The Section 2 Class A football playoffs kick off this Friday with semifinal matches.
Among the four teams left in contention, two struggled during the 2025 season. The Super Bowl is scheduled for November 13 at Colonie High School.
Here’s a detailed look at the 2026 Class A playoffs.
Semifinal matchups
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No. 4 Mohonasen (5-4) takes on No. 1 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (9-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
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No. 3 Queensbury (5-4) faces No. 2 Troy (7-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Things to know
This playoffs marks Mohonasen’s first five-win season since 2005. The team has endured a streak of nine playoff losses, dating back to a 41-20 Class A semifinal defeat against Averill Park in 2005. The last eight of those losses occurred in quarterfinal games in eight-team sectionals. Historically, Mohonasen holds a 3-13 record in sectionals since 1996, including consecutive defeats in 2011 (47-6), 2012 (68-6), and 2013 (67-8) against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake had a 4-6 mark in 2025, exiting in the quarterfinals. The Spartans (9-0) last achieved a nine-win season in 2021 and are in pursuit of their first 10-win campaign since 2017. Furthermore, Troy has a 3-0 record over Queensbury in sectional semifinal matchups, and overall, the Flying Horses hold a 9-4 edge against the Spartans in all encounters. Queensbury is making its third consecutive semifinal appearance, while Troy bested the Spartans 39-16 in the 2025 semifinals.
Player to watch
The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake offensive lineup features several potent players, with junior Talon Immel standing out as a significant contributor this season at running back. Immel, who has recently committed to the University at Albany’s men’s lacrosse program and missed two games earlier in the season due to participation in the 17-and-under USA national lacrosse team, showcased his talent with a season-high 165 rushing yards and two touchdowns in a 28-6 victory over Guilderland.
How did James Allen perform?
In my preseason predictions, I accurately chose three teams: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Queensbury, and Troy. The team I underestimated, however, represents the most significant miscalculation I’ve made in 30 years of preseason football forecasting. Mohonasen not only managed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in a decade but did so with a respectable 5-4 record, earning the No. 4 seed. My estimate for Mohonasen was a dismal 0-9 finish, placing them ninth out of nine teams. Clearly, I misjudged their potential. Given that Mohonasen collectively recorded 6-23 from 2023-25, this season’s squad has far exceeded the hopes of even their staunchest fans.
Prediction time
Throughout the season, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake has emerged as the strongest team in this classification, successfully defeating all other playoff contenders during the regular season, with victories over Troy (28-14), Queensbury (42-7), and Mohonasen (42-7). They are rightfully the No. 1 seed and favorites to move on to the state playoffs; however, I am going to predict Troy as the champion this season. The Flying Horses have been without some key players in their tightest matches, and the shift of Kyair Carr back to quarterback improves the offensive strategy considerably.
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This article was first published under the title Breaking down the 2026 Section 2 Class A football playoffs.
