The Gridiron: Ghosts Outscore Cutters 43-21

In Big North Conference (BNC) Liberty Division action last Saturday at Sasso Field, the Ghosts of Paterson Eastside outslugged the Cutters of Fair Lawn High 43-21.

Fair Lawn Captains Thomas Koike, Richard Marchese, Mike Nieman and Nick Perez went out for the coin toss. The Ghosts won and deferred to the second half. Fair Lawn received and our Cutters’ offense stalled and the Ghosts scored to go ahead 6-0. Nieman blocked the extra point kick. The Ghosts’ speed and size showed as they took a 23-0 lead. QB Dillon Rinaldo handed off to Deshawn Roberts who handed off to Anthony Nesmith who raced for a first down. Rinaldo threw a picture 23-yard TD pass to Ryan Milnes. With Nieman snapping and Milnes holding, Ari Moslavi kicked the extra point to make it 23-7. The Ghosts took a 29-7 lead into the half. With Eastside up 36-7, Dan Morganstein recovered a fumble and Rinaldo completed passes to Jacob Baron, Milnes and David Rodriguez and Nieman ran five yards for a TD. Moslavi’s kick made it 36-14. Pulling out all the stops, our heroes tried an onside kick and Anthony Elia recoverd it. Rinaldo uncorked a 54 yard TD pass to Koike and Moslavi kicked the extra point making it 36-21. The Ghosts closed out the scoring.

Anthony Nesmith stopped the Ghosts on fourth down, Rodriguez and Mike Laboy teamed up on a great sack and Koike and Nieman drove a runner out of bounds. Nieman intercepted a pass and thrilled the crowd picking up a first down on the ole “fumblerooski” play. Nice plays were made by Gal Harari, Eugene Mbau, Anthony Messina, Frank Ortoll, Zach Parisi and others. The Ghosts took a 7-6 (.538) lead in the 1947-54, 1983 and 2010-13 series.

It was Senior Recognition Day and Senior Football Players and Cheerleaders were honored. Coach Amir Sadaah’s Football Players were: Kevin Arias, Baron, Carlos Carlone, Chris Connelly, Elia, Rocco Faustina, Matt Katz, Koike, Marchese, Moslavi, Nieman, Parisi, Perez, Justin Mata, Milnes, Nesmith, Rodriguez, Chris Silver, Matt Spinato and Justin Williams. Coach Lauren Gimon’s Cheerleaders were: Amanda Brito, Tamy Dawli, Samantha Izhaky and Francesca Motta. The halftime show featuring the Junior Varsity Cheerleaders coached by Melissa Mcinerney, Coach Gimon’s Varsity Cheerleaders and Coach Jen Bell’s Dance Team, was fabulous! The award winning Fair Lawn High School Marching Band and Color Guard was in competition at Met Life Stadium.  

It was nice to see my friend Joe Leicht from Indian Hills at the game. He delights in reminding me that he played guard and linebacker for the 1969 Spartans of Paramus when they beat Fair Lawn 28-8. The Spartans lead the 1962-83 and 2010-11 rivalry 14-10 (.583).   

Fair Lawn’s BNC Liberty Division was shutout against outside opposition. Its champion   Bulldogs of Passaic County Technical Institute were beaten 41-18 by the Maroons of Ridgewood in BNC crossover action. The Fighting Mustangs of Clifton High had a Bye. The Division is 7-13 (.350) against outside opposition going into Consolation and Playoff games.

This Saturday at 1 p.m. our Cutters travel to Montville to face the Mustangs in a Consolation game. Fair Lawn is 8-5 (.615) in Consolation action since the games began in 1998. Montville edged Fair Lawn 28-27 in the 2008 game and our Cutters beat the Mustangs 32-27 last year. Fair Lawn is 0-8 and Montville is 1-8 (.111). Our Cutters will go all out looking for a win and I think they will get it. From here it looks like Fair Lawn 21 – Montville 13. GO Cutters GO!!!