1984 J.P. Stevens Hawks Football

This season marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 J.P. Stevens Hawks’ Central Jersey Group 4 Championship. The then 2nd-seeded Hawks upset top-seeded and undefeated East Brunswick to win the title. The 1984 J.P. Stevens Hawks finished 8-3 overall.

Fortieth Anniversary of CJ Group 4 Champion Hawks

The 2024 season marks the 40th anniversary of the 1984 J.P. Stevens football team.  This edition of the J.P. Stevens Hawks won its 2nd sectional championship in three seasons and 4th since 1977. 

Going from an 11-0 championship season to a 7-3 team with a first-round exit a year ago, the Hawks not only finished 8-3 overall but also won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 Championship.  Junior halfback, George Boothe rushed for 3 TDs, caught a pass, and made a huge interception late in the game to preserve the win.  Take a look at the 1984 J.P. Stevens Hawks season below.

1984 J.P. Stevens Football Schedule

DateWinnerWinning ScoreLoserLosing Score
9/22/84J.P. Stevens27Perth Amboy7
9/30/84J.P. Stevens20Woodbridge6
10/7/84J.P. Stevens21Sayreville0
10/13/84J.P. Stevens21Trenton14
10/19/84J.P. Stevens21Cedar Ridge13
10/27/84East Brunswick26J.P. Stevens6
11/3/84Colonia16J.P. Stevens10
11/10/84J.P. Stevens14Madison Central7
11/17/84J.P. Stevens10Middletown North0
11/22/84Edison28J.P. Stevens6
12/1/84J.P. Stevens27East Brunswick26
A Look Back at the 1984 J.P. Stevens Hawks Football Team

Statistics

  • Final Record:  8-3 – Central Jersey Group 4 Champions
  • Division Record: 5-3 – Finished 4th in the Middlesex County Athletic Conference
  • Home:  5-1
  • Away/Neutral:  3-2
  • 1983 Record:  7-3 – lost in the 1983 CJ Group 4 Semifinals to Middletown South (27-14).
  • Points For:  183
  • Points Against:  143
  • PPG:  16.6
  • PAPG:  13.0
  • Largest margin of victory:  21 points vs. Sayreville
  • Closest margin of victory:  1 point vs. East Brunswick in 1984 CJ Group 4 Championship
  • Most points scored in a game: 27 vs. Perth Amboy on 9/22/84 and East Brunswick in 1984 CJ Group 4 Championship
  • Longest winning streak:  5 games (from September 22 to October 19)
  • Shutouts:  Two (21-0 over Sayreville on 10/7/84 and 10-0 over Middletown North in CJ Group 4 Semifinals)
  • Offensive firepower:  Six games where J.P. Stevens scored 20 points or more.
  • Defensive grit:  Five games where J.P. Stevens held opponents to 7 points or less.

Head Coach

  • Tony Simonelli – 2nd year

Key Players

  • QB Robert Thomas
  • RB/DB George Boothe
  • RB Don Grubbs
  • RB/DB Troy Johnson
  • TE/DE Eric Fromm
  • SE/S Ben Greene
  • SE Scott Kimball
  • C John Gibbons
  • G/DE Rick Inacio
  • G/NG Rick Galasso
  • OT/DT Pete Pawlenko
  • OT/DT Mike Volpe
  • OT/DT Phil Pender
  • OT/DT Anderson Adams
  • OL/DL Tom Danik
  • P/K Kyle Pagach

1984 Central Jersey Group 4 State Tournament

Semifinals (11/17)

    • FINAL
    • #1 East Brunswick (8-0) 34
    • #4 Hunterdon Central (6-3) 12
    • Jay Doyle Field
    • FINAL
    • #2 J.P. Stevens (6-2) 10
    • #3 Middletown North (6-2) 0
    • John McGowan Stadium

Championship (12/1)

    • FINAL
    • #1 East Brunswick (10-0) 26
    • #2 J.P. Stevens (8-3) 27
    • Jay Doyle Field

NOTE:  Back in 1984, the format for the state playoffs was much different.  There wasn’t a group state champion.  There wasn’t even a regional championship.  Only four teams qualified per section.  The way teams qualified for the state tournament was also different.  J.P. Stevens and East Brunswick, which played in the CJ Group 4 Championship, are now Group 5 schools.  The 1984 CJ Group 4 final was also played at the home field of the higher-seeded team, which was East Brunswick.