Piscataway, NJ — Victory at last. After reaching the Group II State Finals in 2022, and 2023 – losing both times – on a chilly Wednesday at SHI Stadium, the Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs finally won it all. RFH fought through a gritty affair against a Shabazz team of the same name resulting in a 26-24 finish. A score truly indicative of the brawl this game was. And boy was it a wild affair.

Both teams had the same name.

An offensive lineman had a carry at midfield.

And there was a full-on special teams line change.

But all that RFH will remember is hoisting that trophy at midfield, capping off the program’s first undefeated season since a 7-0-2 campaign in 1959.

Things started off a bit shaky for the Bulldogs in purple. Both sides began the game trading empty possessions with RFH managing just seven yards on their first three plays. Shabazz then got things going with a bang, with a frozen rope out of the hands of Romelo Tables, leading to a 73-yard catch-and-run to the house for Jalen Cline.

Shabazz followed that up with a brilliant red-zone interception from Omari Gaines – his seventh of the season – a play that got the early-90s Buffalo Bills comparisons creeping to the forefront of people’s minds.

But not for long.

Owen O’Toole and Kellen Murray took the game by the reigns, combining for a trio of touchdowns to help Rumson score 20 of the next 28 points in the contest. Murray ended the game with 170 yards on the ground and added a third score, putting a bow on his senior season totaling 31 rushing touchdowns.

The RFH defense game to play, mainly Dylan Plesser, who led all defenders with a dozen tackles. Ben Gredell chipped in six of his own, with three going for a loss and a sack.

Murray’s third touchdown put the game away for good, elevating the score to 26-16 halfway through the fourth. Shabazz found McLean in the end zone one last time, but it was too little too late.

For RFH’s most recent golden generation though, the championship came right on time.