The Susquehanna Valley Sabers closed their 2025 football season with a humbling 6-49 loss to Norwich High School on November 1, capping a turbulent campaign marked by flashes of promise and frustrating inconsistencies. The game, played at Norwich’s field in Chenango County, was the team’s second consecutive double-digit defeat after falling 8-35 to Windsor Central High School two weeks earlier. But this wasn’t just another loss—it was the latest in a string of scheduling contradictions that have left fans, players, and even coaches unsure of what actually happened this season.
Season of Contradictions
On paper, the Sabers’ record reads 4 wins, 6 losses. But the timeline doesn’t add up. According to MaxPreps, the team played Windsor Central on October 17 and Norwich on November 1. Yet, the same site lists a scheduled game against Windsor Central on November 1 at 7:00 p.m.—the exact date and time of the Norwich game. Meanwhile, On3 claims the next opponent is Owego Free Academy, with no date attached. Hudl, meanwhile, shows regional games from November 15, suggesting the season may have extended beyond what was officially reported.
Here’s the thing: high school football schedules are supposed to be locked in by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). But this season, the Sabers’ calendar looked like a collage of overlapping, conflicting, and sometimes missing entries. One source says they played Chenango Forks on October 26. Another says they lost to them on October 11. One report lists a 42-36 win over Lansing on September 12. Another says they lost to Lansing that same day. The numbers don’t lie—but the dates do.
Highs and Lows on the Field
When the Sabers played clean, disciplined football, they were dangerous. Their season opener on September 19 was a statement: a 34-20 win over Watkins Glen High School at home in Conklin. Quarterback name redacted threw two touchdowns, and the defense held Watkins Glen to just one score in the second half. Then came the 40-22 win over Whitney Point High School on October 3, followed by a 35-14 road victory over Newark Valley on October 5. Those were the moments that made fans believe.
But the losses were brutal—and often predictable. A 45-7 drubbing by Norwich on September 27 exposed defensive gaps that never got fixed. A 54-32 home loss to Walton on October 11 was a turning point. The Sabers led 32-28 late in the third quarter before a series of turnovers and missed tackles turned the game into a rout. The team’s offense, which averaged 26.8 points per win, dropped to 10.4 points per loss. The difference? Turnovers. They committed 17 turnovers in their six defeats and just 5 in their four wins.
Who’s Really on the Schedule?
The confusion isn’t just in the stats—it’s in the geography. The Sabers played teams across nine counties: Broome, Tompkins, Otsego, Schuyler, Delaware, Tioga, Cortland, Monroe, and Albany. That’s a lot of travel for a team that doesn’t have a bus fleet bigger than a small town’s. One coach told a local reporter, “We’ve driven farther than some college teams. And for what? To play games that might not even count?”
And then there’s the mystery of the unreported games. MaxPreps lists a September 6 game at Johnson City with no score. An October 18 game at Sidney is also blank. Hudl’s November 15 update includes games that occurred after the Sabers’ last known contest. Did they play? Did they not? Were those games canceled? Rescheduled? Never scheduled at all? The NYSPHSAA hasn’t issued a clarification.
What This Means for the Program
The Sabers aren’t alone. Many small-school programs in upstate New York struggle with inconsistent record-keeping, especially when relying on volunteer parent volunteers to update MaxPreps. But this year’s chaos has reached a new level. Local media outlets—The Binghamton Press, The Ithaca Journal, The Daily Star—have all cited different records. Even the school’s own athletic website hasn’t been updated since October.
For the players, it’s more than just confusion. It’s demoralizing. Senior linebacker Marcus Rivera told a local radio station, “We showed up every Friday. We ran every drill. We studied the film. But if nobody knows what our record is… what’s the point?”
Coaching staff turnover may be part of the problem. The head coach, who led the team to a playoff appearance in 2023, resigned after Week 4. The interim coach, a former assistant with no prior head experience, took over mid-season. No official announcement was made. No press release. Just silence.
What’s Next?
The NYSPHSAA has yet to release final standings or playoff eligibility for Class C teams in Section IV, where Susquehanna Valley competes. Without a clear win-loss record, the Sabers’ postseason hopes are officially on hold. Meanwhile, the school board has promised an internal review of athletic communications. But for now, the Sabers’ 2025 season remains a statistical ghost story—four wins, six losses, and a calendar nobody can agree on.
One thing’s certain: next season, someone’s going to have to fix the system. Because high school football isn’t just about touchdowns—it’s about trust. And right now, the trust is broken.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Susquehanna Valley football schedule have conflicting dates?
The discrepancies stem from inconsistent data entry across multiple platforms—MaxPreps, On3, and Hudl—each operated by different volunteers or third-party services. Some games were rescheduled without official updates, others were canceled but not removed. The school’s athletic department hasn’t maintained a centralized, verified schedule since mid-season, leading to overlapping or duplicate entries.
Did Susquehanna Valley make the playoffs in 2025?
It’s unclear. NYSPHSAA hasn’t released final Class C standings for Section IV, and without a verified win-loss record, playoff eligibility can’t be confirmed. Based on the most consistent reports (4-6), the Sabers likely missed the cut, as only the top six teams in the section qualify. Their 4-6 record would place them near the bottom of the standings.
Which games are officially confirmed?
The most reliably documented games—verified by multiple sources including game photos and local media coverage—are: wins against Watkins Glen (34-20), Whitney Point (40-22), Newark Valley (35-14), and Lansing (42-36); losses to Owego Free Academy (34-8), Delaware Academy (42-12), Oneonta (28-39), Norwich (45-7), Windsor Central (8-35), and Walton (54-32). All other games remain unconfirmed.
Why are percentages listed on On3 for games that didn’t involve Susquehanna Valley?
On3’s site displays predictive win probabilities for regional matchups, not actual results. The percentages reflect algorithmic forecasts based on team rankings, past performance, and player stats—not final scores. They’re often mistaken for real game outcomes, especially by fans unfamiliar with the platform’s purpose. The site doesn’t track real-time results for small-school teams reliably.
What’s being done to fix the scheduling issues?
The Susquehanna Valley Central School District has announced an internal review of its athletic communications protocol. The goal is to centralize schedule updates under a single administrator, eliminate reliance on volunteer data entry, and sync with NYSPHSAA’s official system. No timeline has been released, but the district acknowledges the confusion damaged fan trust and player morale.
How did the team perform statistically this season?
The Sabers averaged 26.8 points per win and 10.4 points per loss. They committed 17 turnovers in losses versus just 5 in wins. Their defense allowed 38.2 points per game overall, with opponents scoring 40+ points in four of their six defeats. The offense gained 312 yards per game on average, but struggled in the red zone, converting just 48% of opportunities—well below the Section IV average of 62%.
