TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—We’ll be talking about this game, this team, for generations, and rightfully so…
Hungry Rumson–Fair Haven scores first on senior RB Alastair Orr’s 2-yard run in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead at the NJSIAA/Rothman Orthopaedics Group 2 final Monday night at Rutgers’ SHI Stadium in Piscataway.
Westwood gets on the scoreboard in the second quarter on a 3-yard run by junior RB Aidan Dugan to tie it at 7. The Bulldogs get back on top in the third on an 8-yard pass from junior QB Owen O’Toole to sophomore TE Jack Gyimesi, 14-7.
With time running out in the game, senior WR Tommy Bussanich snags a 6-yard pass from senior QB Robbie Carcich to make the score Rumson–Fair Haven 14, Westwood 13.
Then junior PK Sean Morrison takes the field with 5 seconds remaining and thumps in the extra point, sending the game into overtime. This is the result of a 99-yard drive that was set up when Rumson-Fair Haven decide to go for it on 4th and goal from the Westwood 1-yard line and the Cardinals stop them.
In the extra session, the Bulldogs score first on a 2-yard run by senior Jackson Gallagher. Cardinal Aidan Dugan blocks the extra point attempt by senior PK Ryan Child, giving Rumson–Fair Haven a 20-14 lead.
This gives Westwood one shot to win. Carcich, again, hits Bussanich, this time on a 14-yard pass in the middle of the end zone. The score’s tied, 20-20. Morrison, in position—the kick—and he splits the uprights—to give the Cardinals the narrow 21-20 win.
For good measure, as the Cardinal crowd exults, in the stands and here at home, the moment’s married to the sound of a freight train roaring into history.
“We thought we were going to score,” Bulldog head coach Jeremy Schulte later tells the Asbury Park Press of the decision to not kick a field goal. “It’s the little plays, they made more of those plays than we did. They deserve it.”
He adds of the Cardinals, “There’s a reason they’re in this game, there’s a reason they’re undefeated, they’re a hell of a football team.”
By the numbers
For Westwood, Robbie Carcich led in both passing and rushing yards. Passing, he was 16-20, 145 yards, 2 TDs. Rushing, he had 22 carries for 77 yards.
Aidan Dugan had 14 carries for 40 yards, TD.
Tommy Bussanich had seven receptions for 72 yards, 2 TDs.
Senior WR Joe Klein, caught five passes for 55 yards. Besides the two big extra point makes (he had three total), Sean Morrison had one reception for 13 yards.
On the defensive side, the leading tackler was sophomore DB Steven Klein, with 13. Junior DB, Michael Rinaldi, claimed an interception.
This is Westwood’s 1st Group 2 State Championship, and only the second year that the NJSIAA has crowned a true state champion. The Cardinals lost last year to Caldwell High in the state semi-final. Caldwell beat Rumson–Fair Haven in the state final to emerge as the first true Group 2 State Champion.
With this electrifying win, Westwood is the Bergen County Team of the Year; Bobby Guy, in his first year as head coach, was named Bergen County Coach of the Year Tuesday night. He had been an assistant coach for eight years, and knows these young men and their families well.
More takeaways are supplied by Westwood’s Anthony Greco, who just put a period to his coaching tenure with the Junior Cardinal football program, celebrated at Seasons: “Words can’t describe what we witnessed tonight! It was an unbelievable game played by true gridiron warriors on both sides of the ball.
“We were outnumbered almost 2 to 1—Rumson 80 +/- kids rostered to Westwood’s 46 +/- kids rostered. Giant kids to average-sized kids. Rumson with kids on only one side of the ball vs. Westwood with kids playing iron man football.
“What prevailed is what you can’t teach: fight, grit, a never-give-up attitude giving 100% of yourself to your team—we are one, we play for each other mentality! Plus, pepper in that you have to have a huge set of church bells/coglionis!
“The boys were down the first quarter by 7, then tying it up going into the half. Then go down again by 7 to tying it up with 10 seconds left in the fourth. OT starts, we go down again by 6 ‘cause Dugan blocks the extra point huge, we score and kick to become victorious!
“Wow wow wow. Beyond proud of this football team being crowned Group 2 State Champs first time in Westwood history we are the one and only Group 2 true state champions!”
Meanwhile, the Junior Cardinal football program posted a flashback to 2019, when the current high school seniors won the championship as Junior Cardinal eighth-graders. Their team that year also went undefeated:
“Congrats again to the 2023 Group 2 state champs! We love to see our players rise up from our youth program and continue their careers as quality young men and football players!
“Westwood shares the high school with Washington Township. In youth football, the two towns up until 2020 did compete as rivals, but as neighboring towns, these kids have had friendships through sports that date back years.
“This outcome has long been the goal for the Cardinals. On Monday night, it happened.” Carcich says, “We’ve been dreaming about this ever since we were little kids. We were watching in the stands not too long ago. It feels like it was yesterday. Little kids are running up to me saying, ‘What’s up, Robbie.’ That used to be me. It’s a blessing to be here and I’m just trying to soak it all in. We did it. We’re state champs.”
At home the township’s new firehouse and ambulance corps HQ is lit in “champion mode,” dazzling red and white.
And surely, somewhere above, the township’s late beloved Cardinal booster and mentor Vito “Pal” Trause is ecstatic.
The players, the cheerleaders, the staff, the band, all get a hero’s welcome home, a taste of the parade to come.
Township mayor Peter Calamari posts his congrats, and Westwood mayor Ray Arroyo, delighted by the win, also supposes Uncle Matt’s voice by now is shot.
County officials, state Sen. Holly Schepisi, all congratulate the Cardinal machine.
Westwood police chief Michael Pontillo, president of the Westwood Regional School District Board of Education, calls it on behalf of the department: “Congratulations to the Westwood Regional High School Cardinals Football Team with their 21-20 victory over Rumson.
“This game was a test of these young men’s skills. They played with heart, determination, and an unmatched level of grit, even in the face of adversity. They showed the true meaning of the phrase never give up.
“Congrats for bringing the championship home and congratulations to all those who make these events so special… from the marching band, to the cheerleaders (never did a block that kick cheer mean so much, especially when they did in fact, block that kick), the students (especially Dilly ~ WPD loved the energy, the helmet and the flag) to the teachers and staff, but most especially the coaches. The impact you made on these kids’ lives is immeasurable. Thank you for making your success the kids’ success! It was our pleasure bringing you back to a hero’s welcome! Go Cards!”
Who’s who? See the Cardinals Touchdown Club 2023 varsity roster!
— Story by John Snyder and Paul Sullivan