The Elmira High School football team's surge to its first sectional championship since 2018 didn't come easily last year.
Lightning dealt the Express a bizarre and confusing one-quarter loss in the opener against Liverpool. Elmira suffered a big blow that night with an injury to all-state fullback/defensive end Amir Williams, who was out for much of the season.
Injuries continued to pile up, but Elmira got healthy, hit its stride 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 for a rematch Oct. 25 at Elmira's Thomas J. Hurley Athletic Complex.
The Express carried momentum from a championship season into productive summer sessions that head coach Jimmy McCauley hopes leads into another title run in 2024.
"We're ready to rock, we're excited," McCauley said. "I like our guys. We've had one of our better summers as far as participation."
This is the 13th season as head coach for McCauley, who has guided the Express to five Section 4 titles and an 83-36 record since taking over in year two of a program formed from the mergers of Elmira Free Academy and Southside.
Along with senior fullback Williams (1,009 yards on 105 carries in 2022), look for big things from senior running back/linebacker Kayon Flint. He missed two games with an injury and played four games with a cast last season and managed 410 yards and seven touchdowns on 74 carries. Flint ran for 139 yards and a touchdown on 21 rushes in the sectional final.
"I think we’re going to stand out this year because we’ve been putting work in all summer," Flint said. "There’s been at least 50 people here three days a week from the end of June until the first day of practice. There’s a lot of new things being installed, but there are a lot of good mentors and good seniors that are going to help the younger kids."
McCauley said Elmira will lean on experience as the younger players continue to get up to speed. He likes the willingness and eagerness of the group.
"We try to tell these kids to stand out, don't try out," McCauley said. "In order to do that you've got to be willing to put yourself out there, you've got to be willing to put yourself in a situation where you might not know it all yet, but you're going to lean on your effort and your hustle and enthusiasm."
Among those who stepped up amid injuries last season was backup quarterback Zach Conklin, now a junior.
Also expected to make an impact are Breyan Brooks and Brandon Bertelsen, who last year as juniors each played running back and linebacker. Arius Bradbury, a junior, excelled at linebacker in 2023 and also plays tight end.
Look for Damian Gaylor, Chance Olsen and Evan Martin to contribute up front for an Elmira offense that was more open last season after rarely diverting from the double-wing in previous years. Nolan Edwards, another quarterback, joins Cam Wright as difference-makers on the defensive side.
"It gave us a lot of confidence, especially our coaching staff," Flint said of last year's title run. "We have new formations now, we're opening it up a little more."
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Record last five seasons
2023 : 5-6
2022 : 7-3
2021 (fall) : 5-4
2021 (spring) : 4-2
2019 : 7-3
Record in state playoffs : 1-5
Elmira Express 2024 schedule
Sept. 13 : vs. St. Peter's, 6 p.m.
Sept. 20 : at Vestal, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 : at Ithaca, noon
Oct. 4 : vs. Horseheads, 6 p.m. (homecoming)
Oct. 11 : vs. Union-Endicott, 6 p.m.
Oct. 18 : at Corning, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 25 : vs. Syracuse CBA, 6 p.m.
Nov. 1 : at Binghamton, 7 p.m.
Follow Andrew Legare on Twitter: @SGAndrewLegare . You can also reach him at alegare@gannett.com . To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Express football team hoping strong summer leads to sectional repeat
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