For the second time in six days, the Rumson-Fair Haven defensive unit took one of the best offensive teams in the Shore Conference and pounded it into submission.
Rumson-Fair Haven (2-0) has yet to allow a point in its first eight quarters of football.
Led by a front seven that makes tough sledding for opponent look easy, Rumson-Fair Haven (2-0), ranked No. 14 in the state by NJ.com, quieted No. 13 Donovan Catholic (1-1), 14-0, at Borden Stadium.
Donovan Catholic had 37 yards rushing — just one in the second half. It completed nine passes for 79 yards. Donovan Catholic scored 54 points last week.
The amazing fact? Rumson-Fair Haven returned only three starters on defense. It started 2021 with a completely new secondary. Watching them play, you’d have no idea.
“We emphasize technique and alignment and when we do the right things, this is how it turns out,” said Rumson-Fair Haven’s senior defensive end Aiden Moriarity, looking over his should at the scoreboard.
“This is nothing less than we expected,” said Moriarity, who had a sack and a bunch of hurries.
“Our defense is pretty good,” added Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Jerry Schulte, a master of the understated. “We have good athletes. The kids are coachable and they play the way they’ve been taught to play.”
“Alignment, assignment and technique are what we preach,” explained RFH defensive coordinator Jeremy Schulte. “But the guys take it to a different level. They’re like a pack of hungry dogs going after a ham.”
The true beauty of the way Rumson defense plays is that its attention to discipline, positioning and assignment football does not diminishing its aggression and attacking.
“Things didn’t go our way last year,” Jeremy Schulte said. “A lot of teams would have been happy with 6-2, but these guys, they want to be playing in December.”
Donovan had one shot to score. On its third, and final, possession of the first half, the Griffins put together a drive that took them from their own 37 yard line to the Rumson-Fair Haven 10. It was a well-called an executed 13-play drive that featured the bullish running ability of senior QB Jalin Butler on multiple quarterback powers, which resembled a quick, QB draw, Donovan had a golden opportunity to wipe out Rumson’s 7-0 lead.
On a third-and-six from the Rumson 10, Butler dropped back, went through his progressions left before coming back to the right. Tight end Levi Wilkins shook free from linebacker, but his throw was a tad long an out of the end zone. The Griffins then missed a 27-yard field goal and never came close to scoring again.
Rumson-Fair Haven, which scored 35 points in its season-opening win over Wall, went 48 yards in 10 plays on its first possession. Rumson converted once on third down and once on fourth during the match. A nine-yard pass from QB Colin Kennedy to Scott Venacio picked up one first down and a 15-yard aerial to Aidan Casuccio off bootleg action the other. On third-and two from the six yard line, fullback Daniel Garvey muscled in for the score. After the successful PAT, RFH owned a 7-0 lead with 3:39 left in the first quarter.
Rumson scored again coming out of halftime. Rumson went 70 yards in six plays. The key play in the match was a pass from Kennedy to Nick Rigby. On the play, Kennedy went play action left, reverse pivoted and bootlegged right. Rigby was uncovered down the field and moved the ball from the Rumson 30 to the Donovan 18 yard line. Five plays later Kennedy scored on a QB sneak from the one.
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Joe Zedalis covers Shore Conference football. He can be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Josephzedalis
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