BERKELEY HEIGHTS – Because of injuries, head coach Dan Guyton needed three quarterbacks to get through a 2015 campaign that saw his Highlanders finish 4-6, but end on a very positive note with a 10-0 blanking of visiting New Providence on Thanksgiving.
Guyton will be happy to use two of those signal-callers this season. At the moment Guyton is pleased to have juniors Pat DeAngelis and Quinn Haddad both healthy and ready to go when called upon to guide GL’s crafty Single-Wing offense.
“Both look good and feel comfortable back there,” said Guyton, now in his fourth season at the helm of the Highlanders.
Guyton reported that DeAngelis was 3-2 last year before his quarterback-exiting injury. Gutyon said Haddad started the Johnson and Cranford games, while senior Matt Bruno was behind center for GL’s final three games.
“Pat is a natural runner, while Quinn is more of a traditional quarterback who has really matured,” Guyton said. “With our Single-Wing our offense will be a rotation of backs.
Fullbacks include senior Jason Coldon and junior Matt Perez-Santalla, while senior Will Nicholson is the halfback and senior Jon Wong the wingback.
In GL’s first scrimmage last year – which was at home and also included Chatham and Montclair-Kimberley Academy – Wong, who scored two touchdowns in the competition, broke his ankle and ended up missing his junior season.
Wong is also a starter on defense at cornerback
“Wong has looked great so far,” Guyton said.
Missing his senior season, unfortunately for him and the Highlanders, is Ben Collins. At a wrestling camp in late July, Collins suffered a torn ACL injury that will prevent him from playing football and also wrestling this year.
“He just had the surgery,” Guyton said. “It’s one of those things. We encourage our players to wrestle and feel it’s a natural compliment to playing football.
“He was going to be moved on defense to our Mike linebacker position.”
Collins started at left guard on offense the past two seasons and at end on defense a year ago.
His presence on both sides of the ball will be missed.
“Offensively, we need to be more consistent,” Guyton said. “Last year we had some ball security issues. Being physical and real consistent with our schemes is what we’re working on.”
Leaders on defense include seniors Dan Tomlinson and Brian Biskaduros at tackle and Turner Haddad at linebacker.
“Dan and Brian are the big boys in the middle and Turner is another senior leader,” Guyton said. “Solidifying our front run defense has been important after graduating two senior linebackers.
“We also have three new guys in the secondary, so we’re trying to keep it simple there so they can succeed.”
GL is back in the Mountain Division of the Mid-State 38 Conference, along with Somerville, Cranford, Rahway, Voorhees and North Plainfield.
For a rare second straight season, the Highlanders will open at Voorhees. GL was defeated at Voorhees 26-8 last year.
“Our theme this year is One Step at a Time,” Guyton said. “One rep at a time and continue to improve.
“Our schedule has us in a dog fight every week. We will have to play our best to get a “W” against any of our opponents. We’ll need to stay in the moment.”
Ending the 2015 campaign with second straight win over holiday rival New Providence is something Guyton hopes his team will carry into its Sept. 9 opener.
“I thought New Providence played a good game too,” Guyton said. “There were very little mistakes, which is why the score was only 10-0.
“It was like a chess match. I couldn’t have been prouder of my seniors, who were really awesome and ended an injury-plagued season on a high note.”
GL’S SINGLE-WING OFFENSE:
G Mike Magliacano, junior, (6-0, 240)
G Chris Bottone, sophomore, (6-1, 185)
G Mickey Kerr, senior, (5-11, 250)
C DJ Gonnelli, junior, (6-0, 210)
T Brian Biskaduros, senior, (6-3, 260)
T Dan Tomlinson, senior, (6-3, 280)
FB Jason Coldon, senior, (6-2, 220)
FB Matt Perez-Santalla, junior, (5-10, 170)
QB Pat DeAngelis, junior, (6-0, 175)
QB Quinn Haddad, junior, (6-1, 175)
HB Will Nicholson, senior, (5-10, 180)
WB Jon Wong, senior, (5-5, 150)
WR Matthew Schuman, junior, (6-0, 160)
TE Tommy Jakositz, senior, (6-2, 200)
PK Doug Anderson, senior, (5-10, 160)
Returning starters (5): Magliacano, Bottone,
Biskaduros, Tomlinson, DeAngelis.
GL’s 4-3 DEFENSE:
E Mike Magliacano, junior, (6-0, 240)
T Dan Tomlinson, senior, (6-3, 280)
T Brian Biskaduros, senior, (6-3, 260)
E Mickey Kerr, senior, (5-11, 250)
E Brandon Gyory, junior, (6-1, 200)
LB Turner Haddad, senior, (5-11, 200)
MLB Billy Qu, senior, (6-0, 190)
LB Chris Bottone, sophomore, (6-1, 185)
S Matthew Schuman, junior, (6-0, 160)
S Pat DeAngelis, junior, (6-0, 175)
CB Doug Anderson, senior, (5-10, 160)
CB Jon Wong, senior, (5-5, 150)
P Doug Anderson, senior, (5-10, 160)
Returning starters (4): Tomlinson, Biskaduros,
Haddad, Schuman.
GOV. LIVINGSTON HIGHLANDERS
Head Coach: Dan Guyton, since 2013.
A 1998 Gov. Livingston graduate.
Fourth season: 13-17 (.433)
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Mountain
Section: North 2, Group 3
GL’s last playoff season: 2013
2015: (4-6 and 3-3, fourth in Raritan Division)
GL’s Frey Field: Field Turf.
Guyton was previously an assistant coach at GL
for seven seasons, including his last in 2008 when
the Highlanders reached the N2, G2 final. He then
served as an assistant coach at Johnson before landing
his first job as a head coach three years ago with GL.
Guyton is seeking to lead GL to its first winning season
since the Highlanders went 7-5 in 2008.
GL HIGHLANDERS 2016
Sept. 9 at Voorhees, 7 p.m.
Sept 17 Rahway, 1 p.m.
Sept. 23 at North Plainfield, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 Summit, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 Somerville, 1 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Cranford, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 Delaware Valley, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5 Johnson, 2 p.m.
Nov. 24 at New Providence, 10:30 a.m.
2015 GL HIGHLANDERS (4-6)
(A) Voorhees 26, Gov. Livingston 8
(A) Summit 30, Gov. Livingston 6
(H) GL 24, North Plainfield 13
(A) Johnson 12, Gov. Livingston 0
(H) Gov. Livingston 28, Somerville 21
(H) Gov. Livingston 14, Warren Hills 6
(A) Cranford 35, Gov. Livingston 20
(H) Rahway 21, Gov. Livingston 20
(A) Parsippany Hills 42, Gov. Livingston 7
(H) GL 10, New Providence 0
Head coach: Dan Guyton,
third season
Section: North 2, Group 3
Conference: Mid-State 38
Division: Raritan 3-3
Record: 4-6
Home: 4-1
Away: 0-5
Points for: 137
Points against: 206
Shutouts: 1
Overtime: 0-0