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.

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:

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 may be looking to make history, but they’re just focused on themselves heading into Group 4 Final against Winslow at Rutgers
• “The Big Central in 2 Minutes” – All About Phillipsburg
• Phillipsburg’s long drive to start second half in Group 4 semis is the Week 12 Chris’ Auto Body “Drive of the Week”
• Phillipsburg has been playing football since 1899, but Stateliners are still making “firsts”
• Big Central unveils 2024 All-Division Teams
• Phillipsburg-Winslow will close the 2024 HS Football season in New Jersey; NJSIAA releases finals dates and times
• The agony of defeat, and the thrill of victory? All just 35 miles apart on Route 22
• Genovese, Phillipsburg dominate Ramapo 35-6, clinches Big Central’s first-ever trip to state finals
• Group 4 Semifinals Preview: Phillipsburg Stateliners vs. Ramapo Raiders
• Phillipsburg’s 5-play, 24-second, sectional title-winning drive is the Championship Weekend Chris’ Auto Body “Drive of the Week”
• Championship Weekend Big Central Playoff Notebook: A look back at Phillipsburg’s thrilling win, Somerville’s dominant victory, and tough losses for Bernards and New Providence
• Finished Business! Phillipsburg wins North 2, Group 4 title in dramatic fashion on Moriera’s career-long, school record FG as time expires
• North 2, Group 4 Final Preview: Phillipsburg Stateliners vs. Northern Highlands Highlanders
• Friday Night Big Central Playoff Roundup: Phillipsburg, Somerville, Bernards and New Providence to play for titles next week, unbeaten Woodbridge takes first loss
• Third time’s a charm? Phillipsburg back in sectional finals again with 31-14 win over Chatham
• Phillipsburg seeking third straight title game berth as Stateliners entertain Chatham Friday
• NJSIAA unveils 2024 football playoff pairings; Phillipsburg, Somerville get top seeds, as expected, while 28 Big Central publics qualify
• Friday Night Big Central Roundup: Phillipsburg appears to clinch a top-seed, Metuchen upset hurts their chances, East Brunswick shocks South
• Dominant six TD performance earns Phillipsburg’s Felix Matos Week 6 Bellamy & Son Paving Player of Week Award
• INSTANT REPLAY:  No. 7 Phillipsburg 49, No. 5 St. Joseph-Metuchen 14
• Matos is masterful as No. 7 Phillipsburg topples No. 5 St. Joseph, handing Falcons first loss
• Phillipsburg continues quest to take care of “unfinished business” as St. Joe’s visits Maloney
• Friday Night Big Central Roundup: Aquinas star collapses at game, Phillipsburg stays unbeaten by edging Hillsborough, No. 1 Woodbridge “picks off” Linden
• INSTANT REPLAY: Ridge 28, No. 1 Phillipsburg 21
• Steiglitz’ 3 TDs, strong ground game, propel Ridge to 28-21 win over No. 1 Phillipsburg
• Streaking through the Big Central: Aquinas, Bernards, Metuchen, Phillipsburg continue to roll
• Idle Phillipsburg still atop Borden’s Big Central Top Ten, but Piscataway and Woodbridge jump Aquinas in Middlesex rankings
• Phillipsburg tops Borden’s preseason Big Central Top Ten; St. Thomas Aquinas tops in Middlesex
• Phillipsburg, St. Thomas Aquinas begin 2024 where they ended 2023: Nos. 1 and 2 in the CJSR Big Central Rankings
• Beating Easton is always the No. 1 goal, but Phillipsburg also is seeking elusive state title

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.