Rumson-Fair Haven is the South Jersey Group 2 champion after a 14-7 win over Haddonfield at Two River Times Field and Borden Stadium. Rich Chrampanis 
Rumson has hoisted a sectional trophy for two straight years and now has eight titles since 2010. Patrick Olivero 
RFH senior wide receiver Sean Trinder had two key catches for 41 yards in the win against Haddonfield. 
Rumson-Fair Haven junior DB Jacob Tobias broke up the game-tying touchdown to seal the Bulldogs’ win. Patrick Olivero 
RFH tight end Jackson Gallagher grabbed a 12-yard touchdown catch for the game’s first score. Patrick Olivero
By Rich Chrampanis
RUMSON – For 10 straight years, Rumson-Fair Haven has made it to a sectional final. And for the second straight year, the already filled-up trophy case needs to make some room. The Bulldogs scored a 14-7 win over Haddonfield to earn the South Jersey Group 2 title.
Over the past two years, RFH has had a pass-first mentality on offense but in order to beat a talented Haddonfield squad, Coach Jeremy Schulte returned to old school Rumson football. RFH leaned on the ground game with 46 carries against just 12 passes. With time of possession and stellar defense, Rumson won its first one-score game in its current 11-game campaign.
The 2023 sectional title game may best be remembered for fourth down prowess. On its opening drive, Rumson-Fair Haven converted three fourth downs, highlighted by an Owen O’Toole 12-yard TD pass to Jackson Gallagher that saw the senior tight end bowl over a defender on his way to the end zone.
After Haddonfield responded with a touchdown on its opening drive, RFH put together a remarkable 12-play, 73-yard drive that took up a full 12 minutes of clock. Once again, Rumson cashed in on a fourth down conversion when Kellen Murray plunged in from 2 yards out. RFH went five-for-five on fourth downs in the first half, including both scoring plays.
“The offensive line was confident coming in,” quarterback O’Toole said. “They won this game for us. I think everyone knows that and this win’s because of them.”
The rest of the story was defense. The second half had no scoring but Rumson-Fair Haven was effectively able to put together sustained drives and keep the ball out of Haddonfield’s hands. The South Jersey school had its chance to tie the game when an Alastair Orr fumble forced the Rumson-Fair Haven defense to buckle down, needing a stop as Haddonfield took over at the 23-yard line with just 2:32 left. QB Declan McCarthy got his team all the way down to the 4-yard line. With the game on the line, RFH junior DB Jacob Tobias broke up a pass in the end zone to seal the victory.
Haddonfield came into the matchup averaging over 30 points a game; the Rumson defense shut them out over the final three quarters.
“I knew I was man-to-man with (number) 35,” Tobias said. “I saw the kid go out with motion and I just made a play on the ball. I saw the ref give me the arms and that’s it.”
Schulte took over for his father, Jerry, who is still integral to the program as defensive coordinator. The younger Schulte now has back-to-back section titles in his first two years as the varsity head coach.
“It’s definitely not easy at all,” Schulte said. “It’s a testament to these kids. We’ve been here before, we’ve done it, a couple of them have been before but the work they put in all year long is just incredible. It just trickles down every single year. These guys know what the culture is here and what it takes to win these games and it showed.”
With Point Pleasant Boro upset by Willingboro, Rumson gets a home game in the Group 2 state semifinals Friday night. Last year, RFH dominated the Chimeras 42-6 on the road to reach the state finals but considering RFH lost to Point Boro in the regular season and Willingboro scored an impressive road win against the Panthers, Rumson-Fair Haven will no doubt prepare for a much tougher contest than last year’s rout.
Non-Public “B” State Semifinal
Red Bank Catholic 35, Holy Spirit 21
Emanuel Ross set the tone with a 95-yard jet sweep and added a 14-yard touchdown catch as the Caseys raced out to a 35-7 lead and earned a spot in the Non-Public “B” state championship for a third straight matchup against DePaul Catholic. RBC (9-1) won the 2021 state title at MetLife Stadium while the Spartans got revenge in 2022.
Frankie Williams was 13-of-15 for 184 yards and three touchdown passes. Luke Lonczak, Luke Wassef and Jack Bohm-Squicciarini also found the end zone for the Caseys. Ross has added a running element to his game with 185 yards on the ground with two scores in the Caseys’ last two games. He continues to be one of the state’s top receivers with 44 catches for 676 yards and 10 touchdowns via the air.
RBC has this week off and will prepare for the state title Nov. 28 at MetLife Stadium.
This article originally appeared in the November 16 – 22, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
