A Night to Remember: Ridge Football Opens on TV

The Ridge Red Devils varsity football team and coaches aren't alone in getting stoked for Friday night's season opener against the team's longtime rivals, the Immaculata High School Spartans. The home game, with a 7 p.m. kickoff, is to be televised live in high definition on MSG Varsity TV, channel 14 on Cablevision.

The fans also appreciate the magnitude of the game's importance and potential for drama.

 "Immaculata is one of Ridge's top local rivals which creats lots of pre-game chatter and excitement," said one Ridge fan, Tony Otero, whose son plays freshman football. "Given that onetRidge won handily last year, and given that the game will be on HD TV, this game will raise the intensity even higher."

That same fan also hinted at the fact that an some off-field heat has been created, as well. "They [Immaculata] are always trying to recruit some of our best athletes, and that adds fuel to the rivalry even more," he said.

Outside of the rivalry and history betwen these two teams, however, there is still a game to be played and player to watch.

For the Red Devils, all four captains are expected to provide leadership in the big game. Headed by linebacker and fullbacker Anthony Milito, whose task will be to lead an excited Ridge defense, the main goal for the Boys in Green is to stop the run, said Ridge's head coach Bill Tracy.

 "And on the other side of the ball, we're going to need to establish a run game of our own," Tracy added.

That's where Joe Roth comes in. As a player who can literally perform at every position, this halfback, defensive back and punter is being relied upon to play a huge part in Ridge's run game if they want a chance to win, the coach said.

Anthony Domenick and Cam Radinovic also will play major roles, as the bruisers go up against a very physical Spartans' squad, Tracy said.

Rob Singer and Mike Mullaney will aid Milito in halting the talented tailbacks at Immaculata, he said.

MSG Varsity will televise a pregame show at 6:30 p.m. with Ridge and Somerville's Immaculata set to square off at 7 p.m. at Lee Field at Ridge High School, 268 S. Finley Ave. It will be the first game ever to be televised live as part of MSG Varsity's "Friday Night Lights" series. The game will be the first of 12 to be televised this season from throughout the New York area.

Ridge High School cheerleaders will host pre-game community events. The cheerleaders also will hold a collection at the gate for nonperishable food and other items, to be delivered later to the Somerset County Food Bank.

The RHS Marching Band will premiere its "The Wild, Wild West" show at halftime.