Easton’s football program has accomplished many things in over a century of existence.
However, they’ve never won 14 games in a season, or scored more than 532 points in a season…until Thursday afternoon.
The Red Rovers dominated rival Phillipsburg 35-6 in the 118th edition of the famous Thanksgiving rivalry to reach 14 wins in a season for the first time in school history and set a new single-season record with 534 points.
Star quarterback Cole Ordway converted a 3rd-and-16 on the team’s opening drive with a 19-yard scramble, one play after a 38-yard touchdown was wiped off the board by penalty, and followed it up with a 21-yard touchdown run on fourth down to put his team ahead early.
The most telling sign of what was to come came on the following drive as the Red Rovers took over at their own 9-yard-line after a Phillipsburg three-and-out, going 91 yards on just three plays in 26 seconds to double their early advantage.
Ordway raced for 40 yards, found Andrew Biddle over the middle of the field for 46 more and handed it to senior running back Trevon Tyler for the final three yards and a touchdown.
As if the offense wasn’t enjoying enough success, the special teams unit provided a score of its own. Two costly offensive penalties backed Phillipsburg punter Alexie Moreira into his own end zone where Easton senior Sean Kilpatrick met him for a blocked punt that senior teammate Anthony Diaz recovered in the end zone for another Easton touchdown.
The pair also played a major role in limiting Phillipsburg’s potent rushing attack and sparked a defensive unit that forced four fumbles, recovering three, and adding a fourth turnover on an Ordway interception.
Ordway racked up 234 total yards – 125 passing and 109 rushing – on the day to lead the Red Rovers offense and earn offensive MVP honors. Biddle picked up 79 receiving yards while Chris Martinez added 57 of the team’s 186 yards on the ground and a touchdown.
Algee Macon forced a pair of fumbles on 1.5 sacks to bring home defensive MVP honors for the Red Rovers.
Derek Bast is a freelance writer who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast. He can be reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.
PHILLIPSBURG 6, EASTON 35
Phillipsburg: 0; 0; 6; 0 — 0
Easton: 14; 14; 0; 7 — 35
ORDER OF SCORING
First quarter
E: Cole Ordway 21 run (Noah Borluca kick); 8:23
E: Trevon Tyler 3 run (Borluca kick); 6:20
Second quarter
E: Anthony Diaz blocked punt return in end zone (Borluca kick); 6:57
E: Chris Martinez 15 run (Borluca kick); 1:45
Third quarter
P: Mike Bracco 81 pass from Dominic Bracco (Alexie Moreira kick failed); 10:14
Fourth quarter
E: Ordway 8 run (Borluca kick); 4:28
