North Country high school football teams begin 2026 playoff runs

High school football teams from Northern New York are scheduled to begin postseason play Thursday, Oct. 29, and Friday, Oct. 30, with games across Sections 3 and 10. The schedule includes teams from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties, with several local teams hosting first-round or quarterfinal games.

Section 3 Class C play is scheduled to begin Thursday with Skaneateles at top-seeded Lowville at 6 p.m. Lowville enters at 7-1 after two consecutive forfeit wins. Section 10 Class B has St. Lawrence Central at top-seeded Malone at 7 p.m. St. Lawrence Central enters at 0-8.

Friday’s Section 3 schedule includes Watertown at No. 1 seed Auburn in Class A at 6 p.m. Watertown is 3-5 and has won three of its last four games, including a 46-6 victory over Fowler. South Jefferson, also 3-5, is scheduled to play at New Hartford in Class B at 6 p.m.

Other 6 p.m. Section 3 games include Marcellus at General Brown in Class C and Little Falls at Beaver River in Class D. General Brown is 6-2 and has won six straight games. Beaver River, the No. 4 seed, enters at 6-2 after a forfeit win over A-P-W in its last game.

Carthage is scheduled to visit Whitesboro in Class A at 6:30 p.m. The game is listed for Marcy. Carthage is 5-3, while Whitesboro is 5-3. South Lewis is scheduled to host Frankfort-Schuyler in an 8-Man game at 6:30 p.m. South Lewis is 6-2 after a 66-6 win over Thousand Islands.

At 7 p.m. Friday, Syracuse ITC is scheduled to play at Indian River in Class A, and Sandy Creek is scheduled to visit Sauquoit Valley in Class D. Indian River is the No. 4 seed, while Sauquoit Valley enters at 7-1.

Section 10 games Friday include Canton at Massena in Class B at 6 p.m. and Ogdensburg Free Academy at Potsdam in Class C at 7 p.m. Canton and Massena are both 3-5. Potsdam is 6-2 and defeated OFA, 12-0, on Sept. 18. Massena’s most recent listed game was a 48-22 loss to Ogdensburg Free Academy.

The Section 3 Class D quarterfinal field also includes Port Byron/Union Springs at top-seeded Dolgeville, Westmoreland/Oriskany at Cato-Meridian, and Sandy Creek at Sauquoit Valley. Those games are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., except for the Sandy Creek-Sauquoit Valley game, which is listed for 7 p.m. Indian River, Beaver River and South Lewis were named No. 4 seeds and are scheduled to host quarterfinal games.

Section 3 Class D semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 6, with Class C and Class B semifinals scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7. Section 3 championship games are scheduled for the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse. Fans should check Section III and their school athletic department for schedule, ticket and venue updates. Section III playoff games are also listed for streaming through the NFHS Network.