Great night for Shore Conference football: Red Bank Catholic shines amid incredible environment

RUMSON – It was everything that makes high school football such an integral part of local communities, and precisely what everyone missed during the pandemic-impacted 2020 season.

The compelling drama played out in front of an overflow crowd at Borden Stadium Friday night, with fans ringing the field along the fence, student sections engaged on both sides and cars streaming around nearby streets in search of a parking spot.

On the field, there was a hard-hitting showdown between the top two teams at the Jersey Shore, who happen to have an intense, long-standing rivalry, in what turned out to be a well-played game that was long on big plays and sportsmanship.

In the end, it was No. 2 Red Bank Catholic knocking off No. 1 Rumson-Fair Haven, 21-14, in a battle of unbeatens.

Now the Caseys will regain the top spot in the Asbury Park Press Top 10 they held when the season began, while setting themselves up for a shot at a mythical Shore Conference championship over the next two weeks if they can beat Manalapan and Donovan Catholic in succession.

If this performance was any indication, the Caseys might make some noise when NJSIAA Non-Public Group B play begins next month.

Related: Greatest moments from No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdowns at Jersey Shore

“All week we were hearing that we played no one, we weren’t physical enough to play with them, we haven’t played enough physical games,” said RBC tight end/defensive end Alex Bauman. “But we have taken care of business every single week and that is what we did this week, too. Just another step on the ladder."

Important games loom

This is a great moment in time for Shore Conference football, with the league getting it right when it unveiled the schedule for the final two weeks on Tuesday.

Not only do the Caseys now have a clear path to the unofficial Shore Conference title, beginning with a matchup against a Manalapan team that deserves at shot at RBC, but intriguing games will be played throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties over the next two weekends..

Had Rumson won, it would have set up two more weeks of showdowns between unbeaten teams, with Middletown South and Long Branch deserving of important games and a chance to compete for a title as well.

Last year’s “championship” game between Wall and Donovan Catholic was hard to beat in terms of drama, with the Crimson Knights stopping the Griffins on a fourth-and-goal at 2-yard-line with just over a minute to play to hold on for an 18-15 victory.

What was missing was the incredible atmosphere that existed behind Rumson-Fair Haven High School Friday, with communities coming together on an absolutely perfect fall evening.

“I think I can speak for both teams as far as the environment,” said RBC head coach Mike Lange. “This is why I wanted to coach, to be in games like this. I was the defensive coordinator in 2018 when we played them here and it was the same kind of crazy environment.”

“Honestly, I am speechless at the crowd that came here tonight,” Bauman said. “The atmosphere was absolutely crazy. More than 5,000 people here, the stadium is filled, no seat is open, standing room only, it’s just crazy. The atmosphere was awesome.”

Nights like these matter, as life slowly returns to normal during the pandemic. Not only did the Caseys prove themselves to be a championship contender, they did it amid the type of environment everyone has been longing for over the past two years.

Stephen Edelson is a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey sports columnist who has been covering athletics in the state and at the Jersey Shore for nearly 35 years. Contact him at: @SteveEdelsonAPP; sedelson@gannettnj.com.