HS football: Owen O'Toole, Rumson-Fair Haven pass test against Middletown South

MIDDLETOWN — Owen O'Toole defines the word quarterback.

Like the point guard on a basketball team, O'Toole, a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional junior, distributes the ball to the open receiver.

He has outstanding presence in the pocket. He can take a hit and keep on going and he puts touch on his passes.

All of those attributes were on display Friday night at Middletown South's "The Swamp'' as O'Toole sparked Rumson-Fair Haven to a 24-6 win over Middletown South and helped the Bulldogs avenge a defeat from last season.

"He's cool, calm and collected,'' Rumson-Fair Haven coach Jeremy Schulte said. "He's a coach on the field. He lets us know what he sees. He's what you want in a quarterback.''

And there is one other thing: O'Toole, in his second season as the Bulldogs' starting quarterback, is very accurate. He was 18-for-22 Friday night for 234 yards, with an 11-yard TD pass to senior receiver Nick Rigby.

Key Stat

With Middletown South focusing its coverage on Rigby, who had 61 receptions last season, O'Toole was able to complete passes to five different receivers.

"We have a lot of depth at the receiver position,'' O'Toole said. "I think we probably have the best receiving room in the state.''

One receiver who will give all of Rumson-Fair Haven's future opponents plenty to think about is junior Nick Thomas, who had five receptions for 105 yards.

"He finally came out of his shell. He's going to have one hell of a year,'' O'Toole said.

"Nick Thomas is a great player,'' Schulte said. "He made some good plays for us last year. He scored a touchdown against these guys last year. He's been a workhorse throughout the whole offseason. He's a very quiet kid, who just goes about his business. He's top notch all the way.''

Key Play

Rumson-Fair Haven was leading 10-6 late in the third quarter, when on a second-and 6 from its own 46, O'Toole was hit as he threw a ball that looked like was up for grabs. However, Thomas had raced past his defender. O'Toole him in stride for a 48-yard gain to the Middletown South 6.

"I saw him (Thomas) off the line beat him (the defender),'' O'Toole said. "He had a post and corner. I knew if he makes one guy miss, he's going to be open. I just had to take a shot.''

The O'Toole to Thomas completion led to a 2-yard TD run by short-yardage fullback Cooper Bunnell on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The ability to feel the rush and still make an accurate throw is not something that can taught.

"I say about him all the time: He's just got enough swagger that he's confident, but he's not cocky,'' Schulte said. "He's our first junior captain since I've been at RFH (Schulte has been part of the Rumson-Fair Haven coaching staff since 2006). There's a reason for that.''

Middletown South sustains a game-changing injury.

Jake Czwakiel, Middletown South's senior quarterback/defensive back/placekicker/punter, limped off the field after a 40-yard run on the Eagles' second play from scrimmage. His left ankle was heavily taped and he did not return.

"A kid like Jake (Czwakiel), he definitely changes the game,'' Schulte said about how not having to defend Czwakiel's all-around abilities changed the tone of the game. "I hope he's all right because they've got a pretty good team over there. Having a kid like that, definitely takes them to the next level.''

Middletown South struggled to consistently string plays together in Czwakiel's absence and fumbled five times, losing three.

Czwakiel's absence also enabled Rumson-Fair Haven's defense to zone in on running backs Donovan Summey and Colin Gallagher.

Close one: HS football: Donovan Catholic finds a way to outlast St. Augustine in showdown of top teams

Scoreboard: Shore Conference football schedule, scoreboard, highlights: Week 0

Up next

Rumson-Fair Haven will host Matawan (0-0) next Friday night at Borden Stadium in a nondivisional game

Middletown South will travel to Raritan (0-0) Thursday night in a nondivisional game.

Rumson-Fair Haven 24, Middletown South 6

Rumson-Fair Haven (1-0, 1-0) 0 7 3 14 - 24

Middletown South (0-1, 0-1) 0 6 0 0 - 6

Second Quarter

RFH: Nick Rigby 11 pass from Owen O'Toole (Ryan Child kick).

MS: Owen Richter 11 pass from Jackson Harris (kick failed).

Third Quarter

RFH: Child 26 field goal.

Fourth Quarter

RFH: Cooper Bunnell 2 run (Child kick).

RFH: O'Toole 1 run (Child kick).

Individual Statistics

Rushing: RFH: Alastair Orr 14-58; Griffin Kolb 11-43; Cooper Bunnell 2-2; Owen O'Toole 5-(6). MS: Donovan Summey 13-67; Colin Gallagher 6-58; Jake Czwakiel 1-40; Jackson Harris 5-(-14); Team 2-(-25).

Passing: RFH: Owen O'Toole 18-22-0-234; MS: Jackson Harris 5-7-0-30.

Receiving: RFH: Nick Thomas 5-105; Matteo Gangemi 5-40; Jordan Angstreich 3-40; Sean Trinder 3-32; Nick Rigby 2-17. MS: Owen Richter 3-28; Aaron Colelli 1-4; Colin Gallagher 1-(-2).

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore football: Rumson-Fair Haven knocks off Middletown South