Will Horseheads have what it takes to end 26-year title drought in football?

Horseheads has had considerable success on the gridiron in recent seasons, but a Section 4 title remains elusive for a program that last reached that objective in 1998 on the tail end of three consecutive championships.

The Blue Raiders enter this season with designs on beating out fellow Class A sectional foes Binghamton, Union-Endicott and Vestal for the right to represent Section 4 in New York's state tournament. Vestal thwarted Horseheads in last year's sectional final, 40-14 , the second time in the last three seasons the Raiders ended up one win shy of the title.

"We're kind of tired of being a contender, we want to get over the hump and finally win one," said senior receiver/defensive back Miles Woodhouse.

"We're excited. I think we have a great team, a lot of guys coming back, a lot of important pieces. We're going to have an explosive offense, a lot of our backfield is back that can make plays in big games."

A question mark leading into what has become a standard Week 0 opener for the Blue Raiders is the offensive line.

"A lot of inexperience up there on the offensive line," head coach Kevin Hillman said. "That's an area we've got to really work on during the season and preseason. I think running-back wise we've got some guys coming back in (Lucas) Mosher and (Bryce) Thomas, receiver Woodhouse, quarterback (Dom) Cardinale. We're in good shape with those skill positions with experience. It's that offensive line. I think once they become a cohesive group we have a really good squad here."

Senior two-way lineman Robert Peckham provides experience. Hillman describes him as "a stud" up front and expects big things from a physical force who had 42 tackles last season.

"If we're going to be successful, he's got to have a monster year," Hillman said.

Mosher, a senior, ran for 786 yards on 111 carries last season. Thomas impressed as a freshman, averaging 7.3 yards per carry while running for 232 yards and four touchdowns.

Cardinale brings senior experience to the QB spot. He completed 71 of 120 passes for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

Woodhouse, described by his coach as "a dynamic player," caught 31 passes for 579 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Griffin Stevens, a rugged senior linebacker/tight end, received honorable mention to the all-state team at linebacker after leading the Raiders with 68 tackles. He's an all-state lacrosse player .

Others to watch include linebacker Jonah Lamb, a transfer from three-time defending Class D state champion Tioga Central . Hillman also expects big things from linebackers Liam Morrissey and Jaxson Burchard, along with Twin Tiers Christian Academy transfer Elijah Miller at defensive tackle.

"I think defensively we’ve got a really good front eight, with our linebackers and our D-line," Hillman said. "I think we have a really good group of guys there with our experience, they’re tough. The secondary, we’ve got some new guys in there, but I think they’re guys that can play."

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Record last five seasons

2023 : 7-4

2022 : 4-6

2021 (fall) : 6-3

2021 (spring) : 5-1

2019 : 6-3

Record in state playoffs : 0-4

Horseheads 2024 Schedule

Sept. 6 : 6:30 p.m. vs. Watertown (at SUNY Cortland)

Sept. 13 : 7 p.m. vs. Norwich

Sept. 20 : 7 p.m. at Waverly

Sept. 27 : 7 p.m. vs. Owego Free Academy

Oct. 4 : 6 p.m. at Elmira

Oct. 11 : 7 p.m. vs. Corning

Oct. 18 : 7 p.m. at Vestal

Oct. 25 : 7 p.m. at Binghamton

Nov. 1 : 7 p.m. vs. Union-Endicott

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: Will Horseheads have what it takes to end 26-year title drought in football?