Tag: Governor Livingston

by Mike Pavlichko

7th Heaven! New Providence continues streak against Governor Livingston, as Whitehead scores 4 TDs in 42-7 win to take Mayors’ Trophy

Breaking up the duo of quarterback T.J. Munn and runningback A.J. Whitehead left New Providence with some question marks for this year. Sure, Whitehead was back, but with Munn graduating, could they replicate the magic of last year’s run to the North 2, Group 1 sectional title game?

They’re off to a good start. And junior QB Kevin Reilly, in his first start, looked the part, going 9-of-14 for 171 yards and a 65-yard touchdown pass to Dan Porretti in a 42-7 win at Governor Livingston Saturday in the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Oh, and Whitehead still did his thing. He got the scoring started with a three-yard touchdown run on the Pioneers’ first possession, then – after a second three-and-out – returned a Highlander Punt 57 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 just over six minutes into the game.

Jack Fitzgerald made it 21-0 just 81 seconds before halftime with a four-yard touchdown run.

And after the scoring strike to Porretti less than two minutes into the third quarter, Whitehead would score twice more, the first of which was a 67-yard pick-six to make it 35-0 with 3:27 left in the third, to kick start the running clock.

Governor Livingston got one back on a big play of their own, a 76-yard run by Elijah Garcia to cut it to 35-7. But then Whitehead added one more three-yard push for his fourth touchdown of the day with 8:47 to play, providing the final score.

New Providence (1-0) amassed 247 yards of total offense in the game in winning its seventh straight over GL, now leading the series 32-8-2. They’re back in action next Friday, hosting A.L. Johnson (1-0) in their home opener. The Crusaders beat them 28-24 in Week 2 last season.

The Highlanders (0-2) will make their first road trip of the season next Friday when they head to JFK (1-1).

Click below to listen to postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko with New Providence senior A.J. Whitehead, junior Kevin Reilly, and head coach Chet Parlavecchio, Jr., presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!

A football game in progress with players from two teams on the field, the crowd visible in the background. One player carries the ball while others pursue.
New Providence senior A.J. Whitehead has nothing but green ahead of him on this 68-yard pick six in a 42-7 win at rival Governor Livingston on September 6, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
by Mike Pavlichko

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:

by Chris Tsakonas

New Providence looks to take next step, starting with season opener at rival Governor Livingston

After a 9-3 season with a run to the state championship game, New Providence will bring back many familiar faces as it looks to take the next step in 2025. The first test of the year comes against a familiar foe, as the Pioneers will take on Governor Livingston at this Saturday in the “Big Central Game of the Week” presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

Game time has been moved earlier to 11 am, due to the threat of thunderstorms around 3 pm, as of the latest forecast on Friday afternoon.

While starting quarterback T.J. Munn has since graduated after last year’s run to the North 2, Group 1 final – where they ultimately lost at Cedar Grove – the offense will have no shortage of returning talent. On the ground, New Providence will once again turn to star back A.J. Whitehead, who is coming off of a 13-touchdown, 1,130-yard junior season.

First-year junior starting quarterback Kevin Reilly will have plenty of weapons to work with in the passing game, with Jack Fitzgerald (14 catches for 214 yards and 3 touchdowns), Mike Petses (9 catches for 157 yards and one touchdown) and Daniel Porretti (10 catches for 105 yards) all returning from 2024.

Defense was a strong suit for the Pioneers last season, who allowed just 17 points per game in 2024. In addition to the returning pass rushing duo of Drew Gullo and James Keneally, Petses (112 tackles, five tackles-for-loss) and Gui May (52 tackles, two tackles-for-losss) anchor the linebacker room while Porretti and Whitehead are the key contributors returning from last year’s secondary.

It’s a big rivalry game, but New Providence has won the last six in the series, with Governor Livingston’s last win coming in 2018.

You can hear Saturday’s game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with pregame at 10:45 am and kickoff at 11:00. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action; click here to listen.

Listen to Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas talk to New Providence head coach Chet Parlavecchio Jr. ahead of Saturday’s game:

by Mike Pavlichko

Gameday with Marcus Borden: Week 1

Opening Week is behind us, it’s Week One where everyone gets into the act in high school football, and it’s time to talk about it with Marcus Borden!

Mike and Marcus look back at the week gone by, including a big win for Old Bridge down at the Battle of the Beach over Cedar Creek, Arique Fleming’s masterful performance for Elizabeth in a rivalry game win over Linden, and then peek ahead to this week’s games, including those Coach Borden will see: Somerville at Cranford on Friday night, and Bernards at Hillside on Saturday.

Also on the show, we discuss other key games in the BCC, Montgomery adding longtime founding coach Zoran Milich’s name to Cougar Stadium, and our new feature, the “Speedster of the Week” presented by Higgins Speed Lab, with the Week 0 winner being Summit’s Alex Schwark.

Click below to listen to the Week One edition of “Gameday with Marcus Borden”:

by Mike Pavlichko

2025 Big Central Preview: United Silver Division

Just like the Patriot Silver Division – which we previewed yesterday – the United Silver Division of the Big Central Conference also was defined by parity in 2024, for the most part.

Three teams shared in the division title, going 3-1, led by Governor Livingston, which was 5-5 overall, and should be right in the mix again this year.

South Plainfield has a solid defense, and JFK loses a good deal on defense, but also has much experience back. North Plainfield is coming off a 3-6 season, but also expecting to improve.

New Brunswick is another story, having gone winless in each of the last two seasons. But they have a new coach in Geoffrey Chrisman who seems poised to at least bring a new culture to the program, that hasn’t existed in a long time. The results may or may not show up in wins and losses, but it will be interesting to watch.

Click below to hear our preview of the United Silver Division from Big Central Conference Media Day:

by Mike Pavlichko

Early look at Big Central Football 2025: Tight United Silver Division could be jam-packed again

Of the five United Gold Division teams in 2024, three of them finished 3-1 in divisional play, a symbol of parity in the group, even though North Plainfield and New Brunswick both struggled overall.

But it was a tight race between Governor Livingston, South Plainfield and JFK, as the three ended up tied for first, with the Highlanders beating the Tigers, the Tigers beating JFK and the Mustangs beating Governor Livingston. Are we having fun yet?

Here are the preliminary schedules for the Liberty Silver Division teams – in alphabetical order – compiled from the official league schedule and other online sources to the best of our knowledge. Please note game dates and times may be changed without notice as the season approaches. Division games marked with an asterisk (*).

Governor Livingston Highlanders (5-5, 3-1, tied for 1st with South Plainfield, JFK in ’24)
Head Coach: Pete Ramiccio (15-15, 4th season)

  • Week 0: Lakeland (Thurs, 4p)
  • Week 1: New Providence (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 2: at JFK* (6p)
  • Week 3: at North Plainfield* (Sat, 12p)
  • Week 4: South Plainfield* (Sat, 6p)
  • Week 5: at Johnson
  • Week 6: Voorhees (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 7: at Bernards
  • Week 8: New Brunswick (Sat, 12p)

It will be quite the challenge making up for some of the Highlanders who graduated this June, including starting QB Lucciano Santamaria (844 yards, 7 TD), runningback Jack Dally (1,195 yards, 15 TD) and their top three receivers, led by Ryan Honey (386 yards, 3 TDs). There’s a little more back on the defensive side, including junior two-way lineman David Dorsett, who logged three sacks and seven TFLs last season, along with two fumble recoveries. Linebacker Max DiDonatto and soph lineman Joey Switlyk could be players to watch as well for GL.

JFK Mustangs (4-6, 3-1, tied for 1st with Governor Livingston, South Plainfield in ’24)
Head Coach: Michael Henderson (7-22, 4th season)

  • Week 0: at Perth Amboy (6p)
  • Week 1: Voorhees (6p)
  • Week 2: Governor Licingston* (6p)
  • Week 3: at New Brunswick*
  • Week 4: Monroe (6p)
  • Week 5: at Scotch Plains-Fanwood
  • Week 6: at North Plainfield*
  • Week 7: Middlesex (6p)
  • Week 8: at South Plainfield* (6p)

Unlike Governor Livingston, the top three offensive returnees are all back for Mike Henderson, and that could make for a fun year in Iselin. QB Richie Trotman threw for 1,297 yards and 17 TDs last season as a junior – but will need to cut down on the picks this year – while top rusher Fieheem Howell, Jr., (1,307 yards, 12 TD) and No. 1 WR Grant Lorentzen (48 catches, 632 yards, 9 TD) also return, as do several key backups. There’s plenty to work with there, but the defense will lose big chunks of numbers, although Jamir Campbell (3.5 sacks, 4 TFLs, 1 INT) could be a big key on that side of the ball. Lorentzen is also a solid kick returner, averaging nearly 25 yards per return last season.

New Brunswick Zebras (0-9, 0-4, 5th place in ’24)
Head Coach: Geoffrey Chrisman (first season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: at Plainfield
  • Week 2: at Scotch Plains-Fanwood
  • Week 3: JFK* (6p)
  • Week 4: North Plainfield* (6p)
  • Week 5: at Carteret
  • Week 6: South Plainfield* (6p)
  • Week 7: Rahway (Sat, 12p)
  • Week 8: at Governor Livingston* (Sat, 12p)

The results have not been good for Zebras football in many years, and in the last two seasons under Steve Gluchowski, scoring just 33 points in 2023, 32 last season, and going a combined 0-18. The program is lacking numbers, and now it’ll be Geoffrey Chrisman’s turn to try and fix it. Chrisman, whose joined the district as a teacher for 2024-25, but hasn’t coached football since 2019, when he was an assistant at North Hunterdon. His biggest job? Finding kids in the halls to play football for a Group 5 school whose numbers look more like a small Group 1.

North Plainfield Canucks (3-6, 1-3, 4th place in ’24)
Head Coach: Derrick Eatman (5-24, 4th season)

  • Week 0: bye
  • Week 1: Belvidere (6p)
  • Week 2: at South Plainfield*
  • Week 3: Governor Livingston* (Sat, 12p)
  • Week 4: at New Brunswick* (6p)
  • Week 5: at Voorhees (6p)
  • Week 6: JFK* (6p)
  • Week 7: Johnson
  • Week 8: at Metuchen

All three QBs the Canucks played last year are graduating, including Mohammad Ahsan, who threw for just under 600 yards. North Plainfield struggled to put up points against good teams last season, and they’ll do the same this year unless some new talent emerges. Senior RB Aaron Potts (913 yards, 14 TD) is gone to graduation, too. The defense will have to shore up as wel, allowing 35 points or more in five of their six losses.

South Plainfield Tigers (5-5, 3-4, tied for first with Governor Livingston, JFK)
Head Coach: Bill Hamilton (19-20), 5th season)

  • Week 0: at East Brunswick (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 1: at Delaware Valley
  • Week 2: North Plainfield* (6p)
  • Week 3: at Cranford
  • Week 4: at Governor Livingston (Sat, 1p)
  • Week 5: Bernards (6p)
  • Week 6: at New Brunswick (6p)
  • Week 7: South River (Thurs, 6p)
  • Week 8: JFK* (6p)

If the Tigers can start 2025 the same way they finished 2024 – with four straight wins – or anything close to it, they’ll compete for a division title. Senior QB Ryan Balent is gone, and returnee Jordan Magazine only threw one pass last year as a sophomore. The good news is that he, or whoever else Coach Hamilton goes with, will have Dom Massarro back to run the ball; he went for 1,049 yards last year on 105 carries and scored nine touchdowns, while Jaydon Jones also returns after a sophomore year rushing for 543 yards and four scores, while junior King Hills went for 504 and two scores. That’s more than 2,000 rush yards back from a team that ran for over 2,700 last season. The defense has some standouts back, too. Massari had two INTs, one for a touchdown, while junior Erick Hernandez (4 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery) and Kaydin Daniel (4 TFLs) could be players to watch.

by Mike Pavlichko

Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater sends dozens off to college baseball and softball; trained three baseball champs in 2024, and New Jersey’s current No. 1 baseball team

SPONSORED CONTENT – Every year, when the weather turns cold, the real work begins at Zoned Sports Academy.

What’s the old saying? That football games aren’t won on Sundays – they’re won during the week?

If practice makes perfect, there will be some pretty good high school baseball and softball teams coming out of the doors of Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater, once the weather gets nice.

But in the winter? It’s time to hunker down in their 28,000 square foot facility, and get back to basics. While many kids want to pitch and throw through a brick wall, founder and owner Duke Baxter has other ideas: teach the fundamentals, the basics, the mechanics. All of that makes pitchers, for example, more efficient, and less injury prone.

Same thing for hitting. Sure, you can be strong and swing a good bat, but mechanics, stance – those are all part of the equation, too, and when they’re overlooked, the results won’t be pretty. That’s where a place like Zoned Sports Academy comes in.

Baxter and his staff will work with teams as a group, and individually, catering training sessions to individual needs. One kid has a hitch in his swing, the other isn’t positioned right coming off the mound? They’ll work on that.

Baxter has kept up with the times over the years, continually adding new programs and technology at Zoned Sports Academy. That included virtual instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, and two years ago, he instituted a new strength training program.

Duke Baxter and his staff offer one-on-one instruction in baseball and softball at Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater.

Last season, it all paid off on the field. There’s Bridgewater-Raritan, of course, which swept to a Skyland Conference Delaware Division title, Somerset County title, and the North 2 Group 4 and overall Group 4 state championship. The Hun School won the Mercer County Tournament and the state Prep A Tournament. And Governor Livingston won the Union County Tournament, Central Jersey Group 2 and the overall state Group 2 title.

Oh, and by the way, the Highlanders are just 22-0 this season, and the No. 1 ranked team in the state, having won 27 straight going back to last season!

On the softball side, Zoned trains a dozen or so schools, including Pingry, which reached this year’s Somerset County Tournament semifinals, and Watchung Hills, which played in last week’s county championship.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Duke Baxter, founder and owner of Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater:

Click the logo below to learn more about training for baseball – or softball – at Zoned Sports Academy in Bridgewater… where an athlete has to be to succeed! Reach them at 732-537-1770!

by Mike Pavlichko

Time once again for you – the fans – to pick the Jersey Central Sports Radio 2024 “Highlight Reel Play of the Year!” Watch, then vote!

Central Jersey Sports Radio is giving YOU the chance to weigh in on your favorite play of the 2024 high school football season, as submitted by Big Central Conference coaches!

All four finalists are in the montage below…

Watch the video below, then scroll down
to vote for your favorite!!
Voting ends at 5:00 pm on Thursday, December 5th.
Remember: Vote early, vote often!

2024 Highlight Reel Play Of The Year

Sorry, voting is closed.

Good luck to your favorite school and player for the 2024 Highlight Reel Play of the Year!

by Mike Pavlichko

Saturday Big Central Roundup: Rahway nabs big win over Watchung Hills, Governor Livingston wins a shootout, Spotswood keeps playoff hopes alive; South River picks up second win

The three-day weekend of high school football due to Yom Kippur is in the books, with Rahway, Watchung Hills, Spotswood and South River all picking up wins.

Here’s a look at Saturday Week Six action, plus scores from Friday and Thursday nights.

Rahway 14, Watchung Hills 10: Last year, Watchung Hills was playing in the Group 5 playoffs, this year they’re down to four. But the Indians essentially knocked off a Group 5 team in the Warriors Saturday night up in the Somerset Hills.

This game was a tight one, scoreless at the half. Dillon Nunes opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter before the game opened up in the final 12 minutes.

Ziare Fields gave Rahway its first lead on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Synceir Touissant. But Watchung Hills answered right back as Mason Kelly countered with a one-yard touchdown run.

But Andrew Avent followed it up with a seven-yard touchdown run that proved to be the difference.

Both teams are now 5-2 on the season, as the Indians host New Brunswick (0-7) next Friday night, while Watchung Hills visits Elizabeth (3-4).

Spotswood 34, Dayton 7: The Chargers got two field goals from Gavin Pereira while four other players scored touchdowns en route to a win on their brand-new turf field. Click here to read a recap and see postgame reaction from Marcus Borden with the Chargers, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen.

Governor Livingston 50, Voorhees 46: For the second straight year, the Highlanders dropped a 50-spot on an opponent, edging out the Vikings on a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kamar McLean with five seconds to go.

This was a wild one with lost of momentum swings. Governor Livingston got the first two scores of the game and led 14-0 after one, but Voorhees scored three straight touchdowns in the second quarter – missing a PAT and a two-point conversion on two of them – to take a 19-14 halftime lead.

They opened the second half scoring to go up 27-14, the biggest deficit GL would face all night, but Jack Dally countered with a nine-yard touchdown run to cut it to six, before Toby Dorr ran in a score from four yards out to make it 33-21.

In the fourth, Lucciano Santamaria ran in a touchdown from ten yards out to get to within five, but Matteo Tramutola answered with his second touchdown of the game to make it 39-28.

The Highlanders would get the next two scores – another nine-yard run from Dally, and an 80-yard sprint by Santamaria – to take their first lead of the second half. It was short-lived as Tramutola scored his third touchdown on a two-yard run to make it 46-43 Voorhees, after which McLean became the hero with his long kick return for six.

Both teams are now 3-4. Governor Livingston hosts No. 4 Bernards (7-0, 21 straight wins vs. the Big Central) Saturday afternoon, while Voorhees travels to Hillside (4-3) Saturday.

South River 20, Brearley 18 (OT): Tied at 12 going into overtime, both teams scored, but it was the Rams who won it, thanks to an Aiden Velez 20-yard touchdown run and another run for the win on a two-point try.

Michael Marchesi – the son of longtime coach Rich Marchesi – and Filipe Granadeiro also scored TDs in regulation for South River, which improved to 2-5 on the season. The Rams host South Plainfield (2-5) next week, while Brearley (0-6) will visit Metuchen (5-2), with both games on Saturday.

Friday Scores

Thursday Scores

by Mike Pavlichko

Marcus Borden’s 2024 GMC/BCC Camp Caravan: Gov. Livingston, North Hunterdon scrimmage

Central Jersey Sports Radio high school football analyst Marcus Borden continued his 2024 Camp Caravan tour of preseason practice with a visit to Berkeley Heights to catch a scrimmage between Governor Livingston and North Hunterdon.

You can find videos – including video highlights and interviews – from both teams below.

Governor Livingston: Head Coach Pete Ramiccio and seniors Lucciano Santamaria (QB), Jack Dally (RB/OLB, Dylan Landis (OL/DL)

North Hunterdon: Head Coach CJ Robinson and seniors Russell Hyland (LG) and Luke Testa (RT/DE) along with juniors Nick Ramaci (QB) and Dan Figurski (WR/S).

You can now watch all the 2024 Camp Caravan videos on YouTube by clicking this link!