one of the most exciting games in their history. Trailing the INDIANS of Passaic 7-0, 12-0, 12-7 and 18-7 at GIANTS STADIUM they roared back to win a 27-18 thriller.

1985 – Those INDIANS got revenge as they won a 36-26 thriller over Natale’s Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) Division 1 champion CUTTERS at Passaic’s “One River Stadium.” Passaic School Stadium is now Boverini Stadium, named after the late long time Passaic Athletic Director. Fair Lawn trailed only 28-26 until the final minutes.

1987 – Natale’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS lost a 12-6 heart breaker to the BEES of Bayonne at Bayonne’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in freezing cold and gale force winds. Bayonne Coach Don Ahern said he was thankful for the awful weather because only it, and not his BEES, could thwart Fair Lawn’s vaunted offense.

1988 – Natale’s offensive coordinator, Mike Alberque, took over and led his CUTTERS into the States. They were beaten 20-6 by the KNIGHTS of John F. Kennedy of Paterson at Hinchliffe Stadium. During 1951-56 and 58, Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over the then COLTS of Paterson Central. Our CUTTERS shut out the KNIGHTS 20-0 in “Consolation Game” action in 2003 and lead the overall rivalry 6-3 (.667).

1989 – Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion CUTTERS upset the BRUINS of North Bergen 14-7 in the States in the only game played to date between the schools until the BRUINS 33-13 victory in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) crossover play in 2009.

2000 - Alberque’s CUTTERS gave the nationally ranked COMETS of Hackensack all they could handle before losing a 14-6 thriller. During 1959-82 in NNIIL action the COMETS went 16-7-1 against our CUTTERS.

2009 - Stan Myles’ CUTTERS faced the GAILS of Roxbury in North Jersey, Section 1, Group IV action. The GAILS won 42-7 and went on to take the sectional title.

Fair Lawn is 7-3 (.700) in “Consolation Games” played the first weekend of playoffs since they were instituted in 1998.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-11

2010-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, November 5, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Rockets of Spring Grove at the Mustang Corral and the Rockets blasted off to a 31-14 win, propelling them into the District 3 Class AAAA playoffs. As the number 10 seed the Rockets (6-4) will visit the 7th seeded Eagles of Cumberland Valley (8-2) next week.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted to open the game but the Rockets fumbled on their first play from scrimmage. Ryan Sexton recovered for the Mustangs at the Rockets 45-yard line. The Mustangs ended up punting and the Rockets had to do the same after a sack by Sexton. Max Ruby recovered a Mustangs fumble for the Rockets and the Rockets had to punt again after a sack by Matt Funk for the Mustangs. The Mustangs punted from their 1-yard line and the first quarter ended without any score.

The Rockets put together a 20-yard drive in four plays and Josh Slate scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run. Ben Reigart’s extra point kick put the Rockets up 7-0 at the 10:56 mark in the second quarter.

The Mustangs drove 35-yards to the Rockets 28-yard line in a drive that featured Ryan Sexton’s 5-yard run for a first down on a fake punt play. However, Reigart intercepted a pass for the Rockets at their 28-yard line. They drove 72–yards in 10 plays, featuring a 40-yard pass from Neal Grudi to Reigart. Reigart kicked a 33-yard field goal to up the score to 10-0 with 3:28 left in the first half.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted from their 28-yard line. The Rockets started at their 49-yard line and wasted no time as Grudi lofted a 51-yard touchdown pass to Reigart. Reigart’s extra point put the Rockets up 17-0 with 1:44 left in the half.

The Rockets opened the second half and went three and out and punted. The Mustangs got off three plays and Jordan Klunk intercepted a pass for the Rockets at the Mustangs 24-yard line. Three plays later, after being pushed back to the 30-yard line, Grudi threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Keith Stambaugh and Reigart’s extra point kick upped the score to 24-0 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs ended up punting again and the Rockets drove 55-yards in five plays, featuring a 36-yard pass from Grudi to Stambaugh. Grudi lofted a 24-yard touchdown pass to Reigart and Reigart’s extra point kick upped the score to 31-0 at the 3:17 mark in the third quarter.

The Mustangs and the Rockets exchanged punts. The Mustangs drove 52-yards, featuring a 9-yard run by Jake Shaffer and a 12-yard run by Mike Pugh, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Rockets 8-yard line. Dillon Higgins recovered a Rockets fumble for the Mustangs at the 8. Three plays later Mike Felton plunged in from the 5-yard line for a touchdown and Brendan Lawson’s extra point kick made the score 31-7 with 3:25 left in the game.

The Rockets went three and out and punted. The Mustangs drove 80-yards in two plays. Jesse Good threw a beautiful 33-yard pass to Tommy Nicklas and followed that up with another beauty, a 47-yard touchdown strike to Felton. Lawson’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with 58 seconds left in the game, with the Rockets up 31-14.

Mike Felton kicked off 2 times for 87-yards, with the longest going for 47-yards. Casey Froehlich punted 6 times for 168-yards, for an average of 28-yards, with the longest going for 38-yards, for the Mustangs. Felton returned 5 kickoffs for 112-yards, with the longest going for 30-yards, for the Mustangs. Felton returned 1 punt for 7-yards and Mike Pugh returned 1 punt for no yards, as it was a Fair Catch, for the Mustangs.

Ryan Sexton led the Mustangs defense with 10 tackles, a fumble recovery, a sack, and a pass hurry, followed by Cody Kephart with 9 tackles, Mike Pugh with 7 tackles, Aaron Bosley and Jake Shaffer with 6 tackles each, Casey Froehlich, Mike Felton and Leonard Sturgis with 5 tackles each, Matt Funk with 4 tackles and a sack, Ryan Dotson and Tyler Frederick with 3 tackles each, Levi Buck, Brady Conroy, Rich Delea, and Zach Townsend with 2 tackles each, Dillon Higgins with 1 tackle and a fumble recovery, and Marty Deal, Carnie Fryfogle, Pete O’Shea, and Woody Stetter with 1 tackle each.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Tyler Frederick, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Ryan Sexton, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Brandon Krise, and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 97-yards rushing and 120 yards passing for a total of 217-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 13 carries for 39-yards (including a 5-yard touchdown), followed by Jeff Hacker with 12 for 37, Jake Shaffer with 5 for 27, Mike Pugh with 6 for 12-yards, Jesse Good with 3 for minus 8-yards and Zach Gross with 2 for minus 10-yards. Quarterback Good completed 5 of 8 passes for 119-yards and 1 touchdown, 3 for 74-yards to Felton (including a 47-yard touchdown) and 2 for 45-yards to Tommy Nicklas, and quarterback Gross completed 1 of 10 passes for 1-yard to Cody Kephart, for the Mustangs. Brandon Lawson kicked 2 extra points, Dillon Higgins and Ryan Sexton each recovered a fumble, and Matt Funk and Sexton each recorded a sack, for the Mustangs.

The Rockets gained 55-yards rushing and 180-yards passing for a total of 235-yards gained. Joshua Slate led the Rockets rushing attack with 15 carries for 40-yards (including a 10-yard touchdown), followed by Juwan Fitchett with 8 for 17, Andrew Walker with 5 for 10, Alex Guinn with 2 for 3-yards, Keith Stambaugh with 2 for no yards, Cortlin Dell with 1 for minus 2-yards, and Neal Grudi with 4 for minus 13-yards. Quarterback Grudi completed 6 of 10 passes for 180-yards and 3 touchdowns, 3 for 117-yards to Ben Reigart (including touchdowns of 52 and 25-yards), 2 for 65-yards to Stambaugh (including a 30-yard touchdown), and 1 for minus 2-yards to Walker, for the Rockets. Reigart kicked a 32-yard field goal and 4 extra points, Max Ruby recovered a fumble, and Jordan Klunk intercepted a pass for the Rockets.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a terrific post game presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Spring Grove Marching Band put on a spirited half time show. The Mustangs and the Rockets cheerleaders excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-6-0 overall and 1-4-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-85-1 (.688) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-203-8. The results of the 539 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .618 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage.

We bid a tearful farewell and offer our best wishes for the future to the 22 departing seniors. We owe them all our gratitude for their efforts in providing us with exciting football over the course of their high school careers. They all played in this their final game. They are: Aaron Bosley, Levi Buck, Brady Conroy, Marty Deal, Tyler Frederick, Casey Froehlich, Matt Funk, Jeff Hacker, Josh Hertz, Dillon Higgins, Cody Kephart, Brendan Lawson, Gabe Miller, Tommy Nicklas, Pete O’Shea, Mike Pugh, Ryan Sexton, Derek Schneider, Jake Shaffer, Bill Shirley, Woody Stetter, and Leonard Sturgis.

I want to say a very special thank you to Richard Lupro for faithfully compiling the official Offensive, Special Teams and Scoring statistics for the Mustangs, and for inputting them, and the Defensive statistics, at the Max Preps web site very quickly each week so that they were always available for my use. He was instrumental in coming up with many of the records that will be mentioned below. And a very special thank you also goes to longtime Mustangs line coach Chuck Seidenstricker for providing vital Defensive statistics to me, and to Dick Lupro, for input to the web site, after reviewing game films on very short notice.

The 2010 edition of the Mustangs of South Western gave their fans lots of excitement and thrills.

With a year still to go in his career, Mike Felton already is in third place in the history of the school in career pass receptions with 47 (Tim Rill tops the list with 70). He is also in forth place in touchdown pass receptions with 10 (Drew Snyder tops the list with 14). And he is in forth place in career passing yardage with 747-yards (Tim Rill tops the list with 992-yards). For 2010, Felton caught 23 passes for 378-yards and 4 touchdowns, for a 16.44-yard average.

Felton is also tied with Allen Zepp (1977 season) in third place in the history of the school with a season punting average of 39.0-yards, with 28 punts for 1,093-yards. This will put him in the 2010 “Keystone Club” at the Pennsylvania Football News web site. He also stands tied with Zepp for first place for career punting average with that 39.0-yards, but his career still has a year to go.

Felton also led the team in kickoff returns with 17 for 391-yards, for a 23-yard average. Mike Pugh returned 10 kickoffs foe 190-yards, for a 19-yard average.

Felton led the team in scoring with 98 points, from 14 touchdowns, 12 extra point kicks and a two-point conversion. He was followed by Jeff Hacker with 48 points on 8 touchdowns, Mike Pugh with 24 points on 4 touchdowns, Tommy Nicklas with 14 points on 2 touchdowns and a 2-point conversion, Brendan Lawson with 7 points on extra point kicks, and Jesse Good, Ryan Sexton and Matt Stroda with 6 points each on 1 touchdown each. The team scored 209 points for the season.

Jeff Hacker had 140 carries for 820-yards and 8 touchdowns rushing, followed by Mike Felton with 112 for 722-yards and 10 touchdowns, Mike Pugh with 43 for 257-yards and 3 touchdowns, Ryan Sexton with 37 for 189-yards, Matt Stroda with 8 for 33-yards and 1 touchdown, Reid Cruz with 6 for 33-yards, Dillon Langenfeld with 5 for 28-yards, Jake Shaffer with 5 for 27-yards, Jesse Good with 44 for 25-yards and 1 touchdown, Nick Bond with 4 for 25-yards, Carnie Fryfogle with 7 for 22-yards, Dakotah Moses with 2 for 10-yards, Marty Deal with 1 for 2-yards, Jake Hunt with 1 for minus 10-yards, Zach Gross with 4 carries for minus 12-yards, and a team loss of 2-yards. There was a net of 423 carries for 2,159-yards and 23 touchdowns for the season.

Jake Shaffer led the team in tackles with 100 on the season. This will also put him in the 2010 “Keystone Club.” Other players with at least 50 tackles for the season were: Cody Kephart, with 85, Ryan Sexton with 80, Mike Felton and Matt Funk with 74 each, Aaron Bosley and Leonard Sturgis with 63 each, Carnie Fryfogle with 62, and Mike Pugh with 51 tackles.

Matt Funk led the team with 5 sacks on the season. Carnie Fryfogle and Ryan Sexton followed right behind with 3 sacks each, Aaron Bosley had 2 sacks and a bevy of Mustangs each had a sack, for a team total of 20 sacks for the season.

Jesse Good completed 54 of 114 passes for 809-yards and 6 touchdowns and Zach Gross completed 11 of 31 passes for 157-yards and 2 touchdowns. The season reception leaders were Felton with his 23 for 378-yards and 4 touchdowns, followed by Tommy Nicklas with 6 for 129-yards and 2 touchdowns, Ryan Sexton with 7 for 96-yards and 1 touchdown, Casey Froehlich with 4 for 92-yards, Cody Kephart with 8 for 82-yards, Mike Pugh with 6 for 55-yards and 1 touchdown, Carnie Fryfogle with 1 for 46-yards, Jeff Hacker with 5 for 34-yards, Brandon Krise with 2 for 23-yards, Dillon Langenfeld with 2 for 19-yards, and Keith Pappas with 1 for 12-yards. That adds up to 65 receptions for 966-yards and 8 touchdowns for the season.

The 2010 Mustangs represented their school and league honorably, played hard, never gave up, and they were clearly a team for which we can all be proud. They have a great nucleus of returning players from the junior varsity and solid players coming up within the ranks. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Until then, GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 10–2010

2010-11-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action last Friday night at Bauerle Field in Paterson, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High edged the KNIGHTS of JFK High School 22-20 in a thriller! Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis won the coin toss and elected to receive. On their 2nd possession, our heroes scored as QB Dan Prigge passed to Rosario to the 1 and then ran a QB sneak for the TD. With Alex Callons snapping and Walis holding, Brian Turton kicked the extra point and Fair Lawn led 7-0. Turton intercepted a pass and ran it to the 25. James Hegybeli picked up yards and Anthony Tozzi bulled his way to the 4. Hegybeli’s TD run and Turton’s kick had Fair Lawn up 14-0. Tozzi intercepted a pass and rumbled over 50 yards for a TD. From his holding position, Walis fired a 2 point conversion pass to Hegybeli and our CUTTERS led 22-8 at the half.

In the second half our heroes held on for dear life! The KNIGHTS scored and made it 22-14. Then, late in the game, they scored and a 2 point conversion would tie the game and threaten overtime. Tozzi, probably the biggest hero of the game, led Kevin Guy and a host of tacklers in stopping the runner in his tracks. If that weren’t enough, with :03 on the clock, the KNIGHTS threw a desperation pass from their 49 yard line which Sam Vovsi and Walis batted down at the goal line to save the victory. You could hear a “Whew!” emanating from the Fair Lawn faithful. On “D,” Matt Peligritto recovered Fair Lawn’s 2nd half squib kickoff. Kevin Osback grabbed the ball from a KNIGHT and ran for a TD that was nullified when the officials ruled it wasn’t a fumble. He also got off some awesome punts keeping the KNIGHTS at bay. Kevin Benjamin, Davon Johnson, Adam Polisi and Brandon Sibilio also made key plays.

Fair Lawn has played JFK and its predecessor, the COLTS of Paterson Central, independently 1951-56, in the playoffs in 1988, in a Consolation game in 2003, in the North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) in 2009 and now in the BNC. This victory brings Fair Lawn’s record to 8-3 (.727) over Central/Kennedy!

The BNC has given its 6 Football Divisions and 1 other sports Division new names. Division I is the United Division, Division II (Fair Lawn’s) is the Liberty Division, Division III the Freedom, Division IV the Independence, Division V the National, Division VI the American (for football; for other sports it’ll be the Patriot) and Division VII (for other sports) the American.

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division saw its other 4 teams go against outside teams. They went 2-2 (.500). The BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute beat the COMETS of Hackensack 23-7 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside beat the BULLDOGS of Bergen Tech 28-14. However, the INDIANS of Passaic fell 34-14 to the MAROONS of Ridgewood and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High, needing a win to get into the States, were forced to play the nationally ranked IRONMEN of Don Bosco. They had no chance and lost 48-13 in the latest installment of the parochial powerhouse versus public school travesty. In another, outside the BNC Liberty Division, St. Joseph walloped Wayne Hills 35-14. The BNC Liberty Division is now 6-18 (.250) against outside teams!

Our CUTTERS are home at SASSO FIELD Saturday at 1:00 against Vernon High School of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), American Division in a Consolation Game. The VIKINGS and our CUTTERS are both 3-6 (.333). Fair Lawn has been outscored 228-120 for an average 25-13 loss. Vernon has been outscored 213-194 for an average 24-22 loss. I’m sure our CUTTERS will make an all out effort to close out the season with a win. Let’s all be there to cheer them on. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – Vernon 14. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-10

2010-10-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 22, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) and lost 48-26 in a donnybrook that saw 909-yards of offense pretty evenly spread between the two teams (486-yards for William Penn and 423-yards for South Western). The speed of Kelvin Parker, with 2 long touchdown runs and a shorter one was the main difference for the Bearcats but the aerial bombardment of Zach Gross and Jesse Good went a long way for the Mustangs.

Ryan Sexton got the Mustangs off to a great start by returning the opening kickoff 45-yards to the Bearcats 36-yard line. Seven plays later they turned the ball over on downs at the Bearcats 29. Then the Bearcats and the Mustangs exchanged punts.

The Bearcats drove 72-yards in three plays, ending with Dontae Davis throwing a 51-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Zachary. Ethan Fair’s extra point kick put the Bearcats up 7-0 with 5:21 left in the first quarter.

Jeff Hacker returned the kickoff 38-yards for the Mustangs, putting them at the Bearcats 32-yard line. Hacker then rushed to the 29 and Good threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Mike Felton, leaving the Bearcats up 7-6 with 4:35 left in the first quarter.

The Bearcats responded with an eight play 61-yard drive, featuring a 13-yard pass from Dontae Davis to Jordan Zachary and ending with an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Tim Hibner. Fair’s extra point kick put the Bearcats up 14-6 with 38 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Mustangs drove from their 31-yard line to the Bearcats 5-yard line, mainly on Felton’s 58-yard scamper to the Bearcats 11. However, Zachary stripped the ball from Ryan Sexton at the 5 and returned it 86-yards to the Mustangs 11-yard line for the Bearcats. Tim Hibner than scored on an 11-yard run and Fair’s extra point kick put the Bearcats up 21-6 as the first quarter ended.

The Mustangs then drove 14-yards in six plays, including a 2-yrd run for a first down by Felton on a fake punt play, but had to punt. The Bearcats soon gave up the ball as Aaron Bosley recovered a fumble for the Mustangs, but the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the Bearcats 20-yard line. Parker then sprinted 80-yards for a touchdown and Fair’s extra point kick upped the score to 28-6 in favor of the Bearcats with 6:22 left in the first half.

The Bearcats opened the second half at the Mustangs 46-yard line. Hibner ran to the 40 and then he scampered 40-yards for a Bearcats touchdown. Fair’s extra point kick upped the score to 35-6 only 47 seconds into the third quarter.

The never say die Mustangs then drove 64-yards in seven plays, featuring a 37-yard pass from Gross to Casey Froehlich to the Bearcats 11-yard line. Felton ended the drive with a 6-yard touchdown jaunt, making the score 35-12 with 9:05 left in the third quarter.

The Bearcats were forced to punt and the Mustangs drove 80-yards in eight plays, featuring Felton’s 3-yard run for a first down on another fake punt play. Gross ended the drive with a picture perfect 25-yard touchdown pass to Sexton, and his 2-point conversion pass to Felton made the score 35-20 with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

Parker’s 72-yard touchdown run ended a three-play drive and Hibner’s 46-yard touchdown run ended another three-play drive, and Fair’s extra point kick for the Bearcats upped the score to 48-20 by the end of the third quarter.

The Mustangs closed out the scoring with a seven play 55-yard drive, featuring a 14-yard pass from Gross to Felton and a 14-yard run by Hacker. The drive ended with another beautiful touchdown pass from Gross, this time a 26-yarder to Mike Pugh. This made the final score 48-26 in favor of the Bearcats.

Mike Felton kicked off 4 times for 155-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback. Casey Froehlich punted 3 times for 98-yards, for an average of 32.67-yards, with the longest going for 36-yards, for the Mustangs. Ryan Sexton returned 2 kickoffs for 52-yards (with the longest going for 45-yards), Jeff Hacker returned 1 for 38-yards, Mike Pugh returned 1 for 14-yards, Carnie Fryfogle returned 2 for 6-yards (with the longest going for 4-yards), and Tommy Nicklas returned 1 kickoff for 1-yard, for the Mustangs. Pugh returned 2 punts for 1-yard for the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle led the Mustangs defense with 9 tackles, a fumble recovery, a sack, and a pass hurry followed by Cody Kephart with 8 tackles and a sack, Matt Funk with 7 tackles and a sack, Casey Froehlich with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Felton and Leonard Sturgis with 6 tackles each, Aaron Bosley with 5 tackles and a fumble recovery, Tyler Frederick with 5 tackles and a pass defense, Mike Pugh and Ryan Sexton with 5 tackles each, Ryan Dotson with 3 tackles and a sack, and Brady Conroy and Keith Pappas with 1 tackle each.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Tyler Frederick, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeremy Loughlin, Ryan Sexton, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Brandon Krise, and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 262-yards rushing and 161yards passing for a total of 423-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 18 carries for 149-yards (including a 6-yard touchdown), followed by Mike Pugh with 10 for 63, Jeff Hacker with 13 for 46, Ryan Sexton with 3 for 17-yards, Zach Gross with 1 for minus2-yards, and Jesse Good with 2 for minus 11-yards. Quarterback Gross completed 6 of 16 passes for 116-yards and 2 touchdowns and quarterback Good completed 5 of 11 passes for 45-yards and a touchdown for the Mustangs. Felton caught 4 passes for 41-yards (including a 29-yard touchdown from Good), Casey Froehlich caught 1 pass for 37-yards, Pugh caught 2 passes for 28-yards (including a 26-yard touchdown from Gross), Sexton caught 1 pass for 25-yards and a touchdown from Gross, Cody Kephart caught 2 passes for 18-yards, and Brandon Krise caught 1 pass for 12-yards, for the Mustangs. Gross threw a 2-point conversion pass to Felton and Aaron Bosley and Carnie Fryfogle each recovered a fumble for the Mustangs.

The Bearcats gained 394-yards rushing and 92-yards passing for a total of 486-yards gained. Kelvin Parker led the Bearcats rushing attack with 11 carries for 189-yards (including touchdowns of 11, 80, and 72-yards), followed by Tim Hibner with 14 carries for 153-yards (including touchdowns of 11, 40, and 46-yards), Jordan Zachary with 6 for 48, Steffonte Doby with 6 for 23, and Dontae Davis with 3 carries for minus 13-yards. Davis completed 4 of 6 passes for 85-yards and a touchdown, 2 for 62-yards to Zachary (including a 51-yard touchdown) and 2 for 23-yards to Parker, and Parker completed 1 pass for 7-yards to Thompson, for the Bearcats. Ethan Fair kicked 6 extra points for the Bearcats.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a terrific half time presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The William Penn Marching Band put on a spirited post game show.” The Mustangs and the Bearcats cheerleaders excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-85-1 (.688) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-202-8. The results of the 538 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .619 winning percentage and a .625 non-losing percentage.

After 9 weeks of play the Mustangs are seeded 17 in a field of 30 class AAAA teams in district 3 and only the top 16 make the playoffs.

Next week the Mustangs will close out the regular season by hosting the Rockets of Spring Grove (5-4 Overall, 2-2 league) at the Mustang Corral. The Rockets are coming off of a 21-0 loss to the undefeated Wildcats of Dallastown. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track and a .500 season. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 9–2010

2010-10-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) Division II action last Saturday at SASSO FIELD, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High spotted the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside an 8-0 lead and roared back to notch a scintillating 40-16 victory! Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis went out for the coin toss which Eastside won but elected to defer their choice to the 2nd half. Davon Johnson ran the kickoff to the 34 but our CUTTERS turned the ball over on downs. The GHOSTS drove for a TD and their 2 point conversion put them up 8-0. Johnson ran the kickoff to the Eastside 47 and Rosario electrified the crowd with a 47 yard TD run that was nullified by a penalty. No matter, Rosario scampered 45 yards for a TD and Tatekawa’s 2 point conversion run tied the score at 8. Fair Lawn never looked back! Behind center, Alex Callons, guards, Max Jacobs and Matt Paisely and tackles Tyler Argott and Adam Polisi, running backs Rosario, Tatekawa and Anthony Tozzi picked up yardage. Rosario’s 3 yard TD run had Fair Lawn up 14-8 at the half.

Tozzi continued to wear the Ghosts down with bulldozing runs and his TD run put Fair Lawn up 20-8. Bryan Turton’s interception led to a Tatekawa TD run and, with Callons snapping and Walis holding, Turton kicked the extra point for a 27-8 Fair Lawn lead. Tatekawa’s 18 yard TD scamper put our CUTTERS on top 33-8. Turton’s fumble recovery and 25 yard TD run after Rosario knocked the ball loose made it 39-8. Turton’s extra point kick made it 40-8 and the GHOSTS scored late in the game. On “D,” Kevin Benjamin, Callons, John Pagios, Paisely, Dave Pinuel, Junior Roberts, Demetri Rodriguez, Brandon Sibileo, Eric Simeonoglu, Turton, Mike Venezia and Michael Williams made nice plays. Kevin Osback recovered the ball in kickoff coverage and teamed up with Turton in breaking up a pass and Kevin Guy recovered a fumble. Our CUTTERS lead the 1947-54 independent, 1983 Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 BNC Division II rivalry 6-4 (.600).

At this last scheduled home game the senior football players and cheerleaders were honored as I was privileged to introduce them with their escorts. Fair Lawn’s version of “Football’s Fabulous Females,” those Fair Lawn High Cheerleaders and their coach, Lauren Gimon, put on a great show all season, as did the junior varsity cheerleaders and their coach, Nicole Mattina! Christie Artinger, a member of Lauren’s 1st squad in 2002, has made the New York Jets Flight Crew cheerleading squad for the 2nd year in a row. Way to go Christie!

In the other BNC Division II games, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute clinched the title at 5-0 (1.000) shutting out the INDIANS of Passaic 26-0 and the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High beat the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson 44-20.

Friday at 7:00, in BNC Division II action, our CUTTERS travel to Bauerle Field in Paterson to take on those KNIGHTS of JFK. During 1951-56 and 58 Fair Lawn went 5-2 (.714) over then Paterson Central High. In 1988 the successor KNIGHTS of Paterson Kennedy beat our CUTTERS 20-6 in the States while, in the 2003 State “Consolation Game,” our CUTTERS prevailed 20-0. Fair Lawn’s 12-8 victory in 2009 in North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) action brought our CUTTERS’ record against Central/Kennedy to 7-3 (.700). Fair Lawn comes into the game 2-6 (.250) having been outscored 220-105 for an average 28-13 loss while Kennedy comes into the game 1-6 (.143) having been outscored 273-74 for an average 39-11 loss.

The Knights can’t be taken lightly and I’m sure our CUTTERS will make an all out effort to close out the regular season with a win. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 28 - Kennedy 6. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 8

2010-10-27T15:43:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS. Were beaten 25-19 by the BUCCANEERS of Bogota in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn and Bogota shared the 1946 B-PIL title and our CUTTERS took the 1945-55 rivalry 6-3-2 (.667).

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 33-6 by the BULLDOGS of Rutherford in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1959 – 63 in the NNJIL, our CUTTERS went 3-2 (.600) over the BULLDOGS. Rutherford left for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL) American Division in ’64.

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS stung the Hornets of Passaic Valley 34-8 in NNJIL action. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL, the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Wayne Valley 28-8 in NNJIL action. During 1967-80 the INDIANS went 9-5 (.643) over our CUTTERS in the NNJIL. They left the league for the Northern Hills Conference (NHC) Skyline Division in 1981.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the HIGHLANDERS of Northern Highlands 35-14 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic league (NBIL) interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1986-93 and 1998 – 2008 rivalry 10-9 (.526).

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the INDIANS of Pascack Valley 28-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. Pascack Valley took the 1955-56, 1984-85 and 1988-2008 rivalry 14-10-1 (.583).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-9

2010-10-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 22, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Lions of Red Lion at the Mustang Corral in YAIAA Division I action and the Lions came out on the top of a 28-10 score. The offensive and defensive lines of the Lions featured starters that were all over six feet tall and averaged over 250 pounds. That was combined with Tanner Klinefelter’s two long aerial touchdowns for the Lions to thwart the Mustangs.

Carnie Fryfogle got the Mustangs off to a good start b y returning the opening kickoff 22-yards to the Mustangs 42-yard line. They drove to the Lions 19-yard line in a four play drive, featuring 25-yards in penalties against the Lions and an 11-yard run by Mike Felton. That drive ended when Dalton Miller recovered a fumble for the Lions at the 18-yard line.

The Lions and the Mustangs exchanged punts and the Lions started a drive at the 50-yard line. Jeremy Knaub dashed 11-yards to the Mustangs 39-yard line and then 23-yards to the 16. Four plays later Klinefelter completed an 8-yard pass to Branden Kessler to the 1-yard line. Knaub plunged in form the 1-yard line and Pete Pitilis kicked the extra point to put the Lions up 7-0 with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.

Mike Pugh returned the ensuing kickoff 67-yards to put the Mustangs in business at the Lions 26-yard line. The Mustangs drove to the 5-yard line in five plays, featuring a 6-yard pass from Jesse Good to Jeff Hacker. Brendan Lawson then kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Mustangs, making the score 7-3 at the 9:17 point in the second quarter.

The Lions drove from their 27-yard line to the Mustangs 27-yard line, only to see Ryan Sexton recover the fumble of a Lions’ pitchout for the Mustangs. The Mustangs ended up punting and the Lions took over on the Mustangs 48-yard line. Five plays later, on a drive that featured a 26-yard run by Knaub, Klinefelter scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run. The extra point by Pitilis upped the score to 14-3 with 1:01 left in the second quarter.

The Lions and the Mustangs each punted in the third quarter. Then Matt Funk recovered a Lions fumble for the Mustangs, only to see them have to punt again. The Lions took over on the Mustangs 35-yard line and four plays later Klinefelter lofted a 34-yard touchdown pass to Erik Althoff. The Pitilis extra point kick upped the score to 21-3 with 3:58 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted again. The Lions dove 61-yards in five plays, ending with Klinefelter’s 44-yard touchdown strike to Joe Baublitz. The extra point kick by Pitilis upped the score to 28-3 with one second left in the third quarter.

The never say die Mustangs launched a ten play 81-yard drive that started with an 11-yard dash by Fryfogle and featured a 20-yard dash by Pugh, and a 25-yard dash by Pugh. Pugh then ended the drive with a 21-yard touchdown jaunt. Brendan Lawson’s extra point kick for the Mustangs made the final score 28-10 in favor of the Lions with 2:39 left in the game.

Brendan Lawson kicked off 3 times for 132-yards, with the longest going for 51-yards. Jeff Hacker punted 3 times for 91-yards, for an average of 30.33-yards, with the longest going for 33-yards, and Mike Felton punted 2 times for 75-yards, for an average of 37.5-yards, with the longest going for 40-yards, for the Mustangs.

Cody Kephart led the Mustangs defense with 19 tackles, followed by Jake Shaffer with 14, Ryan Sexton with 10, Matt Funk with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery, Tyler Frederick with 7, Aaron Bosley with 6, Marty Deal, Ryan Dotson, Mike Pugh and Leonard Sturgis with 5 tackles each, Carnie Fryfogle with 4 tackles and a pass hurry, Mike Felton and Keith Pappas with 4 tackles each, Brady Conroy, Rich Delea, Casey Froehlich, Brandon Krise, and Jeremy Loughlin with 2 tackles each, Dakotah with 1 tackle and a sack, and Derek Schneider with 1 tackle.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Tyler Frederick, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeremy Loughlin, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Marty Deal, Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Jeff Hacker, Brandon Krise, and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 135-yards rushing and 52yards passing for a total of 187-yards of offense. Jeff Hacker led the Mustangs rushing attack with 15 carries for 67-yards, followed by Mike Pugh with 4 for 66-yards (including a 21-yard touchdown), Mike Felton with 5 for 31 (before leaving the game with a hip pointer at the end of the first quarter), Carnie Fryfogle with 4 for 9, Ryan Sexton with 3 for 9-yards, and Jesse Good with 8 carries for minus 47-yards. Quarterback Good completed 2 of 6 passes for 52-yards, 1 for 46-yards to Fryfogle and 1 for 6-yards to Hacker, for the Mustangs. Brendan Lawson kicked a 22-yard field goal and an extra point and Matt Funk and Sexton each recovered a fumble for the Mustangs.

The Lions gained 201-yards rushing and 131-yards passing for a total of 332-yards gained. Jeremy Knaub led the Lions rushing attack with 13 carries for 98-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), followed by Tanner Klinefelter with 12 for 54 (including a 5-yard touchdown), Jason Milton with 9 for 43, Erick Toscano with 2 for 9-yards, and Mike Gray with 2 carries for minus 3-yards. Quarterback Klinefelter completed 8 of 14 passes for 131-yards and 2 touchdowns, 4 for 73-yards to Joe Baublitz (including a 44-yard touchdown), 3 for 34-yards to Branden Kessler, and 1 for 34-yards and a touchdown to Erik Althoff, for the Lions. Pete Pitilis kicked 4 extra points.

Kessler led the Lions defense with 9 tackles, followed by Gray and David Telp with 5, Brooks Arnold, Mitch Fisher, Johnson, and Miller with 4, Harry Darrah, Toscano, and Zeller with 3, Althoff, Knaub, and Kocman with 2 tackles, and Tyler Hoover, Pitilis, Cody Tyson, Adam Weigle, and Dwayne Wolfe with 1 tackle each. Dalton Miller recovered a fumble, Kessler intercepted a pass, Telp and Andrew Zeller each recorded 2 sacks, Warren Johnson and Nick Kocman each recorded 1 sack, and Toscano recorded a half sack, for the Lions.

It was Band Night at the Mustang Corral and the 105 member Emory H Markle Middle School Band performed their pre-game program “Aztec Fire,” after which they were joined by the Mustangs Marching Band for a stirring performance of “This Is My Country.” The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a post game presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Red Lion Marching Band put on a spirited half time show entitled “Silence Is Golden.” The Mustangs 25 gals, and a guy, and the Lions cheerleaders excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-4-0 overall and 1-2-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-84-1 (.690) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-201-8. The results of the 537 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .620 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will visit the den of the Bearcats of York High (William Penn) (3-5 Overall, 0-3 league). The Bearcats are coming off of a 43-20 loss to the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 8–2010

2010-10-24T11:43:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action last Friday night at Hodgins Field in Paramus, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High faced one of the best 2-3 (.400) teams in North Jersey and fell 42-13 to the SPARTANS. Captains Kelvin Rosario and Brendan Walis went out for the coin toss which Paramus won and elected to receive and the SPARTANS never looked back. They ran and passed at will and led 28-0 at halftime. Our CUTTERS were not without heroics, however. In the 2nd half Steven Tatekawa electrified the crowd with a sensational 75 yard TD run. Later, Anthony Tozzi bulled his way for 22 yards to the 7, Davon Johnson scampered to the 2 and Tozzi scored. With Alex Callons snapping and Walis holding, Bryan Turton kicked the extra point closing out the scoring.

On “D,” Kevin Benjamin sacked the QB, Kevin Osback got off great punts and made a TD saving tackle, as did Tatekawa. Johnson, Adam Polisi, Tozzi, and Walis made big plays. Paramus and Fair Lawn fans alike applauded and cheered honoring a real warrior, Steven Sherlock, as he was wheeled on a gurney to an ambulance with a leg injury. We all wish him well! Paramus leads the 1962-83 and 2010 rivalry 13-10 (.565).

Fair Lawn’s BNC Division II went 0-4 in crossover play. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the BNC Division II leading BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute were shellacked 63-0 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco in the latest parochial powerhouse versus public school travesty, the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside were shutout 45-0 by the CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic in the second such mismatch and the INDIANS of Passaic lost a 35-34 thriller to the INDIANS of Wayne Valley. The BNC Division II is now 4-16 (.200) against outside teams! The FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High and the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson drew a Bye.

Saturday at 1:00, in BNC Division II action, our CUTTERS play host to the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside at SASSO FIELD. Before Fair Lawn High opened in 1943, most Fair Lawn students attended Eastside while the Radburn area students attended Ridgewood High and a few students near Lincoln Avenue attended Hawthorne High. During 1947-54 our CUTTERS and the GHOSTS each won 4 games in the fierce rivalry in which some Fair Lawn fans actually rooted for their alma mater – Eastside! In 1983 Fair Lawn’s thrilling 20-18 win in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) interdivisional action put our CUTTERS up 5-4 (.556).

Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-6 (.143) having been outscored 204-65 for an average 29-9 loss while Eastside comes into the game 2-4 (.333) having been outscored 188-31 for an average 31-5 loss. Fair Lawn fans were shocked to read the story in the paper about the sad state of football at both Eastside and Kennedy. While we feel sorry about that, Fair Lawn fans are disappointed in our season and want a win. The GHOSTS can’t be taken lightly and I’m sure our CUTTERS will make an all out effort in this game. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 - Eastside 6. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 7

2010-10-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 6-0 by the TIGERS of Tenafly in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. Fair Lawn joined the NNJIL in 1959 and the TIGERS made our undefeated CUTTERS play in a hurricane. In the only game played in North Jersey that awful day, Tenafly won 6-0. That loss, combined with the 13-7 Thanksgiving Day upset by the MAROONS of Ridgewood, gave the NNJIL title by half a game to the COMETS of Hackensack, who our CUTTERS had beaten 27-6. The TIGERS took the 1959-61 rivalry 3-0 (1.000) before leaving for the Bergen County Scholastic League (BCSL).

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS were edged 7-3 by the COMETS of Hackensack in NNJIL action. During 1959-82 in the NNJIL, the COMETS went 16-7-1 (.696) over our CUTTERS. Frank Bennett’s 1953 B-PIL champs shared the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III State title with the COMETS. Mike Alberque’s 2000 CUTTERS put up a whale of a battle before losing 14-6 to the nationally ranked COMETS in the States. The 12-6 Hackensack win in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010 brought the COMETS’ record against our CUTTERS to 18-7-1 (.720).

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS beat the BENGALS of Bloomfield 20-14 in NNJIL action. Our CUTTERS took the 1977 independent and 1978-81 NNJIL rivalry 4-1 (.800). In ’77 Bloomfield was not yet a full NNJIL member because of a commitment to play Irvington on Thanksgiving.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the GOLDEN KNIGHTS of Northern Valley/Old Tappan 28-7 in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1984–2008 rivalry 15–10 (.600). State realignment has ended it, at least for now.

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS scalped the BRAVES of Indian Hills 34-0 in NBIL inter- divisional action. Our CUTTERS took the 1984-97 and 2000-2008 rivalry against the BRAVES 13-10 (.565). Realignment has ended it for now.

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-8

2010-10-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 15, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Panthers of Central York in YAIAA Division I action and, in the second overtime game in the 51-year history of the school, won the game 20-14 in the first overtime period. The Mustangs are batting 1.000 in overtime games, having defeated Carlisle in overtime in 1999.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted to open the game. Jalil Ford returned the kickoff 44-yards to the Mustangs 23-yard line and Marques Fells scored on a 17-yard run six plays later. Aaron Goodyear’s extra point kick put the Panthers up 7-0 at the 8:17 mark of the first quarter.

The Mustangs held the ball for 6 plays, including a successful fake punt on fourth down, and punted. The Panthers muffed the punt and Rich Delea recovered for the Mustangs at the Panthers 31-yard line. Jesse Good threw a nifty 25-yard pass to Mike Felton to the 6-yard line. He followed that with a 5-yard pass to Ryan Sexton to the 1-yard line and then Good ran in for the touchdown himself. Felton’s extra point kick tied the game at 7 with 3:39 left in the first quarter.

Seven punts later, three by the Mustangs and four by the Panthers, the last into a stiff wind, the Mustangs had the ball at the Panthers 30-yard line. Jeff Hacker darted the 30-yards for a touchdown. Felton’s extra point put the Mustangs up 14-7 with 4:16 left in the first half.

The Mustangs received the kickoff to start the second half and went three and out and punted. The Panthers started at the Mustangs 30-yard line and Saladin Dickson scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run nine plays later. Goodyear’s extra point kick tied the score at 14 with 6:19 left in the third quarter. And that’s the way the score remained throughout the rest of regulation time.

The Panthers got first crack at scoring in overtime. After three incomplete passes, Goodyear attempted a 20-yard field goal and it went wide.

The Mustangs started at the 10-yard line and Felton darted to the 2-yard line on the first play. Then Jeff Hacker won the game for the Mustangs with a 2-yard touchdown plunge.

Felton kicked off 2 times for 105-yards, with the longest going for 55-yards, and he punted 10 times for 384-yards, for an average of 38.4-yards, with the longest going for 48-yards. Mike Felton returned 2 kickoffs for 13-yards, with the longest going for 18-yards, and Mike Pugh returned 2 punts for 4-yards, with the longest going for 5-yards, for the Mustangs.

Jake Shaffer led the Mustangs defense with 18 tackles and 3 pass hurries, followed by Carnie Fryfogle with 15 tackles and a pass defense, Ryan Sexton with 13 tackles and 3 pass hurries,
Leonard Sturgis with 10 tackles, Aaron Bosley with 9 tackles, a fumble recovery, and 3 pass hurries, Matt Funk with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery, Mike Pugh with 7 tackles, Mike Felton with 6 tackles and a pass defense, Casey Froehlich with 5 tackles, Jeff Hacker with 4 tackles and a pass defense, Ryan Dotson with 2 tackles and a fumble recovery, Rich Delea with 1 tackle and a fumble recovery, and Brady Conroy, Dakotah Moses, Tommy Nicklas, and Mike Trish with 1 tackle each.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeff Hacker, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Jeff Hacker, Tommy Nicklas and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 140-yards rushing and 37yards passing for a total of 177-yards of offense. Jeff Hacker led the Mustangs rushing attack with 14 carries for 72-yards (including touchdowns of 30 and 2-yards), followed by Mike Felton with 10 for 37-yards, Jesse Good with 10 for 22, Mike Pugh with 2 for 9, Ryan Sexton with 3 carries for 2-yards, and a team loss of 2-yards. Quarterback Good completed 5 of 14 passes for 37-yards, 1 for 25-yards to Felton, 2 for 9-yards to Hacker, and 2 for 3-yards to Sexton, for the Mustangs. Felton kicked 2 extra points, and Aaron Bosley, Rich Delea, Ryan Dotson and Matt Funk each recovered a fumble, and for the Mustangs.

The Panthers gained 102-yards rushing and 65-yards passing for a total of 167-yards gained. Saladin Dickson led the Panthers rushing attack with 17 carries for 47-yards (including a 2-yard touchdown), followed by Marques Fells with 15 for 25-yards (including a 17-yard touchdown), Jalil Ford with 4 for 15-yards, Brandon Baker with 3 for 14-yards, and Jonah Plymire with 1 carry for 1-yard. Quarterback Baker completed 8 of 23 passes for 65-yards, 5 for 38-yards to Ford, 1 for 15-yards to Lialdon Donovan-Greene, and 2 for 12-yards to Dickson, for the Panthers. Aaron Goodyear kicked 2 extra points, Travis Shaffer intercepted a pass, Logan Neff recorded 2 sacks, Kwe Parker recorded 1.5 sacks, Ryan Troup recorded a sack, and Kevin O’Grady recorded a half sack, for the Panthers.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a half time presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Central York Marching Band put on a spirited post game show. The Mustangs 24 gals, one guy and Mustang Mascot, and the Panthers cheerleaders and mascot excited the faithful with their cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 187-83-1 (.693) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 328-200-8. The results of the 536 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .627 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs will host the Lions of Red Lion (5-2 Overall, 1-1 league) at the Mustang Corral. The Lions are coming off of a 36-14 loss to the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way along on the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 7 – 2010

2010-10-17T13:22:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) Division II action last Saturday at SASSO FIELD, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High were shutout 21-0 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High. Our heroes had their chances to win this one. Kelvin Rosario’s over 50 yard scamper to the 10 was followed by a sure TD pass from QB Dan Prigge that the wind blew just over the head of Kevin Guy. Alas, our Cutters turned the ball over on downs. At the half the FIGHTING MUSTANGS led 14-0. A pitchout from Prigge to Rosario took the ball to the 19 where, once again, the drive stalled. The defense played its heart out with Mike Venezia intercepting a pass and Kevin Osback breaking up a pass. Guy sacked the QB for a big loss and Brendan Walis smashed the halfback causing an option pass to misfire! Davon Johnson made a fantastic open field tackle stopping a fake punt run. Tyler Argott, Kevin Benjamin, Adam Polisi, Junior Roberts, Steven Tatekawa, Anthony Tozzi, Bryan Turton and Sam Vovsi all made big plays.

The shutout loss was Fair Lawn’s first since the CUTTERS’ 35-0 loss to the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in 2007. Since their beginning in 1943, our CUTTERS have shutout their opponents 82 times and have been shutout themselves 82 times! During 1972-74 independently, 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) and 2010 in the BNC Division II, Clifton has gone 9-2-1 (.818) over Fair Lawn, including a State playoff victory in 1979.

The Bergen County champion Fair Lawn High School CUTTER Marching Band and Color Guard under the direction of Paul A. Kafer looked mighty fine. They’ll be in competition October 30th when Fair Lawn hosts Paterson Eastside so it was my privilege to announce the seniors and their escorts as they were honored at halftime.

The Class of 1960 was in town celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Class of 1985 was in town celebrating its 25th. The ’59 CUTTERS moved up to the NNJIL from the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) and nearly won the title. A heart breaking 6-0 loss to the TIGERS of Tenafly in a hurricane (The TIGERS refused to postpone the game!) and a 13-7 upset loss to the MAROONS of Ridgewood on Thanksgiving gave our CUTTERS two losses while the COMETS of Hackensack, a team they beat 27-6, took the championship with that loss and a tie with Ridgewood, the other new team in the league. The ‘84 CUTTERS took the NBIL Division 1 title their first year back in their old league.

The schedule had all 6 BNC Division II teams playing within the division. In addition to the Fair Lawn game, the BULLDOGS of Passaic County Technical Institute shutout the Knights of JFK of Paterson 33-0 and the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside edged the INDIANS of Passaic 7-6.

Friday night at 7:00 our CUTTERS travel to Paramus to take on the SPARTANS for the 23rd time. During 1962-83 in NNJIL action, Paramus won 12 games and Fair Lawn won 10 in a great neighboring rivalry. Fair Lawn’s move back to the NBIL in 1984 ended it. Our Cutters come into the game 1-5 (.167) having been outscored 162-52 for an average 27-9 loss. The SPARTANS, fresh off a 28-6 pasting of the COMETS of Hackensack, come into the game 2-3 (.400) having been outscored 147-131 for an average 29-26 loss. The SPARTANS are in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group III playoff mix and need this game. It figures to be a whale of a battle and I think our CUTTERS can win it with an all-out effort and their loyal fans cheering them on. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 -Paramus 20. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 6

2010-10-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) CUTTERS were shutout 25-0 by the CARDINALS of Pompton Lakes in independent action. During 1945-50 Charlie Benson’s CARDS and Bennett’s CUTTERS split their fierce rivalry at 3-3 (.500).

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 38-6 by the MAROON RAIDERS of Englewood in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. In independent action 1945-46, 1957-58 and 1986-89 and in the NNJIL 1959-71, our CUTTERS have gone 14-7 (.667) over the MAROON RAIDERS.

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS mauled the BEARS of Bergenfield 31-8 in NNJIL 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.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS were beaten 20-7 by the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High in NNJIL action. During 1972-74 independently and 1975-81 in the NNJIL Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including a State playoff victory in 1979.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 14-7 by the GREEN RAIDERS of Ramapo in Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action. Ramapo took the 1956-58 and 1984-2008 rivalry 17-11 (.607).

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS were beaten 41-6 by the PATRIOTS of Wayne Hills in NBIL action. The PATRIOTS lead the 1984-2008 NBIL and 2009 North Jersey Tri-County Conference (NJTCC) rivalry 20-5 (.800). Fair Lawn’s last victory was in 1989 when Mike Alberque’s NBIL Division 1 champion and playoff bound CUTTERS thrashed Wayne Hills 35-8. The 1984-93 Thanksgiving rivalry would up 5-5 (.500).

SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2010-7

2010-10-11T10:30:00.001-07:00

By Bill Engelhardt
________

Last Friday evening, October 8, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Wildcats of Dallastown to begin YAIAA Division I action for the 2010 season and were defeated 21-7 in a hard fought contest. The teams played to a 7-7 tie in the first half the Wildcats won the second half and the game.

The Wildcats fumbled the opening kickoff and Keith Pappas recovered it for the Mustangs at the Wildcats 24-yard line. The Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the 11 eight plays later. The Wildcats then drove to the Mustangs 44-yard line and punted. Ryan Behrmann racked up big chunks of yardage and two penalties erased a lot of it.

The Mustangs drove from their 20 to the Wildcats 46-yard line. Then George Christas made the first of his two interceptions for the Wildcats. The Wildcats started at the Mustangs 49-yard line and ended up punting from the 38. The Mustangs then drove from their own 8-yard line to the 23 and punted.

Andrew Heird returned that punt 64-yards for a touchdown. Behrmann’s extra point kick put the Wildcats up 7-0 with 8:28 left in the second quarter.

Mike Felton returned the Wildcats kickoff for 57-yards, setting up the Mustangs on the Wildcats 41-yard line. They turned the ball over on downs at the 24. Three plays later Brady Conroy recovered a Wildcats fumble for the Mustangs at the Wildcats 35-yard line. A penalty moved the ball back to the 40 and quarterback Jesse Good launched a 33-yard pass to Mike Felton to the 7-yard line. Three plays later Jeff Hacker plunged in from the 1-yard line. Brendan Lawson kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7 with 6:38 left in the first half.

The Mustangs went three and out and punted to open the second half. The Wildcats drove 69-yards in eight plays, ending with Adam Lawicki’s 3-yard touchdown run. Behrmann’s extra point kick put the Wildcats on top 14-7 with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 26-yards to the Wildcats 41-yard line but a penalty knocked them back to their own 47. They punted and the Wildcats drove 73-yards in seven plays, topped off with Ben Kline’s 49-yard touchdown jaunt. Behrmann’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with the Wildcats up 21-7 with 10:52 left in the game.

The Mustangs last opportunity vanished when Christas had his second pass interception and the Wildcats ran out the clock.

Felton kicked off 2 times for 84-yards, with the longest going for 44-yards, and he punted 4 times for 158-yards, for an average of 39.5-yards, with the longest going for 41-yards. Mike Felton returned 1 kickoff for 57-yards, Carnie Fryfogle returned 2 kickoffs for 37-yards with the longest going for 19-yards, and Mike Pugh returned 1 kickoff for 19-yards, for the Mustangs.

Mike Felton led the Mustangs defense with 14 tackles and a pass defense, followed by Jake Shaffer with 12 tackles, Cody Kephart with 11 tackles, Matt Funk with 9 tackles and a sack, Mike Pugh with 9 tackles, Aaron Bosley with 8 tackles and a pass hurry, Carnie Fryfogle and Ryan Sexton, each with 7 tackles and a sack, Ryan Dotson and Leonard Sturgis with 6 tackles each, Brady Conroy with 3 tackles and a fumble recovery, Keith Pappas with 2 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass defense, Rich Delea, Jeff Hacker , and Jeremy Loughlin with 2 tackles each, and Zach Townsend with 1 tackle.

Aaron Bosley, Brady Conroy, Ryan Dotson, Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, Josh Hertz, Jeff Hacker, Cody Kephart, Jeremy Loughlin, Keith Pappas, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Leonard Sturgis, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Mike Felton, Casey Froehlich, Jeff Hacker and Mike Pugh, patrolled the secondary, with help from Brandon Krise, for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 135-yards rushing and 52yards passing for a total of 187-yards of offense. Mike Felton led the Mustangs rushing attack with 11 carries for 50-yards, followed by Jeff Hacker with 11 for 46-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), Jesse Good with 7 for 33, Mike Pugh with 1 for 4, and Ryan Sexton with 3 carries for 2-yards. Quarterback Good completed 7 of 15 passes for 52-yards, 3 for 36-yards to Felton, 1 for 12-yards to Keith Pappas, 1 for 9-yards to Casey Froehlich, 1 for minus 2-yards to Ryan Sexton, and 1 for minus 3-yards to Mike Pugh, for the Mustangs. Brendan Lawson kicked an extra point, Brady Conroy and Keith Pappas each recovered a fumble, and Carnie Fryfogle, Matt Funk, and Ryan Sexton each recorded a sack, for the Mustangs.

The Wildcats gained 270-yards rushing and no yards passing for a total of 270-yards gained. Ryan Behrmann led the Wildcats rushing attack with 22 carries for 112-yards, followed by Ben Kline with 5 for 73-yards (including a 49-yard touchdown), Adam Lawicki with 11 for 59-yards (including a 3-yad touchdown), Josh Luckenbaugh with 10 for 22-yards, and Austin Quinones with 1 carry for 4-yards. Quarterback Luckenbaugh failed to complete a pass in 3 attempts. Andrew Heird returned a punt 64-yards for a touchdown, Behrmann kicked 3 extra points, George Christas intercepted 2 passes, Bobby Esiaba recorded 1.5 sacks, and Jesse Davis and Kline each recorded a half sack, for the Wildcats.

Ben Kline led the Wildcats defense with 14 tackles, followed by Bobby Esiaba with 12, George Christas with 9 tackles and 2 interceptions, Brooks Morrison with 8 tackles, Garrett Hartman and Jake Margavitch with 6 tackles each, Jesse Davis and Adam Lawicki with 5 tackles each, Derrick Mayfield with 3 tackles, Nick Reed and Ford Reinalda with 2 tackles each, and Isaiah Haugh, Andrew Heird, Austin Quinones, and Zach Rittle with 1 tackle each.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band proudly made a half time presentation of its 2010 field show “Los Sonidas de España.” The show opened with “Grenada,” followed by John Tesh’s “Barcelona,” and “The Toreador Song” from Bizet’s opera Carmen. The show closed with an arrangement of Michael Daugherty’s Candelabra Rumba and the traditional España Cañi. The Dallastown Marching Band put on a spirited post-game show. The Mustangs 24 gals, one guy and Mustang Mascot, and the Wildcats 22 gals and Willie & Wilma the Wildcat Mascots excited the faithful with their rousing cheers.

The Mustangs of South Western are 3-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 186-83-1 (.692) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 327-200-8. The results of the 535 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .621 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Panthers of Central York (4-2 overall, 1-0 league). Central York is coming off of a 31-12 victory over the Rockets of Spring Grove. The Mustangs are looking to gallop their way back to the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.

THE GRIDIRON 6 – 2010

2010-10-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

By Dick Engelhardt

In Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action last Saturday in Oradell, the CUTTERS of Fair Lawn High ran into the behemoth CRUSADERS of Bergen Catholic and the 49-7 thrashing was what can be expected whenever a public school is forced to play one of the parochial powerhouses that can recruit all-star players from all over the tri-State area. They run college or semi-pro like operations. And this didn’t have to be. Fair Lawn had lined up the SOARING EAGLES of Union City, who were willing to play them but, since they would then have to play the MARAUDERS of St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City, the CRUSADERS refused to let Fair Lawn reschedule. Of course they should be playing teams like St. Peter’s! They should be in the Division with them.

Captains Bryan Turton and Kelvin Rosario went out for the coin toss which Bergen Catholic won and elected to receive. The CRUSADERS drove for 2 TDs and led 14-0 when Rosario electrified the crowd with a 70 yard TD gallop. With Alex Callons snapping and Brendan Walis holding, Danny Granja kicked the extra point and it was 14-7. The pass happy CRUSADERS led 42-7 at the half and their subs scored once more in the second half. In a valiant effort, Junior Roberts and Adam Polisi teamed up on a sack, Kevin Guy sacked the QB too and Steven Tatekawa made a TD saving tackle. Kevin Benjamin made a great stop and Anthony Tozzi and Tatekawa teamed up on a punt return stop. Corey Carlson teamed up with Guy on a stop and Davon Johnson made several sure tackles. Kevin Osback smartly eluded a sure tackle and got off a fabulous punt! Tozzi tipped a pass and Roberts picked it off. Dan Prigge started at QB and did a yeoman’s job but Joe Namath wouldn’t have had a chance in this game. The win brings Bergen Catholic’s 1981 and 82 and 2010 record against Fair Lawn to 3-0 (1.000) and the CRUSADERS have outscored our CUTTERS 129-7.

In crossover action Fair Lawn’s Big North Conference (BNC) Division II went 0-4 (.000) against outside teams. In addition to Fair Lawn’s loss, the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High were beaten 35-14 by the MAROONS of Ridgewood, the INDIANS of Passaic were stung 7-0 by the HORNETS of Passaic Valley and, in the biggest parochial versus public school travesty of the day, the KNIGHTS of JFK of Paterson were drubbed 58-6 by the IRONMEN of Don Bosco. To his credit, Bosco Coach Greg Toal, a Fair Lawn assistant under Pete Natale 1978-81, has said he’d just as soon not be in a public school league and would rather be free to play teams that could give the Ironmen a challenge. In the only BNC Division II, game the KNIGHTS of Passaic County Technical Institute shutout the GHOSTS of Paterson Eastside 43-0. The BNC Division II is now 4-12 (250) against outside teams!

This Saturday at 1:00 our CUTTERS host the FIGHTING MUSTANGS of Clifton High at SASSO FIELD. During 1972-74 independently and 1975-81 in the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) Clifton went 8-2-1 (.800) over Fair Lawn including a 30-0 State playoff victory in 1979. During the regular season, Natale’s CUTTERS had shocked the FIGHTING MUSTANGS 21-0! Fair Lawn comes into the game 1-4 (.200) having been outscored 141-52 for an average 28-10 loss. Clifton comes into the game 3-2 (.600) having outscored the opposition 123-81 for an average 25-16 win. Shaking off the Bergen Catholic loss, our CUTTERS have a real shot in this one. With an all out effort they can get back in the win column. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 - Clifton 13. GO CUTTERS GO!!!

THIS WEEK IN FLHS GRIDIRON HISTORY – 2010 Week 5

2010-10-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE
By Dick Engelhardt

1950 - Frank Bennett’s CUTTERS were beaten 26-13 by the RAMS of Ramsey in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (B-PIL) action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800)!

1960 – Bennett’s CUTTERS continued what would be their 1st winless season being beaten 19-6 by the KNIGHTS of Morris Hills in independent action. The teams split the 1959-60 rivalry 1-1 (.500).

1970 – Frank Devens’ CUTTERS edged the SPARTANS of Paramus 9-7 in Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League (NNJIL) action. During 1962-83, the SPARTANS went 12-10 (.545) over our CUTTERS. It was a great rivalry that ended when Fair Lawn returned to the Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) in 1984.

1980 – Pete Natale’s CUTTERS stung the HORNETS of Passaic Valley 7-6 in NNJIL action. The HORNETS would win 20-0 in the North Jersey, Section I, Group IV final at GIANTS STADIUM. During 1944-46 and 1966 independently and 1967- 81 and 83 in the NNJIL the HORNETS went 13-6-2 (.684) over our CUTTERS including a 20-0 shut out victory in the 1980 State playoff finals at GIANTS STADIUM after Fair Lawn had beaten the INDIANS of Passaic 27-18 in the first round.

1990 – Mike Alberque’s CUTTERS shutout the RAMS of Ramsey 13-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. Fair Lawn took the 1945-58, 1984-99 and 2002-06 rivalry by an astounding 28 games to 7 (.800) in Bergen-Passaic Interscholastic League (BPIL) and Northern Bergen Interscholastic League (NBIL) action!

2000 – Alberque’s CUTTERS beat the NORSEMEN of Northern Valley/Demarest 43-0 in NBIL interdivisional action. The shocking 40-0 NV victory in Big North Conference (BNC) crossover action in 2010 brought the 1956-58 and 1990- 2008 and 2010 rivalry to 13-10 (.565) Fair Lawn.