Steiglitz’ 3 TDs, strong ground game, propel Ridge to 28-21 win over No. 1 Phillipsburg

The Ridge linemen – on both sides of the ball – controlled the line of scrimmage, and Aidan Stieglitz did the rest, scoring three touchdowns en route to a 28-21 win over visiting No. 1 Phillipsburg Friday night in the Big Central Game of the Week presented by Bellamy & Son Paving on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

The win was the first for the Red Devils (2-1) over the Stateliners (2-1) since 2003, their first win in a series in which P’burg had won the next nine – until this year.

Stieglitz carried 23 times for 217 yards and three scores. He had the first and last touchdown of the first half for Ridge, which saw them go into the lockerroom up 14-7.

Joseph Dachnoqitz scored on Ridge’s first possession of the second half to build a two-score lead, but Phillipsburg had some tricks up its sleeve.

They cut it to 21-14 on a two-yard touchdown catch by tight end Luke Hywel. Quarterback Jett Genovese rolled right and looked like he might run it in himself, but Hywel was wide open, and caught a soft toss in the back of the end zone.

Then, with 6:09 to play, Matthew Scerbo caught a 25-yard touchdown pass, but not from Genovese. It was from Felix Matos, his first career touchdown pass and only second attempt of his career. Matos took it on a handoff and tossed it on the option, tying the score with the PAT.

Ridge, though, got the lead right back, just three plays later, on a six-yard run by Stieglitz, who had his way with the Stateliner defense. It could have been too soon though.

Phillipsburg got down the field and had a pass completion inside the red zone, but Felix Matos fumbled as he was hit after the catch. The ball sat on the field for a near-eternity before Ridge fell on it.

And it still wasn’t over. They got just past midfield, after P’burg used all its timeouts, and still had to convert a fourth and inches.

They did, and then it was over.

The win gives Ridge head coach Andy West his 30th career win. He’s now 30-10 in his fifth season at the helm in Basking Ridge.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas with senior Aidan Steiglitz and head coach Andy West, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen: