Underdogs No More: Red Bank Catholic Silences Donovan Catholic to Claim Shore Conference Crown

Red Bank Catholic came into Toms River on Friday night hearing the same thing all week. They were the underdogs. They were not the team they used to be. The undefeated Griffins were in the top spot and the narrative had already been written. The Casey's rewrote it themselves with a 24–10 win that was never really as close as the score suggests.

Football · Shore Conference · October 16, 2026 · Toms River, NJ
Underdogs No More: Red Bank Catholic Silences Donovan Catholic 24–10 to Claim Shore Conference Crown
All week, nobody gave the Casey's a chance. Gabe Kemp and a suffocating defense made sure the doubters heard the final score loud and clear.
Red Bank Catholic came into Toms River on Friday night hearing the same thing all week. They were the underdogs. They were not the team they used to be. The number four team in New Jersey was waiting for them and the narrative had already been written. The Casey's rewrote it themselves.

RBC took the opening kickoff and never let go. Starting from their own four-yard line, Rahmir Rivera went to work, hitting Joe Corcado for 15 yards, finding Ethan Kennedy on a huge 30-yard gain on third down, and mixing in Gabe Kemp on the ground for six and seven yards at a time. Fifteen plays. 96 yards. Nearly five minutes off the clock. When Kemp punched it in from two yards out to cap the drive, it was 7–0 and every single person in that stadium understood what kind of game this was going to be. Donovan Catholic could not stop the clock and they could not stop Kemp.

The Griffins finally got on the board in the second quarter when Sal Reynoso drilled a 38-yard field goal to make it 7–3. But RBC answered right back with a Simon Picinich field goal of his own to push it to 10–3 at the half. Rivera finished the half completing passes efficiently, picking spots well against the fourth-ranked defense in New Jersey. The Casey's were not flashy. They were methodical and they were winning every single possession battle.

RBC came out of the locker room and went right back to the same formula. Another long drive, another physical grind, another Kemp touchdown from one yard out after 15 plays and 80 yards that ate 6:28 off the clock. Just like that it was 17–3 and Donovan Catholic was running out of time and answers. Then the Griffins caught a break. Jael Hester took a kickoff 71 yards into RBC territory and gave Donovan a short field. Kahden Davis connected with Chris McLaren on an eight-yard touchdown pass and suddenly the Toms River crowd was alive. 17–10 with three minutes left in the third.

That was as close as it got. Donovan drove into RBC territory in the fourth quarter with a chance to tie and the Casey's defense delivered the play of the game. Asher Cummins brought the pressure and Luke Gittens finished with a sack on fourth down to end the threat. Turnover on downs. Game over in everything but the final score. RBC then drove the length of the field, bled the clock dry, and Kemp scored his third touchdown of the night from five yards out to make it 24–10. The defense came out and slammed the door.

Kemp finished with 143 yards and three scores on 33 carries. Cummins had two sacks and four tackles for loss and was an absolute menace every time Donovan tried to move the ball. Rivera completed 13 of 16 passes. The Casey's held the fourth-ranked team in New Jersey to 197 total yards on a night when RBC had given up over 800 yards combined in the two previous weeks. That turnaround says everything about what this team is capable of when they are locked in.

Coach Mike Lang spoke after the game on what drove his team all week. "All week we had to hear we were the underdogs and RBC football was not where it needs to be," he said. "That pushed our guys at practice and I'm proud of the win they got today." Kemp kept it simple when asked about the performance. "When it comes down to big games, I think I'm the best," he said. "I can't thank my line enough. Those guys are like my best friends."

Red Bank Catholic improves to 6-2 and takes the top spot in the Shore Conference. The Casey's were written off and showed exactly why that was a mistake. The Shore belongs to them.