Phillipsburg players take the field before their game with Ridge at Maloney Stadium in Phillipsburg on September 8, 2023. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
The high school football season is never a disappointment in Phillipsburg as long as there’s a “W” on the schedule next to the name “Easton.”
And that was the case last year, even though the Stateliners – the top seed in North 2, Group 5 – were upset in the sectional finals by sixth-seed West Orange.
Still, there’s room for improvement. Last year’s team was 10-0 heading into the finals at Maloney Stadium. This year’s team already has a loss – to Hillsborough at the rainy Rumble on the Raritan – so maybe it’s already out of their system.
Either way, this Phillipsburg team is perhaps just as talented, perhaps more. They’re more experienced, for sure, with QB Jett Genovese and wide receiver Matthew Scerbo, Jr., no longer sophomores, and WR/DB Cameron Bohal, RB/LB John Wargo and two-way lineman Gifton Friday-Johnson now seniors. As are a host of other major contributors.
Friday night, Phillipsburg (7-1) will open the playoffs with a visit by eighth-seed Morristown (4-5) to Maloney Stadium for a 7 pm kickoff. The winner will face either second-seed Union City or 7-seed Hackensack.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko and Marcus Borden of Central Jersey Sports Radio talk with Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy Saturday, October 21 on our Playoff Projection Show:
It’s great that you guys get to call upon and interview different schools. I would like to see more in-depth questions.
All in all great job, keep it up people want to know…