NJSIAA State Championship Football Preview
Three teams from the seven-county South Jersey area have qualified to play in the NJSIAA football state championship game. The three are Glassboro, Mainland and Winslow Township.
This is the third year of NJSIAA state football championships for public school teams. Here is a look at the three games involving area teams.
Group 1
Glassboro (12-0) vs. Cedar Grove (13-0), Friday, 5 p.m. at MetLife Stadium
This is Glassboro’s second straight year in the state final after losing to Mountain Lakes, 24-6 in last year’s championship game. The Bulldogs are coming off a 36-0 Group 1 state semifinal win over Woodstown. In the regular season Glassboro had defeated Woodstown, 20-7. Senior Kenny Smith has rushed for 1,407 yards and 19 touchdowns despite missing the first three games while sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. Smith previously attended Hammonton. In the state semifinal win he rushed for 219 yards and two scores. Junior Jack O’Connell completed 11-of-14 for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Xavier Sabb is among the top sophomores in the state. He has caught 43 passes for 774 yards and 11 touchdowns. His brother Amari Sabb, a junior, has 56 receptions for 1,049 yards and 12 scores.
Glassboro (12-0) vs. Cedar Grove (13-0), Friday, 5 p.m. at MetLife Stadium
This is Glassboro’s second straight year in the state final after losing to Mountain Lakes, 24-6 in last year’s championship game. The Bulldogs are coming off a 36-0 Group 1 state semifinal win over Woodstown. In the regular season Glassboro had defeated Woodstown, 20-7. Senior Kenny Smith has rushed for 1,407 yards and 19 touchdowns despite missing the first three games while sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. Smith previously attended Hammonton. In the state semifinal win he rushed for 219 yards and two scores. Junior Jack O’Connell completed 11-of-14 for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Xavier Sabb is among the top sophomores in the state. He has caught 43 passes for 774 yards and 11 touchdowns. His brother Amari Sabb, a junior, has 56 receptions for 1,049 yards and 12 scores.
Cedar Grove is coming off a 52-21 state semifinal win over Butler. QB Stephen Paradiso completed 21-of-36 for 368 yards and four touchdowns. For the season he has thrown for 3,501 yards and 40 touchdowns, while rushing for 262 yards and eight scores. The leading receiver is senior Jackson Morrice, who has 89 receptions for 1789 yards and 21 scores.
Group 3
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Old Tappan (11-1) vs. Mainland (10-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. at Rutgers
Mainland is the defending Group 4 state champion. The Mustangs have benefited from competing in South Jersey’s toughest conference, the WJFL American Division. All three losses were to American Division teams – Millville, St. Augustine and Group 4 state finalist Winslow Township. The Mustangs are coming off a wild 36-35 OT win over previously unbeaten Somerville in a state Group 3 semifinal. Junior Jake Blum caught the winning two-point conversion pass from classmate John Franchini. Blum has 10 receptions for 175 yards in the semifinal win. For the season he has 49 receptions for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns. Franchini has thrown for 2,133 yards and 20 TDs. Senior Rocco DeBiaso has rushed for 1,052 yards and 16 touchdowns.
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Old Tappan (11-1) vs. Mainland (10-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. at Rutgers
Mainland is the defending Group 4 state champion. The Mustangs have benefited from competing in South Jersey’s toughest conference, the WJFL American Division. All three losses were to American Division teams – Millville, St. Augustine and Group 4 state finalist Winslow Township. The Mustangs are coming off a wild 36-35 OT win over previously unbeaten Somerville in a state Group 3 semifinal. Junior Jake Blum caught the winning two-point conversion pass from classmate John Franchini. Blum has 10 receptions for 175 yards in the semifinal win. For the season he has 49 receptions for 1,236 yards and 13 touchdowns. Franchini has thrown for 2,133 yards and 20 TDs. Senior Rocco DeBiaso has rushed for 1,052 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Old Tappan defeated Pascack Valley, 43-14 in the state Group 3 semifinal, avenging its lone loss of the season when Pascack Valley beat the Golden Knights, 28-21. Sophomore Zachary Micelli has thrown for 2,071 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has rushed for 351 yards and seven scores. The leading rusher is senior Nick Rossi, who has 944 yards and 11 TDs. Senior Alex Orecchio has 42 receptions for 624 yards and six touchdowns.
Group 4
Phillipsburg (11-1) vs. Winslow Township (13-0), Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. at Rutgers
Before playing in the championship, Phillipsburg will visit Easton in their longstanding Thanksgiving rivalry. Winslow Township will be well rested. The Eagles last played on Saturday, Nov. 23 when they beat Millville, 13-7 in the state Group 4 semifinal. That was a more difficult game than Winslow Township faced in its regular season meeting when the Eagles beat Millville, 35-7. The playoff win over Millville was the first time this season Winslow Township hasn’t won by at least two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker has thrown for 2,679 yards and 41 touchdowns. Junior Nyqir Helton has caught 44 passes for 809 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wisconsin commit Cam Miller has 38 receptions for 655 yards and 12 scores.
Phillipsburg (11-1) vs. Winslow Township (13-0), Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. at Rutgers
Before playing in the championship, Phillipsburg will visit Easton in their longstanding Thanksgiving rivalry. Winslow Township will be well rested. The Eagles last played on Saturday, Nov. 23 when they beat Millville, 13-7 in the state Group 4 semifinal. That was a more difficult game than Winslow Township faced in its regular season meeting when the Eagles beat Millville, 35-7. The playoff win over Millville was the first time this season Winslow Township hasn’t won by at least two touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker has thrown for 2,679 yards and 41 touchdowns. Junior Nyqir Helton has caught 44 passes for 809 yards and 13 touchdowns. Wisconsin commit Cam Miller has 38 receptions for 655 yards and 12 scores.
Phillipsburg entered its Thanksgiving game having won nine in a row. The lone loss was a 28-21 to Ridge, which ended its season 8-2. In the first 12 games, senior quarterback Jeff Genovese has thrown for 1,720 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 652 yards and 10 scores.
The Stateliners’ leading receiver is junior Matthew Scerbo who has 46 receptions for 1,058 yards and 11 TDs.
Photo: Nyqir Helton of Winslow Township / Marc Narducci
Author: Marc Narducci
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