Phillipsburg Football Preview: Chasing Greatness, the Goals for the Liners Remain the Same

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ - It’s time to reload for the 2024 edition of Phillipsburg High School football which has recorded 10-2 and 11-1 records the past two seasons that also included a pair of very impressive victories wins over arch-rival Easton on Turkey Day.

But the Stateliner’s past two NJSIAA North, Section 2, Group 5 playoff runs have resulted in disappointing home losses in the sectional finals to Union City (24-17 last season) and West Orange (28-7 in 2022 ).

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The Stateliners set numerous school records on the offensive side of the ball last season, including most touchdowns (61), rushing TDs (37), and rushing yards (2,912) while averaging 384.1 yards of offense a game.

P’burg is set at the offensive skill positions but only returns three-year starting center Ben Coury to the offensive line. Coury has followed twin brothers Bobby and Tommy in carving out an outstanding career for the Garnet and Grey said Head Coach and defensive coordinator Frank Duffy (67-22 record in 9th season).

The defense is also in need of an overhaul with just four returning starters as is the kicking game. There are lots of holes to fill but nobody seems to do that better than the Stateliners year after year.

Phillipsburg scrimmaged at Toms River North at 11:30 a.m. today (see below) and also has a home scrimmage against Ramapo at 5 p.m. on August 29. The Liners open the regular season at home against Westfield on Sept. 6. P’burg plays three of its four regular season home games in September.

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Offensive skill positions

Jett Genovese (5-foot-11, 202 pounds) and wide-out Matthew Scerbo Jr. (6-3, 191) are both seniors and three-year starters. A three-year starting quarterback is very rare at Phillipsburg. The most recent 3-year starting QBs were Justin Scuorzo (2008-10) and Jack Stagaard (2016-18), who started the first two games of his sophomore season before an injury ended it.

“It’s pretty rare,” head coach and defensive coordinator Frank Duffy said. “Especially at that position. Jett worked extremely hard this off-season to get bigger and stronger and faster. He has the intangibles you look for in a QB – poise, confidence, leadership and humility.”

Genovese has passed for 2,738 yards (7 ^th all-time at P’burg) in his career with 27 touchdowns (4 ^th all-time) and just seven interceptions while completing 173 of 313 passes (7 ^th all-time in completions). He’s also run for 706 yards and scored 10 TDs on the ground in his career.

Scerbo Jr., who is also an outstanding basketball player and is on pace to easily become Phillipsburg’s all-time career leading boy’s scorer in the winter, has caught 82 passes (3 ^rd all-time) for 1,193 yards (6 ^th all-time) and 13 TDs (3 ^rd all-time) in his career. Both players will also be playing a lot more on the other side of the ball this season.

“We’re expecting a huge year out of Matt,” Duffy said. “He’s a dynamic wide receiver who can blow the top off of coverage. He can go up and get the football as good as anyone. He’s set to break some career marks”.

Junior tailback Sam Dech (5-8 172) was a godsent last season from the Jayvee squad when the backfield took a major hit with multiple injuries. The diminutive but strong down-hill running Dech looked right at home by rushing for 628 yards on 87 carries while scoring six touchdowns. His best game came on Thanksgiving Day when he rushed just nine times while collecting 136 yards with two scores.

Senior Felix Matos (5-11, 191), coming off outstanding seasons in both football and baseball in his first year at Phillipsburg High School, will also be a major part of the offense as will junior wide receivers Mike Bracco (6-1, 205), another outstanding baseball player, and Jaysen Blacknall (5-11, 175).

“Felix is explosive,” Duffy said. “He’s capable of playing almost anywhere on the field. He has great run after the catch ability and is a good route runner like Matt. Very good hands. Very reliable and can make tough catches, too.”

Senior Jah’lil Dooley (6-2, 219) and junior Ziyahn McGurn (5-10, 194) (5-10, 194) will split fullback duties  in a two-back set.

“We’re inter-mixing our tailbacks and fullbacks,” Duffy said. “So Dech, Dooley and McGurn will get a heavy load of carries.”

P’burg will go with a two-tight end set at times, while the team’s speed package will include Scerbo Jr., Matos, Blacknall, and Bracco on the field.

Offensive line

Phillipsburg football, Ben Coury Photo Credits: TAPinto Phillipsburg | Candid Captures by Kristina

Joining Coury (6-0, 217) on the o-line will be guards Khalil Lewis (5-10, 195), a senior, and sophomore Alexander Randazzo (6-0, 222) along with tackles Zach Pherson (6-3, 245), a junior, and senior Louis Manochio (6-0, 258).

“We got a lot of work in up at East Stroudsburg and we’re doing a good job of jelling on the line as a unit,” Duffy said of summer workouts. “I’m really excited about that group. And that’s been the theme for the past two years where we’ve had to reload the line because we’ve lost a handful of really good players. The confidence builds every practice with this group.”

Tight end will be manned by senior Luke Hywel (5-10, 200), who missed time due to injury last season,  while senior Justin Marek (6-1, 196) is also looking to crack the lineup.

Defense

The only defensive starters returning are Coury on the line, Matos at free safety and linebackers Dooley and Jayden Lucas (5-10, 213). Coury and Lucas, who was named the outstanding defensive player on Thanksgiving Day a year ago, each took over a starting position midway through last season.

Junior Aedan Hywell (5-11, 186) joins his brother Luke on the line along with Lewis while junior end Brody Lee (6-0, 176) looks to garner some playing time.

Genovese and fellow senior Charles Maina (5-8, 215) are also linebackers and Scerbo Jr. and Blacknall will play defensive back.

Also look for contributions from junior Eddie O’Neil (5-11, 200), the school’s top golfer last spring, and Marek on defense.

Kicking game

Juniors Alexis Moreira and Jeremy Emmel are battling it out for the punting and kicking positions.

TRN scrimmage

For the most part Duffy liked what he saw in the first scrimmage of the season against Toms River North.

“I was pleased by what I saw today,” Duffy said. “We still have a lot of work to do. We had some execution problems on both sides of the ball which is pretty common in the first scrimmage. There are certainly things we need to clean up. Overall, I liked our physicality and their effort. It’s exactly what you’re looking for the first time out. Especially against a program as good as Toms River North. We’ll learn from the film and go from there.”

Same goals

Beating Easton and winning a sectional title are always the goals at Phillipsburg. The ‘Liners have the Easton part down pat the last two seasons but the quest for a sectional title has been elusive.

“The coaching staff has a lot of confidence in this year’s team,” Duffy said. “Every year is brand new. Obviously, our offensive skill players are top notch. Up front on offense and Interior defensive line, specifically, are keys with new guys. We have a plan to be very active on defense.

“We felt good at what we were able to accomplish last year. We’re looking forward to having the opportunity to accomplish more this year.”

Regular season schedule. All games begin at 7 p.m.

• 9/6 vs. Westfield
• 9/13 vs. Hunterdon Central
• 9/20 at Ridge
• 9/27 vs. Hillsborough
• 10/4 at West Orange
• 10/11 vs. St. Joseph (Metuchen)
• 10/18 at Union
• 10/25 at Bridgewater-Raritan
• 11/28 vs. Easton at Fisher Field.

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