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Which Section III football team has the toughest schedule in each class this fall?

Baldwinsville has one of the toughest schedules in AA-1 this fall.
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Syracuse, N.Y. — One game means a lot in sports, especially football where a team plays just seven or eight regular season games.

Due to that, the difficulty of a team’s schedule has increased importance because it could be the difference between being in or out of the playoffs.

Syracuse.com calculated each Section III football team’s strength of schedule and ranked them amongst teams in their class.

To calculate the strength of schedule, we took the collective number of wins last season from schools a team will be playing this year and divided that by the total number of games opposing schools played last year. That number became the team’s strength of schedule.

Class AA-1

Utica Proctor finished last season 2-6 and the road does not get any easier this fall. Not only do the Raiders have the toughest schedule among AA schools, but the toughest among all Section III teams.

Liverpool began turning things around last season and ended with a 5-4 record. On paper, this year’s team has the easiest schedule in the class.

That mixed with Baldwinsville having the second toughest strength of schedule and newcomer West Genesee being an unknown as the new kid on the block, could help Liverpool propel in the standings this fall.

Class AA-2

Rome Free Academy turned heads last fall turning in a 6-3 record in the A/AA-2 league.

This fall, the Black Knights will play in the AA-2 league and the team has a manageable schedule that could see RFA boast another solid record.

Class A

After a 1-7 season in A/AA-2 last fall, Fulton returns to A this season and has the toughest schedule.

The Red Dragons have tilts scheduled against defending Class A state runner-up Whitesboro, Section III Class A runner-up ESM as well as Central Square which finished first in A/AA-2 last season.

Auburn could be a team to watch for this season in A. The Maroons were 4-5 last season and have one of the easier schedules on paper in A this fall which could set up for a turnaround season.

Class B

Indian River looks poised for another deep playoff run after winning last year’s Section III Class B championship and having the second easiest strength of schedule this fall. The Wolves have just one game against an opponent that finished two games or more above .500.

The toughest schedule goes to CVA. The Thunder finished last season 7-3 and fell in the sectional semifinals. This fall, CVA will have to overcome one of the toughest schedules in all Section III if it hopes to make another deep playoff run.

Class B-2

Mexico could be a team to watch in B-2 this season. The Tigers were runners-up in last year’s B-2 playoffs and have the easiest schedule this fall. With only two games against teams that went above .500 last season, Mexico could find themselves back in the championship later this fall.

Class C

Not only does Bishop Ludden have to navigate its season with a new coach, but the Gaelic Knights will also be doing so with the toughest schedule in Class C.

Bishop Ludden was 4-5 last season and this year the team will play games against Cazenovia which finished 8-1 last season, Southern Hills which won the C/D-2 championship last season and games against many other teams that finished above .500.

Only one of the Gaelic Knights games will be against a team that finished below .500 a year ago.

Southern Hills won the C/D-2 championship last fall and is moving to C this season. The Storm only has two games against teams that finished above .500 last season.

Class C/D-2

After a strong 7-3 season last year, Sherburne-Earlville could once again put up a strong record.

The team has the easiest strength of schedule in all of Section III and could use that to its advantage to build momentum before the postseason.

Class D

Dolgeville’s dominant run over Class D may not be over yet. The Blue Devils have won three straight Section III Class D championships and have the second-easiest strength of schedule in D this fall.

On paper, Sandy Creek looks to be Dolgeville’s biggest threat. The Comets posted an 8-1 record last season and come into this season with the easiest strength of schedule in D.

8-Man football

Cooperstown faces an uphill battle after going 0-7 last fall. The Hawkeyes have the second toughest schedule in all of Section III this season.

While Frankfort-Schuyler’s schedule is not quite as challenging as Cooperstown’s, the Maroon Knights’ championship defense will not be a walk in the park.

Frankfort-Schuyler will look to make its third straight championship game appearance and second straight championship win while having the fourth toughest schedule in 8-Man which begins with a championship rematch against West Canada Valley and gets no easier with a 2022 championship rematch against Morrisville-Eaton two weeks later.

Contact Kenny Lacy Jr. anytime: Email | X

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