'It's expected every year': Red Bank Catholic football raises bar with another championship

EAST RUTHERFORD – It’s become the annual green-and-gold pilgrimage up the Turnpike to the Meadowlands, where MetLife Stadium has emerged as Red Bank Catholic’s postseason cathedral.

For the third straight year the Caseys took on DePaul in the NJSIAA Non-Public B championship game. And for the second time there was a joyous celebration on the NFL turf, a 14-7 victory that serves as the latest chapter in a decade-long run of success that’s seen them win four state titles in five games there.

Reversing the tables on a 19-17 loss in the title game a year ago, Red Bank Catholic got a stellar defensive effort and punishing ground attack, the latest accomplishment on the growing resume of the Shore Conference’s private school power.

'This is why you come to Red Bank Catholic'

“This is why you come to Red Bank Catholic. It’s like it’s expected every year, to come to MetLife and play in a game like this,” said junior quarterback Frankie Williams.

“It’s just a great feeling. Last year left a real sour taste in my mouth. It’s just an incredible feeling.”

Over the 15 years, the Caseys have been the Shore’s best team. And over the past 10 seasons, they’ve established themselves as a force within the hierarchy among non-publics, dominated by North Jersey programs.

More: Red Bank Catholic football wins NJSIAA Non Public B championship behind its defense

The latest performance was what you’ve come to expect from RBC in these situations, thriving in frigid conditions against a physical opponent.  And with the game on the line in the fourth quarter, the Red Bank Catholic defense came through. First, it held firm at the 16-yard line, with Stanford-bound Emmanuel Ross, who had a first-half TD catch, getting a hand on a pass in the end zone to end the threat. Then it was a second-down sack by Logan Graham that helped set up a fourth-down stop in RBC territory to preserve the victory.

“This is a big thing,” Ross said. “We always strive for the best and we always want to come out here and do our best and last year we fell short, so I was doing this for the seniors, the alumni, for the program.

Excellence from Count Basie Field all the way to MetLife Stadium

It all began at MetLife in 2014, when the Caseys came through with a breakthrough victory over Delbarton to win the Non-Public Group 3 championship, after vanquishing St. Joseph’s in the semifinals. Then the 2018 team put an exclamation point on the program’s rise, producing their first perfect season since 1960.

But the seeds were born back home at Count Basie Field, in moments like the interception at the goal line in the final minute that sealed a heartbreaking 17-15 playoff loss to St. Peter’s Prep in 2008. Or the double-overtime loss at Delbarton in 2010, and back-to-back defeats in 2012-13 at St. Joseph’s (Montvale) that were the Caseys’ only losses of the season, all part of the painful learning curve in competing with North Jersey non-publics.

This season was one of their finest, with a resume that includes an overtime win over Group 5 champion Toms River North and over Donovan Catholic, which also owns a win over Toms River North. The only blemish came in a competitive 24-6 season-opening loss to powerhouse Bergen Catholic, which played Delbarton in the Non-Public A final as the second half of Tuesday’s double-header.

"I just think it set the tone," said RBC head coach Mike Lange. "That’s what Red Bank Catholic is. We don’t duck anybody. I think our schedule says it. We played three of the four non-public semifinalists, and beat two of them. That’s all you need to know.

“I think it’s special because this group of seniors, this is my first group of four-year guys who have been with me, they have been with me since I got the job, I have known them since they were freshmen, It’s a special thing. It’s great for the community.”

There was plenty of drama in the previous two meetings, decided by a combined seven points. And there was

DePaul, which battled top non-publics all season, went right down the field and scored after the Caseys won the opening coin toss and deferred. But RBC struck back quickly, as Ross caught a 24-yard TD pass from junior Frankie Williams.

Williams 12-yard TD pass to Luke Wassef to put RBC up 14-7 with 8:12 left in the second quarter. Then, after DePaul moved into RBC territory, the defense made a stop on fourth-and-5 from the 34 with 5:28 to play.

More: Why Toms River North’s football state title is a win for the ages: ‘No one else has done it’

More: Heartbreaking overtime loss for Rumson in football state final: 'Sometimes the magic runs out'

The defense rose up several times to make big stops in the third quarter, before its fourth quarter heroics.

Since winning its first title 10 seasons ago, Red Bank Catholic has been a force on the state stage. And if last night’s latest performance on the Meadowlands stage is any indication, the Caseys seem well positioned for the future.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Red Bank Catholic football raises bar with state championship win over DePaul