BERKELEY HEIGHTS - When trying to build a program and teaching kids what it takes to push forward, programs want to realize the fruits of their labor.
Starting a season 1-0 would be a good start.
For Gov. Livingston, the Highlanders produced that smile for the first time in five years.
In the heat and humidity of battle on Opening Day 2026 at Frey Field, GL reached the end zone on its first four possessions, led from start to finish, and held off a quality Dayton opponent for a convincing 40-27 Big Central Conference-crossover contest victory achieved on Friday, Aug. 28.
GL captured its season-opener for the first time since winning at Keyport 36-21 on Oct. 3, 2020, which was the shortened Covid-19 pandemic season. GL last won its season-opener at home in 2018, which was a 21-14 triumph over Johnson.
For fifth-year GL head coach Pete Ramiccio, this was his first win ever in a season-opener, including the one year he was head coach at Montclair in 2021 before coming to GL in 2022.
The sixth time, it turned out, was a charm.
"This is my first 1-0 and we needed this," Ramiccio said.
RAMICCIO SEASON-OPENER AT MONTCLAIR IN 2021:
Sept. 3, 2021: East Orange 37, Montclair 28 - at East Orange
GL SEASON-OPENERS UNDER RAMICCIO:
Aug. 26, 2022: New Providence 29, Gov. Livingston 9 - at New Providence
Aug. 25, 2023: New Providence 14, Gov. Livingston 7 - at GL
Aug. 29, 2024: Lakeland 35, Gov. Livingston 9 - at Lakeland
Aug. 28, 2025: Lakeland 28, Gov. Livingston 0 - at GL
Aug. 28, 2026: Gov. Livingston 40, Dayton 27 - at GL
There were 10 touchdowns total.
GL scored six of its first seven possessions, all touchdowns, and on its first four in the first half.
GL's only possession it did not score in during the first half was its very last one with less than a minute left, which resulted in a field goal wide left on the final play of the second quarter.
The Highlanders rushed for 365 yards, with junior running back Elijah Garcia leading the way with 195 on 30 carries, one of them good for a three-yard run in the second quarter.
"The most important thing is that we're 1-0," Garcia said. "We were able to run the ball pretty well."
GL established momentum right from the start, taking the opening kickoff at its 35 and methodically moving the chains running mostly up the middle until a fourth first down reached the Dayton nine-yard line. Then, after 10 straight running plays, sophomore quarterback Colin Hughes dropped back and hit junior wide receiver Connor Jackubowski over the middle for a 10-yard touchdown pass, capping a season-opening 11 play, 65 yard drive that took 7:46 off the clock.
"I was very happy with our offense," Ramiccio said. "We were able to play fast and out-physical people."
Hughes completed seven-of-11 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while not throwing an interception. Hughes also connected with junior wide receiver Parker Chatfield on a slant pass that Chatfield, after he broke one tackle, turned into a 73-yard touchdown reception on GL's second possession.
Hughes also carried the ball four times for 67 yards, one of the carries a 30-yard touchdown run for GL's first points of the second half.
Junior running back Mateo Liloia rushed for 72 yards on just three carries, with two of them good for touchdown runs of 38 in the second quarter and 16 in the third.
At linebacker, Liloia, along with senior Logan Stack, were among Dayton's leading tacklers.
"Our game plan was to stop the run," Liloia said. "We couldn't do it without our defensive line."
Although the game might not have been as close as the score indicated, Dayton managed to have its moments and put points on the board all four quarters.
Returning junior quarterback Adrian Bernknopf kept fighting, kept pushing and displayed his abilities to break contain running with the ball and also dropping back and finding one of his receivers downfield.
"Their quarterback, he has the will to win and will lead them to victory," Ramiccio said.
Berknopf rushed for touchdowns on runs of 47 yards down the left sideline in the first quarter and on a two-yard run up the middle late in the second.
Bernknopf then threw touchdown passes to Jackson Babiarz in the third quarter and to Tyler Fuscaldo in the fourth.
"We held in there and didn't put our heads down and Adrian's play was a big part of that," Dayton head coach Nick Iannacone said.
Dayton is now preparing for its home-opener Thursday, Sept. 3 vs. Bound Brook. Dayton was originally scheduled to host GL, but its new field turf was not ready. All indications are is that it will be for Game No. 2.
"We will have a ribbon ceremony on Monday (Aug. 31) and then host Bound Brook on Thursday (Sept. 3)," Iannacone said.
Meanwhile, GL is prepping for its first road game at Monroe on Friday, Sept. 4.
Both of the Dayton and GL games are BCC-crossover clashes.
BIG CENTRAL CONFERENCE-CROSSOVER CONTEST AT GL
Dayton (0-1) 06 07 07 07 - 27
Gov. Livingston (1-0) 13 14 13 00 - 40
FIRST QUARTER:
Gov. Livingston - Connor Jakubowski 10 pass from Colin Hughes, Mason Barker kick (GL 7-0)
11 plays, 65 yards, 7:46 used
Gov. Livingston - Parker Chatfield 73 pass from Colin Hughes, kick failed (GL 13-0)
Dayton - Adrian Bernknopf 47 run, kick failed (GL 13-6)
1 play, 47 yards, :14 used
SECOND QUARTER:
Gov. Livingston - Elijah Garcia 3 run, Mason Barker kick (GL 20-6)
7 plays, 37 yards, 3:03 used
Gov. Livingston - Mateo Liloia 38 run, Mason Barker kick (GL 27-6)
6 plays, 87 yards, 1:21 used
Dayton - Adrian Bernknopf 2 run, Jackson Babiarz kick (GL 27-13)
9 plays, 65 yards, 5:13 used
THIRD QUARTER:
Gov Livingston - Colin Hughes 30 run, Mason Barker kick (GL 34-13)
Gov. Livingston - Mateo Liloia 16 run, kick failed (GL 40-13)
Dayton - Jackson Babiarz 36 pass from Adrian Bernknopf, Jackson Babiarz kick (GL 40-20)
FOURTH QUARTER:
Dayton - Tyler Fuscaldo 31 pass from Adrian Bernknopf, Jackson Babiarz kick (GL 40-27)
2026 GOV. LIVINGSTON HIGHLANDERS (1-0)
Aug 28 Dayton, 40-27 win
Sept. 4 at Monroe, 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Bernards, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 Iselin Kennedy, noon
Sept. 24 at Lyndhurst, 6:45 p.m.
Oct. 3 Johnson, 2 p.m.
Oct. 9 Scotch Plains, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 South Plainfield, 2 p.m.
Oct. 23 at New Providence, 6:30 p.m.
Head coach: Pete Ramiccio, fifth season
BCC division: United Silver
2025: 5-5, United Silver 4-0
Follow JR Parachini on 'X' @parachini_jr
