Ready for an Encore: 2025 Rumson-Fair Haven Football Preview

Rumson-Fair Haven turned in the greatest season in program history last year, finishing 13-0 and winning its first NJSIAA Group 2 title. 

The celebration barely lasted for a weekend. 

“Our (championship) game (against Shabazz) was Dec. 3, and the following Monday they were in the weight room,” head coach Jeremy Schulte said. “It was like, ‘Great, let’s go win it again.’” 

The machine never stops humming at a program that has reached a Shore Conference-record 11 straight sectional finals and won three in a row. The Bulldogs have played in all three Group 2 finals that have been contested since the NJSIAA expanded the playoffs. 

They graduated six Shore Sports Insider first-team All-Shore selections, including the SSI Offensive Player of the Year (QB Owen O’Toole) and 1,100-yard receiver Jordan Angstreich. They only return three starters on offense and five on defense, but you don’t make 11 sectional finals in a row without being able to replace graduation losses. 

At this time last year, players like Angstreich, defensive back Evan Ridgway and K/WR/DB Carson Memmott were relative unknowns who had seen a little varsity action the year before. By the end of the season they were All-Shore players.  

“Our motto is ‘next man up,’” Schulte said. “Same as it was last year.” 

Offense

Even for a program known for replacing high-end talent, filling the shoes of O’Toole is daunting. He finished his career with the second-most passing yards (7,099) in Shore Conference history for an offense that led the Shore Conference in scoring at 40.8 points per game. 

The competition to be his replacement is between junior Casey Moore, sophomore Brady Williams and senior Christian Koutouzakis. 

“It’s not Owen, but we don’t need whoever wins the job to be him,” Schulte said.

Part of the reason is because senior running back Kellen Murray returns after a first-team All-Shore season in which he rushed for 1,581 yards and a school-record 32 touchdowns on 7.4 yards per carry. 

“He’s gotten bigger, faster and stronger than last year,” Schulte said. 

He will be spelled by junior Ryder Izzo, who could be the Bulldogs’ next star in the making on both sides of the ball. 

The Bulldogs have been adept over the years at morphing their offense to suit their strengths. Unlike the relentless passing attack led by O’Toole and an army of wideouts, they could be a little more run-oriented this fall as they break in a new quarterback. 

“I definitely think it will be back more toward what we used to do,” Schulte said. “What we always did was play defense and run the ball. We’re going to lean on (the running game) a little bit more, especially early in the season with a young offensive line, but we like what we’ve seen so far.” 

The wide receivers will be all new as they try to replace Angstreich, fellow All-Shore first-teamer Nick Thomas and Nic Economou. Seniors Chris Economou and Brandon McDonald, juniors Cole Spoonire and Jason Tucker, and sophomores Bodie Matchett and Merric Polloway make up the new group. 

Senior tight end Jack Gyimesi, a Colgate recruit, figures to be a bigger part of the passing game this fall after registering 15 catches for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns last season. Senior Grant Zimmerer will also see time at tight end. 

The lone returning starter on the offensive line is junior left guard Aidan Lane, who has received FCS interest. Four sophomores are projected to start – left tackle Milo Jones, center Julien Malpass, right guard Tucker Gay and either Brendan Dermer or Tommy Mills at right tackle. 

The kickers will be sophomore Jackson Wile and senior Drew Cavise. 

Defense

The Bulldogs allowed 13.4 points per game last season behind a unit anchored by All-Shore linebackers Jacob Tobias and Austin Kiernan. 

Those two have graduated, but the front seven still looks strong thanks to the return of junior defensive tackle Ben Gredell, a second-team All-Shore selection last year who looks to be one of the top D-linemen in the Shore Conference. Gredell had 60 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss last season. Duke, Virginia and several high-level FCS programs have shown interest in Gredell, according to Schulte. 

Senior Toby Najenson is also a returning starter at defensive end after making 70.5 tackles, 11 for a loss, last season. Rounding out the defensive line will be senior Ben Roberts at defensive end and sophomore Henry Zanetich at defensive tackle. 

Senior Dylan Plesser returns at outside linebacker after making 80.5 tackles last year. Junior Carmine Florio will be at inside linebacker, while Izzo could be a potential standout at outside linebacker, where senior Luke Gallagher should also see time. 

Senior James Kiley is the lone returning starter in the secondary at free safety after making 33 tackles last season. Senior Austin Kenny and junior Lloyd Bush will be in the mix at strong safety. Senior Beau Devine will be at cornerback, with Matchett and Economou seeing time at the other cornerback spot. Cavise returns for his second year as the punter. 

Rumson is no stranger to difficult schedules, and this year’s slate is challenging as usual. The defending Class A North champions once again open the season with a nondivisional game against Point Boro, which they beat twice last season, including a 44-10 win in the Group 2 semifinals.

They also are on the road against returning sectional finalist Brick Memorial in addition to the rivalry game with perennial power Red Bank Catholic, a road game at two-time defending Group 5 champion Toms River North, and games against returning division champions Holmdel and Middletown North in Class A North.

After polishing off their first unbeaten season since 1959 and capturing an elusive Group title, complacency could creep in considering there’s no more mountains to climb. 

“I haven’t had that feeling once throughout the preseason,” Schulte said. “Something you think about is ‘What’s the mindset gonna be?’ But a lot of these players didn’t see a lot of minutes last year, and they want one for themselves. There has been no letdown.” 

 

Rumson-Fair Haven at a glance 

Head coach: Jeremy Schulte, 4th season

Career record: 29-10

2024 record: 13-0

Offense: Multiple 

Defense: 4-3

Coaching Staff

Offensive coordinator: John Corneliusen 

Defensive coordinator: John Bellavance

OL: Joe Murphy

Spec. teams/WR: Chris Quinn

Spec. teams/LB: Steve Roberts

Spec. teams/RB: Randy Kalman

DB: Glenn Grainger 

JV off. coordinator: Brandon Wall  

DL/JV def. coordinator: Kyle Marinelli

Kickers: Mike Zadlock

Strength and conditioning: Rob Orrok 

Videographer: Jack Velcamp

Freshman head coach: Chris Julian

Freshman asst.: Brian Gay

Freshman asst.: Ryan Meyers

Athletic trainer: Alex Stein

 

Circle the Date: Oct. 10 vs. Red Bank Catholic 

The Bulldogs open with two huge games against Group 2 rival Point Boro and a loaded Brick Memorial team, but the rivalry game with the Caseys once again looms large. Rumson put some spice into what had been a one-sided rivalry by knocking off RBC last season, so the Caseys will be out to regain the upper hand. This may also be the de facto Class A North title game.

Newcomer to Watch: Ryder Izzo, Jr., RB/LB

Izzo should complement returning All-Shore star Kellen Murray at running back while also bolstering a linebacking corps hit by graduation as a starting outside ‘backer. He is the nephew of former New England Patriots special teams Pro Bowler Larry Izzo, a three-time Super Bowl champion who is currently the special teams coordinator for the Washington Commanders. 

Schedule 

Friday 08/29	Point Boro	7 p.m.
Friday 09/05	@Brick Memorial	6 p.m.
Friday 09/12	Holmdel	7 p.m.
Friday 09/19	@Marlboro	7 p.m.
Friday 09/26	Middletown North	7 p.m.
Friday 10/10	Red Bank Catholic	7 p.m.
Friday 10/17	@Toms River North	6 p.m.
Friday 10/24	@Middletown South	7 p.m.