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Bulldogs' big bite
Rumson-Fair Haven rallies to down divisional rival Shore
By STEPHEN EDELSON - STAFF WRITER - October 9, 2009
RUMSON - Just six days
after an emotional win at Asbury Park, Rumson-Fair Haven didn't have to worry
about a letdown with Shore Regional coming to town.
Still stinging from a loss to their Shore Patriot division rivals last season,
Rumson remained undefeated with a come-front-behind 20-12 victory on Friday
night, scoring 13 unanswered points in the third quarter.
Highlighting the rally over the final two quarters was a 6-yard touchdown pass
from Sean Burke to Evan Benkert, followed by a 43-yard fumble return for a
touchdown by Mike Huttner just over two minutes later.
"This team believed in one another, and that character showed in the second
half," said Rumson coach Shane Fallon.
The Bulldogs will look to start the season 5-0 for the first time in 20 years
next week when they take on Keyport, while the Blue Devils fell to 2-3.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was running back John Riley, who ran for 90
yards on 22 carries, while Burke threw for 130 yards and a pair of scores.
"We knew this was going to be a very physical game. It always is against Shore,"
Riley said. "We knew we had to stay focused and just keep doing what we were
doing even when we were down at halftime."
Trialing 12-7 after two quarters, the Bulldogs put together a seven-play,
52-yard drive on their first possession of the second half.
Highlighting the march was a 26-yard completion to Paul Barrows, which allowed
the Bulldogs to overcome a holding penalty. On a second down at the Shore
6-yard-line, Burke found Benkert over the middle for a touchdown, taking a 13-12
lead after the two-point conversion failed.
The Rumson defense took charge when Shore got the ball back. On a second down
from the Shore 46-yard-line, linebacker Shane Cunneff sacked Riley, forcing a
fumble that Huttner scooped up and returned for a touchdown to make it 20-12
with 3:59 to play in the third quarter.
"That was a huge play for us," Burke said. "Our defense has done a great job all
year."
With just under four minutes to play in the game, Shore appeared to recover a
muffed punt deep in Rumson territory. But it was ruled that a Shore player had
touched the ball first, and Rumson took possession of the ball.
The Bulldogs, fresh off their huge road win against the Blue Bishops, came out
throwing the ball, with Burke completing passes on their first three plays from
scrimmage. Then the ground game took over on what turned out to be a 14-play,
80-yard drive.
Finally, it was Burke finding Sean Walrath on a fade patter in the left side of
the end zone to give Rumson a 7-0 lead with 4:29 to play in the first quarter.
After struggling in the opening quarter, the Shore offense finally began to
click when it took over early in the second quarter. A misdirection handoff to
P.J. Ermides that went for 44 yards jumpstarted the Blue Devils, moving them
down to the Bulldogs 35-yard line. On the 11th play off the drive - all runs -
it was Matt Cooney barreling into the end zone from a yard out on fourth down to
make it a 7-6 game after the extra point failed.
The Blue Devils were right back at it when they got the ball back, with the
passing combination of Chris Riley to Rich Vivian starting and finishing the
scoring drive. First, it was Riley finding his rangy target for nine yards on
first down. Six plays later, Riley lofted a perfect pass up the left sideline
that Vivian pulled in over his shoulder with a defender on him, diving for the
pylon for the touchdown. This time the extra point try clanged off the upright,
and Shore took a 12-7 lead into halftime.