2025 Section VII High School Football Preview

With eight teams, new players, new class alignments and one school making its return to the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference (CVAC), Section VII high school football is gearing up for a big season on the 2025 gridiron. Learn more on what you need to know about each team before the regular season kicks off on Friday, Sept. 5. CLASS BBeekmantownThe defending and undefeated CVAC regular season champs (6-0) and Class B sectional champions are trying to run it back and win another banner. Beekmantown loses 19 seniors from its title defense but returns some key pieces. Senior running back Shamus Bibeau, who rushed for 900 yards and 11 touchdowns his junior year. Senior Hunter Porter, who got some valuable experience as a starting quarterback in the Class B New York state playoffs, will be taking the reins full-time this season. It’s a group that knows it needs to put last season’s accolades behind it and focus on accomplishing more in 2025.“It was a great season. We were really proud to have won that, but we kind of got to leave that in the past,” Bibeau said. “Coach (Joe) Fish is really talking about how our record is 0-0 now, and that’s how it’s going to roll.”First Game: Friday, Sept. 5 @ Ausable Valley High School @ 7:00 pmFirst Official CVAC Game:Saturday, Sep. 13 @ Saranac High School @ 1:00 pmPeruThe Nighthawks finished their 2024 campaign with a 5-1 CVAC record, which is was good enough for second place in the conference. However, Peru doesn’t take anything else other than first in their football program. They return several key starters on offense. Senior quarterback Jake Frechette returns for his second season after throwing for 1,213 passing yards and tossing 13 touchdown passes in his inaugural year as a varsity starter. He is surrounded by multiple weapons in his wide receiver room such as Chase Carpenter, Trent Taylor and Mason Starke and reliable running backs to lean on in the ground game in Wyatt Bridges and Brody Blaise-Smith. It’s a group that believes they can pursue their ultimate goal of winning another sectional championship after winning three straight Class B titles from 2021 to 2023. “Last year I thought we had a pretty mediocre year,” Frechette said. “2nd is okay for some people, but at Peru we want to be first … our eyes are on the prize for sure and we’re going for the chip this year.”First Official CVAC Game: Friday, Sep. 12 vs. Ticonderoga High School @ 7:00 pmCLASS CAusable ValleyThe Patriots believe that a heavy dose of senior leadership will help them earn their first win on the high school gridiron since 2023. 11 seniors return to Ausable Valley this season ready to compete in Class C for the first time since 2022. The veteran leaders believe experience and a new look coaching staff under first-year head coach Matt Stanley will help the Patriots achieve their desired postseason aspirations to earn a sectional banner. “The last few years, we’re used to, you know, kind of playing up an age group with a lot of younger guys on the field,” said Ausable Valley senior linebacker Ian Bombard. “This year we’re going to show a lot of people that, you know, we’re the older kids on the field, and we’re going to try and make a point this year.”First Game: Saturday, Sep. 6 vs. Beekmantown High School @ 11:00 amFirst Official CVAC Game:Friday, Sep. 12 @ Plattsburgh High School @ 7:00 pmPlattsburghThe Hornets finished 2024 in one of their best marks in recent history. Their 4-2 CVAC record led them to finish in 3rd place in the conference standings. Plattsburgh is expected to shift from a pass-heavy offense which led them to lead the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2024 after four CVAC all-star selections (Dominic Deangelo, Dan Hartman, Braedan Calkins and Carson Duval) all graduated after this past season. The Hornets will look to adapt more of a running presence mixed with their passing to keep raising the bar from what they accomplished in 2024. “What happened last year, that was the bar,” said Plattsburgh senior fullback and defensive end George DeJesus. “We need to reestablish that and keep moving forward from the bar we established last year.”First Game: Friday, Sep. 5 @ Granville/Whitehall High School @ TBDFirst Official CVAC Game: Friday, Sep. 12 vs. Ausable Valley High School @ 7:00 pmSaranacThe Spartans finished 2024 second to last in the CVAC with a 1-5 record but turned their season around when it mattered most. In a tight battle against Saranac Lake high school in the Section VII Class C championship, Saranac shut down a late two-point conversion attempt to secure the 30-28 victory and their third straight Class C sectional banner. The Spartans return several key players from their 2024 squad, and another returner from their 2023 CVAC regular season championship squad in senior running back and linebacker Zander Daniels. The 2023 CVAC All-Star played one year of prep school at Hebron Academy High School before returning to Saranac for his senior season. The Spartans are looking to put the pieces together again in 2025 and dial up their level of play for when the sectional postseason rolls around to secure their fourth straight sectional title. “Our saying all throughout the season was peaking the postseason,” Boulds said. “We had ups and downs whole season. But the guys really came together, kept on working and we came together at the right time”First Game: Saturday, Sep. 6 @ Ogdensburg Free Academy High School @ 2:00 pmFirst Official CVAC Game: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs. Beekmantown High School @ 1:00 pmSaranac LakeThe Red Storm will have a new home field for their 2025 campaign. The school district is wrapping up its finishing touches on a brand-new turf field right next to the high school which will also feature lights to host some Friday night games at home this season. Saranac Lake is looking to build on a fourth-place finish in the CVAC standings despite losing 10 seniors from their 2024 squad. The Red Storm players say their current coaching staff featuring the return of Eric Bennett for his 15th season at the helm is helping catch a younger team up to the varsity speed at a quick rate. “We got very great coaches here,” said Saranac Lake senior defensive end Miles Frazier. “They’re doing their part and helping the younger kids too. Really just give help when they need it. And they’re doing great so far.”First Game: Friday, Sep. 5 vs. Massena High School a 7:00 pmFirst Official CVAC Game: Saturday, Sep. 13 vs. Moriah High School @ 1:00 pmCLASS DMoriahThe Vikings are searching for their 5th straight Sectional championship on the gridiron, but they will look to accomplish that goal with a new look-roster. Moriah graduated 17 seniors from the 2024 class including CVAC First Team Tight End Cooper Allen who is now committed to play prep football at the Peddie School. One returning face is head coach Casey Nephew who is back for his third season at the helm. He says the example the class of 2024 and all the latest championship winning teams set over the years will provide a blueprint for Moriah to accomplish their championship goals. “We’ve had some kids years ago that have set the example of how things should be done,” Nephew said. “I hope we hope to continue it on again. Just the decication to the sport, putting time in the offseason, showing up every day, just the team dynamic I guess that was set years ago is continued on.”First Game: Friday, Sep. 5 vs. Greenwich High School @ 6:00 pmFirst Official CVAC Game: Saturday, Sep. 13 @ Saranac Lake High School @ 1:00 pmTiconderogaThe Sentinels return back to 11-on-11 play in the CVAC for the first time since 2022. A lower number of tryouts at the school led Ticonderoga to play in an 8-man league for the past two seasons. Ticonderoga not only returns but brings an experienced group of upper classmen. Head Coach Jim Decker also brings 27 years of coaching football in his career, but he says experience will only matter for his team if it leads to production on the field. “Experience is beneficial, but experience doesn’t matter,” Decker said. I’m sorry, you need 28 guys to show up every day, work their tails off, be competitive, be dedicated, be loyal and execute their place.”First Game: Friday, Sep. 5 @ Corinth High School @ 7:00 pmFirst Official CVAC Game: Friday, Sep. 12 vs. Peru High School @ 7:00 pm