By Rich Chrampanis
LITTLE SILVER – Sometimes it takes a while for a first-year head coach to connect with his team and build the trust and culture that makes a winning program. At Red Bank Regional, Tyler Karalewich had the daunting task of filling the massive shoes of Shane Fallon, one of the Shore’s all-time great football coaches. But it didn’t take the RBR alum, who was part of Fallon’s staff, long to guide the Bucs to an early mark in the 2025 season. Red Bank Regional pulled off the upset in its home opener with a 27-18 win over Matawan, a game in which RBR set the tone early and never relinquished the lead. “I said on Day One, I said on June 13th when I got hired and got board approval… (that) I’m bringing the juice every single day,” Karalewich said. He implored his players to do the same.
“And that’s why I’m so proud of this team. We play so hard.”
After RBR fumbled away the opening kickoff, two-way standout Matt Huss hogtied a runner on fourth down to give the Bucs a chance at redemption. Brett Laude and the offense marched down the field, setting up Huss to cash in from 23 yards out with a beautiful run down the far sideline, putting the Bucs in front 7-0. Just moments later, a bad exchange resulted in a fumble recovery by Kazimir Neice. That gave the Bucs a short field, and Huss’s second touchdown run of the quarter put RBR in front 14-0 after one.
Matawan scored on an Erik Martinez 36-yard TD run, but RBR responded with a huge 48-yard play – Laude to tight end Bennett Lopez over the middle. On third and goal, Laude’s pass was deflected but Lopez found the ball in the end zone for a 1-yard score to make it 21-6.
Matawan scored last in the first half and then Alexander Liss had a 48-yard scoop and score defensive TD in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 21-18.
But the Bucs didn’t panic and countered with a big play of their own. Kaden Jackson fielded a punt at the 25-yard line and got to the RBR sideline before turning upfield for a 75-yard return to put Red Bank back up by two possessions.
A feisty Bucs defense took care of the rest. Jah’Mir Lane-Bailey had two sacks in the game and also intercepted a two-point attempt.
“The energy. I mean, it’s always been there,” Lane-Bailey said. “Locker room, weight room, all that.”
“We just have to keep it to have a better team… and I just think it brings the team together,” he said.
Matt Huss had 22 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns. After a tough loss to open the season against Neptune, Red Bank Regional has newfound confidence.
“It’s so fun,” Huss said. “And we’ve been playing with each other since we were in AYF, since, like, fifth grade, and it’s our senior year, so we got to show them what’s up.”
With back-to-back wins, RBR (2-1) will face another big test Friday when it hosts Shore Regional, a Group 1 school accustomed to winning.
When the victory over Matawan was secured, Karalewich pumped his fists and gave a fired-up postgame speech to his team. Indeed he is bringing the juice and the entire Bucs roster is feeding off that energy.
“We had our backs against the wall,” Karalewich said. “Our defense kicked some butt. And then our offense got us in the end zone. That’s all we needed to give us a lead. We’re good to go. I’m so proud of our kids. This is one of the biggest wins in program history on this field and I’m so proud to be here doing it. This is a dream come true.”
The article originally appeared in the September 25 – October 1, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
