RFH Shocks RBR To Win Third Straight Sectional Championship

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By Jim Hintelmann
PISCATAWAY – Defeating unbeaten teams in the NJSIAA sectional finals has become a habit with Rumson-Fair Haven Regional’s football team. For the third time in five years the Bulldogs brought down an unbeaten team, and this year it was previously unbeaten and Ridge Road rival Red Bank Regional, 21-0, in the Central Jersey Group II finals at Rutgers Saturday. It was their third straight sectional title. Rumson had previously beaten Matawan (2010) and Weequahic (2012) in its other title games against unbeaten teams.
The Bulldogs put on a defensive clinic to win its third straight sectional title.
Rumson defeated Delaware Valley to win the Group II title last year by the same score, but moved to III this season.
Brick (1981-83), Manasquan (1998-02), Asbury Park (2007-09) and Middletown South (2003-06) were the only other Shore schools to win three straight titles.

RFH’s Michael O’Connor is surrounded by Red Bank Regional tacklers in Saturday night’s “Battle of Ridge Road,” held at Rutgers. Photo: B51 Photography / Mark Brown
RFH’s Michael O’Connor is surrounded by Red Bank Regional tacklers in Saturday night’s “Battle of Ridge Road,” held at Rutgers. Photo: B51 Photography / Mark Brown

“This win was better because it was against Red Bank,” said Rumson coach Bryan Batchler. “My defensive coordinator, Jerry Schulte, did a great job. We didn’t use any special defense. We just moved some players around.”
“Our seniors went 9-0 in the three playoffs,” he said. “We told them to believe in each other.”
Safety Mike Murdock and linebackers Mike Ruane and Matt Pfrang led a Rumson defense that held Red Bank’s usual potent offense to just 116 yards of total offense. Murdock had eight tackles, two for losses, and broke up two passes.
“This feels great,” said Pfrang. “We been working hard since the summer and just executed well today.”
“Ruane led the team in tackles,” said Batchler, “He’s as strong as an ox and is very competitive, He’ll tackle anything that moves.”
Quarterback Mike O’Connor and running back Bryan Hess led the offense with O’Connor rushing for 87 yards in 15 carries including a 17-yard touchdown run while Hess scored a pair of touchdowns and gained 76 yards in 16 carries.
“Our running game looked very strong up the middle,” said O’Connor. “Everything was working for us.”
Rumson scored on its first series after stepping Red Bank on a fourth and three at midfield. Four plays later, Hess broke through the middle of the Red Bank line and raced 40 yards for the first touchdown of the game, Tom Chapin kicked the first of three extra points for a 7-0 lead.
“I got some great blocks,” said Hess. “Once I got past the linebackers, I used my speed, and it was a great momentum changer.
“The offensive
 line was great,” he said. “We wouldn’t do anything without it and once we scored, the defense took over.”
Rumson made it 14-0 a short time later after driving 73 yards in 12 plays with Hess scoring on a 2-yard run. A 36yard pass from O’Connor to John Kingdon set it up.
“It was amazing to go out on top, especially for the seniors,” said Kingdon. “Today, we just wanted to give the ball to our senior playmakers.”
Rumson closed out its scoring in the third quarter on O’Connor’s 17-yard run.
Red Bank threatened just once, and that was in the final quarter when it reached the Rumson 10. A 34-yard run by Sadiq Palmer and a 21-yard pass to Palmer from quarterback Jack Navitsky set it up.
Rumson’s defense, however settled down and Palmer was stopped on a fourth down run to end the threat.
 For Red Bank (11-1) it was a tough end to what had otherwise been one of its best seasons. With a senior-dominated squad, Red Bank did win its first B Division North championship since 1975.
Rumson, though, will have most of this year’s team coming back next year and should again be a solid CJ III and A Central favorite. St. John Vianney, this year’s A Central champion, will lose a great deal from that team by graduation.