By Rich Chrampanis
Red Bank Catholic Blanks Middletown South
A lot of people pointed to RBC’s fourth game against Middletown South as the first big test for the Caseys this season. Coach Mike Lange’s team passed with flying colors in a 35-0 win at the Swamp in Middletown. After Torin Harmon gave the Caseys a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 4-yard touch- down run, RBC put the game away with an electric second quarter. Sophomore quarterback Frankie Williams threw touchdown passes to Najih Rahman and Emanuel Ross and Sabino Portella added a 14-yard TD run to give the Caseys a 28-0 halftime lead. Ross closed out the scoring with his second touchdown catch in the third quarter. The Caseys defense has been lights out with two shutouts and just 10 points allowed in the first four games of the season.
Schulte Gets First Career Win
The third time was the charm for first-year Rumson-Fair Haven head football coach Jeremy Schulte. The Bulldogs scored a 44-20 win over Wall at Borden Stadium and Two River Times Field to give the longtime Bulldogs assistant his first career win as head coach. RFH had tough losses to Toms River North and Donovan Catholic to start the season and continues to play top tier Shore Conference teams in the American Division.
Coach ‘Cos’ Gets Career Win No. 200
Shore Regional head coach Mark Costantino has had plenty of nail biters throughout his 32-year career leading the Blue Devils, but last Saturday there was no drama when it came to his milestone 200th career win. Shore routed Keansburg on the road 58-0. The Blue Devils are now 2-1 on the season. Coach Cos has guided his team to 12 sectional finals and has won an outstanding seven championships.
Three Stars From Week Six
Owen O’Toole, Rumson-Fair Haven
The sophomore quarterback has found his stride in just his third varsity start. O’Toole completed 15-of-23 passes for 223 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ first win of the year. O’Toole was able to get his stable of receivers involved: Nick Rigby has five catches for 74 yards and two TDs; running back Alastair Orr caught three passes for 46 yards and a score; Sean Trinder had two grabs for 31 yards and a touchdown; and Markus Brown added a 26-yard touchdown catch.
Emanuel Ross, Red Bank Catholic
The junior wideout continues to raise his profile as a top tier wide receiver. Ross had two touchdown catches in the Caseys’ win over Middletown South. Ross is poised to be one of New Jersey’s top recruits. On Sept. 11, he attended Clemson’s home win against Furman. He’s still awaiting an offer from the Tigers but has 11 FBS offers, including Penn State, Syracuse and West Virginia.
Chris Scully, Colts neck
Scully delivered the game-winning touchdown with 2.9 seconds left to give the Cougars an outstanding 15-7 win on the road at Jackson Memorial. Scully had 24 carries for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The Cougars are off to a 2-1 start in 2022.
Week Four Schedule
Friday, Sept. 23
Donovan Catholic at Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.
Rumson-Fair Haven at Manalapan, 7 p.m.
Wall at Middletown South, 7 p.m.
Southern Regional at Middletown North, 7 p.m. Brick Township at Red Bank Regional, 7 p.m. Manasquan at Saint John Vianney, 7 p.m. Keyport at Shore Regional, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 24 Freehold Township at Colts Neck, noon
Game To Watch
Donovan Catholic At Red Bank Catholic, Friday, 7 P.M.
The Caseys’ 2021 state championship season had just one blemish and it came at the hands of the Griffins. Donovan Catholic’s 28-7 win on a rainy night at Count Basie Field gave the Toms River school claim to the top spot in the Shore Conference. While the Griffins went to Non-Public “A” and lost to Bergen Catholic, RBC ran the table to win at MetLife in Non-Public “B.” RBC’s singular focus week to week is a big reason for its success. Mike Lange will challenge his team to keep emotions in check and not have that be a deterrent in what could be termed a “revenge” game.
Donovan Catholic is a young team that will be a nemesis to RBC and the rest of the state for years to come. Freshman running back Najee Calhoun has made a splash right out of the gate and sophomore wide receiver Michael Thomas III has an offer from Michigan to highlight his early recruiting cycle.
RBC has so many impressive skill players but the defense is the calling card of the Caseys. The defense will take on the challenge of slowing down a team that has scored 97 points in the first three weeks. RBC sophomore quarterback Frankie Williams has been able to limit mistakes and will need to keep that trend going against the toughest defense he has faced to date.
Toms River North is not in the American Division; it would have been great to see TRN tangle with both Donovan Catholic and RBC. But this game will go a long way toward showing who deserves the Shore Conference crown and the best-in-the-area moniker.
This should be one of the highest profile games in the entire state and the stands should be packed this Friday night.
The article originally appeared in the September 22 – 28, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
