FREEDOM PLAINS - To think, it was only the first game of the season and there already was discord on the sideline.
An argument erupted between teammates Stephen Jones and Bruce Montgomery seconds after Jones hobbled off the field while suffering a leg cramp. Montgomery chided the defensive lineman, insisting the condition was a result of a poor diet.
"What!?" Jones replied, sounding incredulous. "You're gonna tell me about nutrition after you went to McDonald's?"
Without a moment of hesitation, Montgomery snapped back: "But I got water there!"
Those two, and their Newburgh football teammates within earshot, then burst into laughter.
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"He's one of my best friends and we've been close since we were little," Jones said of the fellow senior. "We like going back and forth and joking with each other."
The mood was jovial, in part, because Jones had just recorded a fourth-quarter sack as the Goldbacks were putting the finishing touches Friday evening on a season-opening shutout of Section 1's Arlington.
Oh, but Montgomery really did have McDonald's after school. His order included a deluxe spicy chicken sandwich, fries and nuggets... with water.
Ingredients to success, perhaps, as Montgomery dazzled in his first start at running back, showing off his elusiveness and power on a series of long runs. His early touchdown helped spark Newburgh in a 35-0 win over the host Admirals.
Last season ended with a disappointing loss in the Section 9 final and, after graduating some standouts, there lingered questions about how good this group can be. So, a performance as thorough against an opponent as respected, Montgomery said, "makes a statement."
The Goldbacks thrived on splash plays, including Jahsir Davis' two long touchdown receptions, and the defense made three red-zone stops, the last of which was a turnover on downs inside the 1 that preserved the shutout with 31 seconds remaining.
"There are definitely things we need to clean up," Newburgh coach Bill Bianco said. "But, to come here on opening night and play the way we did against a program like this, I'm definitely pleased."
Cole Mullarkey had an interception in the second quarter that snuffed out a promising drive, Jones had three tackles for loss, and Noah Spearman and Liam Ehlers each deflected passes on downfield attempts.
Newburgh's offensive line of Anthony Weston, Isaiah Maldonado, Zach Barrese, Norman Henry and Zayden Bediako, along with tight end Chris Leggett, sealed the edges and helped create explosive runs to the perimeter.
Montgomery accounted for the last 29 yards of Newburgh's first drive, finishing it with a 6-yard touchdown run that put them on the board four minutes into the game. On their next possession, his 64-yard scamper set up Daijon Johnson's 2-yard touchdown plunge.
"He's twitchy, he's explosive, he's got power, vision and agility," Bianco said of Montgomery, who waited his turn in the backfield behind Tajir Walker last season. "He can do it all and he's a huge weapon for us."
Davis' 60-yard touchdown on a trick play made it 21-0 a minute before halftime. Jayden Hines took the handoff on a jet sweep, drawing defensive attention, while Davis got open on a go route. The receiver-to-receiver pass made for a highlight, and put Newburgh in control.
The Admirals last season were among the most impressive teams in the state, dominating their first 10 games en route to a section final. A slew of stars from that roster have graduated and Arlington, as well, is dealing with a rash of injuries.
"That's not an excuse, but we did have some kids on the field who were taking their first varsity snaps," Arlington coach Mike Morano said. "Newburgh is obviously a very good team and they gave us a beating, but I don't think it was as bad as the score suggests.
"Our defense responded after bad start and we executed some things on offense, but couldn't finish drives... There are definitely lessons for us to learn from this game."
Newburgh's Jaiseon Barnwell scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak and threw a 75-yard touchdown to Davis that created the margin with 7:02 remaining. The receiver caught a pass underneath then slipped out of a tackle before outrunning the pursuit up the sideline.
These teams had last met three years ago in a Class AA regional playoff game and, coincidentally, that one also ended with a goal-line stand. Arlington scored the potential tying touchdown in overtime, but a 2-point conversion run was stopped and the Goldbacks eked out a 35-34 win.
The stakes obviously weren't as high this time but, players said, preventing a touchdown on the last drive was important to them for other reasons — beyond the cosmetics of holding an opponent scoreless — so the emotions were charged.
"A lot of people said we're inexperienced and young coming into this season, and we wanted to prove ourselves," Jones said. "Everyone had energy and was a dawg! We definitely showed something and made a point."
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Football: Montgomery, Davis shine as Newburgh gets 'statement' win over Arlington
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