The last four years have been very good for the James I. O’Neill football team.

During that time, the Raiders have won four straight Section 9 Class C championships, a New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship in 2022, and a state semifinal appearance last season.
Fifth-year coach Dave Moskowitz will enter the 2024 season with only four returning starters, which means for the first time in a while, they’re going to experience some growing pains.

They will enter the 2024 season losing two-time state player of the year Marek Arbogast, all section players Chad Haley, Brennan Pearson, Thoams McGuinness, all-league players Beckham Perata and Robert Federovich, along with Sam Gettings.

The Raiders’ returning players include Mathias Williams, Ethan Rodriguez, Joey Hurtado, Devon Sam and David Walsh. New to the team this year will be David Prosperie, A.J. Mackey, Ames Janetta, and Trey Murphy.

“This is an inexperienced group, but they have had a great camp so far, worked real hard and have improved every day,” Moskowitz said. “They have been a lot of fun to work with.”

The Raiders will have plenty of time to get their inexperienced roster into the flow of things before the season opens on Sept. 14 against the John S. Burke Catholic Eagles.

They will host a scrimmage against Bronxville on Saturday. After that, it will be another month before their Class C opener against the Chester-S.S. Seward Hambletonians. They are one of three Class C teams. Dover is the other, and the Raiders will host them on Oct. 18.

Beyond that, the Raiders will play up against schools like Spackenkill, FDR and Monticello. Their season-ending opponents will be determined later.

“Their attitude and work ethic has been great,” Moskowitz said. “They will be successful.”