SYRACUSE — A wintry weather forecast featuring heavy lake effect snow from Western New York has led the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to adjust its schedule for this weekend’s high school football playoffs.
Three games originally scheduled for Friday, Nov. 28 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School’s Michael J. Bragman Athletic Complex – two western semifinals and the eight-player state regional championship game – have been rescheduled to Sunday, Nov. 30 at the same venue.
“The safety of our student-athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters remains our priority,” Robert Zayas, the NYSPHSAA’s executive director, stated in an announcement posted by the organization on its website Thanksgiving morning.
“With the potential for significant snowfall and uncertain travel conditions, adjusting the the schedule ensures teams can arrive safely and still compete for a championship opportunity. We appreciate the collaboration of Cicero-North Syracuse High School and our member schools as we work to provide the best and safest experience possible.”
The Saturday, Nov. 29 schedule and the Friday, Nov. 28 eastern semifinals in Middletown remain on schedule as they were originally planned.
Morrisville-Eaton and Eldred will kick off Sunday’s action at Cicero-North Syracuse at 11 a.m., one hour earlier than the Friday schedule had planned. The Class D game between Tioga and Newfane will follow at 2 p.m., and the 5 p.m. Class A nightcap pits Union-Endicott against Brighton.
Section VI Newfane and Section V Brighton, champions of the state’s Far West region are traveling from the West where the airport in Buffalo already recorded its strongest wind gust – 68 miles per hour – since January of 2024 Wednesday evening as the weather was shifting out of a warm front. Early National Weather Service forecasts have predicted snowfall up to 18 to 24 inches through Saturday morning south of Buffalo, with 12-18 falling as close to Syracuse as Fulton.
The championship weekend for classes AA-D remains unchanged for December 5-6 at Syracuse University’s JMA Wireless Dome, leaving Sunday’s winners in classes A and D with a short week of preparation.
This article originally appeared on Times Telegram: NYSPHSAA moves Friday football playoff games to Sunday at C-NS
Reporting by Jon Rathbun, Herkimer Times Telegram / Times Telegram
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
