Wrestling: Hunterdon Central at Phillipsburg preview

What: Hunterdon Central Red Devils at Phillipsburg Stateliners.

Where: Phillipsburg High School, Lopatcong Township.

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Conference: Skyland cross-divisional.

Records: Hunterdon Central 14-0; Phillipsburg 11-0.

Coaches: Jon Cantagallo-Rohm (96-16, fifth season, 1-3 vs. P'burg); Dave Post (140-20, ninth season, 8-3 vs. HC).

State rankings (New Jersey Writers): Hunterdon Central No. 4; Phillipsburg No. 7.

Live feed: Stateliner Sports (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/stateliner-sports)

Series history: Phillipsburg owns a 39-8-1 overall edge dating to 1962, including seven postseason meetings, and saw its five-match win streak in the series end with a 38-21 road loss on Jan. 10, 2018. The 'Liners posted a 34-24 victory in the first matchup at the new gym on Jan. 11, 2017. Six of the Red Devils' wins have come since 2003, including their last road victory in 2013. P'burg is 19-4 all-time as the visitor and 19-3-1 in meetings at The Pit and the new gym. Two matches were at neutral sites -- P'burg's 25-23 victory in 1981 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym and Hunterdon Central's 39-11 win in the 2010 Group 4 semifinals at Toms River North.

Probable lineups: Hunterdon Central wrestlers listed first with season records in parentheses.

106 -- So. Brett Ungar (20-0) vs. Fr. James Day (18-7).

113 -- Fr. Nick Canonica (14-6) vs. So. Logan Maczko (18-7).

120 -- So. Colton Washleski (18-4) vs. Fr. Joey Innamorato (7-12).

126 -- Sr. Jack Bauer (17-4) vs. Sr. Travis Jones (20-3) or Sr. Bryce Parenti (17-9).

132 -- Fr. Tanner Peake (19-4) vs. Parenti or Jones.

138 -- Jr. Anthony Romaniello (14-7) vs. Sr. Luke Hardin (7-12).

145 -- Sr. Pasquale Vizzoni (12-1) vs. Sr. Kyle Tino (18-8).

152 -- Sr. Vincent Romaniello (18-4) or Jr. John Rieche (5-4) vs. Sr. Cody Harrison (20-1) or Sr. TJ Abode (14-9).

160 -- So. Norman Cella (19-3) vs. Abode or Harrison.

170 -- Sr. Dan Furmato (7-9) vs. Fr. David Pierson (11-10).

182 -- Sr. Kyle Barrett (15-5) vs. Sr. Austin Roth (17-5) or Jr. Jacob Wicks (15-8).

195 -- Jr. Brandon Donoghue (7-5) vs. Wicks or Roth.

220 -- So. Salvatore Brito (1-3) vs. So. Gage Horvath (11-12).

285 -- Sr. Ryan Joyce (16-4) vs. Jr. Cody Cruts (8-12).

P'burg looks to go 2-0 against Central in the new gym.

Breakdown: Good to see this one still on the schedule after the Skyland Conference realigned and dismantled the super Raritan Division configuration. On paper, Hunterdon Central rated a bigger favorite earlier in the season, but the loss of junior Lukas Bakerian (220), who left the team, swings a few points toward the P'burg side. Straight up, Central is favored at 106, 120, 126 or 132 (wherever Jones isn't), 138, 145, 152 or 160 (wherever Harrison isn't), 170 and 285. P'burg has the edge at 113, 126 or 132 (with Jones, who is 2-0 all-time vs. Bauer), 152 or 160 (with Harrison), 182, 195 and 220. The teams' regulars went head-to-head just twice in the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament -- Maczko d. Canonica, 6-0; Wicks p. Barrett, 4:24 (tight bout at the time). Central has more flexibility and expect Cantagallo-Rohm, if he gets the flip, to avoid Harrison by bumping from 152 through 195, for a strong chance to win at least three and possibly four from 160 to 195, otherwise the visitors likely lose at least two of those straight up. Furmato beat Roth, 5-3, in last season's dual, but I'd favor Roth in the rematch. I think Central gets six wins (four with bonus) regardless of the matchups, while P'burg is going to be hard pressed to win seven bouts without winning the flip or stealing a bout as the underdog (145 is a key bout between state qualifiers). If the 'Liners can get at least three from 170-285, and hold serve where favored while saving a few points down low, they can win. It certainly looked like a very slim proposition several weeks ago, but Central hasn't really been at full strength all season and P'burg has been finding ways to win big matches.

Prediction: Hunterdon Central, 28-24.