The Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs are one of New Jersey鈥檚 best football teams
RUMSON, N.J. — The Rumson-Fair Haven High School Bulldogs have made a name for themselves in the 2021 high school football season. The Bulldogs reached the NJ.com top 20 as one of the top programs in the state. The team鈥檚 performance was also strong enough to make them the top-seeded team in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 playoff tournament.
The team finished the regular season 7-1. The Bulldogs won all five of their Shore American League games, giving them the best record of the five teams in that league. The team was successful over various top-rated teams in the same league including Donovan Catholic and Wall Township.
The Bulldogs dominated almost every team they faced in 2021, outscoring their opponents 204-53 in eight games. The team didn鈥檛 give up any points until their third game.
The Bulldogs鈥� only loss for 2021 was on Oct. 15 when they lost to Red Bank Catholic 21-14. Like the Bulldogs, the Caseys also went 7-1 in the regular season.
While the Bulldogs might have lost, the team has cited this match with the Caseys as a strong performance. Red Bank Catholic coach Alex Bauman agrees.
鈥淭hey set the gold standard when it comes to defense,鈥� he told NJ.com.
The team showed a balanced offense throughout the season. Senior quarterback Colin Kennedy was a prominent figure for the Bulldogs, as he routinely landed at least 150 passing yards in many of his games. He was also an active running threat, as he often split running duties with fellow senior Geoffrey Schroeder.
Junior defensive back Ryan Kalman and the rest of the Bulldog defense were also consistent in preventing opposing offenses from moving far. The Bulldogs鈥� loss to Red Bank Catholic was the only game this year where the Bulldogs gave up 10 or more points to an opponent. The Bulldogs鈥� defense was particularly critical to their 12-7 victory over Middletown South on Oct. 22. The Bulldogs forced five turnovers, with Beau Kemler landing two interceptions.
Rumson-Fair Haven coach Jerry Schulte has been very confident in the Bulldogs鈥� ability to perform well. Schulte recently remarked to the Asbury Park Press that the team鈥檚 game against Middletown South was the team seeing the game as 鈥渢he first round of the playoffs in a way.鈥�
People throughout the Rumson area will be watching what the Bulldogs will be doing throughout the playoffs and beyond. The Bulldogs have been bringing in substantial crowds to Borden Stadium in Rumson. The school reported a total attendance of about 2,500 during the Bulldogs鈥� match with Red Bank Catholic earlier this year.
Rumson-Fair Haven is looking forward to the future and seeing what Schulte will bring to the team. The club鈥檚 multi-faceted approach to playing has helped make them one of the most challenging teams to face in New Jersey.
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