WEST PALM BEACH — Replacing the quarterback who delivered a school's first state championship is never easy. Cardinal Newman football enters the 2026 season tasked with replacing championship game MVP Jyron Hughley and several other Division I standouts from last year's historic Class 1A title team. The Crusaders believe Atlantic transfers Pedro Martinez and Justin Barrera can help make that transition a successful one. The longtime quarterback-receiver duo's move could be viewed as a business decision, with two standout players joining one of Palm Beach County's premier private school programs. Barrera acknowledged that the transfer made sense for his future, but it also reunited two childhood teammates who have spent years developing chemistry on the field. "Yeah, it did," Barrera said when asked whether Martinez's transfer influenced his decision. "He's been my boy for a long time. Him going to Newman, it just felt like it was a perfect chance for me to go, too." Get discount to stream games on NFHS Network
That familiarity showed at Atlantic last season. Martinez connected with Barrera for 405 yards and 35 receptions, more than tripling the receiver's production from his freshman season. That's the benefit of a partnership years in the making. "Me and Pedro, we've been playing since we were like eight years old, from flag football to little league, all the way up now," Barrera said. The connection could prove valuable for a Cardinal Newman offense undergoing significant changes.
Last season, the Crusaders leaned on the playmaking ability of Hughley, who's now at West Virginia. Newman also graduated Division I talents such as running back Phoenix Donghia (James Madison) and Adam Balogoun-Ali (Auburn), leaving sizable holes in one of Palm Beach County's most explosive offenses. While Martinez brings a different skill set than Hughley, head coach Jack Daniels believes the senior quarterback possesses the qualities needed to keep the offense operating at a high level. "He brings leadership," Daniels said. "He throws the ball really accurately. Obviously not as dynamic of a runner as Snow (Hughley), but he can really throw it." That skill set could lead to a different look offensively this fall.
With Martinez under center and Barrera expected to emerge as a primary target, Cardinal Newman may lean more heavily on the passing game than it did during last year's championship run. Daniels already sees Barrera stepping into a major role following the graduation of standout receiver Leslie Mosley. "We've got a solid group of receivers," Daniels said before identifying Barrera as his expected top target. "He had a really good spring." As the Crusaders pursue a second consecutive state championship, they're counting on a familiar quarterback-receiver connection to help usher in the next era of Cardinal Newman football. Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Cardinal Newman reloads for title defense with Atlantic transfers