More than bragging rights will be involved when Walton meets Delhi this season, Sidney opens defense of its Class C state title against Oneonta, and Unadilla Valley/Edmeston is going independent.

The Section Four Football Conference released its division alignment and schedule Thursday, with Delhi’s drop from Class C to Class D among the most noteworthy changes.

Last season, Delaware County rivals Delhi and Walton played a non-division game that the host Bulldogs won, 12-6. Walton dropped in classification from C to D last fall.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]This season, both teams will play in Division VII (Class D) of the Section Four Football Conference, along with Bainbridge-Guilford.

From 1999-2001, Delhi and Walton had what was arguably the best rivalry going in Section Four boundaries. The teams met six times during those seasons, with Walton winning four games.

Both of Delhi’s victories came in Section Four Class C finals, however. The Bulldogs beat Walton, 28-18, to win the 1999 final and advanced to the state semifinals. In 2001, Delhi won, 20-6, en route to the Class C state championship.

Walton won a pair of memorable games in 2000, pulling out each victory in the final minute. The first was a 28-26 regular-season victory and the second a 14-13 win in the Class C sectional final. The Warriors advanced to the state final that year.

This season, the two meet Oct. 7 at Walton in what should be a key game in the division. Both teams appear to be division contenders. The Bulldogs are coming off an 8-2 season and return Daily Star First-Team running back Brenton Hood, who gained 1.278 yards and scored 18 touchdowns last season.

Walton, which went 6-3 last season, had 16 underclassmen on its 2005 roster, including top rusher Kirby Fletcher (654 yards).

When Sidney hosts Oneonta at 7 p.m. Sept. 1 — the opening night of play this season in Section Four — who won’t be there might be as big a story as who will be there.

The Warriors will graduate four talented seniors from last season’s state championship team, including Colgate-bound receiver Pat Simonds and Cornell-bound lineman Jordan Tuttel. Daily Star Player of the Year Aaron Zurn, who scored 39 touchdowns last season, and First-Team Daily Star quarterback Kyle Morenus also graduate in June.

Sidney, which went 12-1 last season, appears to have a difficult schedule before it begins play in Division V. The Warriors open against Class B schools Oneonta and Norwich at home, then play former Division V rivals Delhi and Walton on the road. Sidney’s lone loss last season came against Walton, 42-34, in Week 2.

The Yellowjackets will have a new head coach this season. John Nealis was not retained after compiling a 6-12 record over the past two seasons. OHS has not named a replacement for Nealis.

Unadilla Valley/Edmeston, which went 0-9 last season playing a Class B schedule in Division IV, has dropped to an independent schedule.

The Griffins, the lone team in Section Four playing an independent schedule this fall, went 8-1 as an independent two years ago. UV/E opens the season at home against Newark Valley on Sept. 2.