Deondre Johnson was forced to watch the Newburgh Free Academy football team’s first three games after suffering a shoulder injury during the team’s preseason intrasquad scrimmage.

He returned to the field on Saturday, kicked two booming punts that the Middletown Middies muffed and caught a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Mason Hoover in the Goldbacks’ 30-0 win over the Middies.

“It feels great,” Johnson said. “It’s good mentally. Mental was the biggest problem for me. Physically I feel good so being back is a good thing.”

It was also the 100th victory for Newburgh coach Bill Bianco, who became the Goldbacks’ winningest coach.

“I actually forgot,” Bianco said. “My coaches told me the other day that it was here. It’s a good personal accomplishment, but anybody who knows me knows a big part of football is your staff. My staff that I’ve had during my time here has always been very good. It’s not like I’m coaching basketball where it’s one coach and 12 kids. It’s a great staff that has been with me a long time, and they’re as much to thank for this as I am.”

After the Goldbacks ran out the clock, the team emptied the water jug on Bianco in celebration.
“It just feels amazing (to get him that),” Johnson said. “There’s no words for that. It’s just time to celebrate.”

All involved will take the victory in their Section 9 Class AA Division I opener, and while the Goldbacks made their share of mistakes, they took advantage of just about every mistake the Middies made.

Newburgh’s Christopher Leggett recovered an early fumble on the Middletown 22-yard line, setting up Carl Shaw’s three-yard touchdown run to give the Goldbacks a 7-0 lead.

But the Goldbacks did most of their damage late in the second quarter, scoring two touchdowns in the space of about 40 seconds.

After the Goldbacks recovered a Middletown fumble on the Middletown 46-yard line, Hoover hit Johnson in stride, who shook off a few tacklers and high-stepped his way into the end zone giving the Goldbacks a two-touchdown lead.

“That’s just how I play,” Johnson said. “When I get the ball, I know I’m going to score.”

The Middies muffed the ensuing kickoff and Newburgh’s Elijah Bevier followed with a 26-yard touchdown run, giving the Goldbacks’ a 20-0 lead.
“(Johnson’s return) makes the offense complete,” Bianco said. “Before, when we didn’t have Deondre, a lot of the focus was on (Bevier) in the running game. Teams were doing weird things to defend him. We didn’t really get (Johnson) the ball that much. I wanted to ease him back.”

Luis Tejada hit a 36-yard field goal in the third quarter, and Hoover ran for a 9-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Cole Mullarkey had a late interception for the Goldbacks.

“We took care of business,” Bianco said. “We did some good things. I’m happy to see Deondre back and it’s nice to get the offense going again. But like anything, we have to improve in some areas after we get to watch the film and get better.”