By David Hashagen

There was no question that the Winslow Eagles were an excellent football team before Wednesdays Group 4 state final. Undefeated, and having only allowed their opponents to score into the double digits twice all season, some were calling them the best team in south Jersey if not the state.  The only question was how they would handle Phillipsburg, a program with a long tradition of winning and surely still stinging from their loss to rival Easton on Thanksgiving.

Well, all of those questions were answered quickly and with emphasis. Not only did the Eagles claim an undefeated season at SHI Stadium, but also a first ever state championship to go with it. And to say it mildly, they did it in dominating fashion, with QB Jalen Parker putting on a show, and a team defensive performance that stopped the Stateliners at every turn.

After a punt on the opening drive pinned Phillipsburg deep in their own territory, Winslow’s defense quickly went to work, forcing a 3 and out on their opponents opening drive including their first of 7 team sacks on the night. After getting great field position on the ensuing punt, it took Winslow just 2 plays to find the endzone, as Parker found Kentucky commit Cam Miller who made a beautiful highpoint reception in the corner of the endzone for a 26 yards touchdown.

Phillipsburg looked to respond immediately on the following drive, as school record holder Jett Genovese ran and threw his team inside the Winslow 25.  However, following a high snap that pushed them back, Nyqir Helton stepped into the way of Genovese’s next attempt and took it to the house on a 67-yard pick 6 to put his team up two scores. The pick would be his first of two on the evening.

The Stateliners would again be denied any answers on their following drive, forced into another three and out capped by a sack from Ausar Heard.  This time though Coach Duffy’s defense would get stubborn, forcing a punt after some excellent defensive plays in the center of the field including a sack by Jayden Lucas.  But once again Phillipsburg would find themselves pinned after a quick kick was muffed by Felix Matos who fortunately saw the ball go into the endzone for a touchback. Had it been a Saturday in Piscataway, it would’ve been 6 more on the board for the Eagles, but because of high school rules, the north Jersey side escaped that fate.

Escaped though quickly became delaying the inevitable, after the Phillipsburg offense stalled once again and a failed 4^th down conversion gave the ball back to the Eagles.  It was more of the same for Winslow as Parker found Boston College commit Marcus Upton for a 28-yard completion.  Coach Belton then went to the run game, feeding the rock to NaKeem Powell 3 times before finding the endzone on a two-yard run to extend the lead to three scores.

But Winslow wasn’t finished.  Phillipsburg’s next drive lasted only one play as Genovese was picked off again by Helton, who leapt into the air and snagged the ball to give his team another offensive possession.  Following a pair of completions to TJ Maddox, the sophomore QB Parker again showed skill well above his years, finding Miller again who spun out of a tackle and into the endzone for a 15-yard score.

The state final on Wednesday night was the conclusion of a breakout season for the young signal caller, who finished the game 17-22 for 238 yards and 2 TD’s, and for the season racked up 2,916 yards and 43 touchdowns with just 10 picks.  A year that will certainly put him on the map for college recruiters for the next 2 years as they travel to the Garden State.

The second half started out much more promisingly for the Stateliners.  After finding Felix Matos for a 17-yard completion, Genovese continued the drive himself picking up a 14-yard rush into Winslow territory.  But the drive again would stall after Matos picked up an injury which would sideline him for the rest of the contest, and soon after Genovese would be sacked again this time by Rob Carstarphen to turn it over on downs.

Following a couple of failed drives from either side which saw P’burg frustrations grow, Winslow would put together their final scoring drive of the night. Following a 30-yard completion to Upton, Parker would again go to his running backs, first to Powell and then to KaRon Ali whose fresh legs gave him a burst no one could catch.  The junior followed a 17-yard carry with another one for 28 to the endzone for his first and only score of the night giving the Eagles a 35-0 lead that would hold until the clock hit zero.

The win for the side from Atco, NJ was the bow on what was another dominant championship week for south Jersey, who claimed 4 of the 5 public state titles. In fact since the new overall state winner format went into place 3 years ago, South Jersey have gone 10-5 in state title games at this point.  But few if any could have stacked up to what Winslow was able to do this season. Not just capturing a first ever state championship in undefeated style, but perhaps planting the seeds of a new dynasty that we may see come into fruition in the years to come.