By: Dylan Shields, Fall '25 Intern

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) is set to host the 2025 Football State Finals on Friday, December 5th and Saturday, December 6th at the JMA Wireless Dome (Section III) on the campus of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The JMA Wireless Dome, formerly known as the Carrier Dome, has been the only host of this event every year NYSPHSAA has conducted a football state tournament starting in 1993. 
 
“We are excited to return to the Dome once again as it has been over three decades at this great venue with a great staff to help us run a successful weekend of games,” said Gary Vanderzee, NYSPHSAA Football State Coordinator. “Our student athletes will be competing in five classes to determine our state champions. After an arduous 15 weeks of practice and competition, the ten best teams will battle it out for one more big game.” 
 
The 2024 Class AA State Championship delivered a thriller in the battle of the Brothers, as CBA Syracuse (Section III) defeated CBA Albany (Section 2) on Hail Mary as time ran out to claim their second straight title 41-40. CBA Syracuse won its semifinal over Bennett (Section VI) on Saturday to qualify for the State Final this weekend and seek its first three-peat. 

This year’s championship matchups promise another slate of great games, with standout players shattering records. Saratoga Springs (Section 2) is making their return to the Dome for only the second time in school history and will look to secure their programs first ever state title against CBA Syracuse (Section III). The Class A Final features Rye (Section I) vs. Brighton (Section V). Rye’s senior duo has dominated all season. Quarterback Carson Miller has already broken the single-season Rye passing record and leads the state in passing yards. In last Friday’s state semifinal win over Cornwall (Section IX), he also surpassed the Section I single-season passing record. In the same game, his top target, Henry Shoemaker, broke the Section I single-season receiving record. Shoemaker also leads the state in receiving yards. 

Also in 2024, Somers (Section I) successfully defended its Class A State Championship, earning a third consecutive title by defeating Whitesboro (Section III) for the second year in a row but neither team will return to the Dome in 2025. Other 2024 state champions included Port Jervis (Section IX) in Class B, Schuylerville (Section 2) in Class C, and Clymer/Sherman/Panama (Section VI) in Class D. Those teams fell short of returning to the state finals this year.  
 
The 2025 championships appear to be another slate of great games with standout players and potential record-setting teams. As stated, CBA Syracuse will seek a record-tying third straight title while its opponent Saratoga Springs (Section 2) is making just their second Dome appearance in school history seeking its first ever football state title.  
 
The Class A final features Rye (Section I) versus Brighton (Section V). Rye has four Class B state championships and is now a Class A participant. Senior quarterback Carson Miller has already broken the single-season school passing record and leads the state in passing yards. In last Friday’s state semifinal win over Cornwall (Section IX), he also surpassed the Section I single-season passing record. In the same game, his top target, Henry Shoemaker, broke the Section I single-season receiving record. Shoemaker leads the state in receiving yards. Brighton, meanwhile, is making its first state final appearance.  
 
In the Class B Final, Sleepy Hollow (Section I) faces Monroe (Section V). Sleepy Hollow senior running back Brayden Richardson is carving out his own place in history leading the program to its first-ever state championship appearance and putting up record numbers. In the state semifinal against Glens Falls (Section 2), Richardson rushed for five touchdowns and 446 yards breaking the Section I single game rushing record and NYSPHSAA postseason record. He also sits among the top five rushers in New York State this season. Neither Sleepy Hollow or Monroe have won football state titles.  
 
In Class C, Chenango Forks (Section IV) returns to the Dome once again—a feat they have accomplished 13 times before 2025, capturing seven state crowns.  Their opponent, Bronxville (Section I) won its only state title in 2010 but made two other state final appearances.  

The Class D qualifiers, Tuckahoe (Section I) and Tioga (Section IV), are no stranger to state competition at the Dome. Tioga has won four state championships while Tuckahoe has two of its own plus three Runner Up finishes.   

The event will see all five classes of competition from Class AA to Class D with the first game kicking off on Friday, December 5th at 3 PM for the Class D championship.   

Finals tickets may be purchased in advance at Ticketmaster or on-site at the Dome ticket window. The JMA Wireless Dome is a cashless venue, including the box office and all concession areas. Ticket prices are $16.00 per person (including all fees) for each day of the competition. The event will be streamed on the NFHS Network, the official broadcasting partner of the NYSPHSAA State Championships. For the game schedule, visit the NYSPHSAA football championship page at www.nysphsaa.org. 

NYSPHSAA State Finals - JMA Dome, Syracuse University
Friday, December 5	3:00 PM	Class D Final  Tuckahoe (I) vs Tioga (IV)
Friday, December 5	6:00 PM	Class A Final  Rye (I) vs Brighton (V)
Saturday, December 6	12:00 PM	Class C Final  Bronxville (I) vs Chenango Forks (IV)
Saturday, December 6	3:00 PM	Class B Final  Sleepy Hollow (I) vs Monroe (V)
Saturday, December 6	6:00 PM	Class AA Final  Saratoga Springs (2) vs Christian Brothers Academy (III)