By Warren Rappleyea
There was never any doubt prior to the season that the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School football team’s goal was a fourth straight state sectional championship. The Bulldogs (8-3) are one win away from doing just that.
Coach Jerry Schulte’s team earned the fourth seed for the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III playoffs and will take on third-seeded South Plainfield High School (8-3) Dec. 3 at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Rumson-Fair Haven won the section last season and won the Central Jersey, Group II crown in 2014 and 2013.
“They’re obviously a good team or they wouldn’t still be playing,” Schulte about South Plainfield. “They have a lot of weapons, and we’re going to have to contain their big-play capability.”
In their semifinals matchup, the Bulldogs traveled to play top-seeded Somerville High School. Schulte knew his team would have to stop the Pioneers’ high-powered offense, but things were looking bleak after the home team quickly posted 14 points in the first quarter.
That, however, would be all Somerville would get, as the Bulldogs defense bent a bit, yet refused to break. Sophomore linebacker Christian Lanzalotto led the way with 14 tackles, while fellow linebacker Mike Ruane and lineman Chase Pfrang made 10 tackles apiece. Rumson-Fair Haven also intercepted three passes — two by James Melia and one by Chris Russo in the fourth quarter that ended the Pioneers’ comeback attempt.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, Rumson-Fair Haven’s offense got going in the second quarter. Matt Veccharelli, who was a workhorse in running for 120 yards in 20 attempts, scored on a 2-yard run. Later in the quarter, Michael O’Connor connected with Colin Pavluk for a 7-yard scoring pass to put the Bulldogs in front, 14-13, at the break. Veccharelli added a second touchdown on a 3-yard run to close out the scoring.
South Plainfield earned its berth in the finals with a dominating 26-0 win against second-seeded Ewing High School. It bested seventh-seeded Lawrence High School, 27-6, in the quarterfinals. Since his return from an ankle injury, Charles Lovett has alternated with Ryan Marston as the Tigers’ quarterback. Sophomore running back Zach DelVecchio, who ran for 157 yards in the Ewing game, keys the Tigers’ ground game.
“They use a variety of different formations, so we’ve been working on recognition,” Schulte said. “We’re pretty much going to look to do what we always do: that’s ball control on offense and limiting their options on defense. We’re not doing anything fancy.”
Both teams played and lost holiday games. Rumson-Fair Haven fell, 14-7, to Shore Regional High School (7-4), while South Plainfield dropped a 39-21 decision to North Plainfield High School (3-7).
“I wouldn’t read too much into that,” Schulte said. “Football is the only sport where some teams play two playoff games and then still have a regular-season game. It’s tough either way. You have to play your starters and at the same time you don’t want anyone to get hurt. For Shore and North Plainfield, it was their last game, so they brought everything.”
The Rumson-Fair Haven coach noted that his team is healthy and ready to go for the South Plainfield game. Several Bulldogs players are looking for their third title as regulars. They include O’Connor, Melia, Ruane, lineman Liam Adams, Tim Leonard and Jack Wood and cornerback Michael Murdock.
“They’re all chomping at the bit,” Schulte said. “The whole team is.”