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Preseason Analysis of the 2024 Elmira Express Football Team

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The Elmira High School football team’s rise to its first sectional championship since 2018 was not without its problems last year.

Lightning handed the Express a bizarre and confusing quarterback loss in their opening game against Liverpool. Elmira suffered a major blow that night with the injury to all-state fullback/defensive end Amir Williams, who was out for much of the season.

Injuries continued to mount, but Elmira recovered, got going and beat Corning 31-14 in the Section 4 Class AA final before falling to eventual state champion Syracuse CBA 49-20 in the state tournament. The Express and CBA are scheduled to play a rematch on Oct. 25 at the Thomas J. Hurley Athletic Complex in Elmira.

The Express took the momentum of a championship season into productive summer sessions and hopes it will lead to another title run in 2024, according to head coach Jimmy McCauley.

“We’re ready to go, we’re excited,” McCauley said. “I like our guys. As far as participation goes, we’ve had one of our better summers.”

This is the 13th season as head coach for McCauley, who has led the Express to five Section 4 titles and an 83-36 record since taking the helm in his second year of a program formed from the merger of Elmira Free Academy and Southside.

In addition to senior fullback Williams (1,009 yards on 105 carries in 2022), expect big things from senior running back/linebacker Kayon Flint. He missed two games due to injury and played four games in a cast last season, rushing for 410 yards and seven touchdowns on 74 carries. Flint ran for 139 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries in the sectional final.

“I think we’re going to stand out this year because we’ve worked hard all summer,” Flint said. “From the end of June to the first day of practice, there were at least 50 people here three days a week. There’s a lot of new stuff being introduced, but there’s also a lot of good mentors and good seniors that will help the younger kids.”

McCauley said Elmira will build on experience as the younger players continue to come into their own. He likes the willingness and enthusiasm of the group.

“We try to tell these kids to excel, not just try,” McCauley said. “You have to be willing to put in the effort, you have to be willing to put yourself in a situation where you may not know everything, but you can rely on your effort, your drive and your enthusiasm.”

Among those who stepped in last season despite injuries was backup quarterback Zach Conklin, now a junior.

Breyan Brooks and Brandon Bertelsen, who played running back and linebacker respectively as juniors last year, should also make an impression. Arius Bradbury, a junior, excelled as a linebacker in 2023 and also plays tight end.

Damian Gaylor, Chance Olsen and Evan Martin are expected to lead the way up front for an Elmira offense that was more open last season after barely straying from the double-wing in previous years. Nolan Edwards, another quarterback, is a key player on defense alongside Cam Wright.

“It gave us a lot of confidence, especially our coaching staff,” Flint said of last year’s title match. “We have new formations now, we open up the game a little more.”

More: Elmira Express Hall of Fame welcomes 5 new members. Take a look at this year’s inductees

More: Boys Lacrosse: Second-team picks from Vestal and Elmira among All-State selections

Record of the last five seasons

2023: 5-6

2022: 7-3

2021 (Autumn): 5-4

2021 (Spring): 4-2

2019: 7-3

Record in state playoffs: 1-5

Elmira Express 2024 Schedule

13 September: against St. Peter, 6 p.m.

20 September: at Vestal, 7pm

28 September: in Ithaca, noon

October 4: vs. Horseheads, 6 p.m. (home game)

11 October: against Union-Endicott, 6 p.m.

18 October: in Corning, 6:30 p.m.

25 October: against Syracuse CBA, 6 p.m.

1 November: in Binghamton, 7 p.m.

Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare. You can also reach him at [email protected]. To get unlimited access to the latest news, subscribe today or activate your digital account.

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