The JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse will play host to what has the potential to be a great Class A state championship game on Friday night.
Brighton, from Section V, takes on Rye, from Section I, for the NYSPHSAA high school football title in the state’s second-largest classification.
Before the 2024 season, Brighton had never even won a sectional title. Now, they’re back-to-back section champs and playing for a state crown.
Rye enters the game an undefeated 13-0. The Garnets are four-time state champions. They won all those titles in Class B, the most recent coming in 2023.
Rye QB Carson Miller has 3,279 passing yards, a Section I single-season record, to go with 35 touchdown passes.
Brighton is led by RB/LB Matthew Heininger, who will play collegiately for the University of Buffalo.
The Bruins got 100-yard rushing performances from both Justin Medina and Zack Rossignol in the state semifinal.
You can follow along with live updates all game long below.
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RYE 6, BRIGHTON 0: 1ST QUARTER
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FIRST QUARTER
– Touchdown Rye. A quick-strike drive from the Garnets ends in six points with 7:58 remaining in the first quarter. Carson Miller punches it in from a yard out. Extra point is blocked. (6-0 Rye, 7:58 1Q)
Carson Miller punches it in from a yard out to put Rye on the board first. Shoemaker extra point is blocked. 6-0 Rye with 7:58 left in 1Q. pic.twitter.com/ACenOR5Ogb
— Kevin Devaney Jr. (@KDJmedia1) December 5, 2025
– Rye takes the opening kickoff back to their own 46 and we are underway.
– Brighton won the toss and deferred. Rye will receive to start the NYSPHSAA Class A championship game.
PREGAME
– Game looks like it’ll kick at about 6:10 p.m.
– As noted below, Section V as a whole hasn’t won a state football championship in any class since 2018. The Rochester-area section will have this chance and then Monroe High School in Class B on Saturday.
– Don’t have to worry about the frigid New York winter outside when you’re indoors.
From the JMA Wireless Dome.
Brighton takes on Rye in the NYSPHSAA Class A final in about an hour. Bruins looking to make history. Section V hasn’t won a state championship in football since 2018! @brightonbruins @SecVFootball pic.twitter.com/4sBBv9uQnl
— Ian Mills (@IanMillsTV) December 5, 2025
– Head coach Dino Garr from Rye is the winningest coach in state history, having won his record-breaking 365th game in September.
