Phillipsburg’s Tyler Wargo breaks a long run in the first quarter of the North 2, Group 4 title game against Montgomery at Maloney Stadium in Phillipsburg on November 14, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
In 2024, Phillipsburg became the first Big Central Conference team to make the NJSIAA’s state football finals, in the third year sine the playoffs expanded.
In 2025, they’re looking to make the return trip.
To do so, they’ll need to beat the same team they did last year, North 1 Group 4 champion Ramapo. That’ll be the last game at Maloney Stadium this season for Phillipsburg, as the North 2, Group 4 champion Stateliners take on the Raiders at 7 pm this Friday night in the Group 4 semifinals. Both teams are 10-1.
You can hear that game Friday on the “Big Central Game of the Week,” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving, with Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas calling all the action. Pregame is set for 6:45 pm. Click here to listen.
Phillipsburg – though they have one loss this season, coming at the hands of St. Joseph-Metuchen – has maintained a steady focus on the prize – or should we say prizes, plural – this year.
That includes winning a sectional championship (already done, their tenth overall), beating Easton on Thanksgiving (that’s next week) and winning a state title. A win Friday gets them there, and then they’ll have to beat either defending champ and 2025 South Jersey Group 4 champ Winslow, or Central 4 champ Brick Memorial.
Last week, in the North 2, Group 4 title win over Montgomery, everyone played a role. Four different players scored, including the usual suspects like Sam Dech and Dominic Bracco, but so did Shane Moore – on a big TD pass – and tight end Donovan Samson in the second half.
Defensively, there were big plays at key moments, including a first-half safety after an Montgomery interception down near the goal line. And special teams recovered an early kick that Montgomery couldn’t.
Now if Phillipsburg likes to run they rock – and they do – Ramapo likes to toss it. Senior quarterback Casey Grusser has thrown for 2,100 yards this season, and he has three receivers who’ve caught 30 or more passes: Sal Livoti, Joseph SantoYessis, and Michael Ballan.
Click below to hear Phillipsburg coach Frank Duffy talk about the Stateliners and Friday’s Group 4 semifinal against Ramapo with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
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