Six members of the Newburgh Free Academy football team were named state all-stars by the New York State Sportswriters Association after the Goldbacks reached the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship game on December 4 at the Carrier Dome.

Wide receiver and outside linebacker Deondre Johnson was named to the first team; wide receiver Elijah Bevier and two-way lineman Fabien Rhoden were named to the second team. Running back Tajir Walker was named to the fifth team. Linemen Quamere Cueto and Christian Betrand were honorable mentions.

Johnson, the Goldbacks’ 6-8 wide receiver and linebacker, who at the end of December signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Rutgers University, did everything the Goldbacks asked of him. He was the tallest target for quarterback Mason Hoover, he was a key member of the defense at the end of the season. He ran the ball out of the Wildcat formation, and even punted.

Johnson entered the state championship game with 27 catches for 629 years and eight touchdowns.

Newburgh coach Bill Bianco had been watching Johnson play football since he was 5 years old at the City of Newburgh Rec, and he joined the varsity team as a freshman.

“He was a great player then, but kind of like Bambi in the sense that he was a little uncoordinated, but you saw something crazy,” Bianco said. “Obviously as the years went on, he got better and better as a player.”

He also matured a lot between his junior and senior season, especially during a three-game stretch at the beginning of the season where he sat out with a shoulder injury. He became more of a leader from the sidelines.

“He’s a big reason we did what we did. Holding people accountable in practice and setting the tone in terms of his effort,” Bianco said.

Bevier was another player that was a big reason the Goldbacks accomplished what they did. He was another primary receiving target for Hoover, who would often hit him on some shorter routes. He also ran the ball.

He was a three-year starter for the Goldbacks.

Rhoden was in his first season as a captain as a junior on the line, playing a key role on the defensive and offensive lines. He drew a lot of attention from opposing offensive lines and would often wreak havoc in the middle.

“He’s a guy who plays both ways for us and you don’t always see the line making plays,” Bianco said.

Walker added contrast to the speed provided by Johnson and Bevier, as he was the Goldbacks bull in the backfield, using his size and speed to power through opposing defenses, picking up the most difficult yards.

Cueto and Bertrand were seniors on the offensive and defensive lines. Cueto also was a team captain.