CURRENT
SEASON
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Current Season
2010 SCHEDULE
Scrim. Friday Aug. 27 Quakertown 6PM
Scrim. Thursday Sept. 2 @ South Brunswick 5PM
Friday Sept. 10 Plainfield 7PM
Thursday Sept. 16 @ North Hunterdon 7PM
Saturday Sept. 25 @Franklin 1PM
Friday Oct. 1 Ridge 7PM
Friday Oct. 8 Montgomery 7PM
Friday Oct. 22 @ Hunterdon Central 7PM
Friday Oct. 29 @ Hillsborough 7PM
Friday Nov. 5 Bridgewater 7PM
Friday Nov. 12 NJSIAA Quarterfinals TBA TBA
Friday Nov. 19 NJSIAA Semifinals TBA TBA
Thursday Nov. 25 Easton @ Lafayette 10:30AM
Fri/Sat/Sun Dec. 3-4-5 NJSIAA Finals TBA TBA
2009 Results
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 (NJSIAA Qtrfinal)
Friday November 20 Westfield W 35-7 (NJSIAA Semifinal)
Thursday November 26 Easton @ Lafayette L 26-10
Saturday December 5 Ridge W 34-7 (NJSIAA Sectional Final)
Final 2009 Offensive Statistics
J. Bohem 2 4 50% 41 1 1
M. Deery 2 4 50% 75 2 0
Sr. QB Justin Scuorzo
Career: 2,972 yards passing & 25 TDs
RUSHING GAMES CAR 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
G. VanDeCruz 12 51 235 4.6 20 6 0
J. Herman 12 18 96 5.3 8 4 0
Sr. RB Dana Lee
1,109 yards rushing & 9 TDs in 2009
RECEIVING REC YDS YDS/CATCH TD
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
A. O'Leary CB 14 5 0 0 0 0
R. Waterson LB 12 7 0 0 0 0
M. Diamond DE 9 10 1.5 0 0 1
J. Stokes DT 9 10 .5 2 2 0
M. Deery CB 12 5 0 1 1 3
E. Opitz DT 12 4 0 3 1 0
M. Boylan DT 11 5 1 1 1 0
J. Williams DT 7 8 .5 2 0 0
R. Howell CB 9 1 0 0 0 1
J. Scuorzo DE 6 3 0 1 0 0
P'burg-Plainfield Preview
P'burg kicks off its 2010 season against an unfamiliar foe Friday night when the Stateliners entertain Plainfield at Maloney Stadium in a Mid-State 39 crossover game.
Historically, P'burg and Plainfield have met 16 times on the gridiron. The schools played every year from 1911-1915, and again fron 1925-1934, with the Cardinals holding an overall 8-7-1 advantage. Plainfield holds the distinction of having scored the most points ever in a game against P'burg when they scored 53 in 1925. The last time the teams met was in 2001 when the Liners won 21-6 at Plainfield in the 1st round of state playoff action enroute to the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 championship. The Stateliners and Cardinals also met in a pre-season scrimmage at Maloney Stadium in 2005, when the Union County school featured all-state and All-American tackle Eugene Monroe, who starred for 4 years at Virginia and was the 8th pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1st round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Plainfield's football fortunes have been on a downward trend in recent years. The Cardinals, who were 2-8 last year, have not had a winning season since 2005. Over the last 10 years, they have appeared in state playoff action 3 times, in 2001, 2003, and in 2005, but were eliminated in the first round each time.
New head coach Bill Nyers hopes to turn around the Plainfield program, according to a story in the Star Ledger by Josh Rosenfeld, by "stressing discipline and organization." Plainfield, for years a member of the competitive Watchung Conference, will compete in the East A Division of the Mid-State 39 Conference. According to gridironnewjersey, they are considered a darkhorse in a division in which Immaculata is rated a huge favorite to capture the crown. Despite their recent troubles on the gridiron, Plainfield is sure to feature size, speed, and athleticism in the same mold as Piscataway, Franklin, and Elizabeth.
Plainfield's prospects for the 2010 season took a big hit, however, when star QB Tyrone Johnson opted to skip his senior season and transfer out of Plainfield to a prep school after receiving a scholarship to play basketball at Villanova. Johnson had been nominated over the summer to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in January, one of 12 New Jersey players to be named.
Reports have it the Cardinals gave a good account of themselves in a pre-season scrimmage with Paramus Catholic, with both teams scoring twice in goal line situations. Plainfield returns a good nucleus of players on both sides of the ball, and should be a much-improved team in spite of Johnson's loss.
In his absence, control of the offense has been turned over to 6-5 soph DiJohn "Sauce" Allen-Jordan, who is said to have a strong arm. He will have plenty of good targets to throw to in seniors Rashon Roach, Solomon Brown, and Terrell Godley, along with promising 6-5 soph Denzel "Criss Cross" Christian. RB Dawud "Woo Warrior" Hicks, a 6th-place finisher at 171 lbs. at the NJSIAA state wrestling championships, will carry the brunt of the load in the Cardinal running game. Protecting Allen-Jordan and opening up the running lanes for Hicks will be D-1 prospect Tiquan Womack (6-2, 300), a 2009 1st-team all-conference selection at OT, OG Lamond Sparrow, a 2nd-team pick, and OG Sharif Carter.
Defensively, Plainfield looks to Womack, who reportedly played Pitt-bound tackle Marquise Wright of Paramus Catholic, rated the #2 senior prospect in the state, to a standoff, to clog the running lanes. Hicks, a 1st-team all-conference selection last year, and Allen Brown form an athletic, hard-hitting combination at LB. In the secondary, Kell'e Gallimore, a 2nd-team all-conference selection, and safety Josh Wilson are the leaders. Speed, athleticism, and experience are the defense's greatest assets.
P'burg returns a veteran team, ranked in the top ten in the state by MaxPreps, with high hopes for a successful campaign. The Liners wrapped up their pre-season scrimmage schedule when they met South Brunswick last Thursday. Reportedly, the Liner offensive line still needs a lot of work to become an efficient group. Plainfield's size and speed could present a big challenge for this new unit, which returns only OG Sean McNerney from last year's starting interior line.
The Stateliners will surely mix the run with the passing game, as head coach Bob Stem likes to do. Stem is particularly fond of play action passes, so establishing the running game with 1,000 yard RB Dana Lee, along with FBs Gerald VanDeCruz and Jason Herman, will be a priority. Stem is not hesitant to put the ball in the air, and in senior Justin Scuorzo, he has one of the best QBs in the West Jersey/Lehigh Valley area. P'burg has some other outstanding skill position players to turn to, especially WR Matt Deery, an outstanding and versatile athlete, and WR Alex O'Leary.
Defensively, P'burg is strong and experienced at virtually every position. Sixteen of the top 20 tacklers from last year's sectional championship team return. Herman at SS, VanDeCruz at NG, Jeff Sullivan and Kyle Williams at DE, McNerney and DaJuan Lee at LB, and Deery and Dana Lee at CB will be the leaders of this group, which is quick and runs well to the ball. Should the Liners struggle early in the year with their offensive line, P'burg will turn to their D to dominate the line of scrimmage and set the offense up with good field position.
P'burg can also count on the strong leg of Anthony Castro, who tied the record for the longest FG in school history when he booted a 46-yarder vs Scotch Plains last year.
PREDICTION: Plainfield could present a stern opening test for a Stateliner team that is facing high expectations for a big season. Teams with speed and athleticism such as Plainfield can cause all kinds of problems, even for a veteran team such as P'burg, as Piscataway did last year. The Liners need to set the tone early at the line of scrimmage. Establishing a consistent running game will open up the passing lanes for Justin Scuorzo and his group of sure-handed WRs. One thing the Stateliners can count on is another jam-packed Maloney Stadium, filled with enthusiastic, die-hard P'burg fans. The hunch here is P'burg starts slowly, then wears down a game Plainfield team in the 2nd half to get the ball rolling on a highly-anticipated 2010 season. P'BURG 27 Plainfield 7.
2010 Season Preview
With back-to-back 10-2 seasons and sectional championships under their belts, the 2010 Stateliners are gearing up for what they hope will be a banner season.
Optimism and enthusiasm are at a high level with P'burg's faithful fans in anticipation of this year's season, as the Liners return a solid nucleus of players who have a chance to make this a special year.
Offensively, P'burg returns plenty of firepower, including 3-year starting QB Justin Scuorzo, as well as talented 1,000 yard RB Dana Lee. On defense, P'burg returns 16 of its top 20 tacklers, including team leader Jason Herman at SS, 3rd team all-state NG Gerald VanDeCruz, the top 3 LBs, several other starters, and a host of other players with a lot of experience.
In addition to the team's prospects, head coach Bob Stem is on the brink of perhaps the greatest accomplishment of his coaching career, needing only 4 wins to surpass legendary coach Mike Maloney as the winningest coach in garnet and grey history.
The Liner coaching staff has undergone some changes from last year. Defensive coordinator Ryan Ditze has moved on to Freedom, while WR coach Mike Lelko has left for North Hunterdon. To replace Ditze, head coach Bob Stem has brought in former P'burg head coach Bruce Smith to be his defensive coordinator.
This year, P'burg will once again compete in the Mid-State 39 Conference as a member of the West A Division, which has been tweaked a bit by replacing Watchung Hills with Ridge and Montgomery. The schedule has changed, with North Hunterdon back in the mix along with Plainfield, Ridge and Montgomery, who replace Warren Hills, Watchung Hills, Scotch Plains, and Elizabeth.
In the post-season, the Liners will again be situated in North Jersey Section 2 Group 4, where they are the defending champion despite being the smallest school enrollment-wise. P'burg is considered one of the teams to beat, along with rivals Piscataway and Hunterdon Central, in what is considered a very competitive section.
For the 3rd consecutive year, the Stateliner offense will be in the capable hands of Scuorzo. A rare 3-year starter, the 6-1, 195 pound senior is within striking distance of school records for career TD passes and career passing yardage held by former Liner star Justin Viscomi. Scuorzo, a Star Ledger 1st team Group 4 all-state selection last year, has thrown for 2,972 yards and 25 TDs in his career, putting him within 740 yards and 6 TDs of Viscomi. He has a great arm, is an adept ballhandler and good runner, and makes good decisions. He will be backed up by junior Jason Bohem (5-11, 161) and soph Aaron Brown (6-4, 185).
Scuorzo will have some good targets to throw to. Senior WR Matt Deery (5-11, 175) is an outstanding athlete who won a silver medal in the pole vault at this past spring's Meet of Champions, and is also the school record-holder in that event. He has good speed (he is also a talented hurdler on the Liner track team) and great hands. Deery's versatility is his greatest asset. After coming into the program as a QB, he was switched to RB, where he backed up his brother Eric, then was moved to WR last year, where he caught 7 passes for 130 yards and also threw 2 TD passes off reverses. He is also a threat as a kick returner and punt returner. Senior Alex O'Leary (5-11, 180) has the inside track at the other WR position. O'Leary is another athletic player who saw considerable action in the Liner secondary last year. A 3rd WR, junior Mike Diamond (6-1, 180), is currently hobbled by an ankle injury he suffered in July. Word has it Diamond looked very good during the summer's 7 on 7 workouts prior to his setback. The timetable for his return to action is unknown. Junior Robert Howell (6-0, 180) and junior Devin Grade (5-11, 170) provide depth at the position.
At TE, senior Nick Porcelli (6-1, 172) is the heir apparent to Johne Ringo, an excellent TE who has departed. Porcelli, who has good speed, was on the receiving end of a 50-yard TD strike from Scuorzo in ther Liners' scrimmage last night. Senior Jeff Sullivan (6-1, 195) may also see playing time, giving P'burg good depth at the position.
P'burg is known for producing outstanding RBs, and in senior Dana Lee, they have one of the best around. The 5-9, 182 pound senior rushed for 1,109 yards and 8 TDs last year, earning Star Ledger 3rd team Group 4 honors. Over the 2nd half of last season, Lee really turned it on, rushing for more than 100 yards in 5 consecutive games. Lee rose to the occasion in P'burg's 2 biggest games last year, when he put up 189 yards versus a very good Easton defense before blitzing Ridge for 218 yards in P'burg's sectional championship victory. A talented athlete, Lee is an outstanding receiver coming out of the backfield, where he caught 23 passes for 275 yards and a TD last year. A shifty runner, he combines speed and power with an uncanny ability to break tackles. Lee is backed up by a solid group of RBs that includes diminutive junior scatback Robin Custudio (5-4, 152), junior Joe Moyer (5-8, 163), junior Shaun Malloy (5-9, 190), and senior Majid Houston (5-7, 175). All are capable of filling in if necessary.
At FB, P'burg lost MIke Corman, but returns 2 solid players in senior Gerald VanDeCruz (5-10, 215) and senior Jason Herman (5-8, 195). Last year, VanDeCruz ran for 235 yards and 6 TDs, while Herman added 96 yards and scored 4 TDs. Both are strong runners between the tackles who possess surprising speed when in the open field. Talented soph DaJuan Lee (5-11, 232) is a promising backup who provides depth.
The biggest question mark for the Liners on offense, once again, is their offensive line, which lost four of five starters to graduation. Coach Bob Stem and his staff successfully replaced their entire offensive line a year ago. How successful they are in rebuilding this unit again will determine just how efficient the offense will be. Stem likes to attain a balance between running and throwing the ball, so development of the o-line will be a top priority in the pre-season.
Senior Jared Hager (5-10, 236) is slated to start at center. He gained valuable experience last year filling in several games for C Joe Edinger and OG Jose Mojica. He will be backed up by junior Chris Cioffe (5-11, 202) since promising junior Brandon Hull decided not to compete this year. At OG, senior Sean McNerney (5-11, 195) is the lone returning starter from last year. He will be the anchor of the offensive line. At the other guard spot, senior Thomas Vouglas (5-10, 232) and senior Mike Boylan (5-10, 225) are vying for the starting job. Boylan, who has trimmed his weight down to 225 to add quickness, was a starter at DT last year before being sidelined with an injury midway through the season. At OT, soph Jarrett " Big Cat " Williams (6-1, 247) and senior Eric Opitz (6-2, 215) appear to have won the starting jobs. Both lettered last year after seeing quite a bit of action on both sides of the ball. They give the Stateliners an athletic pair of tackles, with Opitz being an outstanding thrower on the track team, where he set the school record in the discus last spring. This unit got off to a slow start, especially in the running game, versus Quakertown, Pa. in the team's first scrimmage Friday night, but appeared to jell later in the outing. Additional depth along the offensive line comes from senior OG Cody Hardison (6-1, 215), and tackles Justin Carter (senior, 6-0, 218) and Cody Crouse (junior, 6-1, 242).
Defensively, the Stateliners return a wealth of talent and experience at all positions, which could make them a very good defensive team. Gone are FS Wolfgang Connell, CB Andrew Nesmith, DT Dylan Stair, and DE Mike Corman. But the cupboard is anything but bare with 7 starters and many players with lots of experience returning.
Anchoring the Liner defensive line will be senior NG Gerald VanDeCruz (5-10, 215). Another rare 3-year starter, VanDeCruz has been a disruptive force the past two years. A 3rd team Star Ledger all-state and 1st team Group 4 pick last year, he racked up 62 tackles, 4 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss, while recovering 2 fumbles. Over the past 2 seasons, VanDeCruz has accumulated 130 tackles (87 unassisted), had 11 sacks, 23 TFL, and 3 FR, amazing statistics for a NG. VanDeCruz is powerful, has a low center of gravity, and is extremely quick off the snap, which make him difficult to block. Joining him along the defensive line are senior DE Jeff Sullivan (6-1, 195), who had 49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 6 TFL last year. The Liner coaching staff has moved senior Kyle Williams (6-0, 186) from his starting LB spot to the other DE position. Last year, Williams was 2nd on the team with 73 tackles, 4 sacks, and 5 TFL. At DT, soph Jarrett Williams (6-1, 247) and senior Eric Opitz (6-2, 215) are penciled in as the starters. They combined for 31 tackles and 5 TFL last year. This unit has experience, athleticism, quickness, and good mobility. Backups include senior Cody Hardison (6-1, 215), senior Justin Carter (6-0, 218), senior Mike Boylan (5-10, 225), and junior Cody Crouse (6-1, 242).
Despite moving Williams, the Liners have plenty of talent at LB. Senior Sean McNerney (5-11, 195) returns at one spot, where he was the team's 3rd leading tackler with 68 tackles and 8 TFL last year. His running mate will be super soph DaJuan Lee (5-11, 232), who has star potential. Last year as a true frosh, Lee had 59 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 TFL, and 2 FR. Providing depth is junior Robert Waterson (5-11, 180), who excelled on special teams last year, and junior Mike Diamond (6-1, 180), who saw plenty of action at DE last year
SS Jason Herman, the team's leading tackler, returns to anchor the secondary. The 5-8, 195 pound senior had 83 tackles last year, including 3 sacks, 11 TFL, 2 FR and 1 INT. Over the past 2 seasons, Herman, who has a real nose for the ball, has had 166 tackles, 5 sacks, and 22 TFL. He will be joined in the secondary by some very good athletes. CB Dana Lee, who had 20 tackles and 1 FR last year, returns for his 3rd year as a starter. He will be paired with senior Matt Deery (5-11, 175) at CB. Last year, Deery had 17 tackles and 3 picks, all coming vs Bridgewater QB Colin Clifford when he filled in for the injured Nesmith. At FS, senior Alex O'Leary (5-11, 180) has looked good in pre-season drills. Rotating in and providing depth are junior Robert Howell (6-0, 180) and junior Joe Moyer (5-8, 163). As a group, this unit has good speed and experience.
The Stateliners will once again use Dana Lee and Deery to return kickoffs, with Deery being the primary punt returner.
Returning for his senior season is K/P Anthony Castro, who tied the school record for the longest FG with a 46-yarder vs Scotch Plains.
P'burg will have good leadership this year with QB Justin Scuorzo, RB Dana Lee, SS Jason Herman, and NG Gerald VanDeCruz being elected captains for the season.
PREDICTION: P'burg has the potential to have an outstanding season this year. The Liners have some outstanding skill position players. The key to the offense rests with the offensive line, where depth may be a concern. If their offensive line develops, P'burg has the potential to be a good offensive team. Defensively, the Stateliners have few weaknesses, and should be able to carry the team until the offensive line comes together. They possess speed and experience, and have some outstanding playmakers. The schedule may be a little stronger than last year, with Plainfield, Montgomery, and Franklin all picked by gridironnewjersey as possible surprise teams for the upcoming year. P'burg also faces landmines in Hunterdon Central and Easton, two teams they have not had much success with in recent years. One concern is the number of players going both ways. Assuming Scuorzo, Lee and company stay healthy, P'burg should be able to duplicate their 10-2 seasons of the past two years. If everything falls into place, and with some luck, the Liners could run the table. Look for an 11-1 season and a rematch with Piscataway in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 championship game.
Post-Season Honors
All-State
P'burg junior Garald VanDeCruz led a group of four Stateliners who received all-state honors from the Star Ledger when he was named 3rd team all-state at his nose guard 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 defensive linemen 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 title while at the helm at P'burg, having also won titles in 1977, 2005, and 2008. He stands as P'burg's 2nd winningest coach of all time, trailing only 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, 4 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. Senior WR/S Wolfgang Connell was named to the 2nd team as a safety. Connell (6-1,188) served as a 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 (1,477 yards passing, 12 TDs), junior RB Dana Lee (1,109 yards rushing), senior center 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 Stateliners on their well-deserved honors.
Stateliner Sidelines
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 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.
Numerous P'burg players finished among the leaders in the final Express-Times offensive categories. QB Justin Scuorzo finished #2 in the area QB rankings with a 147.4 rating. RB Dana Lee finished#12 in rushing yards per game, averaging 100 ypg, while Monsio Jlaka finished 21st with a 62 ypg average. Dana Lee also finished tied for 10th in receptions with 23, WR Wolfgang Connell finished 11th with 22, WR Andrew Nesmith tied for 13th with 20, and TE Johne Ringo finished 15th with 17.
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 is 2nd all-time in coaching victories at Phillipsburg with 103 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 have now given Stem 103 wins, moving him to within 3 victories of P'burg's all-time winningest coach, Mike Maloney, who has 106.
The 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
Former Stateliner WR/DB/KR Malcolm Dock, a senior DB at Rowan U. in Glassboro, N.J., was named first-team DB by the NJAC in 2009. 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, was named the Centennial Conference football Coach of the Year in 2009 . 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.
Former Stateliner star Leonard Brice joined the Phillipsburg coaching staff as a voluntary assistant in 2009. 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 ever at P'burg. 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.
Scrim. Friday Aug. 27 Quakertown 6PM
Scrim. Thursday Sept. 2 @ South Brunswick 5PM
Friday Sept. 10 Plainfield 7PM
Thursday Sept. 16 @ North Hunterdon 7PM
Saturday Sept. 25 @Franklin 1PM
Friday Oct. 1 Ridge 7PM
Friday Oct. 8 Montgomery 7PM
Friday Oct. 22 @ Hunterdon Central 7PM
Friday Oct. 29 @ Hillsborough 7PM
Friday Nov. 5 Bridgewater 7PM
Friday Nov. 12 NJSIAA Quarterfinals TBA TBA
Friday Nov. 19 NJSIAA Semifinals TBA TBA
Thursday Nov. 25 Easton @ Lafayette 10:30AM
Fri/Sat/Sun Dec. 3-4-5 NJSIAA Finals TBA TBA
2009 Results
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 (NJSIAA Qtrfinal)
Friday November 20 Westfield W 35-7 (NJSIAA Semifinal)
Thursday November 26 Easton @ Lafayette L 26-10
Saturday December 5 Ridge W 34-7 (NJSIAA Sectional Final)
Final 2009 Offensive Statistics
PASSING COMP ATT PCT YDS TD INT
J. Scuorzo 93 172 54% 1,477 12 2
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
Sr. QB Justin Scuorzo
Career: 2,972 yards passing & 25 TDs
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
G. VanDeCruz 12 51 235 4.6 20 6 0
J. Herman 12 18 96 5.3 8 4 0
Sr. RB Dana Lee
1,109 yards rushing & 9 TDs in 2009
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 INT
J. Herman SS 56 27 3 11 2 1
K. Williams LB 44 29 4 5 0 0
S. McNerny LB 39 29 .5 8 1 1
W. Connell FS 49 15 0 1 0 1
G. VanDeCruz NG 45 17 4 13 2 0
DaJ. Lee LB 35 24 3.5 3 2 0
J. Sullivan DE 31 18 1.5 6 0 0
A. Nesmith CB 29 9 0 4 0 3
D. Stair DT 12 18 2.5 1 0 0
D. Lee CB 14 6 0 0 1 0
S. McNerny LB 39 29 .5 8 1 1
W. Connell FS 49 15 0 1 0 1
G. VanDeCruz NG 45 17 4 13 2 0
DaJ. Lee LB 35 24 3.5 3 2 0
J. Sullivan DE 31 18 1.5 6 0 0
A. Nesmith CB 29 9 0 4 0 3
D. Stair DT 12 18 2.5 1 0 0
D. Lee CB 14 6 0 0 1 0
A. O'Leary CB 14 5 0 0 0 0
R. Waterson LB 12 7 0 0 0 0
M. Diamond DE 9 10 1.5 0 0 1
J. Stokes DT 9 10 .5 2 2 0
M. Deery CB 12 5 0 1 1 3
E. Opitz DT 12 4 0 3 1 0
M. Boylan DT 11 5 1 1 1 0
J. Williams DT 7 8 .5 2 0 0
R. Howell CB 9 1 0 0 0 1
J. Scuorzo DE 6 3 0 1 0 0
P'burg-Plainfield Preview
P'burg kicks off its 2010 season against an unfamiliar foe Friday night when the Stateliners entertain Plainfield at Maloney Stadium in a Mid-State 39 crossover game.
Historically, P'burg and Plainfield have met 16 times on the gridiron. The schools played every year from 1911-1915, and again fron 1925-1934, with the Cardinals holding an overall 8-7-1 advantage. Plainfield holds the distinction of having scored the most points ever in a game against P'burg when they scored 53 in 1925. The last time the teams met was in 2001 when the Liners won 21-6 at Plainfield in the 1st round of state playoff action enroute to the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 championship. The Stateliners and Cardinals also met in a pre-season scrimmage at Maloney Stadium in 2005, when the Union County school featured all-state and All-American tackle Eugene Monroe, who starred for 4 years at Virginia and was the 8th pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1st round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Plainfield's football fortunes have been on a downward trend in recent years. The Cardinals, who were 2-8 last year, have not had a winning season since 2005. Over the last 10 years, they have appeared in state playoff action 3 times, in 2001, 2003, and in 2005, but were eliminated in the first round each time.
New head coach Bill Nyers hopes to turn around the Plainfield program, according to a story in the Star Ledger by Josh Rosenfeld, by "stressing discipline and organization." Plainfield, for years a member of the competitive Watchung Conference, will compete in the East A Division of the Mid-State 39 Conference. According to gridironnewjersey, they are considered a darkhorse in a division in which Immaculata is rated a huge favorite to capture the crown. Despite their recent troubles on the gridiron, Plainfield is sure to feature size, speed, and athleticism in the same mold as Piscataway, Franklin, and Elizabeth.
Plainfield's prospects for the 2010 season took a big hit, however, when star QB Tyrone Johnson opted to skip his senior season and transfer out of Plainfield to a prep school after receiving a scholarship to play basketball at Villanova. Johnson had been nominated over the summer to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in January, one of 12 New Jersey players to be named.
Reports have it the Cardinals gave a good account of themselves in a pre-season scrimmage with Paramus Catholic, with both teams scoring twice in goal line situations. Plainfield returns a good nucleus of players on both sides of the ball, and should be a much-improved team in spite of Johnson's loss.
In his absence, control of the offense has been turned over to 6-5 soph DiJohn "Sauce" Allen-Jordan, who is said to have a strong arm. He will have plenty of good targets to throw to in seniors Rashon Roach, Solomon Brown, and Terrell Godley, along with promising 6-5 soph Denzel "Criss Cross" Christian. RB Dawud "Woo Warrior" Hicks, a 6th-place finisher at 171 lbs. at the NJSIAA state wrestling championships, will carry the brunt of the load in the Cardinal running game. Protecting Allen-Jordan and opening up the running lanes for Hicks will be D-1 prospect Tiquan Womack (6-2, 300), a 2009 1st-team all-conference selection at OT, OG Lamond Sparrow, a 2nd-team pick, and OG Sharif Carter.
Defensively, Plainfield looks to Womack, who reportedly played Pitt-bound tackle Marquise Wright of Paramus Catholic, rated the #2 senior prospect in the state, to a standoff, to clog the running lanes. Hicks, a 1st-team all-conference selection last year, and Allen Brown form an athletic, hard-hitting combination at LB. In the secondary, Kell'e Gallimore, a 2nd-team all-conference selection, and safety Josh Wilson are the leaders. Speed, athleticism, and experience are the defense's greatest assets.
P'burg returns a veteran team, ranked in the top ten in the state by MaxPreps, with high hopes for a successful campaign. The Liners wrapped up their pre-season scrimmage schedule when they met South Brunswick last Thursday. Reportedly, the Liner offensive line still needs a lot of work to become an efficient group. Plainfield's size and speed could present a big challenge for this new unit, which returns only OG Sean McNerney from last year's starting interior line.
The Stateliners will surely mix the run with the passing game, as head coach Bob Stem likes to do. Stem is particularly fond of play action passes, so establishing the running game with 1,000 yard RB Dana Lee, along with FBs Gerald VanDeCruz and Jason Herman, will be a priority. Stem is not hesitant to put the ball in the air, and in senior Justin Scuorzo, he has one of the best QBs in the West Jersey/Lehigh Valley area. P'burg has some other outstanding skill position players to turn to, especially WR Matt Deery, an outstanding and versatile athlete, and WR Alex O'Leary.
Defensively, P'burg is strong and experienced at virtually every position. Sixteen of the top 20 tacklers from last year's sectional championship team return. Herman at SS, VanDeCruz at NG, Jeff Sullivan and Kyle Williams at DE, McNerney and DaJuan Lee at LB, and Deery and Dana Lee at CB will be the leaders of this group, which is quick and runs well to the ball. Should the Liners struggle early in the year with their offensive line, P'burg will turn to their D to dominate the line of scrimmage and set the offense up with good field position.
P'burg can also count on the strong leg of Anthony Castro, who tied the record for the longest FG in school history when he booted a 46-yarder vs Scotch Plains last year.
PREDICTION: Plainfield could present a stern opening test for a Stateliner team that is facing high expectations for a big season. Teams with speed and athleticism such as Plainfield can cause all kinds of problems, even for a veteran team such as P'burg, as Piscataway did last year. The Liners need to set the tone early at the line of scrimmage. Establishing a consistent running game will open up the passing lanes for Justin Scuorzo and his group of sure-handed WRs. One thing the Stateliners can count on is another jam-packed Maloney Stadium, filled with enthusiastic, die-hard P'burg fans. The hunch here is P'burg starts slowly, then wears down a game Plainfield team in the 2nd half to get the ball rolling on a highly-anticipated 2010 season. P'BURG 27 Plainfield 7.
2010 Season Preview
With back-to-back 10-2 seasons and sectional championships under their belts, the 2010 Stateliners are gearing up for what they hope will be a banner season.
Optimism and enthusiasm are at a high level with P'burg's faithful fans in anticipation of this year's season, as the Liners return a solid nucleus of players who have a chance to make this a special year.
Offensively, P'burg returns plenty of firepower, including 3-year starting QB Justin Scuorzo, as well as talented 1,000 yard RB Dana Lee. On defense, P'burg returns 16 of its top 20 tacklers, including team leader Jason Herman at SS, 3rd team all-state NG Gerald VanDeCruz, the top 3 LBs, several other starters, and a host of other players with a lot of experience.
In addition to the team's prospects, head coach Bob Stem is on the brink of perhaps the greatest accomplishment of his coaching career, needing only 4 wins to surpass legendary coach Mike Maloney as the winningest coach in garnet and grey history.
The Liner coaching staff has undergone some changes from last year. Defensive coordinator Ryan Ditze has moved on to Freedom, while WR coach Mike Lelko has left for North Hunterdon. To replace Ditze, head coach Bob Stem has brought in former P'burg head coach Bruce Smith to be his defensive coordinator.
This year, P'burg will once again compete in the Mid-State 39 Conference as a member of the West A Division, which has been tweaked a bit by replacing Watchung Hills with Ridge and Montgomery. The schedule has changed, with North Hunterdon back in the mix along with Plainfield, Ridge and Montgomery, who replace Warren Hills, Watchung Hills, Scotch Plains, and Elizabeth.
In the post-season, the Liners will again be situated in North Jersey Section 2 Group 4, where they are the defending champion despite being the smallest school enrollment-wise. P'burg is considered one of the teams to beat, along with rivals Piscataway and Hunterdon Central, in what is considered a very competitive section.
For the 3rd consecutive year, the Stateliner offense will be in the capable hands of Scuorzo. A rare 3-year starter, the 6-1, 195 pound senior is within striking distance of school records for career TD passes and career passing yardage held by former Liner star Justin Viscomi. Scuorzo, a Star Ledger 1st team Group 4 all-state selection last year, has thrown for 2,972 yards and 25 TDs in his career, putting him within 740 yards and 6 TDs of Viscomi. He has a great arm, is an adept ballhandler and good runner, and makes good decisions. He will be backed up by junior Jason Bohem (5-11, 161) and soph Aaron Brown (6-4, 185).
Scuorzo will have some good targets to throw to. Senior WR Matt Deery (5-11, 175) is an outstanding athlete who won a silver medal in the pole vault at this past spring's Meet of Champions, and is also the school record-holder in that event. He has good speed (he is also a talented hurdler on the Liner track team) and great hands. Deery's versatility is his greatest asset. After coming into the program as a QB, he was switched to RB, where he backed up his brother Eric, then was moved to WR last year, where he caught 7 passes for 130 yards and also threw 2 TD passes off reverses. He is also a threat as a kick returner and punt returner. Senior Alex O'Leary (5-11, 180) has the inside track at the other WR position. O'Leary is another athletic player who saw considerable action in the Liner secondary last year. A 3rd WR, junior Mike Diamond (6-1, 180), is currently hobbled by an ankle injury he suffered in July. Word has it Diamond looked very good during the summer's 7 on 7 workouts prior to his setback. The timetable for his return to action is unknown. Junior Robert Howell (6-0, 180) and junior Devin Grade (5-11, 170) provide depth at the position.
At TE, senior Nick Porcelli (6-1, 172) is the heir apparent to Johne Ringo, an excellent TE who has departed. Porcelli, who has good speed, was on the receiving end of a 50-yard TD strike from Scuorzo in ther Liners' scrimmage last night. Senior Jeff Sullivan (6-1, 195) may also see playing time, giving P'burg good depth at the position.
P'burg is known for producing outstanding RBs, and in senior Dana Lee, they have one of the best around. The 5-9, 182 pound senior rushed for 1,109 yards and 8 TDs last year, earning Star Ledger 3rd team Group 4 honors. Over the 2nd half of last season, Lee really turned it on, rushing for more than 100 yards in 5 consecutive games. Lee rose to the occasion in P'burg's 2 biggest games last year, when he put up 189 yards versus a very good Easton defense before blitzing Ridge for 218 yards in P'burg's sectional championship victory. A talented athlete, Lee is an outstanding receiver coming out of the backfield, where he caught 23 passes for 275 yards and a TD last year. A shifty runner, he combines speed and power with an uncanny ability to break tackles. Lee is backed up by a solid group of RBs that includes diminutive junior scatback Robin Custudio (5-4, 152), junior Joe Moyer (5-8, 163), junior Shaun Malloy (5-9, 190), and senior Majid Houston (5-7, 175). All are capable of filling in if necessary.
At FB, P'burg lost MIke Corman, but returns 2 solid players in senior Gerald VanDeCruz (5-10, 215) and senior Jason Herman (5-8, 195). Last year, VanDeCruz ran for 235 yards and 6 TDs, while Herman added 96 yards and scored 4 TDs. Both are strong runners between the tackles who possess surprising speed when in the open field. Talented soph DaJuan Lee (5-11, 232) is a promising backup who provides depth.
The biggest question mark for the Liners on offense, once again, is their offensive line, which lost four of five starters to graduation. Coach Bob Stem and his staff successfully replaced their entire offensive line a year ago. How successful they are in rebuilding this unit again will determine just how efficient the offense will be. Stem likes to attain a balance between running and throwing the ball, so development of the o-line will be a top priority in the pre-season.
Senior Jared Hager (5-10, 236) is slated to start at center. He gained valuable experience last year filling in several games for C Joe Edinger and OG Jose Mojica. He will be backed up by junior Chris Cioffe (5-11, 202) since promising junior Brandon Hull decided not to compete this year. At OG, senior Sean McNerney (5-11, 195) is the lone returning starter from last year. He will be the anchor of the offensive line. At the other guard spot, senior Thomas Vouglas (5-10, 232) and senior Mike Boylan (5-10, 225) are vying for the starting job. Boylan, who has trimmed his weight down to 225 to add quickness, was a starter at DT last year before being sidelined with an injury midway through the season. At OT, soph Jarrett " Big Cat " Williams (6-1, 247) and senior Eric Opitz (6-2, 215) appear to have won the starting jobs. Both lettered last year after seeing quite a bit of action on both sides of the ball. They give the Stateliners an athletic pair of tackles, with Opitz being an outstanding thrower on the track team, where he set the school record in the discus last spring. This unit got off to a slow start, especially in the running game, versus Quakertown, Pa. in the team's first scrimmage Friday night, but appeared to jell later in the outing. Additional depth along the offensive line comes from senior OG Cody Hardison (6-1, 215), and tackles Justin Carter (senior, 6-0, 218) and Cody Crouse (junior, 6-1, 242).
Defensively, the Stateliners return a wealth of talent and experience at all positions, which could make them a very good defensive team. Gone are FS Wolfgang Connell, CB Andrew Nesmith, DT Dylan Stair, and DE Mike Corman. But the cupboard is anything but bare with 7 starters and many players with lots of experience returning.
Anchoring the Liner defensive line will be senior NG Gerald VanDeCruz (5-10, 215). Another rare 3-year starter, VanDeCruz has been a disruptive force the past two years. A 3rd team Star Ledger all-state and 1st team Group 4 pick last year, he racked up 62 tackles, 4 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss, while recovering 2 fumbles. Over the past 2 seasons, VanDeCruz has accumulated 130 tackles (87 unassisted), had 11 sacks, 23 TFL, and 3 FR, amazing statistics for a NG. VanDeCruz is powerful, has a low center of gravity, and is extremely quick off the snap, which make him difficult to block. Joining him along the defensive line are senior DE Jeff Sullivan (6-1, 195), who had 49 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 6 TFL last year. The Liner coaching staff has moved senior Kyle Williams (6-0, 186) from his starting LB spot to the other DE position. Last year, Williams was 2nd on the team with 73 tackles, 4 sacks, and 5 TFL. At DT, soph Jarrett Williams (6-1, 247) and senior Eric Opitz (6-2, 215) are penciled in as the starters. They combined for 31 tackles and 5 TFL last year. This unit has experience, athleticism, quickness, and good mobility. Backups include senior Cody Hardison (6-1, 215), senior Justin Carter (6-0, 218), senior Mike Boylan (5-10, 225), and junior Cody Crouse (6-1, 242).
Despite moving Williams, the Liners have plenty of talent at LB. Senior Sean McNerney (5-11, 195) returns at one spot, where he was the team's 3rd leading tackler with 68 tackles and 8 TFL last year. His running mate will be super soph DaJuan Lee (5-11, 232), who has star potential. Last year as a true frosh, Lee had 59 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 TFL, and 2 FR. Providing depth is junior Robert Waterson (5-11, 180), who excelled on special teams last year, and junior Mike Diamond (6-1, 180), who saw plenty of action at DE last year
SS Jason Herman, the team's leading tackler, returns to anchor the secondary. The 5-8, 195 pound senior had 83 tackles last year, including 3 sacks, 11 TFL, 2 FR and 1 INT. Over the past 2 seasons, Herman, who has a real nose for the ball, has had 166 tackles, 5 sacks, and 22 TFL. He will be joined in the secondary by some very good athletes. CB Dana Lee, who had 20 tackles and 1 FR last year, returns for his 3rd year as a starter. He will be paired with senior Matt Deery (5-11, 175) at CB. Last year, Deery had 17 tackles and 3 picks, all coming vs Bridgewater QB Colin Clifford when he filled in for the injured Nesmith. At FS, senior Alex O'Leary (5-11, 180) has looked good in pre-season drills. Rotating in and providing depth are junior Robert Howell (6-0, 180) and junior Joe Moyer (5-8, 163). As a group, this unit has good speed and experience.
The Stateliners will once again use Dana Lee and Deery to return kickoffs, with Deery being the primary punt returner.
Returning for his senior season is K/P Anthony Castro, who tied the school record for the longest FG with a 46-yarder vs Scotch Plains.
P'burg will have good leadership this year with QB Justin Scuorzo, RB Dana Lee, SS Jason Herman, and NG Gerald VanDeCruz being elected captains for the season.
PREDICTION: P'burg has the potential to have an outstanding season this year. The Liners have some outstanding skill position players. The key to the offense rests with the offensive line, where depth may be a concern. If their offensive line develops, P'burg has the potential to be a good offensive team. Defensively, the Stateliners have few weaknesses, and should be able to carry the team until the offensive line comes together. They possess speed and experience, and have some outstanding playmakers. The schedule may be a little stronger than last year, with Plainfield, Montgomery, and Franklin all picked by gridironnewjersey as possible surprise teams for the upcoming year. P'burg also faces landmines in Hunterdon Central and Easton, two teams they have not had much success with in recent years. One concern is the number of players going both ways. Assuming Scuorzo, Lee and company stay healthy, P'burg should be able to duplicate their 10-2 seasons of the past two years. If everything falls into place, and with some luck, the Liners could run the table. Look for an 11-1 season and a rematch with Piscataway in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 championship game.
Post-Season Honors
All-State
P'burg junior Garald VanDeCruz led a group of four Stateliners who received all-state honors from the Star Ledger when he was named 3rd team all-state at his nose guard 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 defensive linemen 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 title while at the helm at P'burg, having also won titles in 1977, 2005, and 2008. He stands as P'burg's 2nd winningest coach of all time, trailing only 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, 4 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries. Senior WR/S Wolfgang Connell was named to the 2nd team as a safety. Connell (6-1,188) served as a 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 (1,477 yards passing, 12 TDs), junior RB Dana Lee (1,109 yards rushing), senior center 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 Stateliners on their well-deserved honors.
Stateliner Sidelines
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 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.
Numerous P'burg players finished among the leaders in the final Express-Times offensive categories. QB Justin Scuorzo finished #2 in the area QB rankings with a 147.4 rating. RB Dana Lee finished#12 in rushing yards per game, averaging 100 ypg, while Monsio Jlaka finished 21st with a 62 ypg average. Dana Lee also finished tied for 10th in receptions with 23, WR Wolfgang Connell finished 11th with 22, WR Andrew Nesmith tied for 13th with 20, and TE Johne Ringo finished 15th with 17.
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 is 2nd all-time in coaching victories at Phillipsburg with 103 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 have now given Stem 103 wins, moving him to within 3 victories of P'burg's all-time winningest coach, Mike Maloney, who has 106.
The 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
Former Stateliner WR/DB/KR Malcolm Dock, a senior DB at Rowan U. in Glassboro, N.J., was named first-team DB by the NJAC in 2009. 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, was named the Centennial Conference football Coach of the Year in 2009 . 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.
Former Stateliner star Leonard Brice joined the Phillipsburg coaching staff as a voluntary assistant in 2009. 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 ever at P'burg. 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.
