2009 Schedule

Friday  September  11          @  Warren Hills                    W 36-12

Friday  September 25                Franklin                           W 48-6

Friday  October 2                      Hunterdon Central            L 24-15

Saturday October 10             @ Scotch-Plains-Fanwood     W 40-0

Friday    October 16                  Elizabeth                          W 47-13

Friday    October 23             @  Watchung Hills                 W 35-7

Friday    October 30                  Hillsborough                     W 27-13

Friday    November 6           @  Bridgewater                      W 17-6

Friday   November 13               Piscataway                        W 19-16 OT

Friday   November 20               Westfield                           W 35-7

Thursday November 26             Easton@ Lafayette             L 26-10

Saturday  December 5               Ridge @ Kean U.               W 34-7    

                Final  2009 Offensive Statistics

Passing	Comp.	Att.	Pct.	Yds.	TD	Int.
J. Scuorzo	93	172	54%	1,477	12	2
J. Bohem	2	4	50%	41	1	1
M. Deery	2	4	50%	75	2	0

Rushing	Games	Carries	Yds.	Yds/Car.	Yds/Gm.	Rush TD	Rec.TD
D. Lee	11	152	1,109	7.3	101	8	1
M. Jlaka	6	70	374	5.3	62	7	0
M. Corman	10	66	300	4.5	30	1	0
VanDeCruz	12	51	235	4.6	20	6	0
J. Herman	12	18	96	5.3	8	4	0

Receiving	Rec.	Yds.	Yds/Catch	TD
W. Connell	22	500	22.7	5
D. Lee	23	275	12.0	1
A. Nesmith	20	361	18.0	6
J. Ringo	17	224	13.2	2
M. Deery	7	130	18.6	0

                             Final 2009 Defensive Statistics

Defense	Tackles	Assists	Sacks	TFL	Fum. Rec.	Interceptions
J. Herman	56	27	3	11	2	1
K. Williams	44	29	4	5	0	0
S. McNerny	39	29	.5	8	1	1
W. Connell	49	15	0	1	0	1
VanDeCruz	45	17	4	13	2	0
DJ Lee	35	24	3.5	3	2	0
J. Sullivan	31	18	1.5	6	0	0
A. Nesmith	29	9	0	4	0	3
D. Stair	12	18	2.5	1	0	0
D. Lee	14	6	0	0	1	0
A. O'Leary	14	5	0	0	0	0
R Waterson	12	7	0	0	0	0
M. Diamond	9	10	1.5	0	0	1
J. Stokes	9	10	.5	2	2	0
M. Deery	12	5	0	1	1	3
E. Opitz	12	4	0	3	1	0
M. Boylan	11	5	1	1	1	0
J. Williams	7	8	.5	2	0	0
R. Howell	9	1	0	0	0	1
J. Scuorzo	6	3	0	1	0	0
J. Horak	3	5	0	0	0	0
S. Maloy	5	3	0	0	0	0
M. Corman	6	3	1	2	0	0
J. Carter	6	2	1	2	1	0

2009 Season Preview

Reload or rebuild?  That's the question surrounding the 2009 P'burg football team.

P'burg fans are hopeful the Liners keep the momentum moving in a positive direction. You might say they've been spoiled...and for good reason.

This decade has been a successful one for the program. Entering this season, the Liners have won more games this decade (78) than in any other in school history.  Along the way, they've won or shared 5 conference titles, notched the school's historic 600th win, qualified for state playoffs in 9 consecutive years, appeared in 5 sectional championship games, won 3 sectional titles, and produced 6 1st team All-State selections. 

That's an impressive resume, which lacks only one thing...success vs rival Easton. The Liners have only beaten the Rovers 3 times in 9 tries this decade. Winning the Turkey Day battle, as usual, is P'burg's main goal for this season.

Some things have changed for 2009. Once again, the NJSIAA has reclassified the Liners, so they will move up to No. Jersey Section 2 Group 4 this year. P'burg will be the smallest school enrollment-wise in the 19-team section, which includes former opponents Piscataway and Elizabeth.  The NJSIAA has also mandated a realignment in north Jersey, including a merger of the Skyland Conference with Union County, to form the Mid-State 39, which is divided into 7 divisions.  P'burg will remain in the Delaware division, but the schedule will change because of crossover games.  The Liners will now face Elizabeth and Scotch Plains, who replace St. Joe's of Hammonton and North Hunterdon. Throw in Hunterdon Central, improved teams at Bridgewater and Warren Hills, and archrival Easton, and the schedule is more of a challenge than last year.

The defending Section 2 Group 3 champions will have to replace 21 seniors who graduated.  Included in that group are the entire offensive line that paved the way for 1,693 yards rushing by 3rd team All-State RB Eric Deery, who has moved on to East Stroudsburg U.  Also gone are a pair of sure-handed receivers, TE Derek Brousseau and WR Albie Moran, who acounted for 44 receptions for 1,046 yards and 11 TDs.  Throw in the loss of record-setting K/P Alex Toma, and the challenge in keeping the program, especially the offense, at its current level, is huge.

The cupboard isn't completely bare, however.  P'burg returns 3 starters on offense, including standout QB Justin Scuorzo, and 6 starters on defense, and appears to have some good skill position players.  If the Stateliners develop an offensive line, and fill in some holes on defense, they should be competitive with just about every team on their schedule.

Scuorzo will undoubtedly be the centerpiece of P'burg's offense.  The 6-1, 190 pound junior threw for 1,435 yards, 13 TDs (both school records for a soph) and only 7 picks last year despite missing 2 1/2 games after breaking a leg in state playoff action vs Irvington. He has a big-time arm and makes good decisions.  Scuorzo, a 2nd team Skyland Conference, 3rd team West Jersey, and 3rd team Express-Times selection last year, is without question one of the top QBs in West Jersey, and also rates as one of the best junior signal callers in the state.

Scuorzo may have lost his top two receivers from last year, but plenty of talent returns.  Sr. Wolfgang Connell, now a sturdy 6-1, 190, hauled in 12 passes for 220 yards and 3 TDs last year.  Sr. Andrew Nesmith (5-7, 154), a starting CB last year, has the inside track at the other WR spot.  Jr. Matt Deery (5-11, 170), a backup RB last year and a promising hurdler on the Liner track team, and Jr. Alex O'Leary (5-11, 176) are also getting looks.  Rumor has it Deery has looked good in the preseason. His development as a WR could give P'burg the flexibility to use Connell at TE, where Sr. Johne Ringo (6-0, 195) and Jr. Nick Porcelli (6-0, 170) are vying for time.

Replacing RB Eric Deery, another in a long line of outstanding RBs to wear the garnet and grey, is a top priority.  Candidates include Jr. Dana Lee (5-8, 175), who has looked good in preseason, Sr. Monsio Jlaka (5-10, 170), and Deery.  All have good speed and cutting ability.  With Lee ( a starter at CB last year) and Deery also figuring to see considerable time on defense, don't be surprised if P'burg resorts to a tailback-by-committee approach to their running game.

Sr. Michael Corman (6-0, 193) returns at FB, where he averaged 6.6 yards per carry last year.  He runs well between the tackles and has good speed. He had a breakout game vs Warren Hills last year before an ankle injury sidelined him for the last month of the season.

But the offensive line will be the Liners' top priority this year.  Gone are starting C Braxton Bupivi, OGs Matt Santini and Pat Congdon, and OTs Kevin McCloskey and Ken Huff.  As a group, they were athletic, quick, and had good technique, despite lacking size.  If P'burg is to have another successful season, they will need to find people capable of replacing this efficient group.

Sr. Joe Edinger (5-11, 248), Jr. Jared Hager (5-10, 207), and Soph. Brandon Hull (5-9, 204) are all vying for the starting center job.  Candidates at guard include Sr. Jose Mojica (5-7, 210), Jr. Sean McNerny (5-9, 190), and Jr. Mike Boylan ( 5-8, 246).  Mojica is rumored to have looked very good in the preseason.  Sr. Dylan Stair (6-2, 240), a starter at DT last year, and Jr. Eric Opitz (6-3, 235) are said to be the frontrunners at tackle.  Other candidates vying for playing time include Sr. Nathan Fillebrown (6-1, 282) and Sr. Jeremy Stokes (5-11, 275). It should be noted that this group has virtually no experience except for Stair.

Defensively, P'burg is a much more experienced team, with 6 returning starters, including 5 of the top 10 tacklers from last year's team. In the trenches, Sr.Dylan Stair (6-2, 240) returns at one DT spot.  Stair was in on 27 tackles with 3 sacks and 2 TFL last year.  At nose guard, Jr. fireplug Gerald VanDeCruz (5-9, 206) returns.  Last year, VanDeCruz racked up 68 tackles (3rd on the team), 7 sacks, and 10 TFL, unusually high numbers for a NG.  He is explosive off the ball and gets good penetration. He was a Skyland Conference 1st team, West Jersey 2nd team, and Express-Times 3rd team selection last year. The Liners are looking for another tackle opposite Stair. Candidates include Sr. Jeremy Stokes (5-11, 275), who saw limited playing time last year, Sr. Nathan Fillebrown (6-1, 282), Jr. Mike Boylan (5-8, 246), and Jr. Thomas Vouglas (5-10, 226).  Don't count out super Frosh Jarrett Williams (6-2, 225), a transfer from Dover who has caught the eye of the Liner coaching staff.  Williams is considered a future star who could contribute this year.  At DE, a whole host of players are contending for starting positions.  Included in that group are Jr. Jeff Sullivan (6-1, 195), who saw some playing time last year, Jr. Justin Carter (6-0, 206), Ringo, Scuorzo, and Corman.

At LB, Jr. Jason Herman (5-9, 185) returns, where he should be one of P'burg's defensive leaders.  A 2nd team Skyland Conference selection last year, he amassed 83 tackles (2nd on the team), including 2 sacks and 11 TFL despite not starting until the 5th game of the season vs Hunterdon Central.  Herman is said to be one of the strongest kids on the team, according to defensive coordinator Ryan Ditze. He is undersized, but is tough and has a nose for the ball. Finding a running mate for Herman at LB is critical to P'burg's defensive success.  Possibilities include Jr. Kyle Williams (5-11, 181), who saw some playing time last year, and Jr. Sean McNerny (5-9, 190). Another outstanding freshman prospect, DaJuan Lee (5-11, 218), could also help the Liners at LB. Lee brings lofty credentials to the table, including his selection to play in the Football University Youth All-American Game in San Antonio, Texas last year as an 8th grader.

The secondary should be the strength of P'burg's team on defense, with 3 returning starters.  Only standout SS Eric Casal has graduated.  Sr. Andrew Nesmith (5-7, 154) and Jr. Dana Lee (5-8, 175) return at CB.  Nesmith had 58 tackles and 4 picks, while Lee accounted for 49 tackles and 2 INTs last year. P'burg has a good one at safety in Sr. Wolfgang Connell (6-1, 190).  A candidate for post-season honors, Connell had 65 tackles and 6 picks (including a school record-tying 3 in one game) last year despite missing 3 games with a neck injury. He's a ballhawk who also is known for coming up and applying some big hits vs the run. Connell has drawn interest from several Patriot and Ivy League schools. Casal's starting SS spot could be filled by either Jr. Matt Deery (5-11, 170) or Sr. John Horak (5-8, 161), an outstanding wrestler.

The Liner D has experience and good speed on the perimeter.  If the Stateliners fill in a few holes, they have the makings of a good defensive team.  This may be critical early in the year while the offensive line is developing.

Replacing K/P Alex Toma, whose booming kickoffs, effective punting and record-setting leg (9 FGs last year) were instrumental in P'burg's 10-2 season, will be difficult.  Jr. Anthony Castro (5-8, 160), a soccer-style kicker with a decent leg, appears to be the frontrunner to replace Toma.

Andrew Nesmith will again handle punt returns, while a host of candidates will vie for kick return duty.

Seniors Wolfgang Connell, Dylan Stair, and Michael Corman have been elected co-captains for this year's team, the 105th in Stateliner history. They will provide the leadership necessary to help the team have a successful season.

PREDICTION: Replacing their entire offensive line is the key to P'burg's success this year.  The Liners need to develop a running game to complement QB Justin Scuorzo's passing ability. Some younger players with lots of potential may be called upon to provide depth at key positions.  P'burg appears to have enough speed, especially at the skill positions.  Keeping Scuorzo healthy is another key, since he has suffered season-ending injuries two years in a row.  This is a team that should improve as the season progresses and the inexperienced linemen develop. The defense, which should be ahead of the offense early in the year, should be able to keep the Liners in every game this year. While the schedule is more difficult than last year, it is still manageable. Assuming the Stateliners effectively address their question marks in the line, look for a 6-3 season and a berth in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 playoffs. 

P'BURG/RIDGE PREVIEW

P'burg meets Ridge this Saturday at 3:00 PM at Kean University for the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 championship. 

Ridge was considered a contender for the sectional title by the Star Ledger, even though the paper picked the Red Devils to finish 4th in the Raritan Division of the MidState 39 behind Immaculata, Montgomery, and North Hunterdon. The Basking Ridge school actually finished in a tie for the division title with Immaculata, and has an overall 9-2 record.

According to NJSIAA archives, Ridge has made 10 appearances in state playoff action. In the post-season, the Red Devils have accumulated a record of 6-9 and have won 2 titles, the last coming in 2003 when they captured the Section 2 Group 3 crown. Among their victims that year was P'burg, who dropped a 31-27 decision  to the Red Devils at Maloney Stadium. Since that year, Ridge has made two other playoff appearances, losing in 2006 in the 1st round to New Brunswick 28-0, and last year losing in the 2nd round to Hunterdon Central 39-14.

First year coach Bill Tracy came over to Ridge from Livingston, where he led the Lancers to last year's North Jersey Section 1 Group 4 championship. Should Ridge beat the Liners, Tracy would have earned sectional titles with two different teams in two different sections in consecutive years, which would be quite an achievement.

Ridge started the year with a 33-2 win over Voorhees, then upset Immaculata, who was ranked in the top 20 in the state, by a 35-21 count.  They then lost a heartbreaker to Union 30-28, and were upended by North Hunterdon 32-17. Since then, they have won 7 straight, beating Plainfield 23-20, Warren Hills 19-0, Franklin 34-30, Watchung Hills 28-21 (OT), and Montgomery 35-28 to finish their regular season. In playoff action, they topped Bridgewater 14-13, when they blocked a last-second FG, and Woodbridge 34-21 to advance to the championship game.

Tracy has developed a hybrid offense of sorts, combining the Wing-T with the Spread. At the controls are QB Ben Edsall, who was converted from the RB position he manned last year. Edsall's adaption to the QB position has been quick and successful to say the least.  In his first start this year vs Voorhees, he completed only 4 of 9 passes for 116 yards. He quickly got comfortable with his transition, however, completing 13 of 17 passes for 283 yards and 4 TDs vs Immaculata.  Other big efforts by the Ridge signal caller this year include 14 of 38 for 251 yards vs North Hunterdon, and  12 for 20 for 246 yards and 3 TDs, and a TD run, vs Montgomery.

But the Ridge offense centers around its do-everything, senior WR/RB Nick Cefalo. The 6-3, 185 pound multiple-purpose performer has been nothing short of sensational this year.  Cefalo may be the best all-around player the Liners have faced all year. He comes into this contest with 49 receptions for 1,003 yards and 15 TDs, and has 20 TDs overall. Cefalo lines up at various positions in the Ridge offense...at RB, WR, and in the slot, as Tracy tries to get the ball into his hands any way he can. As a RB, Cefalo rushed for 172 yards vs Union, and 105 yards vs Voorhees, when Ridge ran for 297 yards. At WR, where he is the most dangerous, he has had some monster games, including 7 catches for 148 yards and 3 TDs vs Immaculata, 11 receptions for 214 yards and a TD vs North Hunterdon, 7 receptions for 176 yards and 3 TDs vs Montgomery, and 10 receptions for 64 yards and a TD vs Woodbridge. Cefalo is also a threat on kick returns, returning a punt 70 yards for a TD vs Woodbridge, and as a DB, where he has 6 picks, running one back 37 yards vs Woodbridge. For good measure, he has also kicked a FG this year.

Ridge tries to maintain balance in its offense, relying on RB Anthony Milito, who carried 28 times for 167 yards and 3 TDs vs Franklin, and also rushed for 220 yards and 3 TDs vs Watchung Hills. On the year, he has scored 12 TDs. Milito also came up big vs Bridgewater, blocking a last-second 23-yard FG attempt by the Panthers.

Ridge's offensive line consists of C Brian Dethlefsen, OGs Kevin Forand and Greg Malanga, and OTs Jake Herrington and Steve Santer. They have opened the holes and provided Edsall the time to find Cefalo, allowing the Ridge offense to average more than 27 PPG, scoring more than 30 points five times.

Defensively, Ridge is not as strong, allowing almost 20 points per game.  They utilize an unusual 3-5 defense, which features DEs Herrington and Ben Askin, and NG Zach Means.  Milito is the MLB, flanked by Cameron Radinovic and Edsall at OLB, and Mike Singer and Luke Guinta at ILB. The ball-hawking Cefalo spearheads the secondary.

With Ridge's explosiveness on offense, they are never out of a ballgame.  In consecutive wins over Franklin, Watchung Hills, Montgomery, and Bridgewater, Ridge staged a 4th quarter comeback to win each time.

P'burg is coming off a disappointing 26-10 loss to archrival Easton, in a game where the Rovers came up big on 3rd down. The situation the Liners are in should look very familiar to Stateliner fans.  This is the 5th time this decade that P'burg is playing for a sectional championship coming off a Thanksgiving Day loss. The Liners rebounded in 2001 to upset unbeaten Montclair 10-7 after dropping a 27-7 decision to Easton. They took Piscataway into OT in 2004, losing 27-26, after absorbing a 31-0 loss to the Rovers, and dropped a heart-breaking 14-9 decision to Elizabeth after losing 21-7 to the Rovers in 2006.  Last year, the Liners rebounded from a 35-14 Turkey Day loss to upend Rahway 20-6 to capture the Section 2 Group 3 title.

P'burg's passing game had difficulty getting untracked against a tough Easton secondary last Thursday. The Stateliner running game, however, put up 179 yards vs a solid Easton run defense. The Stateliners would like to unleash QB Justin Scuorzo and his receivers this time around against a Ridge defense that is not as sturdy as the Rovers'.  Scuorzo has passed for 1,417 yards and 11 TDs, and has made good decisions all year.  RB Dana Lee carried the load for the Liner running attack once again vs Easton, picking up 147 yards.  Lee has now rushed for 891 yards and 8 TDs, averaging more than 7 yards per carry, and needs just 109 yards to surpass 1,000 for the year. P'burg's offensive line, which has been solid all year, needs to sustain its blocks so the offense can control the ball and keep Cefalo and company off the field.

Defensively, the Liners could have their hands full defending an offense that uses multiple formations and spreads defenses all over the field.  Easton ran out of the shotgun more than usual on Turkey Day, and the Rovers had success using that set. The Stateliners need to contain Cefalo as much as possible, so it will be important to account for him on every play.  Preventing big plays by this explosive Ridge offense will be key to P'burg's success.  The Liners would also like to shut down the Ridge running game and make their offense one-dimensional.  The Liners and coach Ryan Ditze need to find a way to put pressure on Edsall so he hurries his throws and doesn't get into too good of a rhythm.

PREDICTION:  This contest has the makings of a high-scoring, entertaining game. The teams have had four common opponents, who the Liners handled more easily than the Red Devils. Ridge's ability to hit big plays still makes them a dangerous opponent however. Once again, P'burg needs to forget about Easton and focus on their opponent at hand. The Stateliners appear to be the better defensive team, which should give them the edge. P'burg's seniors need to rise to the occasion and leave it all out on the field, showing the younger players how to come back from adversity. With the support of the state's best fans, the Liners rebound to capture their 2nd consecutive sectional crown, and their 4th in 6 tries this decade, by outscoring an explosive Ridge football team.  P'BURG 28 RIDGE 21. 

   P'BURG 34 RIDGE 7

For the first time in school history, P'burg has claimed back-to-back sectional championships.

The Liners put an exclamation point on one of the most successful decades in school history, unleashing a punishing ground game and asserting their domination at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball from the opening whistle, to post a resounding 34-7 victory over Ridge for the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 title.

As all good teams do, the Stateliners rebounded with a vengeance from their Thanksgiving Day loss to Easton.  The win gave the Liners yet another 10-2 season, concluding the past ten years with the school's 88th win and 4th sectional crown. In the process, P'burg won its 6th consecutive playoff game, and since 2000, improved its post-season playoff record to a stellar 17-6.

Ridge actually opened the scoring early in the first quarter, when, after going 3 and out, the Red Devils recovered a fumbled punt by Andrew Nesmith at the Liner 16.  Five plays later, Ridge standout Nick Cefalo scored on a 5-yard run, and John Graves' kick gave the Basking Ridge school a short-lived 7-0 lead.

Phillipsburg responded quickly after Nick Porcelli's kickoff return set them up at the Liner 48.  QB Justin Scuorzo scrambled 14 yards on first down, then standout junior RB Dana Lee bolted 26 yards off tackle to the Ridge 12.  Three plays later, Scuorzo sneaked the final yard for the TD.  Matt Deery's pass to soph Robert Waterson for the 2-point conversion gave P'burg an 8-7 lead with 5:32 left in the first quarter.

P'burg threatened again later in the quarter as the weather took a turn for the worse.  Lee scampered 40 yards to the Ridge 47, and the Liners eventually reached the Red Devil 29.  But they came up two yards short on 4th and 6 to turn the ball over on downs.

With the defense shutting down Ridge's high-powered offense, the Stateliner offense embarked on another TD drive after recovering a Ridge fumble at the Red Devil 44.  They drove 56 yards in 9 plays, with Lee taking a screen pass 18 yards and adding a 23-yard run that set up Scuorzo's 4-yard TD run with just 57 seconds left in the half. Soph Brandon Hull, replacing junior Anthony Castro, split the uprights to make it 15-7 P'burg at the half.

P'burg came out with all guns blazing in the 3rd quarter to dispel any notion they would suffer any sort of a second-half letdown. Nesmith returned the kickoff 18 yards to the Liner 46.  The Stateliners proceeded to drive 54 yards in 8 plays, with Lee churning out 36 of those yards on 5 carries.  Junior FB Gerald VanDeCruz capped the drive off by running it in from 13 yards out, giving P'burg a 21-7 lead.  A run for the 2-point conversion failed.

P'burg's defense then kept the Ridge offense pinned back deep in its own territory on its next possession, forcing a Red Devil punt that gave the Liners excellent field position at the Ridge 48.  Lee carried four times for 18 yards before Scuorzo found Nesmith with a screen pass that the Liner WR took to the house on a nifty 40-yard pass and run play.  A pass for a 2-point conversion failed, and it was 27-7 Liners with 4:33 left in the 3rd quarter.

In the 4th, SS Jason Herman intercepted a Ben Edsall pass that led to the Liners' last score, a 3-yard run by VanDeCruz with 11:12 left in the contest.  Hull's kick finished off the scoring.

Lee led P'burg's ground assault with another sparkling performance, carrying 27 times for a career-high 218 yards, repeatedly breaking tackles and carrying defenders with him for extra yardage.  It was his 5th consecutive 100-yard game since taking over the brunt of the load following Monsio Jlaka's knee injury.  Lee's effort gave him 1,109 yards for the year, just the 14th time in school history a Stateliner RB has eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark. Overall, P'burg rushed for 310 yards behind an offensive line that was firing off the ball all game long despite losing C Joe Edinger and T Dylan Stair in the 3rd period to knee injuries.

Scuorzo ran for 43 yards and 2 TDs, and hit on 3 of 5 passes for 60 yards in a scaled-down offensive strategy due to the treacherous weather.  Scuorzo finished the year with 1,477 yards passing, giving him 2,972 yards for his career, allowing him to pass former Liner QB Bill Snyder and move into 2nd place all-time. He is now on target to break the school's all-time career passing yardage mark, held by Justin Viscomi, who passed for 3,712 yards from 2005-2006.  Scuorzo is also within striking distance of the school's record for TD passes in a career, also held by Viscomi, who has 31, by tossing his 25th TD pass, which also moves him into 2nd place all-time.

The Stateliner offensive line and their front seven on defense were outstanding all game. Defensively, P'burg limited Ridge to just 9 first downs and 174 yards of total offense. Ridge never seriously threatened again following their first score, which was the result of a turnover.  The Liners held Ridge's do-everything WR/RB Nick Cefalo to just 52 yards rushing on 11 carries, and one pass reception for 15 yards, and rendered him a non-factor in the ballgame.

P'burg's win also gave Bob Stem his 103rd victory as the Liners' head coach, putting him just 3 wins shy of P'burg's all-time leader, legendary coach Mike Maloney, who has 106. With an excellent nucleus of players returning next year, Stem should easily surpass Maloney and become P'burg's winningest coach of all time.

POST-SEASON HONORS

ALL-STATE

P'burg junior Gerald VanDeCruz led a group of four Stateliners who received all-state mention from the Star Ledger when he was named 3rd-team all-state at his NG position.  A disruptive force all year long, he accumulated 62 tackles, including 45 solo, 4 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and 2 fumble recoveries this past season. In two years as a starter, the 5-9, 206 pound dynamo has racked up 130 tackles (87 solo), 11 sacks, 23 TFL, and 3 fumble recoveries. VanDeCruz was also a 1st-team Group 4 selection. He will undoubtedly be one of the best DL in the state next year. 

Also receiving all-state mention were senior captain Wolfgang Connell, junior QB Justin Scuorzo, and junior RB Dana Lee.  Connell was named to the Group 4 3rd team as a safety, where he posted 64 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 INT. Scuorzo was named 1st team Group 4 at QB after passing for 1,477 yards and 12 TDs, while Lee was a 3rd-team Group 4 choice at RB, where he rushed for 1,109 yards and 8 TDs.  Scuorzo and Lee will be two of P'burg's leaders again next year, while Connell will be moving on to the collegiate level.  Congratulations to these outstanding Stateliners on achieving their post-season honors!

ALL-WEST JERSEY

Gerald VanDeCruz, Wolfgang Connell, Justin Scuorzo, and Dana Lee were all named to the first team all-West Jersey team by the Star Ledger.

Named to the 2nd team were junior SS Jason Herman and senior CB Andrew Nesmith.  Picked for 3rd team honors were junior LB Sean McNerny and senior DT Dylan Stair.  Congratulations!!

Stateliner mentor Bob Stem was chosen the Coach of the Year in West Jersey by the Star Ledger.  Stem garnered his 4th sectional championship while at the helm at P'burg, also winning titles in 1977, 2005, and 2008. He stands as P'burg's 2nd winningest coach of all time, trailing legendary coach Mike Maloney by only 3 victories. Congratulations coach!.

ALL-EXPRESS-TIMES

P'burg placed eight players on the first three teams of the Express Times all-area team, with four other players receiving honorable-mention.  Named to the all-area first team were senior OT Jeremy Stokes and junior NG Gerald VanDeCruz. Stokes (5-11, 275) became one of the leaders of the rebuilt Stateliner offensive line that played well all year and paved the way for the Liner RBs to run for more than 2,500 yards.  VanDeCruz (5-9, 206) was a terror on defense, compiling 62 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks, and 2 FR. Senior WR/S Wolfgang Connell was named to the 2nd team as a safety. Connell (6-1, 188) served as a Liner captain, and led P'burg with 22 receptions for 500 yards and 5 TDs. On defense, he was credited with 64 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 INT. Named to the 3rd team were junior QB Justin Scuorzo (1477 yards passing, 12 TDs), junior RB Dana Lee (1,109 yards rushing), senior C Joe Edinger, junior K Anthony Castro (5 FGs, 26 PATs), and junior SS Jason Herman (83 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 sacks). Receiving honorable-mention were senior WR/CB Andrew Nesmith, senior TE Johne Ringo, senior DT Dylan Stair, and junior LB Kyle Williams. Congratulations to all of these outstanding Stateliners on their well-deserved honors!

 STATELINER SIDELINES

...Nine members of Phillipsburg's sectional championship football team were named to the Honor Roll for the 2nd marking period. Those student/athletes are: Christopher Chioffe, Wolfgang Connell, Michael Diamond, Jared Hager, Ed Heffner, Nicholas Porcelli, Justin Scuorzo, Cory Tanner, and Robert Waterson. Congratulations to all on achieving this honor.  Statelinerfootball.com encourages all P'burg student/athletes to strive for excellence in the classroom. As usual, we remind all student/athletes that football achievements are temporary, but academic achievements and a good education will last a lifetime. 

...On behalf of the entire Phillipsburg football community, Statelinerfootball.com commends all Stateliner players for their hard work, commitment, and dedication this season. You have represented your school, the community, and your families with class, sportsmanship, and that tireless Stateliner spirit, and you have made the entire community proud. A big salute also goes out to P'burg's seniors, who may have donned the garnet and grey for the last time, but who have written yet another successful chapter in P'burg football history.  You have created many memories, not only for your loyal fans, but especially for yourselves, that will last your entire lifetime. Those seniors are: Andrew Nesmith, Wolfgang Connell, Monsio Jlaka, Michael Corman, John Horak, Joe Edinger, Dylan Stair, Jose Mojica, Jeremy Stokes, Nate Fillebrown, Kyle Ostoyic, Darrian Steward, and Johne Ringo. Congratulations.

...Former Stateliner WR/DB/KR Malcolm Dock, a senior DB at Rowan U. in Glassboro, NJ, has been named first-team DB by the NJAC. Dock was a 4-year letterman for the Liners, and one of the leaders of P'burg's 2005 undefeated (12-0) sectional championship team. Congratulations Malcolm!

...Former Stateliner QB John Troxell, head coach the past four years at Franklin & Marshall College, has been named the Centennial Conference football Coach of the Year.  A 1990 graduate of Phillipsburg, he was a 3rd team all-state selection at defensive back his senior year at P'burg.  Troxell played football collegiately at Lafayette College, where he graduated in 1994. Congratulations to John on achieving this outstanding award. 

...P'burg finished the 2009 season ranked #12 in the Star Ledger's 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 rankings.

...Numerous P'burg players are ranked among the leaders in the final Express-Times offensive categories rankings which were released on Sunday.  QB Justin Scuorzo is ranked 2nd in the area QB rankings with a 147.4 rating.  RB Dana Lee finished 12th in rushing yards per game, averaging 100 ypg, while RB Monsio Jlaka finished 21st with a 62 ypg average. RB Dana Lee finished tied for 10th in receptions with 23, WR Wolfgang Connell finished 11th with 22, WR Andrew Nesmith was tied for 13th with 20, and TE Johne Ringo was tied for 15th with 18. 

...Former Stateliner star Leonard Brice has joined the P'burg coaching staff as a voluntary assistant.  Leonard is a graduate of Monmouth University. A 4-year starter at RB at PHS, he stands as the leading rusher in Liner history with 3,674 yards.  Brice is also the 3rd leading scorer in P'burg history.  We would like to extend our best wishes to Leonard in his new coaching duties.  He is certainly a welcome addition to the P'burg staff.

...Former Stateliner QB Scott Kish, a 2005 P'burg graduate, has also joined the staff as a voluntary assistant. Kish received all-league and all-area honors his senior year at P'burg. Kish played DB for four years at Lycoming College, where he graduated in 2009. Good luck Scott in your first year as a Liner coach.

...P'burg qualified for state playoff action in ten consecutive seasons this decade. The Liners also won 88 games over the past 10 years, the most victories in any decade in school history. The Stateliners chalked up 74 wins during the 1980's and 72 wins during the 1940's.

...STATELINERFOOTBALL.COM is now entering its 4th season, and the first three years have been a real treat.  I am constantly searching for and finding new info to feature on this site. The site's current ongoing project involves the expansion of P'burg's all-time best players page, which is about complete. While the amount of research needed to keep P'burg's 104 years of football updated is overwhelming, it is none the less a labor of love. I am commited to bringing the most complete and accurate info, and featuring the pride and tradition of P'burg's historic football program to all football fans, in particular Stateliner fans.  The CURRENT SEASON page is especially dedicated to those Liner fans who live out of the area and rely on this site to get the most updated information on the season at hand. All comments and  suggestions are welcome. The 2009 season is just around the corner. I'm sure Stateliner fans will get behind this team as they usually do...with unmatched enthusiasm and  loyaly only a P'burg fan can appreciate!

...Some of P'burg's 2009 graduating seniors made their decisions as to where they will attend college. WR Albie Moran, who caught 21 passes for 506 yards and 7 TDs and was named to the 3rd team Group 3 all-state team, will continue his career at Moravian College.  TE Derek Brousseau, P'burg's scholar athlete and the team's leading receiver with 23 receptions for 541 yards and 4 TDs, will attend Lebanon Valley College.  3rd-team all-state RB Eric Deery, who rushed for 1,693 yards and scored 15 TDs, will play at Division 2 East Stroudsburg U. OT/LB Kevin McCloskey, a 1st team Group 3 all-state selection, will attend Bloomsburg University. DT Jim Tersigni will attend Moravian College. And OG/DE Matt Santini, who led the Liners with 12 sacks while garnering 3rd team Group 3 all-state honors, will reportedly attend VMI. We would like to extend our best wishes for continued success both academically and athletically to all of P'burg's graduating seniors.

... Stateliner head coach Bob Stem is 2nd all-time in coaching victories at Phillipsburg with 103 wins.  Stem reached a P'burg coaching milestone with his first 4 victories last year, 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, allowed Stem to surpass Bellis and move into 2nd place. P'burg's 10 wins this year have now moved Stem, with 103 wins, to within 3 victories of P'burg's all-time winningest coach, Mike Maloney, who has 106.

... P'burg finished the 2008 season ranked #13 in the state by the Star-Ledger. The Liners jumped over Hunterdon Central to claim the #1 ranking in West Jersey, and finished as the #5 team in the state in Group 3. P'burg finished the season ranked 10th in the final Express-Times rankings.

... Former Liner star Brandon Mason decided to skip his final year of eligibility and make himself eligible for the NFL draft this past April.  Disappointingly, he was not selected by any NFL team. Word has it Mason signed with an unidentified team for a tryout, but was not offered a contract. It is currently not known what avenue he intends to pursue. Mason was rated as the 35th best RB available, and was projected as a possible late round selection. Wherever he ends up, we would like to wish the best for this former Stateliner star, one of the best RBs the Liners have ever had.

...The top 25 winningest teams in New Jersey entering the 2009 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 610 (#122 nationally) (2)Montclair 569 (3)Paulsboro 565 (4)Atlantic City 564 (5)Westfield 561 (6)Woodbury 536 (7)Millville 530 (8)South River 529 (9)Collingswood 529 (10)Glassboro 524 (11)Burlington City 515 (12)Haddonfield 504 (13)Vineland 500 (14)Rahway 500 (15)Camden 490 (16)Palmyra 486 (17)Hammonton 464 (18)Manasquan 459 (19)Moorestown 459 (20)Ocean City 457 (21)Bridgeton 456 (22) Salem 450 (23) Penns Grove 447 (24) Summit 444 (25) Nutley 433.