The Fair Lawn Cutters closed out the 2026 season in dramatic fashion, holding on for a 20-14 win over the West Milford Highlanders (2-8) at Sasso Field (Fair Lawn High School) in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.

Fair Lawn wide receiver Evan Cardenas led a potent running attack, amassing 58 rushing yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns.

Cutters Head Coach Brendan Walis said of the victory, “It was an awesome feeling, and the kids came out and played really hard. It was a chippy game from the jump, and both teams competed every down. We knew it was going to be a fight going in, like a lot of our games this season.”

“We kept taking every down, trying to move the ball forward offensively and make West Milford work on defense, and I think we were able to do that. Late in the game, we let them back in and take the lead, but we finished with a great offensive drive and then a defensive stop.”

Scoreless for most of the first half, Fair Lawn broke the stalemate late in the second quarter. Facing fourth-and-goal at the West Milford eight-yard line, quarterback Ariel Nachimas took the snap, rolled left, spun around, and broke right, tossing a pass into the end zone where wide receiver Logan Wyka caught the touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. 

“An amazing play there. We were moving the ball at the end of the first half, but a penalty set us back. Ariel did a great job extending the play. The clock was running down, and Logan, who’s supposed to be in pass protection, realized nobody was on him and got open in the middle of the end zone for a big play.”

Fair Lawn attempted a two-point conversion pass, but it failed as they led 6-0 at halftime. 

In the third quarter, the Highlanders received the second-half kickoff and got excellent starting field position at the Cutters' 46-yard line, but the drive stalled at the 38 and ended with a turnover on downs.

Fair Lawn’s offense fed off the momentum, moving down the field and benefiting from pass interference and unsportsmanlike penalties against the West Milford defense that pushed the ball to the Highlanders' 16-yard line.

On first-and-goal at the eight-yard line, Evan Cardenas took the direct snap, powered through a pile of players, and into the end zone, capping a nine-play drive that lasted three and a half minutes and extending the Cutters' advantage to 12-0 after the two-point conversion pass failed.

Walis said, “We have asked Evan to do a lot for us there past few weeks and carry the ball in the wildcat, and he’s obviously one of our go-to receivers.” 

West Milford, seeking to catch a break, caught one on the ensuing kickoff as Blake Tyburczy returned the ball to the Highlanders' 48-yard line.

Once inside Fair Lawn territory, West Milford hit paydirt when wide receiver Mason LaNeve took the handoff from quarterback Luke Maslanek on the jet sweep, darted and wove through traffic, broke into the open, and coasted to the end zone for the 44-yard touchdown that narrowed the deficit to 12-7.

Late in the third quarter, the Highlanders had the ball in Cutter territory. Facing fourth down at the 42-yard line, quarterback Luke Maslanek took the snap in shotgun, rolled right, and hurled a pass downfield, where Blake Tyburczy caught it and darted to the 11-yard line.

Early in the fourth quarter, West Milford faced a third-and-goal at the five-yard line; quarterback Luke Maslanek took the snap, churned straight ahead, and, following the offensive line, barreled across the goal line to put the Highlanders up 14-12.

Fair Lawn started its next possession at the 34-yard line and played smashmouth football, running continuously. In contrast, the offensive line dominated in the trenches, and Evan Cardenas, Logan Wyka, and Ariel Nachimas carved out chunks of yardage and ate up the clock. 

The Cutters also converted a crucial fourth down at the Highlanders' 29-yard line as Ariel Nachimas connected on a 26-yard pass to Evan Cardenas, who hauled in a spectacular catch despite being draped over by a defensive back. 

Walis noted, “That was phenomenal catch and Evan’s really come around the last month or so and Ariel gives him a chance and he goes up and gets the ball and that’s what we needed and our best guy to do it.”

A magnificent drive that lasted almost eight minutes and 13 plays culminated in Evan Cardenas taking the direct snap, driving to the left side of the line, and surging across the goal line for the score.

Once again, Fair Lawn elected to go for the two-point conversion run. This time, it worked: Ariel Nachimas took the snap in shotgun, rolled right, and fired a pass to wide receiver Dean Elias on the right side of the field. Elias made a terrific catch, spun around, and extended the ball across the goal line, putting the Cutters up 20-14.

West Milford started at their own 40-yard line after the kickoff return and wasted no time rapidly advancing the ball into Fair Lawn territory with quarterback Luke Maslanek completing three passes. 

The Highlanders pushed the ball inside the 20-yard line but ran into a brick wall as Evan Cardenas and Lucas Santana Tapia combined for a crucial sack that pushed the ball back to the 27-yard line.

On the next play, Luke Maslanek heaved a pass into the end zone, but Dean Elias swooped in for the interception that sealed the Cutters' victory.

“Dean’s another senior captain who has made great plays for us over the past three years and has played free safety for us,” Head Coach Brendan Walis said. “We’re going to miss him after this one, a reliable guy who knows what he’s doing back there and makes plays on the ball, and it was a great end to his senior season tonight.”

Now Fair Lawn will shift its attention and set its sights on the 2027 season. Head Coach Brendan Walis said the community has really come around the football program over the past few years, and the addition of lights has certainly helped. 

“It’s a Wednesday night, and people have things going on, but the students came out for their buddies, and players have played football since they were little kids. It’s not just football games, but kids showing up for each other’s sports.”

“Pretty soon we have to start looking ahead to next year, and it starts not in the summertime but in the winter, with getting in the weight room. Sometimes we were physically outmatched, and the only way is to get bigger, stronger, and work hard. That’s what we plan to do when the time comes.”