An era ended when the Newburgh Free Academy football team’s season ended at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA championship game last December.

Wide receiver Deondre Johnson graduated and moved on to Division I Rutgers, while fellow wide receiver Elijah Bevier has also moved on to Division II University of New Haven.

But there is plenty of talent remaining as the Goldbacks look to defend their Section 9 championship this season.

“I think our team chemistry is very good this year,” Newburgh coach Bill Bianco said. “To be honest, comparing this year, we actually have more pieces in place from last year’s team than we did two years ago. So even though we might have the one or two star guys that everybody knows are missing, there’s a lot of continuity.”

There is no replacing what Johnson and Bevier brought to the Goldbacks last year, but they return many key pieces, including Mason Hoover, who is entering his second full season as the Goldbacks’ quarterback.

After being forced into service as a freshman during the 2021 postseason due to an injury to then-quarterback Dylan Iorlano, Hoover learned on the fly as he helped lead the Goldbacks to a 10-3 record and a berth in the state title game.

“(I learned) a lot of patience, poise and when something goes wrong, I can’t let it affect me,” Hoover said. “You’re the quarterback, and if you have a bad attitude, the rest of the team is going to look at you and they’re going to think, ‘if he can have a bad attitude, so can I.’ Then it’s going to affect everyone.”

Tajir Walker will join Hoover in the backfield. He had close to 1,500 all-purpose yards last year, mostly by running over opposing defenses. Bruce Montgomery, who was pulled up from JV late last year, also is expected to get some carries in the back field.
Some of Hoover’s other favorite targets return from last year, such as Jun Rivas, Jashon Thomas and Xavier Sill.

“I think I have the greatest chemistry with Jun,” Hoover said. “It’s peak right now. Everyone obviously is asked to step up big this year after losing some of the biggest seniors last year, but I think we’ll hold our own.”

The skill players will be protected up front by Fabien Rhoden, a two-time lineman of the year, who is entering his senior season.

He’ll be joined on the line by Jose Rivera and Brayden Gonseth.

“Those three have really done a tremendous job in the offseason getting guys in the weight room and working hard and setting the tone for what it’s going to be,” Bianco said.

Rhoden leads the Goldbacks up front on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football.

‘Defensively, I feel like we’re doing all right where we are right now,” Rhoden said. “There’s always room for improvement on both sides. We have younger guys on the other side too, so we’ve just got to get them coached up.”

Still, even without some of the biggest stars they’ve had, the Goldbacks still have high hopes for the season. The mission is the same as always: win the Section 9 Class AA championship, but now many of them have seen what it’s like to play on the last day of the football season.

It’s a new year, and every year is different, but they still want a return trip.

“We want to get back to the Dome,” Rhoden said. “That’s the goal, and hopefully win it this year.”