Preseason Rankings: Section 9 Top Three Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section Nine has produced some impressive teams and players over the last few years. In this article we predict the top three teams across Section Nine. Only three teams will be featured in this article, as I believe multiple are tied for the #4 and #5 slot on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Newburgh Free Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach:<strong> Bill Bianco</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Bianco</strong> led his Goldbacks to a <strong>6-4</strong> record in 2024. Key wins for Newburgh Free Academy, included <strong>Arlington, Middletown, and Kingston</strong>. The loses for NFA in 2024 included <strong>Monroe-Woodbury, Cornwall Central, Our Lady Of Lourdes, and Middletown</strong> in the playoffs. The team loses a number of players across the board at skill positions, but returns the duo of <strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='939707' first='Jaiseon' last='Barnwell'], and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1280466' first='Jeron' last='Underwood']</strong>. There are ten games listed on the schedule for the Goldbacks, and I predict a record of <strong>7-3</strong> for Newburgh Free Academy. Key wins include <strong>Roosevelt, Minisik Valley, Middletown, and Proctor</strong>. The three loses fall in the hands of <strong>McQuaid Jesuit, Cornwall Central, and Monroe-Woodbury</strong> to end the season. I predict a playoff run for NFA this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/newburgh/newburgh-free-academy-goldbacks/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/newburgh/newburgh-free-academy-goldbacks/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Cornwall Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Kevin Arduino</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Arduino</strong> led his Dragons to a deep playoff run, finishing with an <strong>11-2</strong> record in 2024. Key wins for Cornwall Central included <strong>Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Newburgh Free Academy, Middletown, Saugerties, and Our Lady Of Lourdes</strong>. The two loses for Cornwall Central came at the hands of <strong>Monroe-Woodbury, and Somers</strong> deep in the playoffs. Key loses for the Dragons include <strong>QB Quinn Pikarsky, WR Matt Cerone, and DB Ryan Miele</strong>. The key returns for this season include <strong>2027 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1513218' first='Jordan' last='Bishop'], 2026 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1561429' first='Nyhiem' last='Owens'], and OL [player_tooltip player_id='1624492' first='Ryan' last='Nunez']</strong>. The schedule for Cornwall Central includes eight games. I predict a <strong>6-2</strong> record for the Dragons with key wins against <strong>Monroe-Woodbury, Newburgh Free Academy, and Our Lady Of Lourdes</strong>. The two loses come of the hands of <strong>Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, and Ballston Spa</strong>. A deep playoff run is likely for Coach Arduino and the Dragons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/new-windsor/cornwall-central-dragons/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/new-windsor/cornwall-central-dragons/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. <strong>Port Jervis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Damien Striharsky</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Striharsky</strong> led his Raiders to a <strong>12-1</strong> record in 2024. Port Jervis season included key wins over <strong>Goshen Central, Middletown, Saugerties, Section 1 Ardsley, Section 2 Glens Falls, and Section 4 Maine-Endwell</strong> in the playoffs. The lone lose for the Raiders came at the hands of <strong>Minisk Valley in October by a score of 28-14</strong>. Key loses for Port Jervis include <strong>RB Anthony Theodore, LB Carroll Dolshun, and OL Xavian Joseph</strong>. Key returners for the 2025 season include <strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1213008' first='Dylan' last='Fox']</strong>. Nine games are listed on the schedule for Port Jervis. I see a <strong>9-0</strong> record with a deep playoff run and the potential for a State Championship. Keep wins include <strong>Goshen Central, New Paltz, Middletown, Minisk Valley, and Saugerties</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/port-jervis/port-jervis-raiders/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/port-jervis/port-jervis-raiders/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->