RED BANK – Red Bank Catholic has a lot of reasons to brag. A perfect 10-0 season and a Non-Public Group 3 state championship is a good starting point, but the Caseys culture isn’t about the past or the individual, it’s all about the team. Good luck finding an RBC player who is going to talk about anything other than the collective unit.
“Playing for RBC, it’s an awesome privilege and a huge tradition that we have,” Billy Guidetti said. “We’re really just focused on this year and Week 0.”
Head Coach: Frank Edgerly
14th Season (1999-2008, 2016-Present)
2018 Record:10-0, Non-Public Group 3 State Champions Offense: 33.7 points scored per game Defense:10.0 points allowed per game
You’re not going to see any bulletin board material from the Caseys players. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would be proud of his former employee Frank Edgerly and the mentality he’s instilled in the entire Red Bank Catholic roster. When you get down to it, the Caseys don’t need to brag on themselves because the quality of play speaks for itself on the field and can’t be overlooked.
RBC has two of the highest profile recruits in New Jersey. Kevin Bauman committed to Notre Dame over two years ago and fans of the Fighting Irish can start counting down to one of the country’s top tight ends arrival to South Bend. The 6-foot-5 238-pound senior is ranked the No. 4 tight end in the country by Rivals.com and No. 6 in the nation by 247Sports. He will play in the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii in January to close out his high school career but is laser focused on final year playing for the Caseys.
“It is a good feeling knowing that I’m putting 100 percent of my focus into this season,” Bauman said. “Knowing you have that (Notre Dame) is exciting, but the focus is on right here, right now.”
It’s an embarrassment of riches for RBC at the tight end position with Boston College pledge Charlie Gordinier who will also be the ringleader of the Caseys defense at linebacker. Gordinier saw his offers skyrocket following an outstanding junior campaign that included 83 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks and an interception. He’s projected at tight end at the next level. Charlie’s older brother Jamie was a standout at RBC and went on to a productive career at the University of Miami. Gordinier held 14 FBS offers, including LSU, UCLA, Michigan State, Syracuse and Maryland before choosing the Eagles. Gordinier will be reunited with teammate Steve Lubischer at BC but first Charlie will be one of the top players in the Shore Conference this fall.
Photo by Patrick Olivero
Ryan Edgerly is poised to take the reins of the RBC offense at quarterback after backing up Steve Lubischer, who’s now at Boston College. The Caseys bring back four of their five starters on the offensive line and a talented runner in Billy Guidetti who’s got a nose for the end zone. Look for Sean Rossback to step in and provide a vertical threat at receiver. Two seniors will be keys on defense with Jack Zenkert working alongside Gordinier at linebacker and Kevin Degnan as a returning starter in the secondary.
The Caseys had the bullseye on their back for the entire 2018 season and went wire to wire as the Shore Conference’s top team on the way to a state title. That pressure will serve RBC well in 2019 as the entire team has embraced what it takes to be one of New Jersey’s most consistent football programs.
“Ignore the noise. That’s a big part of it,” Edgerly said. “Keeping everyone dialed into what we have to do today, I wouldn’t say it’s a recipe for success as much as it’s a must for any degree of success.”
RED BANK CATHOLIC
2019 SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Rumson-Fair Haven
Saturday, Sept. 14 at Manasquan
Friday, Sept. 20 vs. Middletown South
Friday, Sept. 27 vs. Long Branch
Friday, Oct. 4 at Toms River North
Friday, Oct. 18 at Manalapan
Friday, Oct. 25 at Donovan Catholic
Friday, Nov. 1 vs. Freehold Township
GAME TO WATCH
FRIDAY, OCT. 25
ROAD GAME AT DONOVAN CATHOLIC
RBC always has the bullseye on its back in the Shore Conference and the teams that usually provide the biggest challenge for the top set are also from the Non-Public ranks. With Mater Dei Prep and the Caseys clearly establishing themselves as statewide powers, Donovan Catholic is a program on the rise. Former Wall head coach Dan Curcione has built a team that should roll through an easy schedule heading into a Week 8 showdown in Toms River with the Caseys. RBC will be served well with tough tests on the road at Toms River North and Manalapan leading up to this late-season matchup.
PLAYER TO WATCH
JAKE LOURO
JUNIOR OL/DL
Louro cracked the varsity rotation as a freshman and the junior made the biggest play of his career when he was in on the tackle inside the 10-yard line against Mater Dei Prep at MetLife Stadium to essentially seal a state championship. Louro will be manning the middle on defense at nose guard and start on the O-line at tackle. Athletic prowess runs in the family. Jake’s older sisters are each Division I basketball standouts. Jess Louro just finished a four-year career at Middle Tennessee State and Jen Louro is a redshirt freshman at Monmouth University. Louro should get on the college radar with a big junior year effort.
