How do you replace a multi-talented player like Fred Locklary?  You find many others with parts of that ability to run, throw and lead, and that’s what Bill Bianco has been trying to do as the Newburgh Goldbacks coach.
“Offensively, we don’t have a guy that can do everything like Fred did,” said Bianco. “On the positive side we have depth at quarterback and running back – the positions he played last season.”

The Goldbacks fell to Warwick last season in the Class AA semis, and Brandon Clarke, a six-foot, 150-pound senior, will get a chance to start the season and help Newburgh move further into the postseason after getting injured last August in the annual intra-squad scrimmage.

Locklary, now at Wagner College in Staten Island, was given the quarterback duties after that – as he also produced with his running game alongside Barry Surrette.

Clarke will hand the ball to Dajon Scott and Makeithan Reynolds and have Shelan Baynes, Tom Starkey, Zach Maxwell, Jason McAllister and Terrell Moore as his throwing targets.

Up front, Mikal Myers, junior, and Shawn Stevenson, a six-foot, one-inch, 275-pound senior, and team captains, will protect Clarke and open the lanes from the backfield alongside Ben Velez, a junior, five-foot, eight-inch, 225-pound center.

Bianco considers the six-foot, three-inch, 290-pound Myers to be the best player in Section 9.

“He combines the rare mix of speed and power, moves with the coordination, quickness and athleticism of a 240 pound kid, but he’s physical enough to devastate his opponent on sheer strength,” said Bianco.
Myers will also play defensive tackle alongside Nate Davis, also a senior captain.

“He can be an offensive lineman’s worst nightmare, many of the bigger linemen don’t have the quickness to stay in front of him, and the few that do lack the strength to physically keep him from penetrating and disrupting the offense,” said Bianco.

At the other end, Mitchell Tuckette, a six-foot, 180-pounder, will put the pressure on the backfield, while giving Clarke another throwing target at tight end.

Newburgh will also be without Marcus Spearman, a vocal leader last season at linebacker. Bianco is hoping Frank Bastone and Nick Bourne can fill those holes behind the defensive line.

Mark Risio, a junior, will back up Clarke at quarterback and have the backs of his defensive mates as a cornerback in the secondary. Ryan Eich is also expected to help Risio in the secondary.

By Bond Brungard
Sports@tcnewspapers.com