The Phillipsburg (NJ) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Northern Highlands (Allendale, NJ) today at 7 p.m. This matchup is part of the “2024 New Jersey High School Football Playoff Brackets: NJSIAA – Group 4” tournament.

Northern Highlands vs Phillipsburg Football Game Info:

What: New Jersey High School Football Playoffs
Who: Northern Highlands vs Phillipsburg
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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Game preview: Northern Highlands vs Phillipsburg

The high school football season has been filled with exciting matchups, but one that has garnered particular attention is the upcoming game between Northern Highlands and Phillipsburg. These two teams are coming off strong seasons, each with distinct styles of play and impressive performances, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown.

Team Overview

Northern Highlands enters the game with a 7-4 overall record and a 3-1 league record. They’ve been a balanced team, with a solid performance both at home (4-1) and on the road (2-2). Northern Highlands has been scoring an average of 21.5 points per game, with their highest-scoring quarter being the second, averaging 6.8 points. The team relies on a strong rushing game, with Sam Dech leading the way with an average of 66.1 yards per game, and quarterback Jett Genovese contributing heavily in both passing (155.4 yards per game) and total yardage (199.2 yards per game).

Phillipsburg, on the other hand, has been dominant throughout the season, boasting a 10-1 overall record, including a perfect 6-0 at home. Their high-powered offense has been firing on all cylinders, averaging an impressive 37.5 points per game. Phillipsburg has been especially strong in the first two quarters, where they average 9.3 points in the first and 17.5 points in the second. Leading the charge for Phillipsburg is quarterback Jett Genovese, who ranks third in total yards with an average of 199.2 yards per game. Their rushing game has also been dominant, with an average of 208.1 yards per game.

Key Players and Stats

For Northern Highlands, the standout players are:

• Sam Dech, with 66.1 rushing yards per game.
• Jett Genovese, who leads in passing yards with 155.4 per game and total yards with 199.2 per game.
• Matthew Scerbo Jr., a key receiver with 94.3 yards per game.
• Jayden Lucas, the defensive standout with an average of 8.5 tackles per game.

Phillipsburg counters with:

• Jett Genovese again leading the team in both passing and total yardage.
• Khalil Lewis, contributing on defense with 0.5 sacks per game.
• The team’s ability to control the game with their ground attack, averaging 208.1 rushing yards per game.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced off against Westfield this season. Northern Highlands recorded a 21-0 victory over Westfield at home on November 1, 2024, while Phillipsburg defeated Westfield 44-17 on September 6, 2024. Both teams came out on top in this matchup, but Phillipsburg’s commanding win might give them an edge heading into this game.

What to Expect

The game is expected to be a thrilling battle, with both teams having impressive offensive capabilities. Northern Highlands will likely focus on controlling the game through a balanced attack, utilizing both their running game and Genovese’s passing ability. Phillipsburg, with their explosive offense and undefeated home record, will be looking to put pressure on Northern Highlands early and maintain control throughout the game.

While Northern Highlands’ defense, led by players like Jayden Lucas, will need to be sharp to slow down Phillipsburg’s potent offense, the key to victory for Phillipsburg will be continuing their dominance in the first half and exploiting Northern Highlands’ defensive weaknesses.

Conclusion

With a well-rounded offense and a strong defense, Phillipsburg enters as the favorite in this game, but Northern Highlands has proven that they can rise to the occasion, especially with standout players like Jett Genovese and Sam Dech. Expect a fast-paced, high-energy game that could go down to the wire as these two teams battle for supremacy. Fans on both sides will be watching closely to see which team comes out on top in what promises to be an exciting matchup.