The rivalry between Phillipsburg and Easton has long been recognized as one of the most intense in the country. P'burg/Easton was listed among Sports Illustrated's best rivalries in 1994, and was listed as the greatest high school rivalry in the nation on the front page of USA Today on November 22, 2006. And in 2007, the annual clash between these two interstate rivals was inducted into the Great American Rivalry Series by iHigh.com. The Thanksgiving Day meeting between the two traditional football powers has also gained national recognition through television, having been broadcast live on ESPN on two occasions: in 1988, and in 2006, the 100th meeting between the two schools.  The rivalry has it all:  a long and storied history spanning more than a century, and great tradition...Easton is ranked #2 in wins in Pennsylvania, while P'burg is ranked #1 in New Jersey. The game embodies a natural interstate rivalry between two proud schools in bordering states who are separated only by a free bridge spanning the Delaware River.  The outcome of the game has such significance to the players, coaches, fans and residents of each community that nearly all will agree: it is more important to win this game than it is to win a championship. 

The first-ever meeting between Phillipsburg and Easton occurred on December 2, 1905.  The teams have played nearly every year since-they did not play in 1909, 1912, and 1913, and played twice in 1907.  The first time they met on Thanksgiving Day was on November 30, 1916.  All Phillipsburg/Easton games have been played at Lafayette College in Easton.  The following games represent some of the most memorable battles ever witnessed between the two rivals:

Memory Lane

1942: Phillipsburg 12 Easton 6

The 1942 edition of the Old Grey Mares, as they were known at the time, came into the Thanksgiving Day game with an 8-0-1 record, having shut out their first 8 opponents.  P'burg failed to score in the first quarter after Paul Leone blocked  an Easton punt. But on their next possession, with good field position, P'burg cashed in to take a 6-0 lead.  In the second quarter, Easton scored to tie the game @ 6-6 when they returned the favor by blocking a P'burg punt. Late in the fourth quarter, Phillipsburg scored the decisive TD when halfback Mickey Frinzi, who scrambled 13 yards behind the line of scrimmage to the Easton 35 yard line, suddenly spotted end Bill Fegley waving his arms in the back of the endzone.  Frinzi's 44 yard pass for the winning score became known as the famous " Frinzi to Fegley " touchdown pass, which has become one of the legendary plays in P'burg football history.  The 9-0-1 garnet and grey were crowned Big 4 champions and were declared North Jersey co-champions with Bloomfield and East Orange.  Frinzi would later coach P'burg from 1968-1972 and then serve as athletic director from 1976-1991.

1955: Phillipsburg 7 Easton 6

The 1955 clash with Easton proved to be one of sweet revenge for Phillipsburg. Easton had sprung one of the greatest upsets in series history the previous year when a Rover team with just 2 wins under its belt brought unbeaten P'burg's season to a crashing end by the exact same score of 7-6. Easton came into the 1955 contest unbeaten for the first time since 1939, and the underdog Stateliners returned the favor to the Rovers.  In front of 20,000, Easton took a 6-0 lead when standout running back Pete Americus ran 22 yards for a 3rd quarter score.  The PAT, however, was blocked by P'burg's Bob Stem.  Gene Cowell later recovered an Americus fumble for P'burg at the Rover 33 yard line.  After a 17 yard bootleg by P'burg quarterback Gus Rogers put the ball at Easton's goal line, fullback Bill Opdyke scored, and a successful conversion kick gave P'burg a 7-6 lead.  With 5 minutes remaining, the Rovers embarked on an 85 yard drive which ended when the clock expired with the ball resting inches from the Stateliner goal line.  A 59 yard touchdown run by Americus earlier in the game had also been nullified by a penalty, helping coach Harold Bellis earn his first win ever over Easton. 

1960: Phillipsburg 7 Easton 6 

The Stateliners prevailed 7-6 before 19,500,  in a game in which both teams entered undefeated. Phillipsburg scored in the first period after recovering a Rover fumble on the Easton 17 yardline. The Stateliners also recorded a first period goalline stand when Easton running back Joe Creazzo slipped and fell on the 1 yard line on fourth down. The Rovers closed to within 7-6 in the third period when Mike Weaver returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown. However, the point after attempt was unsuccessful. With time running down in the contest, the Rovers drove to the Pburg 7, but a field goal attempt was blocked. The game ended two plays later.  This classic matchup of unbeatens, with both lineups dotted with outstanding players, was a tough defensive battle between two of the best teams the schools have ever fielded.

1966: Easton 13  P'burg 6

The Rovers entered the 1966 game as huge favorites, coming into the contest with 7 straight victories after an early season loss to powerful Pennsbury.  P'burg had struggled the entire season and came in at 4-4, needing a win to salvage a winning season.  P'burg took a 6-0 lead after driving 60 yards for a score following Bob Duckworth's recovery of a Rover fumble. The Rovers took a 7-6 lead when All-Big 33 running back John Cappellano scored on 4th and goal from the one following a P'burg fumble at its own 16 yard line.  In the middle of the 4th quarter, the unheralded Liners started on what appeared to be a possible game-winning drive, spearheaded by the tough running of halfback Buddy Morris.  But after advancing strictly on the ground all the way to the Rover 32, the Stateliners inexplicably attempted a 1st down pass in the right flat which was intercepted by Rover linebacker Robin Griffin, who streaked 68 yards down the left sideline to rescue the Rovers.  The heartbreaking loss gave P'burg its first losing season since 1940.

1967: Phillipsburg 0 Easton 0

The 1967 game featured a 9-0 Easton team which had won 16 straight and was ranked #2 in the state. The Stateliners entered at 6-2, losing only to #1 East Orange and to winless Bethlehem Liberty in a huge letdown the following week.  The 1967 game also marked the last game for legendary coaches Bob Rute of Easton and Harold Bellis of Phillipsburg, who both retired at game's end.  The hard-hitting contest, played before 20,000 on a damp, overcast, drizzly day, featured three goalline stands, two by P'burg. The Liners had a chance to win it after blocking a Rover punt and driving to Easton's 2 with only minutes left, but a fumble ended the threat. Easton then began a last-gasped drive to pull out the win and preserve their unbeaten season.  After driving to near midfield, the game subsequently ended near the Liner goalline when the Rovers' outstanding all-state halfback Bob Pilz was tripped up by P'burg's Don Samson after a long pass and run which allowed the remaining time to expire before the Rovers could line up for another play (the clock did not stop in those days when a first down was achieved). In nine games, this small but extremely quick Stateliner team, ranked #2 in the state when it played #1 East Orange, recorded five shutouts and gave up only a kickoff return for a TD against Allentown William Allen in a sixth.

1988: Phillipsburg 20 Easton 15

P'burg/Easton clashes are always highly anticipated. But the1988 game took the anticipation to another level when it was learned the game would be televised by ESPN to a national audience. The pre-game hype featured a documentary about the rivalry and the towns themselves, which included interviews with families and fans from both sides of the river. The game itself did not disappoint either. Trailing 15-13, the Stateliners embarked on the game-winning drive with just minutes left behind junior back-up quarterback John Troxell, who replaced injured starter Rich Price. A fourth down completion to wide receiver Kevin DeGerolamo, who made a spectacular over-the-shoulder diving catch, kept the drive alive. Troxell then hit diminutive wide receiver Lou Moser over the middle for the winning score with just seconds remaining to give P'burg a 20-15 victory. With its dramatic finish, the 1988 game ranks as one of the most exciting ever.         

2003: Phillipsburg 26 Easton 23

In 2003, a Phillipsburg team still stinging from a 31-27 loss to an underdog Ridge team in the first round of the state playoffs after leading by as many as 14 points, attempted to redeem itself against an 11-1 Easton team. The Rovers came into the game ranked #1 in the Express-Times area, while the 8-1 Stateliners entered the game ranked #2. A high scoring first half ended with P'burg holding a 26-15 advantage. Phillipsburg's scoring was highlighted by a 76 yard halfback option pass by All-State running back Brandon Mason to wide receiver Tim Penyak. The Rovers crept within 26-23 late in the fourth quarter when running back Brad Piperata scampered 53 yards down the Rover sideline for a score. Easton then got the ball back with 1:07 left in the game and drove to the Phillipsburg 33 yard line. On 3rd and 1, however, quarterback Luke Carlson overthrew his receiver and safety Tim Penyak made a diving interception with less than 30 seconds remaining to seal the win. This outstanding Phillipsburg team could only lament what could have been, as it stood helplessly by as Ridge shut out its next two opponents to win the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 state title.

Thanksgiving Day Records

Most yards rushing: 314- Juan Gaddy- Easton (1991)

Most rushing TDs: 4- Zolt Stamus- Pburg (1932)

Most yards receiving: 141- Ken Slamp- Easton (1923)

Most TD receptions: 3- Kim Tophoney- Pburg (1997)

Longest rushing TD: 96 yards- LeRoy Lear- Pburg (1948)

Most yards passing: 235- Glen McNamee- Pburg (1991)

Most TD passes: 4- Brian Dominic- Pburg (1969)

Longest TD reception/pass: 76 yards- Tim Penyak from Brandon Mason- Pburg (2003)

Most interceptions: 3- Jarred Holley- Easton (2007)

Most coaching victories: 11- Bob Rute- Easton (1948-67)

  P'Burg/Easton Hall of Fame

  2006 Inductees                    2007 Inductees

Mike Maloney (Coach 1905-1931)              Frank Klein (Coach 1940-1951)

Clayton Willever (1918)                                 Frederick "Sonny" Judson (1942)

Charlie Berry (1920)                                       Ray Mantoni (1946)

Ted Dailey (1928)                                            Rich Barbadora  (1951)                                        

George "Sammie" Moyer (1935)                 George Hummer (1964)

Earl "Turk" Reed (1943)

Bill Walsh (1944)

Mickey Frinzi (1945)

Jim Ringo (1948)

Russ Dilts (1949)

Harold Bellis (Coach 1954-1967)

Don DeGerolamo (1954)

Herb Stecker (1961)

Jim Clymer (1979)

Ned Bolcar (1984)

P'burg-Easton Series History

2007 E 17 P 6

2006 E 21 P 7              1981 P 23 E 0               1956 P 18 E 6          1931 E 7 P 6 

2005 P 17 E 0                 1980 E 14 P 3                   1955 P 7 E 6               1930 E 20 P 7

2004 E 31 P 0                 1979 E 35 P 22                 1954 E 7 P 6               1929 P 13 E 0

2003 P 26 E 23               1978 E 14 P 7                   1953 E 14 P 7             1928 E 21 P 12

2002 P 25 E 0                  1977 P 7 E 6                    1952 E 14 P 7              1927 E 20 P 13      

2001 E 28 P 7                 1976 P 28 E 0                   1951 E 28 P 13           1926 P 6 E 6

2000 E 17 P 14               1975 E 7 P 0                     1950 E 20 P 13           1925 E 27 P 7

1999 E 41 P 7                 1974 E 10 P 6                   1949 P 33 E 7             1924 E 21 P 0

1998 E 34 P 0                  1973 P 18 E 6                  1948 P 46 E 0             1923 E 31 P 7

1997 P 26 E 6                  1972 P 15 E 13                1947 P 31 E 0             1922 P 7 E 7       

1996 E 27 P 7                  1971 P 8 E 0                     1946 P 19 E 0            1921 E 44 P 7

1995 E 25 P 13                1970 E 23 P 0                   1945 P 6 E 0              1920 P 14 E 7 

1994 E 34 P 6                  1969 P 41 E 8                    1944 P 0 E 0             1919 E 13 P 7

1993 E 7 P 7                    1968 E 20 P 0                    1943 E 7 P 2             1918 P 9 E 0

1992 E 29 P 0                  1967 E 0 P 0                      1942 P 12 E 6           1917 E 35 P 7

1991 E 24 P 15                1966 E 13 P 6                    1941 P 7 E 0             1916 E 14 P 7

1990 P 28 E 0                  1965 E 13 P 6                    1940 E 7 P 2             1915 E 3 P 0

1989 P 21 E 12                1964 P 7 E 0                      1939 E 7 P 0             1914 E 7 P 0

1988 P 20 E 15                1963 P 33 E 6                    1938 E 12 P 7           1911 E 6 P 0

1987 P 18 E 10                1962 P 9 E 0                      1937 E 7 P 0             1910  P 5 E 0

1986 E 20 P 10                1961 P 7 E 0                      1936 E 28 P 0           1908 E 11 P 0

1985 E 14 P 7                   1960 P 7 E 6                     1935 P 24 E 0           1907 E 16 P 0

1984 P 14 E 12                 1959 E 21 P 0                   1934 P 13 E 0           1907 E 5 P 0

1983 P 14 E 7                   1958 E 26 P 6                   1933 P 13 E 0           1906 E 47 P 0

1982 P 32 E 0                   1957 E 20 P 7                   1932 P 26 E 0           1905 E 26 P  0

                            Turkey Day Stuff (ing)

...Easton leads the series 56-40-5...The highest attendance for a P'burg/Easton game is 23,000 in 1946...Easton's longest winning streak in the series is 5 (1905-1908, 1936-1940, & 1950-1954;  P'burg's is also 5  (1945-1949 & 1960-1964)...P'burg won 8 of 9 games from 1981-1990; Easton won 9 of 11 from 1991-2001...The largest margin of victory is 47 for Easton in 1906 (47-0) and 46 for P'burg in 1946 (46-0)... The most points scored in one game is 57 in 1979 when Easton prevailed 35-22...The fewest points in one game is 0 (teams tied 0-0 in 1944 & 1967)...P'burg head coach Bob Stem is 5-7 versus Easton...Both schools had unbeaten streaks of 6 games in the series (Easton from 1921-1926 & P'burg from 1944-1949)...