SECTION IV JV FOOTBALL: TIOGA RALLIES TO TOP OWEGO, 22-17 (19 PHOTOS) (2021-04-15)
Valley Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER "” Owego scored two quick TDs in the opening minutes of the game, but Tioga rallied for a 22-17 win here Wednesday night in Section IV non-league junior varsity football action.
"We made some early mistakes and fell behind, but these boys are resilient and really fought back," said Tioga coach Jordan Hathaway. "It was great to be back on Haggerty Field."
The junior Indians returned the opening kickoff for a score, then - after a defensive stop - scored again on a long run to take a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
After runs by QB Caden Bellis, Conlan Taylor, and Drew Macumber to move the ball to the Owego 30, Bellis connected on passes of 20 and 6 yards to Valentino Rossi. Bellis finished off the drive with a 4-yard TD run with 1:29 remaining in the first quarter.
Gavin Fisher's PAT kick cut the deficit to 14-7.
After an exchange of possessions, the Tioga defense forced another Owego punt, thanks to a QB sack by Karson Sindoni and Cameron Rought.
A low snap on the punt led to Tioga taking over deep in Owego territory. Moments later, Bellis connected with Evan Sickler on a 15-yard TD pass. Fisher's PAT tied the game at 14-14 with 6:41 remaining in the first half.
Owego added a 35-yard field late in the second quarter to take a 17-14 lead into the halftime locker room.
The defenses ruled the second half, but Tioga did put one scoring drive together.
Runs by Taylor, Sickler, Macumber and Bellis moved the ball to the Owego 23. Sickler then ripped of a 20-yard run on a jet sweep, and Taylor punched it in to give Tioga a 20-17 lead with 10:47 remaining in the contest.
Sickler collected an errant snap on the PAT, scrambled and found Rossi in the end zone for the 2-point conversion, extending the lead to 22-17.
After an exchange of possession, Owego fumbled a Tioga punt, and Bellis pounded on the loose ball with 27.6 seconds remaining in the game.
Tioga, now 4-0, returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Susquehanna Valley.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Caden Bellis. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRISTINA ROSSI.
