With close rivals New Providence coming to town, Governor Livingston looks to avenge two tight losses to Pioneers

Two years ago, the game was decided by a touchdown. Last year, it was a single point difference. And both involved some blunders and key special teams play.

That’s why Governor Livingston’s fourth-year head coach Pete Ramiccio is emphasizing that third phase of the game – along with stopping the run – when neighboring rival New Providence comes to Berkeley Heights for a Saturday matinee on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

You can hear the Saturday “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving between the Highlanders and Pioneers, with pregame at 10:45 and kickoff at 11 am. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action; click here to listen. The game has been moved up from its original start time of 1 pm due to thunderstorms in the forecast around 3:00.

Governor Livingston already had inexperience at the quarterback position, graduating senior Lucciano Santamaria. Sophomore Mateo Liloia won the job, and was 4-of-11 for 47 yards and rushed eight times for 17 yards in a season-opening loss to Lakeland, but he’ll be unavailable Saturday due to a non-injury medical issue, and that will leave freshman Colin Hughes to make his first varsity start.

The goal there, according to Ramiccio? Don’t try to win the game. Just manage it.

Click below to hear Governor Livingston head coach Pete Ramiccio talk about their Saturday matchup against rival New Providence with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: