Tag: Winslow Twp.

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

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

Winslow takes out Millville in Group 4 semifinals, will get Phillipsburg in state finals at Rutgers

Phillipsburg knows who it will play in two weeks at Rutgers in the Group 4 title game, even if they have another very big game in between.

First things first, right? The Stateliners, of course, have their big Thanksgiving Day rivalry with Easton coming up this Thursday, a game they’ve won each of the last two years.

But after that, with the North 2, Group 4 championship in hand – and a dominating Friday night Group 4 semifinal win over Ramapo, 35-6 – the Stateliners (11-1) know who their last opponent of the year will be: Winslow Twp.

The Eagles (13-0) are the top team in the state according to the New Jersey Power Rankings, which use the NJSIAA’s Strength Index formula to rank teams. Winslow was No. 1 this week with a 110.54 rating, just a bit higher than Millville, at No. 2 (108.81), which they beat Saturday afternoon at home, 13-7, to advance to the Group 4 finals.

The Group 4 Final will be played at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium in Piscataway on Wednesday, December 4th – the last of three days of finals – since Phillipsburg has that Thanksgiving Day game next Thursday. That prevented P’burg from playing in any of the four expected games at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands on Friday, or even the available slots at Rutgers on Sunday, December 1st, which would still only leave two days in between games.

It will be the first trip to the state finals for both Phillipsburg and Winslow Twp. Neither had advanced beyond the sectional finals since the playoffs expanded to four rounds in 2018.

Winslow had to come from behind to win this one, as Lotzeir Brooks’ 12-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Robert O’Connor in the second quarter gave Millville a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.

But Winslow answered with a touchdown in each of the remaining two quarters. In the third, Nyqir Helton caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Parker, with the PAT tying it at seven.

Then, in the fourth, the Eagles – after recovering a Bolts fumble – got a one-yard touchdown run from Nakeem Powell – but the kick failed – to put Winslow up 13-7. Each team failed to score on their next possession, and Millville got it back with 3:29 left, but Winslow’s Cam Miller picked off a pass just six seconds later, and the Eagles were able to run out the clock.