ON TAP TODAY: SATURDAY IS A DAY FOR SOCCER (2020-09-19)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Saturday’s slate of action is comprised solely of soccer action, including a pair of home games. ...more

(UPDATED) ATHENS-CANTON FOOTBALL GAME POSTPONED DUE TO POSSIBLE COVID-19 EXPOSURE (2020-09-18)
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The Athens-Canton football game scheduled for tonight has been postponed due to the possibility of Covid-19 exposure.
...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 2 PICKS — THOUGHTS ON WEEK 1, AND MORE (2020-09-18)
The high school football season rolls on, and in this crazy semblance of a season, Sayre has a bye, leaving Athens as the only Valley team in action in Week 2.
...more

ON TAP TODAY: ATHENS FOOTBALL HITS ROAD FOR CANTON IN WEEK 2 (2020-09-18)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Athens opened the season with a 10-7 win over defending NTL Small School champion Sayre last Friday. Tonight, the Wildcats face the preseason pick to be the best team in the NTL this season — Canton. ...more

NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS BOUNCES BACK; SWEEPS COW. VALLEY (21 PHOTOS) (2020-09-17)
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens bounced back from a season-opening loss at Canton Tuesday, with a 3-0 sweep of Cowanesque Valley here Thursday night in NTL volleyball action.
...more

NTL BOYS SOCCER: ATHENS SCORES PAIR OF LATE GOALS; EDGES SAYRE, 2-0 (24 PHOTOS) (2020-09-17)
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — After nearly 78 minutes of scoreless action, Athens scored twice in less than six minutes to pull out a 2-0 win over crosstown rival Sayre here Thursday afternoon in NTL boys soccer action. ...more

ON TAP TODAY: ATHENS-SAYRE BOYS SOCCER MATCH-UP TOP THURSDAY'S SLATE (2020-09-17)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Another day, another Sayre-Athens match-up, this time the six-time defending NTL champion Wildcat boys host the Redskins on the soccer pitch at Alumni Stadium. ...more

NTL GIRLS SOCCER: SAYRE EDGES NEB, 4-3, FOR FIRST WIN OF SEASON (2020-09-16)
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Sayre had just four shots-on-goal, but all of them found the back of the net in a 4-3 win over Northeast Bradford here Wednesday afternoon in NTL girls soccer action at the Lockhart Street Bowl. ...more

NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ATHENS, WELLSBORO BATTLE TO 1-1 TIE (2020-09-16)
Valley Sports Report
WELLSBORO — Athens controlled the majority of the action Wednesday afternoon, but had to settle for a 1-1 double-overtime tie with Wellsboro in NTL girls soccer action.
...more

ON TAP TODAY: ATHENS-WELLSBORO GIRLS MATCH-UP HIGHLIGHTS LIGHT SLATE (2020-09-16)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — The Athens and Wellsboro girls square off this afternoon in an early-season NTL girls soccer showdown that highlights a light schedule. ...more

NTL BOYS SOCCER: ATHENS PULLS OUT, 2-0, WIN OVER TROY IN SEASON OPENER (24 PHOTOS) (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
EAST TROY — It wasn’t easy, but six-time defending NTL champion Athens pulled out a 2-0 season-opening win over Troy here Tuesday afternoon in NTL boys soccer action. ...more

NTL BOYS SOCCER: VanBENTHUYSEN, HUGHEY NET HAT TRICKS TO LEAD SAYRE IN WIN OVER TOWANDA (24 PHOTOS) (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Senior Cody VanBenthhuysen and junior Mason Hughey each registered hat tricks to lead Sayre to an 8-3 season-opening win over Towanda here Tuesday evening in NTL boys soccer action at the Lockhart Street Bowl. ...more

NTL CROSS COUNTRY: ATHENS BOYS, GIRLS NOTCH WINS OVER TOWANDA IN SEASON-OPENER (17 PHOTOS) (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
TOWANDA — The Athens boys went 1-2-3 as they, and the Lady 'Cats, defeated Towanda here Tuesday in NTL cross country action.
...more

NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS DROPS SEASON-OPENER AT CANTON, 3-1 (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
CANTON — Defending Small School champion Canton handed Athens a season-opening, 3-1, loss here Tuesday night in NTL volleyball action. ...more

NTL GOLF: SAYRE DUO SHOOTS SEASON-BEST ROUNDS; ATHENS FINISHES FOURTH (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
WESTFIELD, Pa. — Sayre juniors Kannon VanDuzer and Dylan Seck each shot season-best rounds, and Athens had a season-best finish here Tuesday afternoon in NTL golf action at the River Valley Golf Course.
...more

NTL CROSS COUNTRY: SAYRE'S CLAYPOOL EARNS WIN IN FIRST MEET OF SEASON (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
WYALUSING — Coming off two major knee surgeries in the last three years, senior Carrie Claypool opened the 2020 season with a win here Tuesday afternoon in a double-dual NTL cross country meet. ...more

NTL VOLLEYBALL: EXPECTATIONS HIGH FOR ATHENS IN 2020 (2020-09-15)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — In her first two seasons as Athens volleyball head coach, Heather Hanson has directed the Lady Wildcats back into the postseason for the first time in a decade, and won a District 4 playoff match for the first time in 15 years. She believes 2020 could even better. ...more

NTL BOYS SOCCER: SAYRE'S HUGHEY HOPING REDSKINS CAN KEEP PROGRAM ON UPWARD TRAJECTORY (14 PHOTOS) (2020-09-15)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Second-year coach Greg Hughey is hoping a trio of talented players, an infusion of youth, and improved play of young veterans will keep the Sayre boys soccer program on an upward trajectory in 2020. ...more

NTL BOYS SOCCER: WILDCATS READY TO OVERCOME HUGE GRADUATION LOSSES IN 2020 (14 PHOTOS) (2020-09-15)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — All high school programs deal with graduation losses on a yearly basis — it’s the nature of the beast, but Athens boys soccer coach Jake Lezak has been dealing with the loss of 12 seniors, including several four-year starters, in preparation for the 2020 season. ...more

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: ATHENS' YOUNG HOPING RUSTY RAIL WIN WILL SPARK CONFIDENCE IN YOUNG WILDCATS (2020-09-15)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Coming off a 1-10 season, longtime Athens football coach Jack Young is hoping Friday’s win over arch-rival Sayre in the annual renewal of the Rusty Rail game will spark some confidence in the young Wildcat team. ...more

ON TAP: BOYS SOCCER, CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS OPEN 2020 (2020-09-15)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Tuesday marks the busiest day of the young fall season, with six events, including two boys soccer matches, and two cross country meets.
...more

NTL JV FOOTBALL: ATHENS RALLIES TO TOP SAYRE, 14-8 (24 PHOTOS) (2020-09-14)
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Jaden Wright broke loose on a long TD run in the fourth quarter here Monday evening to lift Athens to a 14-8 win over Sayre in NTL junior varsity football action at the Lockhart Street Bowl. ...more

NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ROE, BLACKMAN LEAD ATHENS TO 5-0 SEASON-OPENING WIN OVER SAYRE (24 PHOTOS) (2020-09-14)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens seniors Emma Roe and Hannah Blackman made sure “Senior Night” would be one to remember for the Lady Wildcats as they combined for five goals in a 5-0 season-opening win over arch-rival Sayre here Monday evening in NTL girls soccer action at Alumni Stadium. ...more

MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK: SAYRE'S GORMAN HOPES LOSS TO ATHENS SERVES AS MOTIVATION FOR REST OF 2020 (2020-09-14)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Sayre coach Kevin Gorman believes his team played well enough to win Friday night in its 10-7 loss to Athens in the annual renewal of the Rusty Rail rivalry, and hopes the season-opening loss serves as motivation for the remainder of the season. ...more

NTL GIRLS SOCCER: PITTS BELIEVES ATHENS WILL COMPETE FOR NTL TITLE DESPITE 'BIT OF RE-BUILD' IN 2020 (2020-09-14)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The Lady Wildcats are two-time defending District 4 champs, and have won eight straight NTL titles, but the 2020 version of the Athens girls soccer team looks a little different than in years past. ...more

NTL GIRLS SOCCER: MENNIG HOPING INFLUX OF YOUTH HELPS LADY REDSKINS BACK TO POSTSEASON (2020-09-14)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Sayre girls soccer coach Tracy Mennig is hoping improved depth, and an influx of talent from the junior high team will lead to a return to the postseason in 2020. ...more

ON TAP TODAY: GIRLS SOCCER SEASON OPENS WITH SAYRE-ATHENS RIVALRY (2020-09-14)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — The girls soccer season opens this afternoon with the two-time defending District 4 champion Athens Lady Wildcats hosting crosstown rivals Sayre in the only varsity event of the day in the Valley. ...more

STAC CANCELS SPORTS FOR REMAINDER OF 2020 — IAC HEDGES ON START DATE OF WINTER SEASON (2020-09-13)
Valley Sports Report
The hits keep coming for student-athletes in New York State.

On Sunday, the Southern Tier Athletic Conference canceled all sports for the remainder of the calendar year. ...more

THE WEEK AHEAD: SAYRE-ATHENS SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL MATCH-UPS HIGHLIGHT FIRST FULL WEEK (2020-09-13)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — The first full week of the 2020 fall season is a busy one, despite having sports on just one side of the border. ...more

IAC PUSHES FALL SPORTS SEASON TO MARCH 1 — WINTER SPORTS STILL SET TO START NOV. 30 (2020-09-12)
Valley Sports Report
ITHACA — IAC officials confirmed Saturday that the start of the 2020 fall sports season has been moved to March 1, 2021, but stated, contrary to erroneous reports Friday night, the winter sports season is still slated to begin Nov. 30. ...more

NTL FOOTBALL: LATE FIELD GOAL LIFTS ATHENS TO 10-7 WIN OVER SAYRE IN RUSTY RAIL RIVALRY GAME (24 PHOTOS) (2020-09-11)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Hobbled by leg cramps for most of the second half, junior Shayne Reid split the uprights on a 27-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to lift Athens to a 10-7 win over Sayre here at Alumni Stadium Friday night in the annual Rusty Rail rivalry game.
...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 1 — RIVALRY GAMES KICK OFF SEASON (2020-09-11)
The 2020 season is upon us, and it’s nothing like we’ve seen before.

The NTL schedules are a mishmash in an abbreviated season, but it’s better than nothing, which is exactly what New York State is providing its student-athletes, having postponed the football season until March. ...more

NTL FOOTBALL: 'RUSY RAIL' FOES ATHENS, SAYRE RENEW RIVALRY FOR 120TH TIME (2020-09-11)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — For the first time since 1980, Athens and Sayre will open the season against each other here Friday night at Alumni Stadium. ...more

NTL FOOTBALL: GORMAN HOPING EXPERIENCED LINE CAN CARRY REDSKINS TO SUCCESS IN 2020 (2020-09-11)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
SAYRE — Sayre graduated its best running back, and three top receivers, then lost junior QB Brayden Horton last weekend in its scrimmage at Canton, but third-year coach Kevin Gorman is hopeful an experienced group of linemen will help the Redskins continue their winning ways in 2020.
...more

NTL FOOTBALL: YOUNG, WILDCATS SEEK TURN-AROUND IN 2020 (2020-09-10)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The Athens Wildcats are coming off one of the roughest seasons in program history, but veteran coach Jack Young is hoping a wealth of young, talented athletes with another year’s experience under their belts, and a trio of new additions to his coaching staff will help turn things around in 2020. ...more