By Rich Chrampanis | Photos by Patrick Olivero
HAZLET – In the midst of a chaotic and magical fourth quarter that will be talked about for years in Rumson, first year head coach Jeremy Schulte said what everyone on the sideline was thinking, “How can you not love high school football?”
Rumson-Fair Haven’s improbable 34-27 double overtime win at Raritan had a storyline that could match any great comeback in the NFL or NCAA.
Many games across the state were pushed to Saturday due to the weather. The rain was prevalent in the first quarter and a half of the South Group 2 championship; the whipping wind factored into the game the entire evening.
Raritan lost a section title on its home field one year ago and was determined to change the script in 2022 behind the rugged running of Kieran Falzon. The Rockets senior running back singlehandedly put his team in position for a comfortable victory thanks to a 42-carry, 302-yard, three-touchdown performance. When Falzon ran 70 yards for a score late in the third quarter, Raritan had a commanding 27-10 lead.
SportsReference.com has a win probability calculator that takes the time and situation of the game and delivers a win percentage. With Rumson trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, there was a mere 1.3% chance of the Bulldogs staging a winning comeback. That puts into perspective the feat RFH accomplished in a wild fourth quarter.
It started with sophomore quarterback Owen O’Toole rolling out and finding Scott Venancio in the back of the end zone on a 4-yard scoring play to make it 27-17 early in the fourth. After Raritan stalled near midfield, O’Toole had the wind at his back and threw a bomb to Cole Cashion who hauled it in for a 60-yard touchdown. Just like that, the deficit shrank from 17 to 3.
With the momentum swinging completely toward Rumson, the Bulldogs defense keyed in on slowing down Falzon and making yet another stop. RFH got the ball back one more time and drove all the way down to the 9-yard line. With 1:23 remaining, Oliver Lorraine booted a 26-yard field goal to cap off an amazing 17-point fourth quarter and force overtime for a sectional championship.
The first overtime period went back into the wind. The Rumson defense stopped Falzon on fourth-and-1, giving the Bulldogs the chance to win the game on a field goal or touchdown. After Raritan’s defense came up with a stop, Lorraine had the daunting task of kicking a game-winning 36-yard field goal into a swirling wind. The RFH kicker had the distance but the attempt was just wide, setting the stage for double overtime.
For the second extra period, the Bulldogs offense was on field first and O’Toole zipped a pass to Venancio who was able to sprint to the end zone for a 19-yard scoring play. His second touchdown of the night made it 34-27. The RFH defense took care of the rest, thanks to a sack and a Beau Kemler interception to seal the Bulldogs’ seventh section championship since 2010.
Championship celebrations are always frenzied, but this one was especially heightened. After all, the Bulldogs were all but cooked through three quarters and climbed the mountain to persevere in two overtime periods. First year head coach Jeremy Schulte immediately embraced his father Jerry, who has experienced his fair share of championship football during his reign as RFH head coach. The elder Schulte is still on staff as defensive coordinator and had tears in his eyes as he watched his son navigate his team through an improbable comeback.
“It’s amazing. I wouldn’t be here without him,” Jeremy Schulte said. “The entire thing was just absolutely incredible. I’m so proud of these guys right now for stepping up and doing everything they’re supposed to do. And then to share that moment at the end with my dad is something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life.”
O’Toole showed grit as a sophomore playing in a big spot. He threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns in tough weather conditions; Nick Rigby hauled in 11 catches for 103 yards and Venancio shined with two TDs and 87 yards receiving.
“We never give up. It’s as simple as that,” Venancio said. “We started 0-2 and everybody counted us out (saying), ‘This isn’t a sectional championship Rumson team, this isn’t a typical Rumson team. This is a rebuilding year for Rumson.’ Talk to me now, baby. We’re champs.”
Senior Marshall Halfacre was overcome with emotion realizing that his team pulled off a win for the ages. But unlike for previous RFH section title winners, there is more to come for this team. Rumson is in the first ever Group 2 state semifinal and will face Willingboro at Cherokee High School this Sunday at 11 a.m.
“I don’t think we’re finished yet,” Halfacre said. “I don’t think New Jersey has seen enough of Rumson-Fair Haven.”
The article originally appeared in the November 17 – 23, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
