Defending Champs Rumson Fair-Haven Confident as Season Approaches

Photo above: Volker ran for 2,108 yards and scored 24 touchdowns as a junior last season.

RUMSON – An encore performance may be a tough assignment for this year’s Bulldog team but certainly not out of the question even after graduating a whopping 32 seniors. Rumson-Fair Haven’s program is forever deep and consistently possesses the ability to reload without missing a beat year-after-year.

This seasons no different, as the Bullldogs will field an ultra-talented sophomore class that went undefeated as freshman against some of the toughest competition in the state.

Last season the Bulldogs captured the Central Jersey Group II title going 11-1; it’s second championship in program history and first since 2010. Their only blemish was a loss to Red Bank Catholic, who has been realigned into Class B North, and is no longer on their schedule. The longtime Thanksgiving rivalry game between the two has been replaced by Shore Regional.

Last season, senior running back Charlie Volker shattered the school rushing records while leading the Shore Conference and placing second in the state behind Lucas Faria of Sparta (2174) with 2108 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. Volker, the Shore Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Princeton commit, has bulked up after an intense off-season of speed training and weight lifting, and is bigger, stronger and quicker than ever. Volker ran a lightning quick 11.02 in the 100 meters at the state championships this spring and has run as fast as 10.89 in the 100 and a 4.48 in the 40 meters. He has added 15 pounds of muscle and now tips the scales at a solid 200 pounds.

“At the end of the day Charlie Volker is the best player in the Shore Conference,” head coach Brian Batchler said. “He’s that good. He’s a great team player that makes kids around him better.”

Seniors Seamus Walsh and Lucas Seckler will back up Volker with junior Butchy Clark – brother of former Rumson star and current Villinova player Travis Clark – starting at fullback. 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore Mike Murdock will see time at fullback as well. Two players are battling for the starting quarterback role, with 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior Jackson Reed – a starter at safety – and 6-foot-1, 175-pound sophomore Mike O’Connor in the mix. O’Connor was a stud on both sides of the ball on last season’s freshman team and don’t be surprised if he gets the start at quarterback opening night against Matawan, if not, he’ll see action at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield.

When it comes to the passing game it all starts with 6-foot-3, 225 pound senior tight end Max Ferrare. “Max has had a monster summer for us,” Batchler said. “He’s a starter on the basketball and baseball teams and was big for us on special teams last season; his first with us. He’s strong – gets over 300 on the bench – runs good routes and is going to be a real problem defending.

Senior Murray McHeffey heads a group of inexperienced but talented receivers. The 6-foot, 185-pounder has had a good camp and excelled in the 7-on-7 tournaments this summer. 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior Jack Moore – whose brother was a receiver on the 2010 team - junior Lachlan Hull and possibly O’Connor round out the receiving corps.

The offensive line is relatively inexperienced and must replace multiple starters including All-Shore first-team tackle Peter Righi, who is now at Monmouth University. Last season’s championship team started three first-year starters on the line and Batchler expects the same results from this year’s group. They will be expected to spring Volker as teams load the box with eight and nine players in an effort to slow him down.

Senior Greg Elsas will be at center with 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior A.J. Kelly – a true center - pressing for playing time. Elsas started six games at center last season as well as being the No.3 defensive end. 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior Cooper Cuje returns to start at right tackle after starting on the offensive line much of last season. “Cooper Cuje is an animal,” Batchler said. “He’s 335-pounds on the bench and 400-plus on the squat and a great athlete. He has some big shoes to fill replacing Peter (Righi) but he’s really tough and we expect to be a leader on the line.”

After that the line must be rebuilt. Junior Max Pfrang – a returning starter at linebacker - is expected to line up next to Cuje at right guard and Batchler expects a solid one-two punch there. 5-foot-11, 225-pound senior Brandon Carr will be at left guard with 6-foot-2, 240-pound sophomore Jack Woods and sophomore James Melia in the mix at both guard spots. 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior James Oncea gets the starting nod at left tackle with 6-foot-2, 250-pound sophomore Tim Leonard fighting for playing time there as well.

Defensively, the Bulldogs must replace first-team All-Shore selections Donald Bedell (Rutgers) at defensive end and Thomas Martello (Princeton) at safety/linebacker, and a host of others. It should be noted that the 2010 team had to replace eight starters on defense from the 2009 team and they went on to win a state title.

Senior Ben Eisenstadt is back at noseguard and will anchor the line after recording 6 ½ sacks last season and he’s a good one according to Batchler. “Ben did a good job for us last year,” Batchler said. “He’s not big, 6-foot, 200-pounds, but he’s strong, tough and quick; he’s a very talented player.” At the three-technique position it will be Cuje with Woods seeing time and Sophomore Liam Adams- a 235-pounder – is also in the line rotation.

Elsas gets the start at one defensive end spot with sophomore Mike Ruane and senior Dizzy Dunning battling for the start at the other end position. Woods will back up at end as well as tackle and expect him to see lots of action this season.

Linebacking is the strength of the defense for the Bulldogs with 6-foot-1, 225-pound Pfrang returning to the middle after recording 70 plus tackles last season, and senior captain Tucker Briggs back at strongside linebacker. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Briggs posted 70 tackles last season and is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs. The weakside linebacker is a competition between the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Melia, Murdock and Clark.

The secondary will be anchored by two returning senior captains in Sam Eisenstadt and Reid, who will pair up as starting safeties this season. Eisenstadt led the team with four picks at cornerback last season while Reid was second with three. Junior Griffin Schultz and O’Connor should get some playing time at safety as well. The starting corners will probably be junior Mike Caruso and placekicker Connor Kelly, who made 20-of-22 extra points last season. Senior Grant Rataski and junior Matt Waters are also in the mix. Thomas Chapin will handle the punting.

“As a team we will respect every opponent,” Batchler said. “We feel every team is capable of beating us, but we also expect to be able to win every football game; that’s our goal.”

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