Photos by Tina Colella
Story by Jay Cook
The Red Bank Catholic Caseys were out in force to support their team playing Delbarton in the Championship game, despite the cold temperatures that set in before the game in a massive tailgate to show solidarity for their team.
A lot was at stake. RBC has not won this championship since 1976 and that was the only time despite an attempt in 1980.
Despite the length in between championship games, alumni of former competitive Casey teams were in no shortage at the tailgate. Members of the legendary 1976 championship team were taking part in the pre-game festivities as well; most notably star running back from the ‘76 team, Lonnie Burgess.
Burgess, who now resides in Long Beach Island, is a home-grown Red Bank product. “It’s very electric; there’s a ton of people here, a lot of excitement, a lot of support and it’s just like one big family.”
The tailgate, which started at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, was lively from the beginning.
“Festive, fun, and everybody’s in great, great sprits despite the weather,” said Chris Smith, a Little Silver resident, who is the father of Liam Smith, the Caseys’ starting left tackle.
Smith, who also owns Val’s Tavern in Rumson, knows a thing or two about setting up events such as this.
“I coordinated this with a couple of the other senior dads, and we’re just trying to provide a central location for all the Red Bank Catholic family and community together,” he said.
Also present at this colossal tailgate were Atlantic Highlands residents Donald Brown Sr. and Lisa Brown, parents of Donald Brown Jr., a 2005 RBC alumni who now plays in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers. Their daughter, Leah Joelle Brown, is also a senior cheerleader on this year’s squad. Brown commented on the closeness of the players, but also said “…the camaraderie of the parents that keep coming back, and the alumni prior to that, it’s magnificent; it’s a phenomenal event.”
Burgess, along with the other hundreds of Casey supporters that flooded MetLife Stadium on Dec. 7 would not be disappointed, as Red Bank Catholic would go on to win in dominating fashion. Their 45-20 victory over Delbarton in the Non-Public Group 3 State Championship Game has now catapulted the 2014 Red Bank Catholic Caseys forwards as one of the best teams to come from Broad Street in downtown Red Bank. Not only did the players win, but the cheerleaders won, the families won and the countless alumni in attendance won.
