There’s nothing special about the 2021 version of Phillipsburg football.
That’s not to say they don’t have special players, or can have a special season when all is said and done.
But as the third-seeded Stateliners (7-3) get set to visit No. 2 seed Clifton (8-2) Friday night in the North 2, Group 5 semifinals, don’t expect anything different from Phillipsburg than what they’ve ever given on the football field.
This is a ground-and-pound, run the ball football team. And just like more often than not, it’s lead to great success for the ‘Liners.
A hard-nosed offense and hard-nosed defense have led Phillipsburg to wins in five of its last six games on the field – the Somerville forfeit notwithstanding. And its losses have been to quality teams.
They started the year 0-2, but it wasn’t expected. After Piscataway cancelled its opening game with the ‘Liners after Ida’s remnants caused havoc in town, they quickly scheduled St. Joseph of Montvale, one of the top teams in the state, and lost 28-6. They then dropped a 21-14 overtime decision at Hillsborough, which is now undefeated at 10-0.
Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy:
Outstanding as usual Mike P. You are the standard for high school sports radio.