Jahmier Black scores the third touchdown of the game for No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan in a 28-7 win at No. 8 Woodbridge on August 28. 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Note: This game was originally set to air live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, but has now been changed due to the threat of lightning and potentially-damaging wind gusts in the Phillipsburg area Friday night.
Things could get a little messy in Phillipsburg Friday night, and that’s the way the Stateliners would prefer it.
But to do that, the fourth-ranked Stateliners (4-2) would have to beat No. 6 Bridgewater-Raritan (6-1) in a game that will have major implications for the American Silver Division title.
The Panthers are 2-0 in divisional play, while Phillipsburg is 1-1. Should Bridgewater win, they would win the title outright, sweeping all three divisional opponents. But should the ‘Liners win, that’s where it gets interesting.
That would leave them and Bridgewater at 2-1 in the American Silver, but then there’s Ridge. The Red Devils visit Hillsborough (1-6) Friday night, where they will be a heavy favorite. Should they win as well, they would be 2-1 in the division, too.
And as far as tiebreakers, everyone would be 1-1 against the group. Bridgewater would have lost to Phillipsburg, but beaten Ridge; Phillipsburg would have beaten Bridgewater, but lost to Ridge; and Ridge would have beaten Phillipsburg, but lost to Bridgewater.
But whatever the outcome, it’s sure to be an entertaining game Friday night, kicking off at 7 pm at Maloney Stadium. Each team has just one loss in New Jersey this season; the Stateliners’ other came to Freedom High School out of Bethlehem, as they began their season against three out-of-state opponents.
For all the offensive firepower Bridgewater-Raritan has had this season, they have been very solid defensively all year long, the only outlier being a 43-36 loss at St. Joseph-Metuchen on September 5. Taking out that game, they have allowed 8.2 points per game in seven wins, including a 7-3 victory over Ridge at home on September 18, and a 2-0 shutout at Westfield three weeks ago.
And offensively, they have done well, too. Last week, their 28-7 win at Union was the most points the Farmers (5-2) had given up all season, including in a 19-7 loss to Elizabeth, which is scoring over 41 points per game, and undefeated at 7-0 on the year.
That’s been fueled by sophomore QB J.B. Baxter, who already is a thousand-yard passer, while Evan Woodring – a backup QB on last year’s sectional title team to Declan Kurdyla – has converted to wide receiver, and is tops on the team with 32 catches for 476 yards and four scores. Jahmier Black leads the rushing attack at 934 yards and 14 touchdowns on 154 carries.
On the Phillipsburg side, they just keep doing what they do, too.
Coming off a bye that followed a gut-wrenching, at-the-horn road loss at Ridge, 14-3, the Stateliners are playing just their fourth New Jersey opponent this season. They beat Hillsborough 35-7 to open the Garden State slate back on September 18, and followed it up with an impressive 42-31 win at St. Joseph-Metuchen.
Junior QB Dominic Bracco – a starter as a sophomore last year – had thrown for 477 yards in a run-heavy offense that has gained 1,370 on the season, led by senior runningback Shane Moore, with 122 carries for 663 yards and six scores. Junior Vincent Berger has been quite efficient, too, carrying just 15 times for 77 yards and five scores.
On the defensive side, Berger – a linebacker – has been one of the Stateliners’ most disruptive players, with 50 tackles, 23 solo and seven TFLs – all team bests – along with a sack. And Xavier Campbell-Graham has been a quarterback’s wort nightmare from afar, grabbing three interceptions on the year; he also has one fumble recovery.
Click below to hear both head coaches talk about Friday night’s game at Maloney Stadium in Phillipsburg: