CBA - Syracuse Win 3rd Straight Class AA Title

SYRACUSE – The dynasty label is undeniable now for Syracuse Christian Brothers Academy.

          The Section 3 powerhouse put on a convincing first-half display and finished strong Saturday in defeating Saratoga Springs 41-12 for the NYSPHSAA Class AA football championship at the JMA Wireless Dome.

          Junior quarterback Gradyn Dixon threw first-half touchdown passes to Isaiah Coleman, Javon Edenfield, and Braydon Johnson to stake the state’s co-No. 1 large-school team to a 21-0 lead in front of the home crowd before Saratoga Springs fought back with a pair of second-half scores.

          The Brothers’ 41^st consecutive victory gave the program its third straight state championship and fourth in five seasons, with only one of the 2025 contests decided by fewer than 20 points. The Mike Hart-led Onondaga teams of 2001-03 registered the only other three-peat by a Section 3 program.

          CBA came out of the box strong against Saratoga Springs, ranked 11^th in Class AA by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

          An exchange of punts positioned CBA at the Blue Streaks’ 35-yard line. Dixon bobbled a third-down snap from the 29 but gathered the ball and rolled right. With two defenders stepping up from coverage to contain him, Dixon made an easy sideline throw to Coleman in stride for an unimpeded path to the end zone.

          After the next Saratoga Springs drive fizzled, Dixon directed the CBA offense through a six-play, 64-yard possession capped by his throw over the top of the secondary to Edenfield streaking to the end zone.

          Saratoga Springs responded with its first sustained drive, moving 56 yards in 6:42 before turning the ball over on downs.

          Dixon went to work again, this time starting from CBA’s 24. Still 46 yards from the goal line with just :37 remaining in the half, he completed a 21 yard pass to Edenfield over the middle and had an apparent TD pass to sophomore receiver Mekhi Mike called back by a holding call. Two plays later, the quarterback rolled to his right to buy time and found Johnson mirroring his movement at the 3-yard line. Dixon threw, and Johnson made a fingertip grab, turned left and beat a defender to the pylon.

          Saratoga Springs, which finished 11-3 with all of the setbacks coming against state-ranked opponents, came alive with a touchdown reception by Ben Coryea early in the third quarter and another by Gavin LaFrance to open the fourth quarter. But the 2-point conversion pass failed, leaving Saratoga Springs down 21-12.

But that’s where the momentum died. A CBA punt pinned Saratoga Springs down at its 12, where Bobby Morris took an 11-yard sack. The Blue Streaks had to punt, and Dixon drove the winners 45 yards to a score by Khalen Reese on a 5-yard run over left tackle.

Gallery by Emily Croisdale/WNYAthletics