Cayuga Health Simmons-RockwellTioga State Bank Dandy Mini Marts Valley Sports ReportGUTHRIE SPORTS MED Gannon Associates Williams Auto GroupI-R FCU




Knolles.gifcoachesPizza.jpgWSC.jpgSmithBrothers.jpgBodineMotor.jpgBX.jpg
SECTION IV FOOTBALL: TWO-TIME DEFENDING CHAMP TIOGA OPENS CLASS D PLAYOFFS AGAINST DELHI (2019-11-01)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
JOHNSON CITY - Unbeaten Tioga, ranked atop the Class D polls in New York State, opens its defense of back-to-back Section IV, Class D titles Saturday afternoon against state-ranked Delhi here at Johnson City High School. Kickoff is 3 p.m.

The Tigers, 8-0, have won seven of the last eight Section IV, Class D titles, and are 20-2 in the postseason in Nick AIello's first nine years on the Tioga sidelines.

Tioga and Sidney have met just once in the Aiello's tenure, with the Tigers rolling to a 33-0 win during the 2017 regular season.

Their last postseason meeting was in 2009 - Jeremy Pichany's final year as coach at Tioga. Sidney won 20-3 in the Class D semifinals.

Aiello believes this team is ready for the postseason, and is determined to keep Tioga's postseason tradition alive.

"After eight weeks of the regular season, the season can feel like it's pretty long.

"Walking into practice this week, I feel like this team is refreshed," said Aiello. "It's a new season to them, and they're approaching it with the idea the championship is on the line.

"These kids, and it's not just in football, have experienced those championship stages," noted Aiello. "I think their minds are going to be right, they understand how to approach it, they understand how big games can be highs and lows and you need a short memory, and they know when the opportunities present themselves, they have to take advantage of them.

"Those are all things we talk about, but they're also things I've seen these kids go through already. I think they will be ready," added Aiello.

Tioga nearly always enjoys an advantage in postseason experience, and may again this year, but a number of talented sophomores will be playing in their first playoff game Saturday.

"It's a little concerning," said Aiello. "For a lot of our younger guys, this will their first postseason experience. That's where we look to our senior leadership.

"And as a coach, you have to be aware and not put too much on those kids, keep it simple for them so they can go out there and perform," he added. "It's a matter of getting them mentally-tough throughout the week so they can get out there, get focused, and play some football."

Delhi, 6-2 and ranked 12th in the state, is riding a three-game win streak, and is averaging 46 points per game in those three games. On the season, the Bulldogs average 42.3 points per game.

"They run a whole mess of formations," said Aiello. "It's going to be a very important week in terms of alignment and assignment.

"They have some really good speed they look to utilize, especially on jet sweeps and in the passing game," noted Aiello. "At the same time, they'll try to line up under center and power it right at you. It's quite a mix.

"It's going to be an important week of preparation and film work," he added. "We'll need to make sure guys recognize quickly and get aligned, then from there fly to the football. We'll definitely have our hands full."

The Bulldogs allowed 24.4 points per game this season, but allowed 73 points in its losses to Walton and Greene - the only two teams they played with a winning record this season.

""(Delhi) runs a 4-3 base, but they will bring some extra guys into the box," said Aiello. "They have some big bodies up front and some linebackers who really flow downhill well. They also have good speed in the secondary.

"The defense fits their personnel well.

"Like every week, we'll have to be prepared for something new they're looking to throw at us. We're just going to have to execute," added Aiello.

The Tigers enter the contest averaging more than 300 yards per game on the ground, led by sophomore tailback Emmett Wood, who has rushed for 1,342 yards and 23 TDs on 130 carries, and senior QB Brady Worthing, who had 547 yards and four TDs on 50 carries.

Worthing has also completed 50 percent (34 of 68) of his passes for 503 yards and seven TDs, while being intercepted just once. Senior wideout Mason Booser, who returns to action Saturday after missing the last two games, leads the team with 10 catches for 171 yards and two TDs.

The Tigers also have four TDs on special teams, with Wood returning three kickoffs for scores - all in the last four game, and Booser returning one.

"Our approach to special teams is no different than the other phases of the game. We treat it equally," said Aiello. "The kids need to know their assignment, and understand if you execute good things can happen.

"It's an approach we take, and we take a lot of pride win being sharp in that phase of the game.

"A lot of it comes from coaching experience, understanding that in big games a lot of times it's the  field position you get out of special teams," added Aiello. "Or, if you can get a big block, or a big return it can be a real boost of adrenaline for your team."

"”"”"”"”"”"”

IN PHOTO: Tioga's Emmett Wood.

You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE