RUMSON – It seemed fitting that one of the winningest programs in the last six years was among the winners in New Jersey’s newly minted bowl games. Rumson-Fair Haven now has five sectional titles in the last six years.
“We celebrated for a day or two and then we went right back to work,” senior Drew Frankel said. “Everyone’s been in the weight room every day working out. We’ve been on the turf. We’re never satisfied. We’re not done yet.”
Head Coach: Jerry Schulte
(4th Year)
2018 Record: 10-2
Offense: 26.91 points scored per game Defense: 10.41 points allowed per game
They say there’s strength in numbers and RFH hopes that old adage holds true. There are 96 Bulldogs in training camp and that doesn’t include a full freshman team. So when RFH needs to replace a 1,700-yard rusher and two linebackers who combined for 295 tackles, the philosophy is simple: the Dawgs will reload.
“We lose a star running back just about every two years or so and we seem to regenerate one. I don’t think that’s an accident,” quarterback Collin Coles said. “I think that’s just because they inspire each other and as they’re learning from their older predecessor they get better and better.”
Next man up in the backfield is John Volker whose older brother Charlie was one of the Shore’s all-time great running backs and an all-Ivy League running back at Princeton. Look for John to make headlines of his own in 2019. Collin Coles showed great poise as a junior leading the offense at quarterback with nearly 1,300 yards and 15 TD passes for last year’s 10-2 squad.
“I just have to take over and take on a bigger leadership role than I had last year,” Coles said. “It’s not as much about following and learning and more about leading by example.”
Defensively, Von Factor was a big factor as a sophomore with 69 tackles and four sacks. There’s a big hole to be filled on defense with the departed Keegan Woods and Christian Lanzalotto accounting for 295 tackles combined. Ryan Ruane had three picks in the secondary and picked up an offer over the summer from UMass. He’s ready for an 11-player effort from the Bulldogs defense.
“It’s not going to be the same as last year,” Ruane said. “It’s a tough loss with Keegan and Christian. It’s going to be a lot more getting to the ball; 11 hats to the ball and that’s what we’re going to do this year.”
Coach Jerry Schulte’s team’s calling card has always been a stingy defense. Rumson gave up less than a touchdown in six of its wins. This year’s RFH motto is “Perfect the Process” and the Rumson players are all in on the process and the results that come with it.
“We try to get everything right before we move forward,” senior Peter Crowley said. “Perfect the process is getting everything right so we can move on to the next thing.”
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN
2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 6 at Red Bank Catholic
Friday, Sept. 13 at Wall
Friday, Sept. 20 vs. Long Branch
Friday, Sept. 27 vs. Toms River North
Friday, Oct. 4 at Manalapan
Friday, Oct. 11 vs. Mater Dei Prep
Friday, Oct. 18 vs. Middletown South
Friday, Nov. 1 at Jackson Memorial
GAME TO WATCH
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
ROAD GAME AT RED BANK CATHOLIC
Many would say it was the 2018 Game of the Year in the Shore Conference. RBC scored a 14-13 win over RFH as a Jaden Key-blocked extra point was the difference. Rumson’s schedule has no easy weeks and the opener against RBC will get this team ready for the rigors of the 2019 slate no matter what the result is.
PLAYER TO WATCH
GORDON FORSYTH
SENIOR LINEBACKER
It’s unfair to ask Gordon Forysth to step in and account for 295 tackles that Keegan Woods and Christian Lanzalotto produced last year. Forsyth won’t hit that mark, but if he stays healthy he can continue the tradition of 100-tackle linebackers at RFH. Even more important are his leadership skills. When we paid a visit to Rumson practice he was like a coach on the field, working with the younger players in between reps and telling them what they need to do. Look for RFH’s defense to feed off Forsyth’s energy and continue to be a stingy unit.
