Phillipsburg, settled down after wild title win, ready and focused on Ramapo in Group 4 semis

Everyone in Phillipsburg is still buzzing about last week’s game.

It was the North 2, Group 4 title tilt, and the Stateliners trailed by one with 24 seconds left and no time outs. Four plays later and with four ticks left, they set up Alexie Moriera for a 46-yard field goal. He made it with :00 showing on the clock, setting a school record for distance, and setting off a frenzy among the faithful.

They can talk about it, but the Stateliners aren’t. After all, they have not one, but two big games coming up.

There’s Easton, of course, on Thanksgiving, but they’re not talking about that any more than they are last week’s Hollywood ending.

No, everyone in that locker room is focused on Ramapo. The Raiders (8-3) will meet Phillipsburg (10-1) for the first time in school history Friday night at 7 pm at Maloney Stadium. Ramapo was the third-seed in North 1, Group 4, but knocked off top-seed Morris Knolls last Saturday in the sectional final, 35-28.

Follow Marcus Borden on Twitter for coverage Friday night!

For Phillipsburg, last week’s game was more than just a storybook ending. It was proof that football is always more than one individual. The game was won by many, but the final nail was the field goal by Moriera, a seldom-used kicker making just the third field goal attempt of his life.

It was just his second make, and the longest in school history.

But, oh yeah, right. We’re not talking about that.

What Phillipsburg is talking about is containing a fast, potent offense in Ramapo, led by quarterback Casey Grusser. The junior has thrown for 2,231 yards this year, while running for another 640, the team’s second-leading rusher.

That’ll be a task for Phillipsburg to maintain, one they believe they’re up to.

Click below to hear from Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy: