When Phillipsburg hosts Passaic Tech in the North 1, Group 5 championship game Friday night, the Stateliners will have to face one of the most consistent programs in New Jersey high school football.

Since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Passaic Tech has won at least eight games every year, with three Group 5 sectional titles in the last five seasons.

It’s been more of the same from the Bulldogs this fall, as fourth-seed Passaic Tech (8-3) will heads to Maloney Stadium to take on third-seed Phillipsburg (8-2), in a game you can hear Friday night on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Kickoff is at 7 pm, with pregame starting at 6:40. Alec Crouthamel and Chris Tsakonas are on the call; click here to listen.

For the PCTI, that consistency wasn’t quite there at the start of the year. They went 2-3 in their first five games, but since then – and with the eligibility of transfer quarterback Bryce Longo from St. Joseph-Montvale – the Bulldogs have hit their stride with six straight wins.

It’s been dominant play on both sides of the ball. Tech is averaging 29.7 points per game offensively, led by the Longo, who’s completing nearly six of every ten passes for 1,213 yards and 16 touchdowns. Featured running back Randy Lewis has 168 carries for 1,031 yards and 11 scores.

The Bulldogs have been equally impressive defensively, allowing just 13.9 points per game this year. Passaic Tech has particularly tightened up on that side of the ball as the season has gone on, allowing just one touchdown in their last three games. Linebacker Ian McDuffie has been a do-it-all player for that unit with 120 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, five forced fumbles and two interceptions.

Click below to hear Passaic Tech head coach Matt Demarest talk about the Bulldogs’ meeting with Phillipsburg for the North 2, Group 5 title with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas: