Category: Football

by Mike Pavlichko

Early Signing Day 2024: Where are Big Central Conference football players going?

It’s the first Wednesday in December, which means its Early Signing Day, the day football players across the country can confirm their college commitments and sign their National Letter of Intent.

For many, it’s the main signing day, with the traditional signing day in February picking up those who didn’t sign in December, but many Big Central Conference athletes will be signing today.

Scroll through for a look at who’s going where, and check back often as we’ll update throughout the day as players sign with their respective teams throughout the afternoon.

Terrell Mitchell, Somerville – Rutgers

Until recently, Mitchell – an outstanding runningback and saftey – had appeared firmly committed to Wake Forest. But Mitchell also announced on social media on November 6th he had gotten an offer from Greg Schiano. Wednesday, he blew everyone away by flipping to the Scarlet Knights.

Mitchell rushed for 1,406 yards this year on 178 carries with 18 touchdowns, while also catching 22 passes for 186 yards and five more scores. At safety, he had two interceptions, and as a returned, he brought back one kickoff and one punt for a score.

Felix Matos, Phillipsburg – Long Island University

The breakout star wide receiver/defensive back for the Stateliners Phillipsburg moved quickly on this one; as he announced his commitment just this past weekend, on Sunday.

He’s emerged as another option for QB Jett Genovese, who counts Matthew Scerbo, Jr. among his top targets the last three seasons. He has 37 catches this year for 658 yards and five touchdowns, but also has carried 81 times for 573 yards and 15 touchdowns, giving another dimension to the offense.

Matos scored six times in the Stateliners’ win over St. Joseph-Metuchen earlier this year, with five coming on offense, and the other a scoop-and-score after a blocked Falcons’ field goal attempt.

Matthew Scerbo, Jr., Phillipsburg – Lafayette

Arguably the most highly-decorated wide receiver in Stateliner history – who now owns the records for career receptions, TD catches and yardage – Scerbo is no stranger to the Leopards home field, having played three times there at Fisher Stadium, going 2-1 in his high school career against Thanksgiving arch-rival Easton.

Scerbo teamed with quarterback Jett Genovese to form a potent 1-2 combo, as both were three-year starters. Among his many outstanding nights for Phillipsburg, he had two big catches on a final-minute drive that set up Alexie Moreira’s game-winning, school-record 46-yard field goal as time expired to beat Northern Highlands for the North 2, Group 4 title.

Jahai Johnson, Piscataway – Bowling Green

The Chiefs’ Jahai Johnson will be headed to Bowling Green, where the Falcons are 7-5 this season, fourth place in the Mid-American Conference.

Johnson is nominated for Highlight Reel Play of the Year on Central Jersey Sports Radio, for his 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Bridgewater-Raritan on September 6th. It was one of three he had in that game, a 52-48 loss in which there were five kick returns for TDs between the teams.

Johnson rushed for 496 yards and six touchdowns this season for Piscataway (7-4), and returned ten kicks for 305 yards.

Jayden Loftin, Somerville – Tennessee

On a team stacked with talent, Loftin had no trouble getting recognized by big-time programs, even though he sat the entire year with an ACL injury suffered just before 2024 kicked off.

In two varsity seasons with Somerville, the defensive end made his mark, registering four sacks and five TFLs in 2022, upping that to 5 1/2 sacks and eight TFLs last season.

The Volunteers are 10-2, and ninth in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, projected to play Ohio State in the opening round, with the winner moving on the play top-seed Oregon.

Josh Rodriguez, Somerville – Old Dominion

Rodriguez gave Somerville an added dimension on offense with a breakout year. After 21 passes for 351 yards and six touchdowns last year, he caught 27 for 478 yards and seven this season, but also added another 296 yards and nine touchdowns on 40 carries.

He would also sporadically come out in the wildcat in place of QB Brenden Pacheco, further throwing defenses off guard with his ability to run, or hand the ball off. (He didn’t throw a single pass.) Rodrgiuez had three multiple touchdown games for The ‘Ville this season.

Old Dominion is 5-7 on the season, fourth in the Sun Belt Conference East Division.

Talibi Kaba, Hillside – Rutgers

The 6-3, 195 pound athlete/linebacker from Union County is staying home. At runningback, he broke out last season with a thousand-yard rushing season, going off for 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns on fewer than a hundred carries (95) for a whopping 11.8 yards per carry, but like Loftin at Somerville, sat out 2024 with an ACL injury.

Please check back as the list of signees will be updated as they become official.

by Mike Pavlichko

Williams out at Plainfield, but Hutchins expected to be in the running to lead Cardinals

After fours seasons as Plainfield’s head football coach – the last of which he spent on the sidelines with a bad back – James Williams and the Cardinals are parting ways.

Plainfield has posted for the head coaching position – with the notice also included in this week’s NJFCA newsletter – and Williams confirmed the news to Central Jersey Sports Radio Tuesday morning.

Laid up with a back injury, Williams didn’t coach at all this season, with assistant Al-Majeed Hutchins taking the reins. He led the Cardinals to a 6-4 record, their best since 2005, which also was the last time Plainfield beat Westfield on Thanksgiving until last Thursday, when they pulled out a 14-9 win in the rain at Kehler Stadium.

Going 6-5 last season, it’s the first time Plainfield has had back-to-back winning seasons since they did it four straight years from 1996 to 1999.

Hutchins told Central Jersey Sports Radio Tuesday he’ll be applying for the post, and he would seem to be a natural fit. He guided this year’s team, of course, and hiring him as the “next” head coach would create a consistency for Plainfield they haven’t had much of before Williams arrived on the scene.

Hutchins played for Williams at East Orange, with his senior season 2006, before committing to and signing to play at Rutgers, later transferring to Stony Brook.

Williams’ three-year tenure at Plainfield – not counting this year, since he wasn’t on the sidelines – yielded a 16-16 record. In the ten years prior, under five different coaches, Plainfield went a combined 15-80.

by Mike Pavlichko

Group 4 Finals Preview: Phillipsburg Stateliners vs. Winslow Twp. Eagles

Group 4 Semifinals:
When: Wednesday, December 4th, 7 pm
Where: SHI Stadium, Rutgers University, Piscataway
Matchup: Phillipsburg (11-2, North 2 Group 4 champs) vs. Winslow Twp. (13-0, South Group 4 champs)
Play-by-Play: LISTEN LIVE to Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino
Social Media: Follow Marcus Borden on Twitter for updates
Weather: 37 degrees, cloudy skies, wind S 9 mph (from left corner of South end zone to left corner of North end zone)

HEAD COACHES:

Phillipsburg: Frank Duffy (9th season, 78-24)
Winslow Twp: Bill Belton (3rd season, 29-7)

STRENGTH INDEX:

Phillipsburg: 96.35
Winslow Twp: 111.39 (+15.34)

HOW THEY GOT HERE:

Phillipsburg (#1 seed):
First Round: def. #8 Nutley, 42-0
Semifinals: def. #5 Chatham, 31-14
North 2, Group 4 Finals: def. # 3 Northern Highlands, 13-11
Group 4 Semifinals: def. North 1 champion #3 Ramapo, 35-6

Winslow Twp (#1 seed):
First Round: def. #8 Princeton, 69-6
Semifinals: def. #4 Manalapan, 49-8
South Group 4 Finals: def. #3 Shawnee, 32-8
Group 4 Semifinals: def. Central champion #1 Millville, 13-7

SERIES HISTORY:

This will be the first meeting between Phillipsburg and Winslow Twp., and they have no common opponents.

Phillipsburg Preview Story with Head Coach Frank Duffy:
Phillipsburg may be looking to make history, but they’re just focused on themselves heading into Group 4 Final against Winslow at Rutgers

Winslow Preview Story with Head Coach Bill Belton:
Unbeaten Winslow focused on just one more win: a state title. But, they’ll have to go through Phillipsburg

FINALS HISTORY:

Phillipsburg:

The winningest program in New Jersey didn’t play in the NJSIAA playoffs for many years. They won one title in four finals berths from 1975 through 1979 – only missing the title game in 1976 – then joined the NJSIAA in the mid-90s. It took them until 2001 to reach a final, their second overall, and first in a span of seven titles in 11 appearances over nearly two decades from 2001 to 2018.

The Stateliners were the No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 5 the last two seasons, but fell to 6-seed West Orange, 28-7, in 2022, and to No. 2 seed Union City, 24-17 last season. Back down to Group 4, they won their ninth New Jersey sectional title last Friday, 13-11, over Northern Highlands.

Playoff Berths: 28
Playoff Record: 46-19
Finals Berths: 18
Sectional Titles: 9

North 2, Group 3
1975: #1 Morris Hills def. #2 Phillipsburg, 7-0
1977: #2 Phillipsburg def. #1 Parsippany, 26-0
1978: #4 Rahway def. #3 Phillipsburg, 23-10
1979: #2 Rahway def. #1 Phillipsburg, 14-6
North 2, Group 4
2001: #5 Phillipsburg def. #2 Montclair, 10-7
2004: #1 Piscataway def. #2 Phillipsburg, 27-26 (OT) at Rutgers
2005: #1 Phillipsburg def. #2 Piscataway, 15-6 at Rutgers
2006: #3 Elizabeth def. #1 Phillipsburg, 14-9
North 2, Group 3
2008: #4 Phillipsburg def. #6 Rahway, 20-6
2009: #2 Phillipsburg def. #5 Ridge, 34-7 at Kean
North 2, Group 4
2013: #1 Phillipsburg def. #6 Mendham, 39-0
2014: #2 Phillipsburg def. #1 Colonia, 28-21 (OT) at Rutgers
2015: #1 Middletown South def. #2 Phillipsburg, 35-7
2017: #2 North Hunterdon def. #1 Phillipsburg, 21-20
2018: #1 Phillipsburg def. #3 Irvington, 42-7
North 2, Group 5
2022: #6 West Orange def. #1 Phillipsburg, 28-7
2023: #2 Union City def. #1 Phillipsburg, 24-17
North 2, Group 4
2024: #1 Phillipsburg def. #3 Northern Highlands, 13-11

Winslow Twp:

The Eagles are one of the top teams in the state, and the top-ranked public school in the NJ.com rankings. They’re also the top-ranked team in all of New Jersey – public or non-public – in the most recent state power rankings, which Central Jersey Sports Radio complies each week, based on the NJSIAA’s Strength Index. (See comparison above.)

But much of Winslow’s big success has been recent. They have made only 11 postseason appearances in 50 seasons of playoffs in New Jersey (since 1974, none in 2020 due to COVID), and have won two titles, both in the last three years, and those are the Eagles’ only finals appearances.

In 2021, under the previous coach, Kenneth Scott, Winslow won the Central Jersey Group 4 title, but fell in the South Group 4 Regional Championship to Millville, 45-35 at Rutgers, their last trip to Piscataway.

After a 6-4 season the following year, they went to their first of back-to-back finals in 2023, topping Long Branch for the Central Jersey Group 3 trophy, then lost to Mainland in their first trip to the “true” state semifinals.

Playoff Berths: 12
Playoff Record: 14-9
Finals Berths: 3
Sectional Titles: 3

Central Group 4
2021: #1 Winslow def. #2 Shawnee, 34-32 (Winslow lost to Millville, 45-35, in South 4 Regional Final at Rutgers)
Central Group 3
2023: #1 Winslow def. #6 Long Branch, 41-7 (Winslow lost to Mainland, 41-7, in Group 4 Semifinals)
South Group 4
2024: #1 Winslow def. #3 Shawnee, 32-8 (Winslow def. Millville, 13-7, in Group 4 Semifinals)

2024 PHILLIPSBURG COVERAGE:

Phillipsburg won the North 2, Group 4 title with a dramatic 13-11 win over Northern Highlands at Maloney Stadium on November 15, 2024. (Photo: Marcus Borden)

NEWS & NOTES:

Easton or State Championship?

Since the 2023 season ended, Phillipsburg has set its sights on a state championship. Losing in the sectional finals the last two seasons with loaded teams that earned the No. 1 seed both years didn’t sit well with the Stateliners, even though they beat Easton on Thanksgiving back-to-back years for the first time since 2002 and 2003.

After this year’s Turkey Day, overtime loss, In the years where Phillipsburg won their nine New Jersey state sectional titles, Phillipsburg is 3-6 against Easton. In the nine seasons where they lost in the sectional finals, their record is 2-6-1, with those two wins coming in the last two years.

Secrbo rewrites history…

Phillipsburg has generally been a run-heavy team over the years, but with Jett Genovese at QB and Matthew Scerbo, Jr. at wide receiver for the last three seasons, the Stateliners have been putting the ball in the air.

And Scerbo has been catching it. A lot.

He’s now the career leader in three major categories. He’s first in receptions with 130, and by a large margin. He Broke Mike Lelko’s record at Ridge in late September, and is the first 100-catch wide receiver in Phillipsburg history.

He also now owns the career TD reception record at P’burg with 24. He tied Jim Clymer’s record of 15 against Ridge, then broke it against Hillsborough. However, he hasn’t had a touchdown catch in the last four games. He did haul in two TD passes in the opening round of the playoffs against Nutley.

The third big record is in the receiving yards category, and he’s got it by a lot. He has 2,264 in his career, well past Clymer’s 1,679.

Scerbo also had personal bests against Hillsborough. Two seasons ago, he had eight catches in a game against the Raiders, and when they played them this year, had 234 yards receiving.

Don’t forget Alexie…

Oh, yeah, Alexie Moriera also had a hand in rewriting the Phillipsburg record books. His 46-yard field goal to win the North 2, Group 4 title against Northern Highlands as time expired was a school record.

He kicked two three-pointers in that game, and at that point was only 3-for-3 as a kicker, with this being his first season of football. His only miss this year came in overtime against Easton on the opening possession.

Moreira also is 57 of 59 on PATs this season, with the 57 good kicks ranking him third in the state for most PATs. Sebastian Kovacs of Group 1 state runner-up Cedar Grove is tops with 72.

D1 U?

Winslow is enormously talented, and the number of scholarship offers they have are off the charts.

And many of them have come from Fran Brown, the Syracuse coach who has South Jersey ties – he’s from Camden – and spent two stints as an assistant at Temple, and a year at Rutgers under Greg Schiano in 2020.

Karon Ali, Nahmir Tucker, TJ Maddox, Mekhi McNair and Nakeem Powell all have offers from Brown, while only Cameron Miller is committed – to Wisconsin.

Signing Day…

Wednesday is the “early” – albeit now the main – National Letter of Intent Signing Day for college football, but for Miller and anyone else, ceremonies may be subdued considering there’s a pretty big game both teams are playing Wednesday night.

Besides all the Winslow players above, Felix Matos of Phillipsburg committed this week to Long Island University.

by Dom Savino

Unbeaten Winslow focused on just one more win: a state title. But, they’ll have to go through Phillipsburg

The Winslow football team is a day away from playing in one of its biggest games ever: the program’s first state final.

And for a team that’s never been there before, they sure are acting like they’ve been there before.

“Business as usual” and “job’s not finished” have been common refrains around an Eagles team that’s loaded with future FBS athletes and has rarely been slowed — forget about stopped — in 2024.

Winslow (13-0) will look to complete the job of an undefeated season Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the highly-anticipated Group 4 state final, set to battle fellow state-ranked Phillipsburg (11-2) at Rutgers’ SHI Stadium. You can hear the game on Central Jersey Sports Radio as our “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino will call all the action; click here to listen.

By and large, the Eagles have steamrolled their way to the final day of the New Jersey high school football calendar, outscoring opponents 524-87. Their defense has only allowed multiple touchdowns twice. Their offense has produced eight games of 40 or more points.

But, Winslow’s closest call was also its most recent. The Eagles advanced to the state championship by rallying from their first halftime deficit of the season, squeaking past Millville 13-7 in the Group 4 semifinals.

It’s the first time Winslow’s vaunted passing attack has been disrupted. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker has been brilliant otherwise, ranking 2nd in the state with 41 passing touchdowns and 4th with 2,679 passing yards. Parker’s top targets include 3-star wide receivers Cam Miller and Nyqir Helton, each of whom have hauled in double-digit receiving touchdowns.

Click below to hear Winslow head coach Bill Belton talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Dom Savino about Wednesday’s Group 4 final against Phillipsburg:

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg may be looking to make history, but they’re just focused on themselves heading into Group 4 Final against Winslow at Rutgers

All year long, and even before this year, Phillipsburg’s motto has been D.I.G.

That’s Discipline, Ignore The Noise, and Grit.

They have lived that to the letter all year long, and despite a pair of losses to two very good teams – Ridge back in late September and Easton on Thanksgiving – it has gotten them where they are today. Or, more accurately, where they’ll be Wednesday night.

And that’s playing in the final game of the year in the entire state of New Jersey: Phillipsburg (11-2) vs. Winslow (13-0) for the state Group 4 championship.

We’ll have that game on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with live coverage beginning at 6:40 pm, and kickoff at 7:00 as Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino cover all the action. Click here to listen.

There certainly is a lot of noise to tune out. All year, it’s been about how good Phillipsburg has been. A few weeks ago, it was about their state championship win over Northern Highlands on a school-record game-winning field goal by rookie Alexie Moriera. And last week, it was about the Thanksgiving defeat to Easton.

As a fictional New Jersey gangster once said – in one of the show’s many malapropisms – “all water under the dam.”

That is, to say, ancient history. Might as well be talking about the Mayans. All that’s been done this year matters not one whit Wednesday night when these two teams take the field.

Click below to listen to Phillipsburg coach Frank Duffy talk about Wednesday night’s Group 4 state final against Winslow Township:

by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: State Finals!

After two years of playing down to Group Champions in New Jersey High School Football, the Big Central has joined the party, and CJSR analyst Marcus Borden talks about it all with Mike Pavlichko on our final edition of “Gameday with Marcus Borden” this season!

Mike and Coach Borden take a look back at Thanksgiving Day games between Plainfield and Westfield, along with Phillipsburg-Easton, then delve into the Stateliners’ Group 4 Championship Game at Rutgers Wednesday night against Winslow Twp.

Click below to listen to the State Finals Edition of “Gameday with Marcus Borden”:

by Mike Pavlichko

“The Big Central in 2 Minutes” – All About Phillipsburg

The last high school football game of the year in the State of New Jersey will involve a Big Central Conference team! The first from the league ever to make the state finals – now in just their third season – Phillipsburg will take on Winslow Twp. Wednesday night at 7 at Rutgers for the Group 4 title, and we’ve got you covered.

You can certainly listen to the game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio – kickoff is at 7, pregame at 6:40, click here to listen – but for now, here’s CJSR veteran reporter Mike Pavlichko taking a closer look at the matchup on “The Big Central in Two Minutes!”

Click below to listen to this week’s edition of “The Big Central in Two Minutes”:

by Mike Pavlichko

Time once again for you – the fans – to pick the Jersey Central Sports Radio 2024 “Highlight Reel Play of the Year!” Watch, then vote!

Central Jersey Sports Radio is giving YOU the chance to weigh in on your favorite play of the 2024 high school football season, as submitted by Big Central Conference coaches!

All four finalists are in the montage below…

Watch the video below, then scroll down
to vote for your favorite!!
Voting ends at 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 5th.
Remember: Vote early, vote often!

2024 Highlight Reel Play Of The Year

Sorry, voting is closed.

Good luck to your favorite school and player for the 2024 Highlight Reel Play of the Year!

by Mike Pavlichko

Plainfield closes out first win in 13 years against Westfield with Brown and Watkins, earns Week 13 Chris’ Auto Body “Drive of the Week”

Thanks to our newest sponsor, Chris’ Auto Body of Lambertville and New Hope, we have a new segment this football season on Central Jersey Sports Radio: “The Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week.”

Each week, we’ll pick the best drive from the previous weekend’s games, as shot by our high school football analyst Marcus Borden. And you’ll be able to watch the drive right here on cjsportsradio.com.

This week, it’s the last drive of the Thanksgiving Day clash between Plainfield and Westfield, with the Cardinals prevailing 14-9 for their first win in the series since 2011. Plainfield got the ball back on a Blue Devils’ punt with just under four minutes to go, and they kept Westfield from ever getting the ball again.

Click below to watch the “Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week” for Week 13:

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg’s long drive to start second half in Group 4 semis is the Week 12 Chris’ Auto Body “Drive of the Week”

Thanks to our newest sponsor, Chris’ Auto Body of Lambertville and New Hope, we have a new segment this football season on Central Jersey Sports Radio: “The Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week.”

Each week, we’ll pick the best drive from the previous weekend’s games, as shot by our high school football analyst Marcus Borden. And you’ll be able to watch the drive right here on cjsportsradio.com.

This week, it’s Phillipsburg again, with a long, plodding, methodical scoring drive to keep the ball away from Ramapo and pad the Stateliners’ lead in the Group 4 semifinals on November 22nd. With the win, Phillipsburg will meet Winslow Twp. for the Group 4 state title on Wednesday, December 4th at Rutgers, a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Click below to watch the “Chris’ Auto Body Drive of the Week” for Week 12: