An experienced line is said to be a strength of the 2026 Alvirne football team. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

(Editor’s Note: This is part of The Telegraph’s annual Football Preview Tab Insert Section that will be found in this weekend’s Telegraph print edition, complete with schedules, last year’s results, team photos, and much more)

HUDSON – Year Two of a program is usually always better than Year One.

At least that’s what Alvirne High School football coach Justin Hufft is hoping.

“It’s a new year,” Broncos coach/AD Justin Hufft said. “It’s great to have a second year when we come back and know a lot of the kids. We definitely lost a lot of quality seniors from last year’s team.

“But it’s a really good group, they worked hard in the off-season. We have a few returning lineman up front particularly who really worked hard in the weight room. So we’re excited to see what we can get out there.”

Hufft loves the fact the Broncos have a lot of multi-sport athletes on the team, and some athletes knew to football. Plus some hungry underclassmen from last year who feel it’s their time to shine after a season in which the Broncos lost five of their first six but won their last three to finish 4-5 in a tough Division I Central Conference.

The returning linemen should help the offense, including seniors Marcus and Anthony Bain, Chase Noone and Eugene Njoroge, all in the 5-11, 200 range.

“It’s a smaller line for Division I, but they’re very strong, they’re athletic and they’ll do a good job for us,” Hufft said.

Most of the skill position players are new. Cam St. Clair, a junior, has taken as of this writing most of the snaps at quarterback in practice. He’s moving there after playing wide receiver and defensive back a year ago but Hufft spotted him as a point guard in basketball. “Great defender, good head on his shoulders, and you can see a lot of the skills there,” Hufft said. “So you say ‘That looks like somebody who would make a good quarterback.”

It will be running back by committee, with players such as junior Kylar Cox leading the way. Track athlete Jeremiah Sophos and hoop standout Angel Kangar, both seniors, are giving football a try and are athletic, as is senior Amari Ofori. While an experienced line is a strength offensively, the pass catching crew seems very athletic.

Defensively, there are four returnees, Marcus Bain anchoring the line and Noone at linebacker, Cox at safety, and junior Tim Malley at outside linebacker. New will be players like a junior transfer from Maine, J.C. Adames, who is a 6-4 defensive back who can also play tight end/receiver.

“It’s a lot of new pieces,” Hufft said.

Senior Richie Mucheru will be at linebacker, plus junior Gus Baldon, and senior Benji Sophos. Hufft will use all these combinations and look for the right mix on both sides of the ball.

A year ago Hufft didn’t like the turnout, feeling it wasn’t of Division I caliber. He’s tempered that thought after a year at Alvirne.

“We’re not a school that’s going to have 100 players out, probably,” he said. “If we can get 75 of the right guys out that have good attitudes and work hard, I think that’s a good level for us. I think we’ll have 75-80 kids, hard workers. It’s a really tough division, tough schedule. And see what they can do, you know?”