Senior RB Charlie Barth (32, right) lines up in the backfield for New Providence at preseason practice on August 25, 2021. (Mike Pavlichko)
Faced with an early-week cancellation by Belvidere, it looked like New Providence would only have one game under its belt heading into Friday night’s home game against Bound Brook.
The County Seaters had a number of injuries and didn’t want to risk losing anyone else putting in extra time against the Pioneers, who were coming off an 8-1 campaign in 2020 with a bruiser at runningback.
The eventually picked up a solid Willingboro team from South Jersey, and lost 26-7 at home in what head coach Chet Parlavecchio, Jr., called a “slugfest” early on, where the Chimeras just eventually pulled away.
But it’s back to Big Central play now, as New Providence (1-1) takes on Bound Brook (2-1) in the Friday night Big Central Game of the Week driven by Mark Montenero and his team at the world-famous Autoland.
Kickoff is 7:00, and Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino will call all the action beginning with pregame at 6:45 on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Click here to listen live.
New Providence has dominated the all-time series, which has featured a matchup most seasons since it began in 1983, with a few pauses. The Pioneers lead 29-3, though the Crusaders won the last meeting, in Bound Brook in 2019, by a score of 24-6.
Bound Brook is seeking its first road win in the series since its only other road win in the series: 12-7 in 1992.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko preview the game with New Providence head coach Chet Parlavecchio Jr.: