CURRENT
SEASON
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Current Season
2011 SCHEDULE
Saturday Sept. 10 @ Plainfield W 27-26
Friday Sept. 16 North Hunterdon W 27-14
Friday Sept. 23 Franklin L 21-13
Friday Sept. 30 @ Ridge W 32-7
Thursday Oct. 6 @ Montgomery W 31-21
Friday Oct. 21 Hunterdon Central L 31-0
Friday Oct. 28 Hillsborough W 28-14
Friday Nov. 4 @ Bridgewater W 31-28
Friday Nov. 11 Perth Amboy W 41-24
Thursday Nov. 24 Easton L 24-8
2011 Stateliners pose for a photo at the Penn State 7 on 7 Passing Camp earlier this summer. Photo by Rob Waterson.
2011 Offensive Statistics
PASSING COMP ATT PCT YDS TD INT
J. Bohem 35 76 46% 521 3 4
M. Diamond 28 54 52% 558 7 2
RUSHING GAMES CAR YDS YDS/CAR YDS/GM RUSH TD REC TD
R. Custudio 10 130 651 5.0 65 7 0
M. Diamond 28 54 52% 558 7 2
R. Custudio 10 130 651 5.0 65 7 0
J. Moyer 8 58 371 6.4 46 1 0
D. Lee 4 50 288 5.8 58 4 0
S. Maloy 5 42 252 6.0 50 2 0
A. Martin 6 45 292 6.5 49 4 5
M. Diamond 10 43 140 3.3 14 0 1
J. Maso 3 14 85 6.1 28 2 0
S. Maloy 5 42 252 6.0 50 2 0
A. Martin 6 45 292 6.5 49 4 5
M. Diamond 10 43 140 3.3 14 0 1
J. Maso 3 14 85 6.1 28 2 0
RECEIVING REC YDS YDS/CATCH TD
A. Martin RB/WR 16 365 23 5
R. Howell WR 15 242 16 1
M. Diamond WR 9 191 21 1
2011 Defensive Statistics A. Martin RB/WR 16 365 23 5
R. Howell WR 15 242 16 1
M. Diamond WR 9 191 21 1
R. Custodio RB 9 121 13 0
D. Grade WR 3 38 13 1
R. Waterson TE 5 71 14 2
M. Fitz TE 3 38 13 0
R. Waterson TE 5 71 14 2
M. Fitz TE 3 38 13 0
DEFENSE TACKLES ASSISTS SACKS TFL FUM REC INT
D. Lee LB 18 8 0 0 0 1
D. Lee LB 18 8 0 0 0 1
J. Moyer CB 37 13 0 0 0 3
R. Waterson LB 26 9 2 0 0 0
J. Williams DT 22 12 2 0 0 0
S. Maloy DE 15 7 3 0 0 0
R. Howell FS 20 11 0 0 0 1
M. Williams DE 9 11 1 0 0 0
C. Chioffe NG 13 5 1 0 1 0
M. Diamond CB 26 6 0 0 1 1
A. Martin CB 27 6 0 0 1 0
R. Custodio CB 13 11 0 0 0 1
D. Grade SS 8 8 0 0 0 1
D. George DT 17 6 3 0 0 0
H. Connell NG 10 9 0 0 1 0
A. Rand-Willever LB 12 7 0 0 0 1
O. Summers NG 10 7 2 0 0 0
M. Fitz DE 9 5 1 0 1 0
A. Blum DE 6 3 0 0 0 0
Stateliner Sidelines
Tom Bakley, a former standout guard and linebacker at P'burg, passed away on Monday, May 16 after an illness. Bakley was a 2nd-team Newark News all-state selection and one of the leaders of P'burg's 1967 squad, the last team ever coached at P'burg by former legendary coach Harold Bellis. Affectionately known as "Bake", he was a very good 3-sport athlete who also competed in wrestling and in track in the throwing events. After graduation from P'burg, he attended Lycoming College before returning to P'burg, where he became involved in wrestling once again, coaching midget wrestlers in Lopatcong Township. On a personal note, this writer was friends with Bake for close to 50 years. He was a fierce 2-way performer who never came off the field during football games. He was also an outstanding kicker who never had the chance to kick a FG, but repeatedly had his kickoffs fielded inside the opponent's 10-yard line. He was a great teammate, and a fun-loving individual off the field. I am proud to say I was his friend and teammate. Our condolences go out to his family...wife Barbara, son TJ, and daughter Traci. Rest in peace, brother.
1967...Stateliners celebrate their
0-0 tie with unbeaten Easton. Front row, center: Dave Leone and Tom Bakley.
The 2010 Stateliners set several school records on offense while compiling a 9-2 record. The Liners set records for average yards per game with a 393 yard per game average. They also set the record for average yards per play with a 7.69 yard average. The 2010 team finished as the 2nd highest scoring team of all time with 404 points scored, second only to the 2005 team's school record of 422 points. P'burg also compiled 4,327 yards of total offense, 2nd to the 2005 team's school record of 4,543 yards.
P'burg finished the 2010 season as the 16th-ranked team in the state when the Star Ledger announced its final rankings for the 2010 season. P'burg also finished #3 in the Express-Times area rankings. Guess who was #2?
P'burg had 5 players finish among the leaders in their respective categories in the Express-Times' final offensive statistics for 2010 released on Sunday, December 12. QB Justin Scuorzo finished as the highest rated passer in the area with a 196.4 rating. RB Dana Lee was 3rd in rushing yards per game with a 118 yard average, while FB Gerald VanDeCruz was 9th with a 109 yard average. WR Matt Deery was 1st in receiving yards per catch with a 26.4 yard average, while TE Nick Porcelli was 9th with a 20.4 yard average.
P'burg welcomes back former head coach Bruce Smith as its new defensive coordinator in 2010. Smith guided the Stateliners from 1990-1997, achieving an overall record of 46-34-3. Smith later joined Bob Stem's staff at Bethlehem Catholic, serving as an assistant for 3 years from 1998-2000. He also served as an assistant coach at Lafayette College in 2001, and then at Pen Argyl, Pa. from 2002-2008, after leaving the P'burg program. He is a native of Nanticoke, Pa. who played collegiately at Bloomsburg University. Coach Smith has 31 years of coaching experience. His many years of experience and his rapport with his young players make him a valuable addition to the Liner staff. Welcome back coach, and best of luck in your return to the Phillipsburg football program.
Former Phillipsburg great Charles Stecker, an all-state and All-American C/LB in 1963 under coach Harold Bellis, has passed away at the age of 65. Charlie was the leader of P'burg's 1963 team that posted a 7-1-1 record, including a 33-6 win over archrival Easton. He attended Syracuse University on a full football scholarship. Charlie was inducted into the P'burg-Easton Hall of Fame in 2009. Our condolences go out to his entire family, including his brother Herb, another all-state performer for P'burg who also starred at Syracuse.
P'burg also recently lost another former great when all-state tackle Tom Allen passed away at the age of 67. Tom was one of the leaders of P'burg's outstanding 1960 team, which was crowned New Jersey state champion. He was inducted into the P'burg-Easton Hall of Fame in 2008. Our condolences go out to his family.
P'burg finished the 2009 season ranked #12 in the Star Ledger's final statewide football rankings.The Stateliners ended the season as the 4th-ranked team in the state in Group 4. They ended the year ranked 1st in West Jersey, and also finished 6th in the Express-Times area rankings.
P'burg qualified for state playoff action in ten consecutive season this past decade. The Liners also won 88 games over the last ten years, the most victories in any decade in school history. P'burg chalked up 74 wins during the 1980s and 72 wins during the 1940s.
Stateliner head coach Bob Stem has surpassed legendary coach Mike Maloney for the most coaching victories at Phillipsburg with 112 wins. Stem reached a P'burg milestone with his first three victories in 2008, first tying Frank Klein (84), then Phil Rohm (85), and finally his high school coach Harold Bellis (86) in succession. The Liners' 4th win, which came over St. Joe's of Hammonton, allowed Stem to surpass Bellis and move into 2nd place with 87. Stem finished the 2008 season with 93 wins. P'burg's 10 wins in 2009 gave Stem 103 wins. The Liners' 9 wins in 2010 over Plainfield, North Hunterdon, Franklin, Ridge, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Franklin and Easton have moved him 6 wins past Maloney.
The 22 winningest teams in New Jersey entering the 2011 season, as compiled by Robert Dowcett, who runs the Texas high school football website and compiles records for more than 2,500 schools nationwide: (1) P'burg 629 (#141 nationally) (2) Paulsboro 584 (3) Hammonton 583 (4) Montclair 580 (5) Westfield 576 (6) Atlantic City 572 (7) Woodbury 556 (8) Glassboro 543 (9) Millville 541 (10) South River 539 (11) Collingswood 538 (12) Haddonfield 525 (13) Burlington City 524 (14) Vineland 507 (15) Palmyra 500 (16) Camden 498 (17) Moorestown 472 (18) Bridgeton 466 (19) Summit 465 (20) Ocean City 465 (21) Bloomfield 461 (22) Salem 457
R. Waterson LB 26 9 2 0 0 0
J. Williams DT 22 12 2 0 0 0
S. Maloy DE 15 7 3 0 0 0
R. Howell FS 20 11 0 0 0 1
M. Williams DE 9 11 1 0 0 0
C. Chioffe NG 13 5 1 0 1 0
M. Diamond CB 26 6 0 0 1 1
A. Martin CB 27 6 0 0 1 0
R. Custodio CB 13 11 0 0 0 1
D. Grade SS 8 8 0 0 0 1
D. George DT 17 6 3 0 0 0
H. Connell NG 10 9 0 0 1 0
A. Rand-Willever LB 12 7 0 0 0 1
O. Summers NG 10 7 2 0 0 0
M. Fitz DE 9 5 1 0 1 0
A. Blum DE 6 3 0 0 0 0
P'burg - Easton Preview
One of the nation's fiercest rivalries will write its 105th chapter when P'burg meets Easton at 10:30 AM on Thanksgiving Day at Fisher Field on the campus of Lafayette College in Easton.
Easton leads the series 58-41-5, but P'burg claimed a satisfying 3-0 OT win last year with one of the most dominating defensive performances ever witnessed in this historic interstate rivalry.
Easton is led by head coach Steve Shiffert, the winningest coach in Red Rover history, who owns the most wins ever (12) by a head coach in this incredible series.
The Rovers were expected to be in a rebuilding mode this season, having graduated 19 starters from last year's District 11 championship team. But Shiffert and his staff have done one of their best coaching jobs ever, leading the Rovers to a 10-2 record which includes 8 straight wins entering this contest. The Rovers will meet Nazareth next week for the District 2-4-11 sub-regional championship, and have done it with a young team that will return 14 starters next season.
The Rovers, ranked 5th in the area by the Express-Times, split their first 4 games this year, beating Pennsbury 24-0, losing to LVC champion Nazareth 35-28, routing Northampton 45-6, before getting shut out by Parkland 24-0 in a quagmire at Cottingham Stadium. Since that game, they have reeled off 8 straight victories over Whitehall 34-33 in OT, Dieruff 25-0, Emmaus 27-11, Freedom 21-14 in OT, Liberty 21-14, Bethlehem Catholic 55-6, Freedom 35-28 in the district playoffs, and Scranton 29-20 last night in the second round of post-season action.
Easton's offense was dealt a huge blow 2 weeks ago when standout senior RB James Middleton was dismissed from the team. Middleton was Easton's leading ball carrier with 736 yards rushing and 8 TDs on 119 carries. He also was an excellent receiver coming out of the backfield, with 27 receptions for 357 yards and 3 more TDs. The loss of his speed and breakaway ability has taken a dimension away from the Rover offense, but others have stepped up in his place. Senior RB Kevin Griffin (5-11, 180) and junior RB Austin Brown (6-0, 225) have assumed most of the work in the Rover ground game. Brown was named Player of the Week in the Express-Times area last week vs Freedom, when he scored 4 TDs, two on the ground and two on pass receptions.
The Rovers have a heady signal caller directing their offense, which operates out of multiple formations. Senior Ian Hayden, in his first year as a starter, has emerged as a leader for the Rovers, who average more than 28 ppg. The 6-0, 180 pound senior, reportedly the fastest player on the team, has passed for 1,588 yards and 16 TDs by completing 108 of 198 passes with 8 picks. Hayden is also a threat to run with the football, especially when scrambling out of the pocket.
He has multiple targets to throw to, including quick freshman WR Shane Simpson (5-5, 145), who has caught 27 passes for 493 yards and 3 TDs. Easton likes to use two TEs, and in junior Matt Mowad (6-2, 210) and senior Zach Herres (6-2, 185) Hayden has two rangy targets at his disposal. Heres has hauled in 19 balls for 329 yards and 4 TDs. Mowad had 4 catches for 41 yards Friday night vs Scranton.
Easton's offensive line of freshman tackle Forest Myers (6-1, 245), soph guard Angel Rodriguez (5-7, 180), soph center John Spadoni (5-9, 210), soph guard Jagger Miller (5-10, 165), and junior tackle Tyler Greene (5-9, 205) is young and undersized compared to typical Rover offensive lines, but it is quick and has jelled as the season has progressed.
Easton also has an excellent kicker with good range in senior Chris Roubik (5-11, 182).
Defensively, Easton has been up and down this year. The Rovers have held 7 of their twelve opponents to 14 points or less. But defensive coordinator Doug Powell, the dean of defensive coordinators in the area and one of the best in Pennsylvania, always comes up with a good game plan vs P'burg. Powell's defenses have held P'burg to 10 points or less 5 of the last 7 years.
Easton's quick, opportunistic defense, which allows 16 ppg, features Mowad (6-2, 210) and soph Nick Raso (5-10, 165) at DE, with Greene (5-9, 205) and senior Chris Ward (5-10, 250 at DT. The Rovers have an athletic, active LB crew, with Brown (6-0, 225) and soph Cameron Casciole (5-8, 175) on the inside, and seniors Jeremy Swick (5-7, 170) and Jared Powell (5-9, 180) on the outside. Hayden leads the secondary at safety, with senior Chevrick "Chevy" Graham (5-11, 170) and junior Shabarreon Banks (5-10, 160) at CB. Senior Kevin Griffin (5-11, 180) handles the punting. The Rover D has been adept at forcing turnovers and providing good field position for the Rover offense all year long. Against Freedom last week, the Rover D had 5 takeaways in the 2nd period alone.
P'burg (7-2) had this week off after beating Perth Amboy 41-24 last week in an NJSIAA consolation game. The Liners are hungry for a 2nd consecutive win over their archrival, but will need their best effort of the season to beat the red-hot Rovers.
P'burg has turned its offense over to senior QB Mike Diamond (6-2, 180), who has done a solid job at running the Liner offense. Diamond has completed 19 of 42 passes for 388 yards and 6 TDs with only one INT. His ability to protect the ball and avoid turnovers has helped the P'burg offense overcome the loss of RBs DaJuan Lee and Shaun Maloy. An excellent athlete, Diamond is also a threat to run the ball, especially out of the shotgun formation, as he did vs Perth Amboy, when he ran for more than 100 yards.
The Stateliners have found a weapon they like to go to in junior RB/WR Alex Martin (5-11, 170), who has scored 9 TDs in the last 3 games for P'burg. Martin, who missed 3 games with an ankle injury, has infused speed into the Liner offense. His elusiveness, athleticism, and play-making capability will be key to the Liners' success vs the Rovers. Martin is a threat both on the ground (38 carries, 277 yds, 4 TDs) and through the air (9 rec, 240 yds, 5 TDs) and will have to be accounted for by the Easton defense. P'burg also has another good receiver in senior wideout Rob Howell (6-0, 180), who has caught 12 balls for 208 yards and a TD.
P"burg still likes to pound the ball with its leading rusher, senior Robin Custodio (5-5, 156), who has rushed for 639 yards and 7 TDs on 124 carries. He is complimented by FB Joe Moyer (5-9, 170), who has 343 yards and a TD on 52 carries.
The P'burg offensive line of tackles Jarrett "Big Cat" Williams (6-1, 254) and Cody Crouse (6-2, 250), guards Ed Heffner (5-10, 218) and Dylan George (5-11, 222) and center Chris Chioffe (6-0, 220) will have to have a solid effort so the Liner offense can sustain some drives by providing running room for the P'burg ground game and giving Diamond the time he needs to hit some play action passes.
Kicker Jake Fuentes has come on strong for P'burg and could be a factor in this game.
Defensively, P'burg will need a better effort than they had in the first half vs Perth Amboy. The Liners have to tackle better and shore up their pass defense vs an underrated Rover passing game.
Defensively, P'burg will use DEs Marcus Williams (6-2, 197) and Mike Fitz (6-1, 198) and DTs Crouse (6-2, 250), Williams (6-1, 254), Chioffe (6-0, 220), and George (5-11, 222), along with senior NG Owen Summers (5-8, 163). They will have to contain Hayden and slow down the Rover running game. At LB, senior Rob Waterson (6-0, 185) and junior Holden Connell (5-11, 183), along with junior Anthony Rand-Willever (5-7, 176) and frosh Alex Annan (5-9, 150) will have to fill the gaps. The Stateliner secondary, which includes Custodio, Martin, Moyer and senior Mike Barna (5-10, 165) at CB, and Rob Howell (6-0, 180) at safety, will be hard-pressed to contain the Rover wideouts, especially Mowad and Herres, who are rangy and have good hands, and Simpson, who has good speed.
PREDICTION: P'burg faces a red-hot Easton team that has overachieved this season and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. The loss of Middleton dampens Easton's offense somewhat, but the Rovers have found a way to win week in and week out. The biggest difference between these two teams is their schedules. The Rovers have clearly faced better competition throughout the season in the competitive Lehigh Valley Conference. P'burg's seven wins have come over teams that have a combined record of 24-44. While this writer's heart is always with the garnet and grey, the feeling is the Rovers have too much momentum coming into this game. Despite an all-out effort by the Liners, they come up short vs an Easton team that has been much more consistent as the year has progressed. EASTON 24 P'BURG 14
Easton 24 Phillipsburg 8
Easton scored on its first possession of the game and controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in beating P'burg 24-8 yesterday at Fisher Field on the campus of Lafayette College in Easton.
P'burg enjoyed an unusual size advantage in the trenches, but Easton's quickness in both the offensive and defensive lines set the tone from the outset. The Liners were held to a season-low 30 yards rushing on 34 carries by an Easton D that set out to take the run away from the opening whistle. Offensively, Easton's young, quick linemen (the Rovers start a frosh, 3 sophs, and a junior in the interior o-line) paved the way for 178 yards rushing and 160 yards passing. Easton actually dropped 2 sure-shot TD passes, one in the Liner end zone and another in the middle of the field with no one within 15 yards of the receiver, or the Rovers would have put more points on the board.
Easton scored on its first possession following completions of 19, 6, and 17 yards from QB Ian Hayden to frosh WR Shane Simpson, which set the Rovers up at the P'burg 36. On first down, senior RB Kevin Griffin took a pitch and raced 36 yards untouched to get the Rovers on the board at the 9:27 mark. Chris Roubik made it 7-0.
Easton scored again in the 2nd quarter after starting on the Rover 32. Simpson, who earned the Offensive MVP award, scampered 44 yards on an end-around to the P'burg 24. Griffin picked up 15 yards on 2 carries before Hayden hit junior TE Matt Mowad from 9 yards out for the TD. Roubik split the uprights and it was 14-0 at the break.
P'burg's only drive of the 1st half stalled at the Rover 35 when the Liners tried the center of the Rover defensive line on 3rd and 6 and again on 4th and 5, but were stuffed both times.
The Rovers stretched their lead to 17-0 in the 3rd quarter when a promising drive stalled at the Stateliner 18 before Roubik hit a 35-yard FG. The Rovers scored again before the quarter expired when junior RB Austin Brown scored from 2 yards out to make it 23-0. Roubik was true again and the Rovers led 24-0.
Heading into the 4th quarter, the Rovers' domination of the line of scrimmage was very telling. P'burg entered the final quarter having accumulated only minus 2 yards rushing. The Liners' total for the game of 30 yards was in stark contrast to their 468 yards rushing they put up vs Perth Amboy in their previous outing.
P'burg finally got on the board with 9:02 left in the game when QB Mike Diamond hit TE Rob Waterson with a 30-yard TD pass. Diamond's pass to OT Jarrett Williams, who lined up as an eligible receiver, was good for a 2-point conversion to make it 24-8.
P'burg would reach Easton's 10 with time running down in the ballgame, but the Rover D held and forced the Liners to turn it over on downs.
P'burg's inability to run the football was probably the key to this ballgame. P'burg actually enjoyed an advantage of several minutes in time of possession. But Easton continually had 8-10 defenders within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage in an effort to thwart the Liner ground game, and it was successful. Diamond looked sharp and had a hot hand, but for some reason only put the ball in the air 12 times, completing 9 for 170 yards and a TD with one INT, which came when he was hit as he threw the ball.
Besides Diamond, P'burg got solid efforts from RB/WR Alex Martin, who caught 7 balls for 125 yards and had 4 tackles and a pass breakup. The Liners also got a big effort from senior TE/LB Rob Waterson, who was credited with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery besides hauling in the TD pass.
P'burg finished the season with a 7-3 record under first-year head coach Dyan Ditze. The Liners return some talented players next year, including Martin, Jarrett Williams, and RB/LB DaJuan Lee. With more than 20 seniors graduating, how they fill in at some other spots, especially at QB and in the trenches, will determine how successful they will be.
2011 Season Preview
The 2011 season, the Stateliners' 107th year on the gridiron, will usher in a new era in Phillipsburg football history.
Ryan Ditze, a former P'burg assistant coach, assumes control of the Liner program in the wake of Bob Stem's retirement. Ditze will lead a P'burg program that has won 90 games, claimed 4 sectional titles, and had at least 9 wins in 8 of the last 10 years.
Also returning to the Liner program are former coaches Mike Chando, Mike Lelko, and John Stillo. In addition, Ditze has brought former Liner standouts Zach Miers, Leonard Brice, Tim Penyak, Ian Decker, Mark Bigelli, and Tim Slack on board as Liner coaches, infusing the coaching staff with youth to compliment a seasoned group of veteran assistant coaches.
P'burg will again compete in the West A Division of the Mid State 39 Conference, where they are picked by the Express-Times to finish 2nd behind rival Hunterdon Central. P'burg will compete in the very tough North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 section along with powerful Piscataway, Hunterdon Central, Franklin, resurgent Elizabeth, and a veteran East Orange Campus team that returns the majority of its starters from a year ago.
Word has it Ditze, who will serve as offensive coordinator, has overhauled the Liner playbook, and also tweaked the defense a bit. Those changes will hopefully propel a rebuilding Stateliner team to another successful season, as they face the same schedule as last year. The schedule includes a number of familiar obstacles, including Franklin, with several Division 1A prospects, Hunterdon Central, who has beaten P'burg 4 straight years, and of course archrival Easton. Winning their division, beating Easton, and returning to the sectional championship game are the usual goals for the state's winningest program.
If the Liners are to be successful, they will have to replace some outstanding players who were lost to graduation. Included in that group are record-setting QB Justin Scuorzo, record-setting kicker Anthony Castro, 1,000 yard RB Dana Lee and 1,000 yard FB Gerald VanDeCruz, the entire defensive line, 3-year starting SS Jason Herman, LB Sean McNerny, the team's 2nd leading tackler, two outstanding CBs in Matt Deery and Lee, as well as head coach Bob Stem, the winningest coach in P'burg history. This could prove to be a monumental task, especially for a 1st-year head coach, but the program is at a level where it should be able to reload at a lot of positions.
At QB, the Liners lost a good one in 3-year starter Justin Scuorzo, who has moved on to James Madison. Jason Bohem, now a 6-1, 175 lb senior, appears set to direct P'burg's offense. Bohem is bigger and stronger than a year ago, and possesses a good arm. Last year, he completed 9 of 20 passes (45%) for 203 yards with 2 TDs and 3 INTs. Bohem has good potential, and Ditze has been pleased with his progress. He needs game experience to become a consistent signal caller. He will be backed up by Sr. Mike Diamond and soph Tyler Troxell (6-1, 160).
Despite losing 3 good receivers in Matt Deery and Alex O'Leary, along with TE Nick Porcelli, Bohem will have some good athletes to throw to. Sr. Mike Diamond (6-1, 180), a standout on the Liner basketball team, and Sr. Rob Howell (6-0, 180), another athletic player, appear set to start at WR. Both have very good hands, good speed, and run good routes. Howell caught 4 passes for 92 yards and 2 TDs last year, while Diamond had one reception for 47 yards. The TE spot appears to have been won by Sr. Rob Waterson (6-0, 190), who has good speed. Last year, he caught 2 balls for 29 yards. Backing up Diamond and Howell are Sr. Devin Grade (5-10, 170) and Jr. Alex Martin (5-9, 170), a converted RB. They give P'burg good depth at the WR spots. Jr. Marcus Williams (6-2, 197) and Jr. Mike Fitz (6-1, 198) provide depth at TE. The Liner receivers, although not boasting big stats, all run well and have a lot of potential.
At RB, P'burg lost a great tandem in FB Gerald VanDeCruz and RB Dana Lee, both of whom rushed for more than 1,000 yards. But a nice stable of replacements is in the fold. Jr. DaJuan Lee (6-0, 235), a standout at LB last year, is a possibility at either FB or RB. Last year, he picked up 150 yards and 5 TDs on just 23 carries. Sr. Sean Maloy (5-10, 190), who carried 10 times for 70 yards and a TD last year, has looked good in the pre-season. Maloy gives the Liners a tough inside runner who also has deceptive speed. Also in the mix is quick scatback Robin Custudio (5-5, 156), a Sr. who carried 41 times for 101 yards and 3 TDs. Sr. Joe Moyer (5-9, 170) and Jr. Holden Connell (5-1, 183) give P'burg yet two more options at RB and FB. Overall, this group gives P'burg depth and flexibility in the running game and in using different offensive sets.
In the offensive line, two starters return from last year, giving P'burg a solid core to build around. Sr. Chris Chioffe (6-0, 220) took over for Jared Hager when Hager went down with an injury last season. He is a solid performer who is tough and sustains his blocks well. At OT, P'burg has a budding star in Jr. Jarrett "Big Cat" Williams (6-1, 252), a 1st team Group 4 and 3rd team all-state selection last year. Williams will be counted on to provide running room for the Liner RBs, and protect Bohem when he is throwing the ball. Although just a junior, he is being counted on to provide the leadership necessary to bolster the rebuilt Liner offensive line. Candidates for starting jobs at OG include Sr. Ed Heffner (5-10, 218) and Jr. Nick Kaulius (6-0, 200). At the other OT slot, Sr. Cody Crouse (6-1, 250) appears to have won a starting position. Other OL candidates include Jr. Anthony Rand-Willever (5-7, 176), Sr Dylan George (5-11, 222), Sr. Matt Asewicz (6-3, 256), and Jr. Nick Kowalczyk (5-11, 164). Overall, this group has decent size, and is reported to be aggressive and quick.
On defense, the Liners face a huge challenge, having to replace 9 starters. The entire defensive line of DEs Kyle Williams and Jeff Sullivan, DTs Justin Carter and Thomas Vouglas, and 1st team all-state NG Gerald VanDeCruz, as well as tough NG Cody Hardison, has departed. Finding replacements for that group, as well as SS Jason Herman, LB Sean McNerny, and CBs Matt Deery and Dana Lee will be the key to P'burg's success this season. In the pre-season, P'burg has had some difficulty with their defense, allowing a number of big plays vs Paramus Catholic while also tackling poorly.
P'burg has substituted liberally in the pre-season trying to find the right combination on D. At DE, seniors Sean Maloy (5-10, 190, 20 tackles) and Owen Summers (5-8, 163, 14 tackles) along with juniors Marcus Williams (6-2, 197) and Mike Fitz (6-1, 198) have all seen action. At NG, Sr. Chris Chioffe and Jr. Holden Connell (5-11, 183) ar vying for time. At DT, Jr. Jarrett Williams (6-1, 252) and Sr. Dylan George (5-11, 222) are penciled in as the starters. Sr. Cody Crouse (6-2, 250) and Jr. Nick Kaulius (6-0, 200) among others, may possibly rotate into the D-line. This group, which lacks experience, needs to take on the opponents' blockers, allowing the Liner LBs to run free to make tackles.
The strength of the P'burg defense should lie in its LB corps, despite losing McNerny, the 2nd leading tackler (75 stops, 6 sacks, 12 tackles for loss), and Herman, who had 52 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Returning is the team's leading tackler, DaJuan Lee, a 6-0, 235 lb junior. Lee came on like gangbusters last year, amassing 19 tackles vs Piscataway, and 6 tackles, including 3 TFL, vs Easton while earning 3rd team Group 4 all-state honors. Lee finished the year with 96 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 17 TFL in an outstanding soph campaign. He will be the leader of the P'burg defense. His running mate will be Sr. Rob Waterson (6-0,190) who had 15 tackles and a sack last year, and has lettered two years while seeing time on defense as well as shining on special teams.
The Liner secondary will feature Sr. Mike Diamond (6-1, 180) and Sr. Joe Moyer (5-8, 170) at CB. Last season, Diamond had 30 tackles while filling in for the injured Matt Deery, while Moyer added 9 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Sr. Devin Grade (5-9, 170, 12 tackles) is the likely starter at SS, while Sr. Rob Howell, who saw a lot of action in the secondary last year while tallying 25 stops, will get the nod at FS. Others likely to see playing time in the Liner secondary include Sr. CB Robin Custudio (5-5, 156, 8 tackles) and Jr. CB Alex Martin (5-10, 170.
P'burg lost a solid kicker in Anthony Castro, who set the school record for FGs in a career with 11. Sr. K Jake Fuentes will likely handle the kicking duties. Sr. Rob Howell will handle the punting for the Stateliners.
PREDICTION: The 2011 campaign promises to be an intriguing one for Stateliner fans. Replacing the school's winningest coach and continuing the program's recent success is the focus for this season. How well the coaching staff, especially defensive coordinator Bruce Smith, rebuilds his D is the key to this team, which lost a lot of talented players from last season. The Liners appear to have the makings of a solid ground game, and the passing game has enough talent at the skill positions to keep defenses honest. The schedule includes, besides Franklin, Hunterdon Central, and Easton, a Bridgewater team
that is reportedly on the brink of turning the corner. The Stateliners have not looked impressive in the pre-season, and may lack the speed they have exhibited in recent years. The hunch here is the Liners will improve steadily as the season progresses, and become a good team by the end of the year. Look for a 5-4 regular season, with a shot to finish at 6-3, and a possible berth in the sectional playoffs.
Post-Season Honors
All-State
Jarrett "Big Kat" Williams, a 6-1, 254 pound junior 2-way tackle, has been named to the Star-Ledger second team all-state team on offense for the 2011 season. Williams was a 3rd-team selection last year as a sophomore. Williams burst onto the scene in 2009, seeing plenty of action as a freshman. He has been one of the leaders of P'burg's line, mainly on offense in 2010, and on both sides of the ball this past season. Williams also was a 1st-team all-Group 4 selection this year. He will be one of the better lineman in the state next year, and is sure to draw plenty of attention from college recruiters when he anchors P'burg's line. Congratulations Big Kat!!
All-West Jersey
Eight Stateliners received all-West Jersey honors from the Star-Ledger. Named to the first team offense were 2-way tackle Jarrett Williams and WR/RB Alex Martin. Williams has been the Liners' top lineman the past two seasons, and will be the leader again next year for P'burg. He has been named 3rd-team all-state and 2nd-team all-state the past two seasons. Martin, also a junior, was P'burg's biggest threat offensively this past season. Despite missing 4 games with an injury, Martin was the team's leading receiver with 16 catches for 365 yards and 5 TDs. He also rushed for 292 yards and 4 TDs on just 45 carries. A gifted athlete who excels on both sides of the ball, he will be one of the most exciting players in the Lehigh Valley/West Jersey area next year.
Named to the 1st team defense were LB Robert Waterson and CB Joe Moyer. The 6-0, 185 pound senior was one of the leading tacklers on the P'burg defense this year. Waterson really stepped it up when his running mate at LB, junior DaJuan Lee, went down with an injury in mid-season. He also was on the receiving end of 2 TD passes as a TE this past year. Moyer, also a senior, was P'burg's leading tackler this past season with 54 stops. He also had 3 interceptions.
Nemed to the 2nd team offense were QB Mike Diamond and center Chris Chioffe. Named to the 3rd team offense was RB Robin Custodio, the Liners' leading rusher. All 3 are seniors. Named to the 2nd team defense was senior DT Dylan George.
Congratulations to all of these Stateliners for garnering these awards. They are all deserving of these honors.
All-Express Times
Seven Stateliners received post-season honors from the Express-Times. Named to the 2nd team on the offensive line was tackle Jarrett Williams. Named to the 3rd team offense were athlete Alex Martin and center Chris Chioffe. Named to the 3rd team defense were LB Rob Waterson and CB Mike Diamond. RB Robin Custodio received honorable mention honors on offense, while CB Joe Moyer was named honorable mention on defense. Congratulations, Liners!
One of the nation's fiercest rivalries will write its 105th chapter when P'burg meets Easton at 10:30 AM on Thanksgiving Day at Fisher Field on the campus of Lafayette College in Easton.
Easton leads the series 58-41-5, but P'burg claimed a satisfying 3-0 OT win last year with one of the most dominating defensive performances ever witnessed in this historic interstate rivalry.
Easton is led by head coach Steve Shiffert, the winningest coach in Red Rover history, who owns the most wins ever (12) by a head coach in this incredible series.
The Rovers were expected to be in a rebuilding mode this season, having graduated 19 starters from last year's District 11 championship team. But Shiffert and his staff have done one of their best coaching jobs ever, leading the Rovers to a 10-2 record which includes 8 straight wins entering this contest. The Rovers will meet Nazareth next week for the District 2-4-11 sub-regional championship, and have done it with a young team that will return 14 starters next season.
The Rovers, ranked 5th in the area by the Express-Times, split their first 4 games this year, beating Pennsbury 24-0, losing to LVC champion Nazareth 35-28, routing Northampton 45-6, before getting shut out by Parkland 24-0 in a quagmire at Cottingham Stadium. Since that game, they have reeled off 8 straight victories over Whitehall 34-33 in OT, Dieruff 25-0, Emmaus 27-11, Freedom 21-14 in OT, Liberty 21-14, Bethlehem Catholic 55-6, Freedom 35-28 in the district playoffs, and Scranton 29-20 last night in the second round of post-season action.
Easton's offense was dealt a huge blow 2 weeks ago when standout senior RB James Middleton was dismissed from the team. Middleton was Easton's leading ball carrier with 736 yards rushing and 8 TDs on 119 carries. He also was an excellent receiver coming out of the backfield, with 27 receptions for 357 yards and 3 more TDs. The loss of his speed and breakaway ability has taken a dimension away from the Rover offense, but others have stepped up in his place. Senior RB Kevin Griffin (5-11, 180) and junior RB Austin Brown (6-0, 225) have assumed most of the work in the Rover ground game. Brown was named Player of the Week in the Express-Times area last week vs Freedom, when he scored 4 TDs, two on the ground and two on pass receptions.
The Rovers have a heady signal caller directing their offense, which operates out of multiple formations. Senior Ian Hayden, in his first year as a starter, has emerged as a leader for the Rovers, who average more than 28 ppg. The 6-0, 180 pound senior, reportedly the fastest player on the team, has passed for 1,588 yards and 16 TDs by completing 108 of 198 passes with 8 picks. Hayden is also a threat to run with the football, especially when scrambling out of the pocket.
He has multiple targets to throw to, including quick freshman WR Shane Simpson (5-5, 145), who has caught 27 passes for 493 yards and 3 TDs. Easton likes to use two TEs, and in junior Matt Mowad (6-2, 210) and senior Zach Herres (6-2, 185) Hayden has two rangy targets at his disposal. Heres has hauled in 19 balls for 329 yards and 4 TDs. Mowad had 4 catches for 41 yards Friday night vs Scranton.
Easton's offensive line of freshman tackle Forest Myers (6-1, 245), soph guard Angel Rodriguez (5-7, 180), soph center John Spadoni (5-9, 210), soph guard Jagger Miller (5-10, 165), and junior tackle Tyler Greene (5-9, 205) is young and undersized compared to typical Rover offensive lines, but it is quick and has jelled as the season has progressed.
Easton also has an excellent kicker with good range in senior Chris Roubik (5-11, 182).
Defensively, Easton has been up and down this year. The Rovers have held 7 of their twelve opponents to 14 points or less. But defensive coordinator Doug Powell, the dean of defensive coordinators in the area and one of the best in Pennsylvania, always comes up with a good game plan vs P'burg. Powell's defenses have held P'burg to 10 points or less 5 of the last 7 years.
Easton's quick, opportunistic defense, which allows 16 ppg, features Mowad (6-2, 210) and soph Nick Raso (5-10, 165) at DE, with Greene (5-9, 205) and senior Chris Ward (5-10, 250 at DT. The Rovers have an athletic, active LB crew, with Brown (6-0, 225) and soph Cameron Casciole (5-8, 175) on the inside, and seniors Jeremy Swick (5-7, 170) and Jared Powell (5-9, 180) on the outside. Hayden leads the secondary at safety, with senior Chevrick "Chevy" Graham (5-11, 170) and junior Shabarreon Banks (5-10, 160) at CB. Senior Kevin Griffin (5-11, 180) handles the punting. The Rover D has been adept at forcing turnovers and providing good field position for the Rover offense all year long. Against Freedom last week, the Rover D had 5 takeaways in the 2nd period alone.
P'burg (7-2) had this week off after beating Perth Amboy 41-24 last week in an NJSIAA consolation game. The Liners are hungry for a 2nd consecutive win over their archrival, but will need their best effort of the season to beat the red-hot Rovers.
P'burg has turned its offense over to senior QB Mike Diamond (6-2, 180), who has done a solid job at running the Liner offense. Diamond has completed 19 of 42 passes for 388 yards and 6 TDs with only one INT. His ability to protect the ball and avoid turnovers has helped the P'burg offense overcome the loss of RBs DaJuan Lee and Shaun Maloy. An excellent athlete, Diamond is also a threat to run the ball, especially out of the shotgun formation, as he did vs Perth Amboy, when he ran for more than 100 yards.
The Stateliners have found a weapon they like to go to in junior RB/WR Alex Martin (5-11, 170), who has scored 9 TDs in the last 3 games for P'burg. Martin, who missed 3 games with an ankle injury, has infused speed into the Liner offense. His elusiveness, athleticism, and play-making capability will be key to the Liners' success vs the Rovers. Martin is a threat both on the ground (38 carries, 277 yds, 4 TDs) and through the air (9 rec, 240 yds, 5 TDs) and will have to be accounted for by the Easton defense. P'burg also has another good receiver in senior wideout Rob Howell (6-0, 180), who has caught 12 balls for 208 yards and a TD.
P"burg still likes to pound the ball with its leading rusher, senior Robin Custodio (5-5, 156), who has rushed for 639 yards and 7 TDs on 124 carries. He is complimented by FB Joe Moyer (5-9, 170), who has 343 yards and a TD on 52 carries.
The P'burg offensive line of tackles Jarrett "Big Cat" Williams (6-1, 254) and Cody Crouse (6-2, 250), guards Ed Heffner (5-10, 218) and Dylan George (5-11, 222) and center Chris Chioffe (6-0, 220) will have to have a solid effort so the Liner offense can sustain some drives by providing running room for the P'burg ground game and giving Diamond the time he needs to hit some play action passes.
Kicker Jake Fuentes has come on strong for P'burg and could be a factor in this game.
Defensively, P'burg will need a better effort than they had in the first half vs Perth Amboy. The Liners have to tackle better and shore up their pass defense vs an underrated Rover passing game.
Defensively, P'burg will use DEs Marcus Williams (6-2, 197) and Mike Fitz (6-1, 198) and DTs Crouse (6-2, 250), Williams (6-1, 254), Chioffe (6-0, 220), and George (5-11, 222), along with senior NG Owen Summers (5-8, 163). They will have to contain Hayden and slow down the Rover running game. At LB, senior Rob Waterson (6-0, 185) and junior Holden Connell (5-11, 183), along with junior Anthony Rand-Willever (5-7, 176) and frosh Alex Annan (5-9, 150) will have to fill the gaps. The Stateliner secondary, which includes Custodio, Martin, Moyer and senior Mike Barna (5-10, 165) at CB, and Rob Howell (6-0, 180) at safety, will be hard-pressed to contain the Rover wideouts, especially Mowad and Herres, who are rangy and have good hands, and Simpson, who has good speed.
PREDICTION: P'burg faces a red-hot Easton team that has overachieved this season and is playing with a lot of confidence right now. The loss of Middleton dampens Easton's offense somewhat, but the Rovers have found a way to win week in and week out. The biggest difference between these two teams is their schedules. The Rovers have clearly faced better competition throughout the season in the competitive Lehigh Valley Conference. P'burg's seven wins have come over teams that have a combined record of 24-44. While this writer's heart is always with the garnet and grey, the feeling is the Rovers have too much momentum coming into this game. Despite an all-out effort by the Liners, they come up short vs an Easton team that has been much more consistent as the year has progressed. EASTON 24 P'BURG 14
Easton 24 Phillipsburg 8
Easton scored on its first possession of the game and controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in beating P'burg 24-8 yesterday at Fisher Field on the campus of Lafayette College in Easton.
P'burg enjoyed an unusual size advantage in the trenches, but Easton's quickness in both the offensive and defensive lines set the tone from the outset. The Liners were held to a season-low 30 yards rushing on 34 carries by an Easton D that set out to take the run away from the opening whistle. Offensively, Easton's young, quick linemen (the Rovers start a frosh, 3 sophs, and a junior in the interior o-line) paved the way for 178 yards rushing and 160 yards passing. Easton actually dropped 2 sure-shot TD passes, one in the Liner end zone and another in the middle of the field with no one within 15 yards of the receiver, or the Rovers would have put more points on the board.
Easton scored on its first possession following completions of 19, 6, and 17 yards from QB Ian Hayden to frosh WR Shane Simpson, which set the Rovers up at the P'burg 36. On first down, senior RB Kevin Griffin took a pitch and raced 36 yards untouched to get the Rovers on the board at the 9:27 mark. Chris Roubik made it 7-0.
Easton scored again in the 2nd quarter after starting on the Rover 32. Simpson, who earned the Offensive MVP award, scampered 44 yards on an end-around to the P'burg 24. Griffin picked up 15 yards on 2 carries before Hayden hit junior TE Matt Mowad from 9 yards out for the TD. Roubik split the uprights and it was 14-0 at the break.
P'burg's only drive of the 1st half stalled at the Rover 35 when the Liners tried the center of the Rover defensive line on 3rd and 6 and again on 4th and 5, but were stuffed both times.
The Rovers stretched their lead to 17-0 in the 3rd quarter when a promising drive stalled at the Stateliner 18 before Roubik hit a 35-yard FG. The Rovers scored again before the quarter expired when junior RB Austin Brown scored from 2 yards out to make it 23-0. Roubik was true again and the Rovers led 24-0.
Heading into the 4th quarter, the Rovers' domination of the line of scrimmage was very telling. P'burg entered the final quarter having accumulated only minus 2 yards rushing. The Liners' total for the game of 30 yards was in stark contrast to their 468 yards rushing they put up vs Perth Amboy in their previous outing.
P'burg finally got on the board with 9:02 left in the game when QB Mike Diamond hit TE Rob Waterson with a 30-yard TD pass. Diamond's pass to OT Jarrett Williams, who lined up as an eligible receiver, was good for a 2-point conversion to make it 24-8.
P'burg would reach Easton's 10 with time running down in the ballgame, but the Rover D held and forced the Liners to turn it over on downs.
P'burg's inability to run the football was probably the key to this ballgame. P'burg actually enjoyed an advantage of several minutes in time of possession. But Easton continually had 8-10 defenders within 3 yards of the line of scrimmage in an effort to thwart the Liner ground game, and it was successful. Diamond looked sharp and had a hot hand, but for some reason only put the ball in the air 12 times, completing 9 for 170 yards and a TD with one INT, which came when he was hit as he threw the ball.
Besides Diamond, P'burg got solid efforts from RB/WR Alex Martin, who caught 7 balls for 125 yards and had 4 tackles and a pass breakup. The Liners also got a big effort from senior TE/LB Rob Waterson, who was credited with 9 tackles and a fumble recovery besides hauling in the TD pass.
P'burg finished the season with a 7-3 record under first-year head coach Dyan Ditze. The Liners return some talented players next year, including Martin, Jarrett Williams, and RB/LB DaJuan Lee. With more than 20 seniors graduating, how they fill in at some other spots, especially at QB and in the trenches, will determine how successful they will be.
2011 Season Preview
The 2011 season, the Stateliners' 107th year on the gridiron, will usher in a new era in Phillipsburg football history.
Ryan Ditze, a former P'burg assistant coach, assumes control of the Liner program in the wake of Bob Stem's retirement. Ditze will lead a P'burg program that has won 90 games, claimed 4 sectional titles, and had at least 9 wins in 8 of the last 10 years.
Also returning to the Liner program are former coaches Mike Chando, Mike Lelko, and John Stillo. In addition, Ditze has brought former Liner standouts Zach Miers, Leonard Brice, Tim Penyak, Ian Decker, Mark Bigelli, and Tim Slack on board as Liner coaches, infusing the coaching staff with youth to compliment a seasoned group of veteran assistant coaches.
P'burg will again compete in the West A Division of the Mid State 39 Conference, where they are picked by the Express-Times to finish 2nd behind rival Hunterdon Central. P'burg will compete in the very tough North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 section along with powerful Piscataway, Hunterdon Central, Franklin, resurgent Elizabeth, and a veteran East Orange Campus team that returns the majority of its starters from a year ago.
Word has it Ditze, who will serve as offensive coordinator, has overhauled the Liner playbook, and also tweaked the defense a bit. Those changes will hopefully propel a rebuilding Stateliner team to another successful season, as they face the same schedule as last year. The schedule includes a number of familiar obstacles, including Franklin, with several Division 1A prospects, Hunterdon Central, who has beaten P'burg 4 straight years, and of course archrival Easton. Winning their division, beating Easton, and returning to the sectional championship game are the usual goals for the state's winningest program.
If the Liners are to be successful, they will have to replace some outstanding players who were lost to graduation. Included in that group are record-setting QB Justin Scuorzo, record-setting kicker Anthony Castro, 1,000 yard RB Dana Lee and 1,000 yard FB Gerald VanDeCruz, the entire defensive line, 3-year starting SS Jason Herman, LB Sean McNerny, the team's 2nd leading tackler, two outstanding CBs in Matt Deery and Lee, as well as head coach Bob Stem, the winningest coach in P'burg history. This could prove to be a monumental task, especially for a 1st-year head coach, but the program is at a level where it should be able to reload at a lot of positions.
At QB, the Liners lost a good one in 3-year starter Justin Scuorzo, who has moved on to James Madison. Jason Bohem, now a 6-1, 175 lb senior, appears set to direct P'burg's offense. Bohem is bigger and stronger than a year ago, and possesses a good arm. Last year, he completed 9 of 20 passes (45%) for 203 yards with 2 TDs and 3 INTs. Bohem has good potential, and Ditze has been pleased with his progress. He needs game experience to become a consistent signal caller. He will be backed up by Sr. Mike Diamond and soph Tyler Troxell (6-1, 160).
Despite losing 3 good receivers in Matt Deery and Alex O'Leary, along with TE Nick Porcelli, Bohem will have some good athletes to throw to. Sr. Mike Diamond (6-1, 180), a standout on the Liner basketball team, and Sr. Rob Howell (6-0, 180), another athletic player, appear set to start at WR. Both have very good hands, good speed, and run good routes. Howell caught 4 passes for 92 yards and 2 TDs last year, while Diamond had one reception for 47 yards. The TE spot appears to have been won by Sr. Rob Waterson (6-0, 190), who has good speed. Last year, he caught 2 balls for 29 yards. Backing up Diamond and Howell are Sr. Devin Grade (5-10, 170) and Jr. Alex Martin (5-9, 170), a converted RB. They give P'burg good depth at the WR spots. Jr. Marcus Williams (6-2, 197) and Jr. Mike Fitz (6-1, 198) provide depth at TE. The Liner receivers, although not boasting big stats, all run well and have a lot of potential.
At RB, P'burg lost a great tandem in FB Gerald VanDeCruz and RB Dana Lee, both of whom rushed for more than 1,000 yards. But a nice stable of replacements is in the fold. Jr. DaJuan Lee (6-0, 235), a standout at LB last year, is a possibility at either FB or RB. Last year, he picked up 150 yards and 5 TDs on just 23 carries. Sr. Sean Maloy (5-10, 190), who carried 10 times for 70 yards and a TD last year, has looked good in the pre-season. Maloy gives the Liners a tough inside runner who also has deceptive speed. Also in the mix is quick scatback Robin Custudio (5-5, 156), a Sr. who carried 41 times for 101 yards and 3 TDs. Sr. Joe Moyer (5-9, 170) and Jr. Holden Connell (5-1, 183) give P'burg yet two more options at RB and FB. Overall, this group gives P'burg depth and flexibility in the running game and in using different offensive sets.
In the offensive line, two starters return from last year, giving P'burg a solid core to build around. Sr. Chris Chioffe (6-0, 220) took over for Jared Hager when Hager went down with an injury last season. He is a solid performer who is tough and sustains his blocks well. At OT, P'burg has a budding star in Jr. Jarrett "Big Cat" Williams (6-1, 252), a 1st team Group 4 and 3rd team all-state selection last year. Williams will be counted on to provide running room for the Liner RBs, and protect Bohem when he is throwing the ball. Although just a junior, he is being counted on to provide the leadership necessary to bolster the rebuilt Liner offensive line. Candidates for starting jobs at OG include Sr. Ed Heffner (5-10, 218) and Jr. Nick Kaulius (6-0, 200). At the other OT slot, Sr. Cody Crouse (6-1, 250) appears to have won a starting position. Other OL candidates include Jr. Anthony Rand-Willever (5-7, 176), Sr Dylan George (5-11, 222), Sr. Matt Asewicz (6-3, 256), and Jr. Nick Kowalczyk (5-11, 164). Overall, this group has decent size, and is reported to be aggressive and quick.
On defense, the Liners face a huge challenge, having to replace 9 starters. The entire defensive line of DEs Kyle Williams and Jeff Sullivan, DTs Justin Carter and Thomas Vouglas, and 1st team all-state NG Gerald VanDeCruz, as well as tough NG Cody Hardison, has departed. Finding replacements for that group, as well as SS Jason Herman, LB Sean McNerny, and CBs Matt Deery and Dana Lee will be the key to P'burg's success this season. In the pre-season, P'burg has had some difficulty with their defense, allowing a number of big plays vs Paramus Catholic while also tackling poorly.
P'burg has substituted liberally in the pre-season trying to find the right combination on D. At DE, seniors Sean Maloy (5-10, 190, 20 tackles) and Owen Summers (5-8, 163, 14 tackles) along with juniors Marcus Williams (6-2, 197) and Mike Fitz (6-1, 198) have all seen action. At NG, Sr. Chris Chioffe and Jr. Holden Connell (5-11, 183) ar vying for time. At DT, Jr. Jarrett Williams (6-1, 252) and Sr. Dylan George (5-11, 222) are penciled in as the starters. Sr. Cody Crouse (6-2, 250) and Jr. Nick Kaulius (6-0, 200) among others, may possibly rotate into the D-line. This group, which lacks experience, needs to take on the opponents' blockers, allowing the Liner LBs to run free to make tackles.
The strength of the P'burg defense should lie in its LB corps, despite losing McNerny, the 2nd leading tackler (75 stops, 6 sacks, 12 tackles for loss), and Herman, who had 52 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Returning is the team's leading tackler, DaJuan Lee, a 6-0, 235 lb junior. Lee came on like gangbusters last year, amassing 19 tackles vs Piscataway, and 6 tackles, including 3 TFL, vs Easton while earning 3rd team Group 4 all-state honors. Lee finished the year with 96 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 17 TFL in an outstanding soph campaign. He will be the leader of the P'burg defense. His running mate will be Sr. Rob Waterson (6-0,190) who had 15 tackles and a sack last year, and has lettered two years while seeing time on defense as well as shining on special teams.
The Liner secondary will feature Sr. Mike Diamond (6-1, 180) and Sr. Joe Moyer (5-8, 170) at CB. Last season, Diamond had 30 tackles while filling in for the injured Matt Deery, while Moyer added 9 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Sr. Devin Grade (5-9, 170, 12 tackles) is the likely starter at SS, while Sr. Rob Howell, who saw a lot of action in the secondary last year while tallying 25 stops, will get the nod at FS. Others likely to see playing time in the Liner secondary include Sr. CB Robin Custudio (5-5, 156, 8 tackles) and Jr. CB Alex Martin (5-10, 170.
P'burg lost a solid kicker in Anthony Castro, who set the school record for FGs in a career with 11. Sr. K Jake Fuentes will likely handle the kicking duties. Sr. Rob Howell will handle the punting for the Stateliners.
PREDICTION: The 2011 campaign promises to be an intriguing one for Stateliner fans. Replacing the school's winningest coach and continuing the program's recent success is the focus for this season. How well the coaching staff, especially defensive coordinator Bruce Smith, rebuilds his D is the key to this team, which lost a lot of talented players from last season. The Liners appear to have the makings of a solid ground game, and the passing game has enough talent at the skill positions to keep defenses honest. The schedule includes, besides Franklin, Hunterdon Central, and Easton, a Bridgewater team
that is reportedly on the brink of turning the corner. The Stateliners have not looked impressive in the pre-season, and may lack the speed they have exhibited in recent years. The hunch here is the Liners will improve steadily as the season progresses, and become a good team by the end of the year. Look for a 5-4 regular season, with a shot to finish at 6-3, and a possible berth in the sectional playoffs.
Post-Season Honors
All-State
Jarrett "Big Kat" Williams, a 6-1, 254 pound junior 2-way tackle, has been named to the Star-Ledger second team all-state team on offense for the 2011 season. Williams was a 3rd-team selection last year as a sophomore. Williams burst onto the scene in 2009, seeing plenty of action as a freshman. He has been one of the leaders of P'burg's line, mainly on offense in 2010, and on both sides of the ball this past season. Williams also was a 1st-team all-Group 4 selection this year. He will be one of the better lineman in the state next year, and is sure to draw plenty of attention from college recruiters when he anchors P'burg's line. Congratulations Big Kat!!
All-West Jersey
Eight Stateliners received all-West Jersey honors from the Star-Ledger. Named to the first team offense were 2-way tackle Jarrett Williams and WR/RB Alex Martin. Williams has been the Liners' top lineman the past two seasons, and will be the leader again next year for P'burg. He has been named 3rd-team all-state and 2nd-team all-state the past two seasons. Martin, also a junior, was P'burg's biggest threat offensively this past season. Despite missing 4 games with an injury, Martin was the team's leading receiver with 16 catches for 365 yards and 5 TDs. He also rushed for 292 yards and 4 TDs on just 45 carries. A gifted athlete who excels on both sides of the ball, he will be one of the most exciting players in the Lehigh Valley/West Jersey area next year.
Named to the 1st team defense were LB Robert Waterson and CB Joe Moyer. The 6-0, 185 pound senior was one of the leading tacklers on the P'burg defense this year. Waterson really stepped it up when his running mate at LB, junior DaJuan Lee, went down with an injury in mid-season. He also was on the receiving end of 2 TD passes as a TE this past year. Moyer, also a senior, was P'burg's leading tackler this past season with 54 stops. He also had 3 interceptions.
Nemed to the 2nd team offense were QB Mike Diamond and center Chris Chioffe. Named to the 3rd team offense was RB Robin Custodio, the Liners' leading rusher. All 3 are seniors. Named to the 2nd team defense was senior DT Dylan George.
Congratulations to all of these Stateliners for garnering these awards. They are all deserving of these honors.
All-Express Times
Seven Stateliners received post-season honors from the Express-Times. Named to the 2nd team on the offensive line was tackle Jarrett Williams. Named to the 3rd team offense were athlete Alex Martin and center Chris Chioffe. Named to the 3rd team defense were LB Rob Waterson and CB Mike Diamond. RB Robin Custodio received honorable mention honors on offense, while CB Joe Moyer was named honorable mention on defense. Congratulations, Liners!
Stateliner Sidelines
Tom Bakley, a former standout guard and linebacker at P'burg, passed away on Monday, May 16 after an illness. Bakley was a 2nd-team Newark News all-state selection and one of the leaders of P'burg's 1967 squad, the last team ever coached at P'burg by former legendary coach Harold Bellis. Affectionately known as "Bake", he was a very good 3-sport athlete who also competed in wrestling and in track in the throwing events. After graduation from P'burg, he attended Lycoming College before returning to P'burg, where he became involved in wrestling once again, coaching midget wrestlers in Lopatcong Township. On a personal note, this writer was friends with Bake for close to 50 years. He was a fierce 2-way performer who never came off the field during football games. He was also an outstanding kicker who never had the chance to kick a FG, but repeatedly had his kickoffs fielded inside the opponent's 10-yard line. He was a great teammate, and a fun-loving individual off the field. I am proud to say I was his friend and teammate. Our condolences go out to his family...wife Barbara, son TJ, and daughter Traci. Rest in peace, brother.
1967...Stateliners celebrate their
0-0 tie with unbeaten Easton. Front row, center: Dave Leone and Tom Bakley.
The 2010 Stateliners set several school records on offense while compiling a 9-2 record. The Liners set records for average yards per game with a 393 yard per game average. They also set the record for average yards per play with a 7.69 yard average. The 2010 team finished as the 2nd highest scoring team of all time with 404 points scored, second only to the 2005 team's school record of 422 points. P'burg also compiled 4,327 yards of total offense, 2nd to the 2005 team's school record of 4,543 yards.
P'burg finished the 2010 season as the 16th-ranked team in the state when the Star Ledger announced its final rankings for the 2010 season. P'burg also finished #3 in the Express-Times area rankings. Guess who was #2?
P'burg had 5 players finish among the leaders in their respective categories in the Express-Times' final offensive statistics for 2010 released on Sunday, December 12. QB Justin Scuorzo finished as the highest rated passer in the area with a 196.4 rating. RB Dana Lee was 3rd in rushing yards per game with a 118 yard average, while FB Gerald VanDeCruz was 9th with a 109 yard average. WR Matt Deery was 1st in receiving yards per catch with a 26.4 yard average, while TE Nick Porcelli was 9th with a 20.4 yard average.
P'burg welcomes back former head coach Bruce Smith as its new defensive coordinator in 2010. Smith guided the Stateliners from 1990-1997, achieving an overall record of 46-34-3. Smith later joined Bob Stem's staff at Bethlehem Catholic, serving as an assistant for 3 years from 1998-2000. He also served as an assistant coach at Lafayette College in 2001, and then at Pen Argyl, Pa. from 2002-2008, after leaving the P'burg program. He is a native of Nanticoke, Pa. who played collegiately at Bloomsburg University. Coach Smith has 31 years of coaching experience. His many years of experience and his rapport with his young players make him a valuable addition to the Liner staff. Welcome back coach, and best of luck in your return to the Phillipsburg football program.
Former Phillipsburg great Charles Stecker, an all-state and All-American C/LB in 1963 under coach Harold Bellis, has passed away at the age of 65. Charlie was the leader of P'burg's 1963 team that posted a 7-1-1 record, including a 33-6 win over archrival Easton. He attended Syracuse University on a full football scholarship. Charlie was inducted into the P'burg-Easton Hall of Fame in 2009. Our condolences go out to his entire family, including his brother Herb, another all-state performer for P'burg who also starred at Syracuse.
P'burg also recently lost another former great when all-state tackle Tom Allen passed away at the age of 67. Tom was one of the leaders of P'burg's outstanding 1960 team, which was crowned New Jersey state champion. He was inducted into the P'burg-Easton Hall of Fame in 2008. Our condolences go out to his family.
P'burg finished the 2009 season ranked #12 in the Star Ledger's final statewide football rankings.The Stateliners ended the season as the 4th-ranked team in the state in Group 4. They ended the year ranked 1st in West Jersey, and also finished 6th in the Express-Times area rankings.
P'burg qualified for state playoff action in ten consecutive season this past decade. The Liners also won 88 games over the last ten years, the most victories in any decade in school history. P'burg chalked up 74 wins during the 1980s and 72 wins during the 1940s.
Stateliner head coach Bob Stem has surpassed legendary coach Mike Maloney for the most coaching victories at Phillipsburg with 112 wins. Stem reached a P'burg milestone with his first three victories in 2008, first tying Frank Klein (84), then Phil Rohm (85), and finally his high school coach Harold Bellis (86) in succession. The Liners' 4th win, which came over St. Joe's of Hammonton, allowed Stem to surpass Bellis and move into 2nd place with 87. Stem finished the 2008 season with 93 wins. P'burg's 10 wins in 2009 gave Stem 103 wins. The Liners' 9 wins in 2010 over Plainfield, North Hunterdon, Franklin, Ridge, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Franklin and Easton have moved him 6 wins past Maloney.
The 22 winningest teams in New Jersey entering the 2011 season, as compiled by Robert Dowcett, who runs the Texas high school football website and compiles records for more than 2,500 schools nationwide: (1) P'burg 629 (#141 nationally) (2) Paulsboro 584 (3) Hammonton 583 (4) Montclair 580 (5) Westfield 576 (6) Atlantic City 572 (7) Woodbury 556 (8) Glassboro 543 (9) Millville 541 (10) South River 539 (11) Collingswood 538 (12) Haddonfield 525 (13) Burlington City 524 (14) Vineland 507 (15) Palmyra 500 (16) Camden 498 (17) Moorestown 472 (18) Bridgeton 466 (19) Summit 465 (20) Ocean City 465 (21) Bloomfield 461 (22) Salem 457
