STATE’S LONGEST WINNING STREAK ENDED BY RED BANK CATHOLIC AND TWO TOUTED FRESHMEN

Sparked by the high-level skills of two poised freshmen, Red Bank Catholic ended New Jersey’s longest winning streak Thursday night at Count Basie Park in Red Bank.

Rahmir Rivera, a cucumber cool quarterback from Toms River and Gabe Kemp, a shifty and explosive running back from Keyport, were electric in their varsity debuts and RBC ended No. 13 Toms River North’s 19-game winning streak by blanking the Mariners, 21-0.

RBC was also the last team to defeat North, 35-28, on October 10, 2023

Rivera threw two TD passes — one to Kemp on a screen — and ran for another and a revved up RBC defense shutout Toms River North for the first time since Sept. 21, 2021. RBC is determined to atone for an unacceptable 6-4 season last fall.

The cannon-armed Rivera completed eight passes — all in the first half. He finished eight of 10 for 155 yards. He was intercepted once in the end zone.

Kemp, who hits holes going 100 mph, finished with 85 yards on 23 carries. He showed off his rapid acceleration and his breakaway speed when he took a swing pass from Rivera and flew past North defenders on his way to a 53-yard touchdown.

Kemp and Rivera are believed to be the first two freshman to start a varsity game for RBC. “I thought there might be some jitters,” RBC head coach Mike Lange said of the duo. “I met with each of them individually and they’re just unflappable. The game was not too big for either of them.”

“Both of them (Rivera and Kemp) are impact freshman,” said Toms River North head coach Dave Oizerowitz.

While RBC looked sharp, Toms River North looked like a team lacking varsity experience. It fumbled five times and lost three — two on muffed punts. The Mariners also struggled protecting new starting quarterback Logan Brill. Brill, who was under duress on nearly every attempt, was 8 for 16 with an interception. He also lost a fumble.

North actually spent more time in the Wildcat with Cole Garrison taking snaps than it did in the shotgun with Brill. However, with Garrison taking the snap, North becomes highly one dimensional. For all of Garrison’s speed, he is not much a passer. He was 0-for-1 throwing. He finished with 52 yards rushing on 13 carries.

“We didn’t anticipate Cole taking more snaps,” Oizerowitz said. “I was even surprised. With the flow of the game it just evolved that way.”

North finished with 134 yards rushing. However, it fizzled in the red zone on three drives.

“We drove the ball, we just couldn’t put it in the end zone,” Oizerowitz said.

After forcing a North punt with 3:21 left in the first quarter, RBC opted to go up top. On first down Rivera uncorked a bomb to senior David Zabora, who got behind two North defenders. The pass was perfect and Zabora caught it in stride.

“When I heard we were running a post, I knew we had a connection,” Rivera said. “I just threw it and he caught it. It’s like that every day.”

RBC’s second touchdown came after Jordan Key recovered Brill’s fumble. Rivera capped the 81-yard drive when he fled and pocket and scrambled for a nine-yard touchdown. It gave the Caseys a 14-0 lead with 4:53 left in the second quarter.

The pivotal moment in the game came on the ensuing drive. North moved from its own 20 to the RBC 46 yard line. On a fourth-and-six, Oizerowitz gambled and went for the first down. Garrison was stopped short.

RBC took over and on the first play Rivera flipped the ball to Kemp in the flat, who left the North defenders in the dust.

“I was trying to gain some momentum,” Oizerowitz explained. “It wasn’t a good coaching decision.”

The closest Toms River North game to scoring was in the fourth quarter. North put together a 14-play drive and had a first-and-goal at the RBC eight. Three runs were snuffed by the Caseys’ defense. On fourth down, Brill fired a strike to Garrison running along the end line in the end zone. Garrison made the catch, but was forced out of bounds before he could get a foot down.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is the way our kids gelled over the summer,” Lange said. “We had a great week of preparation. We were really focused.”