Did you know Caldwell, owner of New Jersey’s longest football winning streak — 27 games — actually lost 11 of its previous 15 before turning things around?
Did you know the last time Rumson-Fair Haven was classified a Group 2, it went 78-24 between 2006 and 2014 and won three Central Jersey championships in five years? Rumson-Fair Haven followed that up by going 60-20 as a Group 3 between 2015 and 2021.
Rumson-Fair Haven (8-4) — winner of four-straight games — meets Caldwell (12-0), which hasn’t lost a game since Nov. 6, 2021 to Cedar Grove, 33-27, meet in the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics Group 2 final. The game is scheduled for Sunday, 12 p.m., at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway.
For fans who can’t make it to the game, it can be live-streamed on any device for free on NJ.com.
The two teams reached the first Group 2 title game by muscling through a deep and talented field.
Caldwell has state tournament victories over High Point (41-0), Ramsey (42-7), Newton (35-7) and Westwood (13-7).
Rumson-Fair Haven reached the title game by defeating Monmouth (37-0), Oakcrest (28-6), Raritan (34-27) and Willingboro (42-7).
Caldwell has shown more balance in 2022, throwing for 1,805 yards and running for 2,350. And that is with veteran quarterback Luke Kurzum having sat out two and a half games earlier this season with an injury. The Chiefs continued to roll along with wide receiver Louie Anemone filling that void fabulously.
While the Rumson-Fair Haven rushing game hasn’t been up to its usual productive standards, it has been effective in the four playoff games. RFH’s sophomore QB, Owen O’Toole, has improved week by week and has 1,949 yards. He has thrown nine playoff TDs without an interception.
Continue scrolling to see NJ.com’s preview of the Group 2 final. Remember to stay with NJ.com for complete coverage of the game with recaps, stats and a photo gallery on Sunday.
Caldwell (12-0) vs. Rumson-Fair Haven (8-4)
Caldwell
By the numbers
- Winning streak: 27 games to lead the state
- Last loss: Cedar Grove, 33-27, Nov. 6, 2020
- Points for: 417
- Most points scored in a game: 48 vs. Pequannock
- Fewest points scored in a game: 16 vs. West Essex
- Points against: 103
- Shutouts: 2 - Pequannock, 48-0; High Point, 41-0.
- Most points allowed in a game: 20 vs. Verona
- Total passing yards: 114 of 166 for 1,805 yards, 17 TDs.
- Total rushing yards: 376 for 2,350 yards, 37 TDs.
The inside scoop
Head coach/resume: Todd Romano is in his first season as head coach after serving 17 years as an assistant under both Ken Trimmer and Tom Lamont. He was defensive coordinator under Lamont. Romano was a hard-nosed fullback and linebacker for Trimmer before graduating in 2001 and continuing his career at The College of New Jersey. He was a sophomore in the program when Caldwell finished 11-1 and won the North 2, Group 2 championship. As a starter in 1999 and 2000, the Chiefs were a combined 15-5. Romano was an assistant for Trimmer when Caldwell won the North 2, Group 2 title in 2008, and DC for Lamont last year when the Chiefs went 12-0 and won the North 2 regional championship. Prior to being named head coach at Caldwell, Romano was head baseball coach at Newark Tech for seven years.
Road to the final: Defeated High Point 41-0; defeated Ramsey 42-7; defeated Newton 35-7; defeated Westwood, 13-7.
Who’s hot: Harry Boland, Sr. WR/RB/DB: This versatile senior has scored seven touchdowns and also compiled 46 tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries and an interception in the Chiefs’ four post-season games this year. Four of those TDs came on carries, two on receptions from Luke Kurzum and one on an 86-yard fumble return against Ramsey. He scored on a 4-yard run and 24-yard pass from Luke Kurzum in that game.
Difference-makers on offense: Luke Kurzum, Sr., QB (104 of 148 for 1,641 yards, 16 TDs); Joey Marinello, Jr., RB (156 carries for 1,037 yards, 13 TDs); Harry Boland, Sr., WR/RB (45 receptions for 647 yards, 7 TDs; 72 carries for 476 yards, 16 TDs); Lucas Lattimer, Sr., WR (36 receptions for 741 yards, 7 TDs); Ryan Lawrrence, Sr., WR (11 receptions for 177 yards, 3 TDs).
Difference-makers on defense: Julian Casale, Jr., LB (103 tackles, 33 TFL, 9 sacks); Mike Fano, Sr., DE (32 tackles, 14 TFL, 6 sacks); Mike Mignone, So., LB (56 tackles, 19 TFL, 2 sacks); Louie Anemone, Jr., DB (32 tackles, 2 TFL, 3 interceptions); Thomas Cader, Sr., DE (24 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks); Marinello, LB (98 tackles, 15 TFL, 3 interceptions); Boland, DB (94 tackles, 14 TFL, 3 sacks).
Caldwell wins if: it keeps pumping iron and ignoring the outside noise.
There are a number of variables tied to the Chiefs’ tremendous success these past two seasons, but two at the top of the list would have to be their continued devotion to weight training in these final days - which has helped them to control the line of scrimmage from both sides - and the ability to avert their eyes from outside sources of adulation (or criticism) and not take themselves or that big, fat 27-game winning streak too seriously.
“We feel we have an outstanding strength and conditioning program and we’ve kind of dialed it up these past two weeks to make sure we’e in better shape. We want to make sure we’re controlling the line of scrimmage and not shooting ourselves in the foot,” first-year head coach Todd Romano said. Julian Casale, Mike Fano, Thomas Cader, Mike Platt, Jack Cavanagh and Charlie Male tend to business on the offensive front, and Anthony Perosio, Fader and Cader apply pressure defensively and create multiple tackling opportunities for linebackers Casale, Joey Marinello, Mike Mignone and Marc Simone. Caldwell’s 13-7, come-from-behind win over Westwood in the semifinals was largely contingent upon the defensive line’s raised levels of both pressure and containment after the Chiefs allowed a TD on the Cardinals’ opening drive. And about that noise?
“Nobody’s reading press clippings right now and saying, ‘Oh, we’re this or we’re this, that and the other thing. They don’t care about that. These guys want to put out their best performance of the year and they want to go win the Group 2 state championship,” Romano said.
Rumson-Fair Haven has not run the ball particularly well this season. Caldwell would love to put a crimp in the Bulldogs’ passing game early and see what they can produce on the ground. The Chiefs’ secondary work has been outstanding this year with Harry Boland, Louie Anemone, Ryan Lawrence and Lucas Lattimer. -Mike Kinney
Rumson-Fair Haven
By the numbers
- Winning streak: four straight, five of six
- Last loss: Oct. 21 vs. Red Bank Catholic, 42-14
- Points for: 330
- Most points scored in a game: 44 vs. Wall
- Fewest points scored in a game: 0 vs. Donovan Catholic
- Points against: 205
- Shutouts: 2 -- Southern (27-0), Monmouth (37-0).
- Most points allowed in a game: 42 vs. Red Bank Catholic
- Total passing yards: 146 of 273, 2002 yards, 26 TDs, 7 INTs.
- Total rushing yards: 259 carries, 1238 yards, 20 TDs.
The inside scoop
Head coach/resume: Jeremy Schulte is in his first season as head coach after inheriting the job from his father, Jerry ... Jeremy Schulte was previously Rumson-Fair Haven’s defensive coordinator. Jerry Schulte is now the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator ... Rumson-Fair Haven was 50-16 under Jerry Schulte with sectional championships in 2016 and 2018 and a South Group 3 regional championship in 2018 ... Jeremy Schulte is a 2006 graduate of Ocean Township.
Road to the final: Monmouth, 37-0; Oakcrest, 28-6; Raritan, 34-27 (OT); Willingboro, 42-6.
Who’s hot: Junior running back Alastair Orr. The 6-foot, 200-pound has put up his best rushing numbers in the state tournament. After rushing for only 156 yards through his first seven games, Orr has taken it to another level in four state tournament games. After 48 yards in a win over Monmouth, he had his lone, 100-yard rushing performance of the season. He ran for 107 yards on 18 carries. He had 91 versus Raritan and 86 in the Group 2 semifinal against Willingboro. In four playoff games, Orr has 332 yards on 67 carries.
Difference-makers on offense: Owen O’Toole, QB (144 carries, 267 yards, 1,949 yards, 25 TDs, 7 INTs.); Brayden Dill, RB (66 carries, 270 yards, 4 TDs); Griffin Kolb, RB (18 carries, 186 yards, 2 TDs); Alastair Orr, RB (124 yards, 498 yards, 12 TDs; 12 catches, 155 yards); Nick Rigby, WR (51 catches, 680 yards, 7 TDs); Scott Venancio, WR (36 catches, 659 yards, 11 TDs).
Difference-makers on defense: Markus Brown, DB (7 sacks, 10.5 TFL, 65.5 tackles); Cooper Bunnell, DL (15 TFL, 98 tackles); Nick Costello, DB (2.5 TFL, 40.5 tackles); Julien Devlin (4 sacks, 8 TFL, 38 tackles); Reed Elsas, LB (1 sack, 9 TFL, 95 tackles); Marshall Halfacre (4 sacks, 13.5 TFL, 65.5 tackles); Ryan Kalman, DB (54 tackles, 6 INTs.); Beau Kemler, DB (1 TFL, 42 tackles); Luke Mikolajczyk, LB (2 sacks, 11 TFL, 123 tackles).
Rumson-Fair Haven wins if: In its last two playoff games, the concern was whether Rumson-Fair Haven could score enough points to win and advance. The Bulldogs exceeded expectations when it scored 34 points and outslugged Raritan and then 42 when it overpowered Willingboro. RFH has scored 43 percent of its 330 points in four playoff games and 23 percent of its points in the last two state tournament wins. As good as Caldwell is on defense — allowing more than 14 points in a game only once — the belief here is RFH will score. This week, the spotlight is on the Bulldog defense. What did RFH learn from Caldwell’s 13-7 win against Westwood in the semifinals? The 13 points were the fewest points Caldwell scored in a a game all season. Prior to the semifinal, however, Caldwell scored 28 or more points in seven-straight games. Caldwell is an interesting offensive team. It runs the ball 72 percent of the time. It’s 344 rushing attempts produced 2,437 yards. While its passing game accounts for only 28 percent of its play calls, the Caldwell air attack has produced 43 percent of the team’s total offense —1,812 yards. Those numbers raise a question, what will the RFH coaching staff try to take away early in the game? The Caldwell rushing attack, which averages 7.1 yards per rush? Or the Caldwell pass game, which averages 13.5 yard per attempt? RFH will counter the Caldwell offense with a team defensive approach and few teams do it better than the Bulldogs do. Rumson will attempt to win the line of scrimmage, keep its linebackers free and come off blocks with a vengeance. The key for the RFH offense will be establishment of the running game — which has been at its best in the playoffs. Caldwell is almost certain to try and contain the run and create third-and-difficult situations. It can then focus its attention on RFH’s sophomore QB, Owen O’Toole, who is rapidly becoming one of the top throwers in the Shore Conference. How much will RFH be willing to break tendencies? Two keys stats for RFH will be average yards on first down and third down conversions. Rumson will again be an underdog in this game, which doesn’t appear to bother the Bulldogs one bit.
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Mike Kinney covers the Big Central Conference and Super Football Conference. He can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MikeKinneyHS
Joe Zedalis covers the Shore Conference. He can be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Josephzedalis
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