FOOTBALL PREVIEW: North Hunterdon looks for revenge against Phillipsburg in North 2 Group IV final
Simeon PincusWHAT: New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association North 2 Group IV football final
WHO: No. 2 seed North Hunterdon (10-1) vs. No. 1 Phillipsburg (10-1)
WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m. Saturday/MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
HOW THEY GOT HERE: North Hunterdon beat No. 7 Orange 26-9 in the first round and topped No. 3 Sayreville 29-7 in the semifinals. Phillipsburg handled eighth-seeded Millburn 48-14 in the opening round and edged fourth-seeded Irvington 21-20 in the semifinals.
THE HISTORY: It’s been 20 years since North Hunterdon last beat Phillipsburg, a 16-game stretch dating back to 1997 when the Lions scored a 14-12 victory. That was one of only two times in their history North has beaten P’burg – the other was in 1980. These teams met in Week 8 this year, with the Stateliners claiming a 20-7 victory, the Lions’ only loss of the season. This is the first time they’ve ever met in the playoffs.
FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Voorhees vs. West Essex in North 2 Group III final
NORTH HUNTERDON REPORT: The Lions’ most successful season since 1975 reaches a crescendo Saturday as they play their first sectional final since 1978, one victory away from claiming their first state title in 42 years and just the second in program history.
The Lions are blessed with a ton of experienced talent, including several three-year starters, led by quarterback Matt Busher, who has done it all, providing a rushing and passing threat – as well as some fine punting – and key leadership. The senior has thrown for 2,192 yards and 18 touchdowns, adding 513 rushing yards and nine scores. Senior Jared McMahon and junior Griffin Honthy have been the primary receiving threats, with McMahon catching 55 passes for 857 yards and six touchdowns, and Honthy making 25 catches for 490 yards and eight scores. Senior Luke Wain has been the bellcow back, tallying 866 yards and 10 touchdowns behind a standout offensive line, led by Jimmy Tordik, Jack Stothoff and Nick Paulter that has helped North tally a school-record 30 points per game. John Spies has done a good job handling the place-kicking duties.
But while the North Hunterdon offense has gotten most of the headlines, the Lions defense has quietly been pretty impressive in its own right, allowing just 15.3 points per game, allowing two touchdowns or less in seven of their 11 contests. Senior linebackers Erik Dehkes, Kyle Hensler and Luke Ingenito lead the defense, with senior defensive back Colin Lavigne heading the secondary that also features seniors Connor McMahon, Kyle Conover and Stanley Derry. Junior Matt Spichiger and seniors Noah Quental and Dienes Carbine anchor the defensive line.
PHILLIPSBURG REPORT: The Stateliners are in the sectional final for the 14th time in program history, seeking their eighth championship, and first since 2014. Phillipsburg is undefeated against New Jersey opponents, with its lone loss coming to Easton, 21-14 on Thanksgiving. The Liners didn’t break much of a sweat during the regular season, with the 20-7 victory over North Hunterdon and a 14-12 week 2 win over Hunterdon Central the only time P’burg has allowed an opponent within three touchdowns.
But Phillipsburg has been challenged in the playoffs, barely escaping Irvington in the semifinals, winning 21-20 when the Blue Knights opted to go for the 2-point conversion with 1:20 left in regulation and came up short, forgoing a would-be game-tying kick. So that, along with the Stateliners’ loss to Easton the following week, certainly gives North some added hope.
What makes Phillipsburg’s win over North Hunterdon in week 8 even more impressive is that the Liners did it, largely, without star back Joe Green, who left the game five plays in with an injury. The junior stud had averaged 163 yards rushing and more than two touchdowns per game in P’burg’s first six contests, tallying at least 93 rushing yards in each outing, breaking the 150-yard mark four times in that span. Green did not play again until the Irvington game, and he carried the ball just 15 times for 53 yards and a score, and he didn’t play Thanksgiving, putting his status for Saturday somewhat in question.
But Green isn’t the Stateliners’ only offensive threat, as running back Abdul Salahuddin and quarterback Jack Staggard have also had an impact, along with receivers Sean Morro and Ray Poremba. The Phillipsburg defense has also been hugely impactful to its success, allowing just 11 points per game against state opponents. Jaleel Boothman, Justyce Branch, Bobby Coury, Nicholas Josselyn, Zach Leong, Mark Zgoda and Morro have led the way.
ANALYSIS: I have picked against North Hunterdon four times this year, and the Lions have proven me wrong on three of those occasions, with the week 8 loss at Phillipsburg the lone exception. So on one hand, I know that if I play it safe and pick the Stateliners, I’ll either be right and improve my season average, or I’ll be thrilled North managed the upset and fired up to write what would be a fantastic closing chapter to what’s been a phenomenal story.
But, on the other hand, I really, really, really want to pick North Hunterdon.
I was torn the last time I had to pick this game, ultimately opting for the safe bet by picking Phillipsburg at home. But this game is being played at a neutral site, and a lot of people I’ve talked to agree taking the Stateliners out of the unique football atmosphere that is Maloney Stadium could be a huge boon to the Lions’ chances. Also, after seeing how Phillipsburg has fared the last two weeks, while North Hunterdon has just seemed to get stronger, is another factor making me think this could be the Lions’ day.
At the end of the day, I guess I’m just a wuss. I simply don’t have the guts to pick the upset. But I really, really hope I’m wrong and I have this overwhelming feeling that I’m going to be. But I don’t think my season would be complete without one more round of abuse at the hands of incredibly passionate North Jungle student section, and the looks on the faces of the Lions players postgame as they rub my ineptitude as a prognosticator in my face just one more time.
PINCUS’ PICK: Phillipsburg 23-20
Simeon Pincus can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SimeonPincusCN