Preview: Bernards Mountaineers vs. Governor Livingston Highlanders
Bernards is 3-0 against Governor Livingston since October of 2020, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Saturday. The Bernards Mountaineers will head out on the road to face off against the Governor Livingston Highlanders at 1:00 p.m. Bernards will be coming into the match with an undefeated record on the line.
Last Friday, Bernards made easy work of New Providence and carried off a 38-14 win. The result was nothing new for Bernards, who have now won seven matches by 24 points or more so far this season.
Bernards' win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Logan Stevens, who gained 113 total yards and a touchdown. Patrick Carlisle and his 83 yards on the ground were also a key factor in Bernards' win.
Meanwhile, after only seven points in their last game, Governor Livingston made sure to put some points up on the board against South River on Saturday. Governor Livingston breezed by South River on the road to the tune of 35-6. Governor Livingston pushed the score to 35-0 by the end of the third, a deficit South River cut but never quite recovered from.
Lucciano Santamaria looked great while leading his team to the win, rushing for 70 yards and three touchdowns on only seven carries, while also throwing for 80 yards and a touchdown. Owen Chait was another key contributor, rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Bernards' win was their fourth straight on the road, which bumped their overall record up to 8-0. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 38.3 points per game. Governor Livingston is on a roll lately: they've won six of their last seven matches, which provided a nice bump to their 6-2 record this season.
Saturday's game might be decided on the ground as these two are both standouts in the run game. Bernards has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 173 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Governor Livingston struggles in that department as they've been even better at 208 per game. It's looking like Saturday's contest might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Everything came up roses for Bernards against Governor Livingston in their previous meeting back in October of 2022 as the team secured a 42-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Bernards since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
