Tag: Phillipsburg

by Mike Pavlichko

Early look at Big Central Football 2025: Powerhouses will battle it out again in American Silver Division

The American Silver Division of the Big Central Conference is a division in disguise, wearing fake glasses and a moustache.

It’s pretty much the Mid-State 38’s Delaware Division (an offshoot of the Skyland Conference’s Delaware) from 2019, which had Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsborough, Hunterdon Central, Ridge and Philipsburg, with Franklin the only team from that group that plays elsewhere in the Big Central.

These are the big boys from the “Western” portion of the Big Central, and they won’t disappoint in 2025. Everyone in this division has made the playoffs the last few years, something no other division in the league can say, and there’s a reason for that: quality opponents.

Here are the preliminary schedules for the American Silver Division teams – in alphabetical order – compiled from the official league schedule and other online sources to the best of our knowledge. Please note game dates and times may be changed without notice as the season approaches. Division games marked with an asterisk (*).

Bridgewater-Raritan Panthers (4-7, 1-3, 4th in 2024)
Head Coach: DJ Catalano (7-14, 3rd season)

  • Week 0: Notre Dame
  • Week 1: at Piscataway
  • Week 2: Morris Knolls
  • Week 3: Hunterdon Central*
  • Week 4: at Ridge*
  • Week 5: Elizabeth
  • Week 6: at Hillsborough*
  • Week 7: Westfield
  • Week 8: at Phillipsburg*

Despite a 3-6 record at the cutoff, playing a tough schedule – especially in their division – helped Bridgewater get in the playoffs, and they answered the bell with a gutty 34-33 overtime win against Irvington in the opening round, falling in the next round at eventual Group 5 runner up Union City. While top receiver Nicholas DiEsso (763 yds) is gone, junior QB Declan Kurdyla (1,795 yards, 20 TDs) returns, along with top running back Denzel Amoafo (530 yds, 5 TDs). This is a team that went very deep this year, and could take a step up in the division with key players like Miles Tofte (2.5 sacks, 5.5 TFLs) returning for his senior year. And let’s not forget Joe Squicciarini, the junior kicker who was 8-12 on field goals last year, and perfect in 31 PAT attempts for the Panthers.

Hillsborough Raiders (7-4, 2-2, 3rd place in 2024)
Head Coach: Kevin Carty, Jr. (88-58, 14th season)

  • Week 0: Washington Twp. (Sat, Battle at the Beach at Rowan)
  • Week 1: at Union
  • Week 2: Ridge*
  • Week 3: at Sayreville
  • Week 4: Phillipsburg*
  • Week 5: at Westfield (Sat, 2p)
  • Week 6: Bridgewater-Raritan*
  • Week 7: Piscataway
  • Week 8: at Hunterdon Central *

There’s a lot to replace both on offense and defense for the Raiders, as QB Ryan Seamon (1,358 pass yds, 14 TD) graduates, as does Jackson Jankowicz, who led the tea in both rushing (1,417) and receiving (446) yards. The defense returns just one player who had a sack last year, Anthony Guerrero (2.5), and one who had an interception (Damian Amato), who’s also listed as a QB but didn’t take a snap last year. The Raiders always seem to have talented players waiting in the wings, it’s just a question of who what will be.

Hunterdon Central (4-6, 0-4, 5th place in 2024)
Head Coach: Casey Ransone (28-47, 9th season)

  • Week 0: North Hunterdon (Thursday)
  • Week 1: at Monroe
  • Week 2: Phillipsburg*
  • Week 3: at Bridgewater-Rartitan*
  • Week 4: Union
  • Week 5: at East Brunswick
  • Week 6: at Ridge*
  • Week 7: Old Bridge
  • Week 8: Hillsborough*

The Red Devils started the year 4-2, but lost their last three regular season games and were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. The good news is, there’s a lot back for Central, including starting QB Drew Cella, who threw for 1,352 yards and 14 TDs last year. But cutting down on the interceptions (13) will be big. Leading rusher Giovanni Veliz (794 yds, 6 TD) and top receiver James Mongno (47 catches, 687 yds, 7 TD) will be back, too. The defense should have enough returning, with players like juniors AJ Melo (5 sacks, 4 TFLs) Troy Arteaga (1 INT) and Kasey Kinglsey (2 INT) back for Central.

Phillipsburg Stateliners (11-3, 3-1, 2nd place in 2024)
Head Coach Frank Duffy (78-35, 10th season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: at Westfield (Sat)
  • Week 2: at Hunterdon Central*
  • Week 3: Ridge*
  • Week 4: at Hillsborough*
  • Week 5: West Orange
  • Week 6: at St. Joseph-Metuchen (Sat)
  • Week 7: Union
  • Week 8: Bridgewater-Raritan
  • Thanksgiving: Easton (at Lafayette)

In 2022 and 2023, the Stateliners beat Easton on Thanksgiving, the main goal of any Phillispburg team on an annual basis, but they lost in the sectional finals of the state playoffs both seasons, to West Orange in 2022 and Union City in 2023. Last year, they beat Northern Highlands in dramatic fashion to win North 2, Group 4, but fell to Easton on Thanksgiving before losing to Winslow at Rutgers in the state Group 4 title game. Putting it all together this year could be a challenge considering who they lose, including the one-two combo of QB Jett Genovese (1,827 pass yds, 16 TD) and WR Matthew Scerbo, Jr. (50 catches, 1,082 yards, 11 TDs), along with No. 2 receiver Felix Matos (40 catches, 695 yards, 5 TD) . But the ‘Liners seemingly reload when they need to, as six different underclassmen caught passes last year, including Jaysen Blacknell, Mike Bracco and Sam Dech, mwho also was the top rusher last year with 590 yards and 9 TDs. Dech is also solid for the defense, which will return key parts like LB Jah’quil Dooley and DLs Aeden Hywell (6 sacks, 10 TFL) and rising junior Tyler Wargo (1 sack, 1 TFL)

Ridge Red Devils (8-2, 4-0, American Silver champs in 2024)
Head Coach: Jeff Sutherland (1st season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: St. Joseph-Metuchen
  • Week 2: at Hillsborough*
  • Week 3: at Phillipsburg*
  • Week 4: Bridgewater-Raritan*
  • Week 5: at Union (Sat, 2p)
  • Week 6: Hunterdon Central*
  • Week 7: North Brunswick
  • Week 8: at Westfield (Sat)

Andy West departed in the off-season as head coach, though he still remains an assistant to Tom Blackwell in baseball, after a five-year run where the Red Devils never won fewer than six games, and improved each year, finishing with back-to-back 8-2 seasons. Alum and longtime assistant Jeff Sutherland takes the reins, but will have to identify some new key starters with QB Connor McLachlan (981 pass yards, 10 TD), RB Aidan Steiglitz (1,311 rush yds, 22 TD) and Ryan Turner (493 receiving yards, 7 TD) all gone to graduation. Sawyer Paul, who threw one pass last year, is the lone returning QB who saw a varsity snap. The defense will bring back more, including linemen Anthony Valera (1 sack, 4 TFLs) and Nate Engdahl (2 sacks, 4 TFLs).

by Mike Pavlichko

Franklin tops Phillipsburg, 8-1, to earn series split on complete game effort from Sosa

When your team spots you a 7-0 lead In the first two innings of a baseball game, it should be a cruise of the rest of the way for the starting pitcher.

And it was mostly that for Defraily Sosa of Franklin, who allowed just one run the rest of the way and scattered five hits in a complete game, 8-1 win over visiting Phillipsburg that gave the Warriors a split in their Skyland Conference division series. 

Franklin (4-5) got four runs in the first and three more in the second before adding another in the fourth for insurance that it turned out they wouldn’t nearly need.

After a 1-2-3 first by Sosa, in the bottom of the inning, Franklin got a bunt single from Izaiah Robinson and a single by Mike Sciermeyer, then a two-RBI single by Stanley Madera to make it 2-0. Jacob Gordon walked and after a popup by Rodrick Ray, Shayne Rooney drove in two more with a single to make it 4-0.

In the second, Shaylen Patel hit a one-out single, while Robinson followed with another. Schiermeyer then singled past shortstop into left field, and when the ball was misplayed, two more runs came in. Madera and Jacob Gordon followed with walks, and one more to Ray made it 7-0. That was all for Phillipsburg (5-5) starter Evan Carter, and reliever Wyatt Gordon induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Franklin got another run in the fourth when Ray singled with one out to bring in Madera, who’d led off the inning with a single of his own.

The Stateliners got one back in the fifth, when Gordon got hit by a pitch. Felix Matos walked, and a groundout to first moved the runners up, with another by Mike Bracco plating the run to make it 8-1.

Phillipsburg’s biggest threat came in the fourth, when a sac fly by Jett Genovese to right with runners at first and second put runners at the corners and Amman Bokhari walked to load the bases with two out. But Sosa got Chase Doering to fly out to center to end the inning.

Sosa picked up his first win of the season to improve to 1-2, while Carter fell to 2-2 with the loss.

Click below to hear postgame reaction with Franklin head coach Derrick Castillo, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg Stateliners finish their business, win title, make history… and are Central Jersey Sports Radio 2024 Big Central Team of the Year

Of all the excellent teams in the Big Central Conference in 2024, only one did what Phillipsburg did. And they’re the first to do it in league history.

The reached the state finals.

New Jersey only started playing to overall Group Champions in 2022, and in the third year, Phillipsburg became the first Big Central team to play in one of those title games.

And while they fell to a very good Winslow Twp. team at Rutgers last Wednesday night, the title game berth was historic. Coupled with an 11-3 season and the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title, that makes Phillipsburg our Big Central Team of the Year in 2024.

They were also No. 1 in our final Top Ten rankings, which don’t always correlate to the Team of the Year. But this season, it did.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy about their 2024 season:

by Mike Pavlichko

Championship-winning kick, textbook PATs earn Phillipsburg’s Alexie Moriera 2024 CJSR Special Teams Player of the Year honors

He didn’t try a lot of field goals this year, but of the three he made, one was one of the biggest in Phillipsburg history, both literally and figuratively.

Literally, the 46-yarder Alexie Moriera booted on November 15th was not only a career long, but the longest in Stateliner gridiron history, and we’re talking a lot of football here.

Figuratively, it gave P’burg the North 2, Group 4 title in a wild 13-11 win over Northern Highlands, in which Maloney Stadium’s visitors went ahead on a touchdown and two-point conversion with just 24 seconds left.

That left the ‘Liners needing to march down the field and score. And score they did. Alternating between Jett Genovese runs and passes to Matthew Scerbo, Jr., the two got Phillipsburg to the 29 yard line. Cue Moreira.

Click below to see the full drive – the Week 11 Chris Auto Body Drive of the Week – capped by Alexie Moreira’s 46-yard field goal.

And it was on PATs – never a sure thing at the high school level – where Moreira also left his mark, going 57-for-59 on the season.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko speak with Alexie Moreira of Phillipsburg, our Special Teams Player of the Year:

Honorable Mentions:

  • Noah Ochab, Bernards: The junior could have been the starter last year, but he was stuck behind last year’s Special Teams Player of the year, Jonas Gonzalez. Ochab (pronounced “OH-shahb”) was 5-of-10 on field goals this year, including a school-record 48-yarder against Voorhees, against whom he also ran in a two-point conversion on a fake extra point. He was 32-of-33 on those PATs this yea, and kicked off 13 times for touchbacks. Head coach Jon Simoneau says he’s an excellent multi-directional punter – only one was returned all year – and Ochab downed nine inside the 20-yard line.
  • Gavin Periera, Spotswood: Also a junior, Gavin nailed 27 of 28 PATs for the Chargers this season in just his first year kicking. He also had two multiple field goal games, going 8-of-10 overall – tied for third most makes in the state – and booting a career-long 44-yarder against Highland Park in late September. He also recovered his own onside kick against Bound Brook, and had at least a dozen touchbacks.
  • Joe Squicciarini, Bridgewater-Raritan: This is the guy tied with Periera for third in the state for field goals; he was 8-of-12 this season, and kicked a career-best 41-yarder against Union City in the playoffs.
by Mike Pavlichko

Central Jersey Sports Radio announces football “Specialty Awards” for 2024

Our goal at Central Jersey Sports Radio since our founding in 2020 has always been to bring attention to all the great things done by the many outstanding student-athletes in our area, both on and off the field.

Even with Honorable Mentions in each category, just having one each of Offensive, Defensive Special Teams and Two-Way Player of the Year isn’t quite enough to cover the massive 59-team Big Central Conference.

So, in our quest to honor as many great student-athletes as possible, here are our 2024 Central Jersey Sports Radio Specialty Awards:

“Dynamic Duo” Award: Jett Genovese and Matthew Scerbo, Jr., Phillipsburg

You can’t really recognize one without the other.

The quarterback Genovese and wide receiver Scerbo – though they also both play defense – have both been three year starters for the Stateliners.

Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese (#3) and Matthew Scerbo, Jr., (#10) greet each opther before a huddle in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)

The two have had great success with the Stateliners, leading them to back-to-back wins over Easton for the first time since 2002/2003, and this year’s North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title. They’ve connected for touchdowns 22 times in a three-year span.

Individually, they’ve been outstanding.

Genovese finishes his career with 4,565 yards passing and 43 touchdowns, while Scerbofinished with 2,375 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s the school’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and TD catches, and just signed with Lafayette last Wednesday, meaning he’ll play for the next several years on the same field where he and his teammates beat Easton twice.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese and Matthew Scerbo, Jr.:

The “Scores Every Which Way” Award: James Bodley, Piscataway

One thing you know when you watch Piscataway football is you’re going to see some creative football and some electrifying plays.

And few on the Chiefs roster are more electrifying than James Bodley.

Piscataway’s James Bodley (Source: @JamesBodley3 on Twitter)

Bodley rushed for nearly 1,000 yards this season – finishing tenth on the all-time career rushing list with over 1,500 yards – and had over 100 tackles.

But it was how he scored that drew our attention:

  • 13 rushing touchdowns
  • 2 receiving touchdowns
  • 2 two-point conversions
  • 1 kickoff return for a touchdown
  • 1 punt return for a touchdown
  • 1 interception return for a touchdown

The only scores he didn’t have were a fumble recovery and a safety, but who are we to be nit-picky?

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk with Piscataway’s James Bodley:

“Making the Grade” Award: Lamar Raiford, JP Stevens

This year’s awards are dotted with players who’ve been two-, three- and sometimes four-year starters for their teams.

Lamar Raiford is not one of them, but he’s grateful to get to suit up for his senior season for JP Stevens.

Lamar Raiford of JP Stevens (Source: Hudl)

Raiford – who played for the Shamrocks youth team – didn’t have the grades to play when he got to high school, and at the time he was enrolled in Edison. But he had a lot of friends there, got distracted, and couldn’t keep his grades up.

He moved within his hometown up the road to JP Stevens, cracked the books, and was eligible to play in 2024. And just in time, he helped the Hawks snap their 42-game losing streak, with a 22-21 overtime victory against Bound Brook.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Lamar Raiford of JP Stevens:

“Rising Star” Award: Chukwuma Odoh, St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas was rolling along with a really good running back named Chase Young.

But this year, sophomore Chukwuma Odoh showed promise, so head coach Tarig Holman made him the No. 1 back, with Young picking up additional blocking duties – while also running for 611 yards – and the move paid dividends.

Chukwuma Odoh of St. Thomas Aquinas. (Source: @CHUDAGOAT on Twitter)

Odoh wound up rushing for 1,418 yards and 17 touchdowns, stringing together ten 100-yard rushing games this season, leading a backfield that accumulated over 3,000 yards rushing as a group.

Click below to hear Alec Crouthamel talk Chukwuma Odoh of St. Thomas Aquinas:

“Family Affair” Award: Derek and Bryan Anderson, Woodbridge

Quarterbacks and receivers at the high school level often have a special bond. Often times they grew up playing catch, did the same in Pop Warner, and continue right through high school, almost like they can read each other’s minds.

Well, Woodbridge has a QB/wide receiver duo who didn’t just grow up playing together. They grew up together.

To boot, Derek Anderson the quarterback and Bryan Anderson the receiver are twins!

Derek (left) and Bryan Anderson of Woodbridge. (Source: @DJA10_ and @BryAndy_5 on Twitter)

In their careers, Derek threw for over 3,200 yards and 40 touchdowns, most over the last two seasons. Derek passed for 1,470 yards this year with 19 TDs. Bryan had 1,721 receiving yards and 40 touchdowns on 116 career catches. This year he grabbed 50 for 857 yards and 11 scores, while also rushing for 203 yards and one more touchdown.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Derek and Bryan Anderson of Woodbridge:

The “OMG He’s Back Another Year” Award: Andrew Avent, Rahway

Everyone knows that player.

You know, the guy who never seems to leave? It seems like he had six years of eligibility? Looks like a college student?

Yep, that’s Andrew Avent, and he’s still got one more year to go.

Andrew Avent of Rahway. (Source: @AndrewAvent1 on Twitter)

Avent was a workhorse for Rahway this season en route to a 7-3 campaign. He carried the ball 194 times for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns in his third year a starter.

With one more to go, he’ll head into his senior season with 2,563 career yards and 31 career touchdowns, looking for even bigger and better things in 2025.

Click below to hear Justin Sontupe talk with Rahway’s Andrew Avent:

The “Unbreakable Record Breaker” Award: Jackson Jankowicz, Hillsborough

Some records are made to be broken, others you think might stand forever, even if they were just set a couple of years ago.

That was the thinking of Hillsborough head coach Kevin Carty when it came to a couple of records owned by some of the biggest stars in Raiders history: Shawn Mayer and Tommy Amankwaa.

Enter Jackson Jankowicz.

Hillsborough runningback Jackson Jankowicz. (@jacksonjank3 on Twitter)

An Offensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention, Jankowicz had 24 rushing touchdowns his season, breaking the mark set a long time ago by Shawn Mayer, who eventually played at Penn State and then a year in the NFL with the Patriots, getting to suit up for the Super Bowl across from another former Raider, Ricky Proehl.

He also had 30 total TDs, tying Tommy Amankwaa’s record set in 2021. Amankwaa went to Rutgers and just recently entered the transfer portal, looking to play more at wide receiver. That record, Carty said, “I thought that might stand forever.”

Looks like you were wrong, coach.

Oh, and if you include the fact he threw a touchdown pass this year as well, he accounted for 31 – one more than Amankwaa’s “unbreakable” record.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Jackson Jankowicz of Hillsborough:

by Mike Pavlichko

PHOTOS: Take a look back at historic Group 4 Championship Game at Rutgers between Phillipsburg and Winslow Twp.

The NJSIAA’s Group 4 Championship Game in high school football certainly was one for the history books.

It was the first time either Phillipsburg or Winslow Twp. had reached the state finals in the first three years of their existence, it obviously was Winslow’s first-ever state title, and the Stateliners were the first team to represent the Big Central Conference in a state final.

Photographer Christian Sanchez captured some of the title game’s moments for Central Jersey Sports Radio, including pre-game warmups and the Eagles’ post-game celebration.

  • Phillipsburg players warm up before the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg players warm up before the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg players warm up before the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg players stand for the National Anthem before the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg team captains head out for the coin toss before the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • The Phillipsburg student section cheers on the Stateliners in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos is congratulated after a catch in the first half of the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos tries to escape a tackle in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy on the sidlines at the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Matthew Scerbo, Jr., makes a move in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • The Phillipsburg student section cheers on the Stateliners in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese throws a pass in the first half of the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese (#3) and Matthew Scerbo, Jr., (#10) greet each opther before a huddle in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg and Winslow line up for a play in the Group 4 title game at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese looks to pass in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos takes a break to hydrate in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jayden Lucas is excited about a big defensive stop in the first half of the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg and Winslow line up for a play in the Group 4 title game at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos tries to stay on his feet in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese watches a replay on the scoreboard during the first half of the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese runs the ball in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jaysen Blacknall defends a pass in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg huddles up before the second half of the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos goes for the first down in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg and Winslow line up for a play in the Group 4 title game at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese runs the ball in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Matthew Scerbo, Jr., in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’sSam Dech looks to make a move in the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Phillipsburg’s Jett Genovese takes in the snow during the Group 4 title game against Winslow Twp. at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Winslow players meet their fans after winning the Group 4 championship over Phillipsburg at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Winslow celebrates its Group 4 championship over Phillipsburg at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
  • Winslow celebrates its Group 4 championship over Phillipsburg at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)
by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg finishes No. 1 in final Central Jersey Sports Radio Big Central football rankings

The 2024 high school football season has come to a close, and the Phillipsburg Stateliners will close it out as the No. 1 team in the final Central Jersey Sports Radio rankings of the year.

Not only did Phillipsburg win its ninth New Jersey state sectional title in the playoff era, but the Stateliners became the first Big Central Conference team to make the state finals, in the third year of the event.

Phillipsburg finishes the year 11-3, after a loss to Winslow in the Group 4 final at Rutgers Wednesday night.

Somerville (12-1) finished second, the only other league team to win a sectional title this year. The Pioneers beat Delsea to win the Central Jersey Group 3 title, but fell to Mainland in the Group 3 semifinals for their only loss. They also were Liberty Silver Division champions in the Big Central.

Checking in at No. 3 is Woodbridge (10-1), which also had a perfect regular season, and won the Liberty Gold Division in the Big Central. The Barrons went to the sectional semifinals in North 2, Group 4, bowing out to finalist Northern Highlands.

Fourth is St. Thomas Aquinas (8-3), which won the National Silver Division and will head into 2025 with a league-record 31-game Big Central Conference winning streak. The Trojans won their first playoff game since 2001, beating St. Mary-Rutherford, before bowing out to Holy Spirit in the Non-Public B quarterfinals.

Checking in at No. 5 is Bernards (11-1). The third Big Central team to go undefeated this regular season, a trip to the North 1, Group 2 finals might have been a dream in the preseason, after losing key players to graduation following last year’s sectional title win, but they ended up running the table in the regular season and got right back there, falling to eventual Group 2 finalist Shabazz.

Ridge (8-2) clocks in at No. 6, the American Silver Division Champions. They were the only Big Central school to beat Phillipsburg this year, handing them a touchdown loss back on September 20th.

In seventh is Rahway (7-3), which had a big win over Watchung Hills in early October.

The eighth-place team was one that was recognized all year, but never ranked: New Providence. The Pioneers finished 9-3, and were consistent all year, making it all the way to the North 2, Group 1 title game, where they fell to Cedar Grove, which ended up a state finalist, falling to Glassboro in the Group 1 title game.

Checking in at No. 9 is Hillsborough, which finished 7-4, coming on straight to win four straight heading into the playoffs. They bowed out in the second round to Rancocas Valley.

And in tenth is Piscataway, which also finished 7-4, but behind the Raiders because they lost to Hillsborough late in the season.

Also considered in the final rankings were the Freedom Gold and Freedom Silver champions, respectively – Spotswood (8-2) and Belvidere (8-2) – along with Cranford (7-3).

Below is the complete 2024 Final Central Jersey Sports Radio High School Football Top Ten:

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – Group 4 Final: Winslow 35, Phillipsburg 0

North 2, Group 4 champion Phillipsburg came up one win short in its quest to claim its first-ever state championship – and the Big Central Conference’s – falling in the Group 4 title game to Winslow Twp., 35-0

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino call all the play-by-play live from Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway on December 4, 2024:

1ts Half
2nd Half

by Mike Pavlichko

Phillipsburg falls in Group 4 final to Winslow, 35-5, as Eagles offense spreads the wealth

Though it was a memorable season in so many respects, Phillipsburg’s first trip to the state finals – and the Big Central Conference’s first team to make it there – didn’t go nearly according to plan.

Two first-half Stateliner interceptions led indirectly to Winslow Twp. touchdowns, as the Eagles built up a 28-0 lead after the first 24 minutes, and topped the Stateliners 35-0 in the NJSIAA Group 4 final at Rutgers Univeristy’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway, as heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Winslow has several players – not all of them seniors, by the way – with offers from major Division 1 college programs. Several have offers to Syracuse, and receiver Marcus Upton signed his Letter of Intent to Boston College earlier in the day.

What was remarkable about it was that none of them truly “went off” Wednesday night; Winslow simply played solid football, exploiting its speed and athleticism.

Phillipsburg QB Jett Genovese throws a pass in the first half of the Group 4 final at Rutgers on December 4, 2024. (Photo: Christian Sanchez)

They broke tackles, jumped routes, and got in the backfield, registering seven sacks and nine tackles for loss.

And they spread the ball around: seven different players caught passes, but none hauled in more than four or had more than 67 yards through the air. Likewise, four different players rushed the football, and none ran for more than 50 yards, or had more than eleven carries.

Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker had an outstanding effort, going 17 of 22 for 238 yards and two touchdown passes.

Winslow took the ball first, and both teams punted on their first possessions. But the Eagles got on the board on their second possession, on the second play of the drive with a 26-yard pass from Parker to Cam Miller with 6:26 to go in the first quarter.

Phillipsburg quickly found themselves down 14-0 with 2:01 remaining when QB Jett Genovese threw a pick on the next drive that was returned 67-yards for a score by junior Nyqir Helton.

Winslow would score twice more in the second quarter, when another Helton interception gave them the ball at the Stateliner 44. Five plays later, junior NaKeem Powell ran in a touchdown from two yards out to make it 21-0 with 4:29 to go before the half, and Parker found Miller again from 15 yards out to make it 28-0 at the break.

Things got worse in the second half for Phillipsburg when senior wide receiver Felix Matos went down with what appeared to be a lower leg injury, and soon after, Genovese got banged up too, though he returned.

Winslow outgained Phillipsburg 318 to 66 in the game, with the Stateliners held to just nine rushing yards, both easily their lowest outputs of the season. It was also the first time they’d been shut out since a 7-0 loss to Wayne Valley in the second round of the playoffs in 2019.

Click below for postgame reaction from Marcus Borden on the field with Phillipsburg senior WR Matthew Scerbo, Jr., who will graduate as the top receiver in school history in several statistical categories:

by Mike Pavlichko

RAPID REACTION: Phillipsburg falls in Group 4 final, 35-0, to Winslow at Rutgers

The first Big Central Conference team won reach the NJSIAA’s state finals in football – just three years into playing down to group champions – came up short Wednesday night.

Phillipsburg lost to Winslow Twp. 35-0 at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway, ending its season at 11-2.

But as Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino – who called the game on Central Jersey Sports Radio – point out, there’s much to be proud of for the Stateliners, who in the last three years beat arch-rival Easton twice on Thanksgiving, and this year brought home an elusive sectional title, winning a thriller over Northern Highlands to take the North 2, Group 4 championship.

Click below to watch Mike and Dom’s “Rapid Recation” from Piscataway, and check back later for a game recap, postgame reaction from Phillipsburg head coach Frank Duffy, and much more.