Short-handed Goldbacks drop opener, 15-7

By Mike Zummo
Posted 9/7/22

The New Rochelle Huguenots scored 15 unanswered points on Friday night as they spoiled the Newburgh Free Academy football team’s 2022 season opener with a 15-7 victory at Academy Field in …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Short-handed Goldbacks drop opener, 15-7

Posted

The New Rochelle Huguenots scored 15 unanswered points on Friday night as they spoiled the Newburgh Free Academy football team’s 2022 season opener with a 15-7 victory at Academy Field in Newburgh.

The Goldbacks were playing without all-state wide receiver and linebacker Deondre Johnson, who suffered a shoulder injury during the previous week’s intrasquad scrimmage. Wide receiver Jun Rivas also was out with an injury.

The Goldbacks held a brief lead when Elijah Bevier broke the ice with an 85-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the Goldbacks a 7-0 lead. An earlier first-period drive for the Goldbacks ended in a missed field goal.

New Rochelle answered immediately when Austin Luzzi and Corey Dawson connected for the first of their two touchdown connections to tie the game at 7-7. They connected again, and the Huguenots hit a two-point conversion to take a 15-7 lead.

Luzzi went 9 for 16 for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Dawson had five catches for 122 yards and both touchdowns. Reyden Davis had 24 carries for 105 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Mason Hoover had his own trial by fire when he took over for injured quarterback Dylan Iorlano in the Section 9 Class AA championship game last fall. He helped guide the Goldbacks to the state semifinals.

In his first game since then, he completed 10 of 24 passes for 113 yards. Bevier ran for 141 yards.
The season opener for both schools was delayed by 30 minutes Friday evening as the bus carrying the New Rochelle cheerleaders was delayed in rush-hour traffic.

The Goldbacks will head out on the road Friday night and visit Corning-Painted Post, last season’s Section 4 Class AA champion. They were beaten in the regionals by Section 3 champion Cicero-North Syracuse.