Easton/Phillipsburg Thanksgiving Game Hall of Fame inductees 2013

Written by: David Mika on Monday, November 25th, 2013. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

2013 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES NAMED

Phillipsburg High School’s single season rushing leader Brandon Mason and Chuck Amato, an Easton High School honorable mention All-State linebacker who gained greater fame as an assistant football coach at national champion Florida State are part of the Class of 2013 that will be inducted next week into the Phillipsburg/Easton Football Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place beginning at 9am Thanksgiving morning at Lafayette College’s Kirby Sports Center prior to Thursday’s 107th battle between the two arch-rivals.

This Hall of Fame class includes four players or coaches from each school. After careful research, inductees were selected from a long list of eligible candidates. Membership is based on accomplishments during their high school football careers. There is a ten-year waiting period for players to be considered eligible.

Hall of Fame Class of 2013

The inductees representing Phillipsburg in the 2013 class are players Joe Dilts (1941), George Snyder (1954), Joe Luke (1994), and Brandon Mason (2003). (Player’s senior football season is in parentheses.)

Dilts played three years on the interior line at tackle on both offense and defense from 1939 through 1941. He was a powerful blocker on offense and could be depended upon to open holes for positive yardage. Tenacious on defense, Dilts was a staunch run-stopper and a relentless pass rusher. He scored three defensive TDs in his career. As captain his senior year in 1941, he helped lead the team to an undefeated 7-0-3 season. The Stateliners showcased a defense that finished the season unscored upon, and the team was named New Jersey State Champions by the Jersey Journal. He was named 1^st Team All-State at tackle in 1941.

Snyder was a three-year letterman from 1952 through 1954, playing fullback. He was a mixture of sheer power and elusiveness and could run over defenders or maneuver past them with equal ease. In his first two years Snyder helped his team to 12 victories, and was the high scorer and top rusher in 1954, helping lead the Stateliners to an 8-1 record and a Big 4 Championship. He established himself as the top fullback in New Jersey and was rewarded with 1^st Team All-State honors.

Luke was a three-year varsity letterman at running back from 1992 through 1994, while also serving as co-captain in 1994. He and Leonard Moore formed one of the greatest running back tandems in team history. Luke rushed for 2155 yards and scored 164 points in his career, and had 10 games in which he rushed for 100 or more yards. He ran for 1254 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in 1994. Luke was a Wendy’s High School Heisman regional finalist and Phillipsburg’s National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete.

Mason was an outstanding player on both sides of the ball as a starter in 2002 and 2003, serving as captain his senior year. At running back he rushed for a school record 1880 yards and scored 24 touchdowns as Phillipsburg went 9-1 and captured the 2003 Skylands Conference Championship. Averaging 188 yards a game, Brandon eclipsed the 100-yard mark in 9 of 10 games that year, including a school record 305 yards and four TDs against Franklin. A superb defensive back, he collected five interceptions and four fumble recoveries in his career. In 2003 he was chosen as 1^st Team All-State at defensive safety and 2^nd Team All-State at running back. He was also selected as New Jersey’s Gatorade Player of the Year, the Express-Times Player of the Year, and Offensive MVP of the Phillipsburg-Easton game.

The inductees representing Easton in the 2013 class are players Chuck Amato (1963), Joe Parsons (1968), John Critelli (1976), and Frankie Lane (1986). (Player’s senior football season is in parentheses.)

Amato was a two-year starter at linebacker in 1962 and 1963, was a tri-captain in 1963 and also started at fullback. In his junior year the Rovers were Big 5 Co-Champions. He was outstanding at linebacker, quick to read plays, flow to the ball and make punishing tackles and was also a workhorse at fullback, getting the tough yards when needed. In 1963 Chuck was named AP Honorable Mention All-State and a 1^st Team East Penn Conference All-Star at linebacker, and Big 33 Honorable Mention at both fullback and linebacker. He was also a 1964 PIAA State Wrestling Champion at 165 lbs.

Parsons was a three-year starter at linebacker from 1966 through 1968 and was a co-captain and started at fullback in 1968. Easton teams had a 28-1-1 record and were Big 5 and Big 6 Champions during his three years, sharing the Big 6 title in 1966. At fullback Parsons was a great lead blocker and a strong short yardage runner. He was a rock on defense at linebacker and known for his physical play. In 1968 Joe was UPI 3^rd Team All-State and AP Honorable Mention All-State at fullback, Big 33 at linebacker, 1st Team Big 6 at linebacker and 2^nd Team Big 6 as a back, and was chosen as a Northampton County All-Star at running back. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Easton-Phillipsburg game.

Critelli was a two-year starter at linebacker in 1975 and 1976 and was co-captain and started at fullback in 1976. He led the team in tackles in both years as a starter. His size made him a physical presence inside and his speed allowed him to roam sideline-to-sideline to make tackles and to be dependable in pass coverage. In 1975 John was 1^st Team Big 8 and 2^nd Team Express All-Area at linebacker. In 1976 he was named AP 1^st Team All-State and UPI 2^nd Team All-State at linebacker. He was chosen as a High School All-American (2^nd Team) based on Athletic Ability, Scholarship, Leadership, and Sportsmanship. He was also a Northampton County All-Star and was selected as 1^st Team Express All-Area and 2^nd Team East Penn Conference, all at linebacker.

Lane was a major contributor in 1985 and co-captain and starter in 1986. Rover teams in those two years had a 19-4 record and were East Penn League Co-Champions in 1986. In 1985 he was the team’s second leading rusher and was named Honorable Mention Express All-Area at running back. In 1986, “Frankie” barely came off the field, gaining 1148 yards at running back on 200 carries and scoring 10 TDs. He started on defense at monster back, returned kicks, and snapped for punts and placekicks. In 1986 he was chosen as 1^st Team East Penn Conference and 1^st Team Express All-Area at running back, and was also selected as the newspaper’s Player of the Year.

The athletic offices of the two schools have sanctioned local football enthusiasts from both sides of the river to select these inductees into the Hall of Fame. There are 11 members of the Hall of Fame Committee.

This year’s recipients will be recognized during the Thanksgiving Day game and will receive personal plaques commemorating their induction. In addition, their names will appear on large plaques located in gymnasium lobby areas of each school. The Garnet Booster Club of Phillipsburg and the Alumni Varsity “E” Club of Easton sponsor the plaques.

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