By Warren Rappleyea
With a slew of key players returning from a team that won a third straight state sectional championship, expectations are understandably high for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s football team this fall.
After winning a pair of NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group II crowns in 2013 and 2014, the Bulldogs moved up to Central Jersey, Group III a year ago and again proved too much for the competition. Rumson-Fair Haven went 10-2 last season, piling up 320 points while allowing just 92 points against in pitching five shutouts. Rumson-Fair Haven dominated Red Bank Regional High School in the Central Jersey, Group III title game to the tune of 21-0.
Under new coach Jerry Schulte, that winning tradition is likely to continue. Schulte, who spent 10 years as the head coach at Wall High School, has been Rumson-Fair Haven’s defensive coordinator for the past 11 years, a role he will remain in as the head man.
“We’re really not looking to change anything right now,” Schulte said. “Everything has worked pretty well for the past few seasons. We have a lot of experienced players coming back, and I firmly believe our coaching staff is one of the best in the Shore Conference.”
Defensively, there is plenty of reason to believe the Bulldogs will be just as stingy in the 4-3. Seniors Liam Adams (65 tackles) and Jack Woods (30 tackles) are back at tackle and end. Junior Chase Pfrang (26 tackles) is back at the opposite end. Senior James Rue (200 pounds) will be the other tackle.
Schulte’s linebacking corps will have several new faces, but the 6-foot, 220-pound, ever-dangerous Mike Ruane remains. The University of Massachusetts-commit led the team with 153 tackles a year ago while also picking off three passes and managing to score six touchdowns. Ruane’s presence will help settle in his sophomore cohorts: Christian Lanzalotto, Henry Sullivan and Keegan Woods.
The secondary is deep and experienced. Mike Murdock is back at strong safety after making 108 tackles and intercepting a pair of passes a year ago. Murdock is joined by free safety James Melia, who made 23 tackles and cornerback Pat Russo, who has 43 tackles. Jake Gianotto and Ryan Tuorto will also see time in the defensive backfield.
On the other side of scrimmage, the Bulldogs will be equally dangerous. Two-way threat Michael O’Connor returns for his third year as quarterback. As a junior, O’Connor threw for more than 650 yards and nine touchdowns and also ran for 1,020 yards and another 12 touchdowns.
Matt Vecchiarelli, who accumulated over 750 all-purpose yards and scored eight touchdowns, returns at running back. Junior Peter Lucas and sophomore Alex Mallijan will also see time in the backfield. Tyler Pearson, Trevor Caruso and Jack Oberle are the wideouts, and Colin Pavluk will line up at tight end.
The offensive line benefits from the return of Tim Leonard and juniors Justin Johnson and Nate Raphan. Pat Kelleher and sophomore Ryan McCann round out the line.
Place-kicker Thomas Chapin is another weapon. The senior connected on five field goals and 28 PATs a year while averaging 37 yards per punt.
Rumson-Fair Haven is slated to open the season at home against Raritan High School Sept. 9.
Other area teams will also open the season Sept. 9. Red Bank Regional will host John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in a crossover game against a Greater Middlesex Conference opponent, and Red Bank Catholic High School will entertain Middletown High School South. Long Branch High School opens the season Sept. 10 at Manasquan High School.
Ocean Township High School, which opened Sept. 2 at home against Monmouth Regional High School, is set to host Wall Sept. 9.
