Defense carried the day as Rumson-Fair Haven Regional defeated Red Bank Regional 21-0 for the NJSIAA Central Group 3 championship at Rutgers in Piscataway Saturday night.

On the offensive side, Bulldogs running back Bryan Hess scored two touchdowns and quarterback Michael O’Connor scored the third in what O’Connor later told Shore Sports Zone was a “ground and pound” campaign. But the Dawg defense also pounded the Bucs, keeping star wide receiver Sadiq Palmer out of the end zone and forcing turnovers.

For the Bulldogs, it was the third straight state championship; for the Bucs, the end of an improbable 11-0 season as they tried to capture their first state title since 1975. Shore Sports Zone was there to capture all the highlights. (Video courtesy of Shore Sports Zone)