Rumson-Fair Haven football nearly shocks undefeated Caldwell in first state title bid
PISCATAWAY – Rumson-Fair Haven did everything it could to end the state’s current longest winning streak and forever etch itself into state history, but it just wasn’t quite enough.
The Bulldogs looked great in the first half. They even took a one-point lead into the break as they tempered the initial storm.
That’s when Caldwell did what it’s done for the last two years straight. They won.
Propelled by a strong second half, Caldwell extended its winning streak to 28 games - the longest current streak in New Jersey - and defeated Rumson-Fair Haven 18-14 in the Group 2 final at Rutgers University on Sunday.
With about two minutes to play, Rumson-Fair Haven had four shots for the game-winning touchdown inside the Caldwell 10-yard line. Caldwell stood tall defensively.
The Bulldogs (8-5) were vying to become the first Jersey Shore team to win an overall state title after the NJSIAA amended the high school football postseason to crown true state champions for the first time ever.
“It always sucks to lose the last game of the year,” Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Jeremy Schulte said. “Somebody has to lose this game, but we’re the No. 2 Group 2 team in the state in a year were nobody thought we’d make it out of the Shore Conference alive.”
An unlikely ride to the final
It was an unexpected journey for the Bulldogs. After an 0-2 start when they fell to Toms River North and Donovan Catholic by a combined score of 61-27, the Bulldogs’ long run of postseason success appeared in trouble.
Instead, the Bulldogs won the final four of six regular season games against stiff Shore Conference competition and rolled through the sectional tournament, winning South Group 2 with a 34-27 win against Raritan. A 42-6 rout of Willingboro sent the Bulldogs into the championship game.
“We’ll be back next year. That was my message,” Schulte said. “I’m proud of them. They fought hard the whole year, they never gave up once, even when people would have understood it.”
Fighting the whole way
Rumson-Fair Haven hung tough. Sophomore quarterback Owen O’Toole orchestrated a long 72-yard drive that was capped off by a two-yard rushing touchdown by Brayden Dill midway through the second quarter.
Caldwell responded with two strong drives, but senior defensive back Ryan Kalman forced two fumbles on consecutive drives as the Bulldogs jumped on both deep in their own territory to take a 7-6 lead into halftime.
A failed fake punt by the Bulldogs turned things around for Caldwell. Consecutive touchdowns – one on a fake field goal and another on a 19-yard touchdown run by Harry Boland – gave Caldwell an 18-7 lead.
O’Toole led another drive that ended in a one-yard rushing touchdown by the sophomore. Schulte elected not to go for the two-point conversion in that spot, which kept the score at 18-14, a two-possession game.
Those little moments that went Caldwell’s way was the difference.
“We wanted a fake punt, didn’t work,” Schulte said. “Probably should have gone for two after the one score, but that’s on me.”
Despite that, Rumson-Fair Haven had an opportunity to win the game with about two minutes to play and set up on the Caldwell five-yard line. A penalty pushed the Bulldogs back to the 10. O’Toole and the Bulldogs had three more shots at the end zone, three plays that Caldwell played perfect defense and clinched the win.
In just his second year of playing football, O’Toole led a historically young Rumson-Fair Haven team to a state final. He finished the year with 2,161 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He’ll be back next year.
“To me, he’s the best quarterback in the Shore Conference over the next two years,” Schulte said. “That kid is something special.”
Caldwell 18, Rumson-Fair Haven 14
Caldwell (13-0) 6 0 12 0 – 18
Rumson-Fair Haven (8-5) 0 7 7 0 – 14
First quarter
C: Boland 4 run (kick no good)
Second quarter
RFH: Dill 2 run (Lorraine kick)
Third quarter
C: Mignone 14 pass from Anemone (kick no good)
C: Coland 19 run (two-pt conversion no good)
RFH: O'Toole 1 run (Panke kick)
Individual statistics
PASSING – C: Kurzum 9-13-0-66, Anemone 1-1-0-14. RFH: O’Toole 19-37-0-212.
RUSHING – C: Marinello 21-104, Boland 17-91, Kurzum 17-79, Lattimer 1-0. RFH: Orr 19-95, Dill 4-8, O’Toole 3-18, Costello 1-0.
RECEIVING – C: Lattimer 7-37, Anemone 1-17, Mignone 1-14, Boland 1-12, RFH: Rigby 10-109, Trinder 4-46, Venancio 2-27, Orr 2-22.
Danny LoGiudice has covered local sports across New Jersey since 2014. Contact him at dlogiudice@gannettnj.com or @danny_logiudice on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ football: Rumson-Fair Haven falls to Caldwell in state final
