By Brian Deakyne
UNION – After a season in which its defense dominated, it should come as no surprise that defense was the key for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School.
The Bulldogs held second-seeded Weequahic High School to 6 points as they won their second state sectional title in school history on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Kean University.
Senior quarterback Chase Caruso connected on an 85-yard touchdown pass to account for the only score of the first half, and then Rumson’s defense, which has allowed an average of 8.4 points per game, took over.
Weequahic’s lone score of the game came in the third quarter when Kedar Clarke scored on a run from a yard out, but that’s all that the Bulldogs’ ferocious defense would allow.
Rumson junior running back Charlie Volker added a 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the 14-6 win for the Bulldogs.
It’s the second sectional title in school history for Rumson with its first coming over Matawan Regional High School in 2010.
Rumson was ousted by Weequahic in the opening round of the Central Jersey, Group 2 state playoffs last season, but this year, the Bulldogs earned revenge as the top two seeds faced off in the final.
Much like that 2010 season, the Bulldogs (11-1) only loss came to Red Bank Catholic High School on Thanksgiving weekend.
This year, top-seeded Rumson disposed of eighth-seeded Bordentown High School in the first round of the playoffs, 41-8 before winning a nail-biter over Rahway High School, 28-21, in the semifinal round.
Prior to the postseason, the Bulldogs held every team it faced to single digits with the exception of its final regular season game against Manasquan – a 22-15 win.
