FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 4 PICKS — WAVERLY, SAYRE SQUARE OFF WITH DIVISIONAL FOES (2021-09-17)

It's Week 4 of the high school football season in Pa., and Week 2 in New York.

There are several interesting games, with Waverly and Sayre both playing key divisional games. The Wolverines host Charango Valley, and with just four teams in the division, every one is a big one.

The Redskins, meanwhile, are on the road against unbeaten Small School rival Montgomery.

In the pigskin prognostication battle, all four pickers right the ship and posted winning records in Week 3, but it was Little Red that pulled away from the pack with a 10-1 record. I went 7-4, as did The Mick and Country Bob.

Little Red leads the standings at 19-5, while The Mick is 16-8, I have a 15-9 record, and Country Bob is 14-10.

(My guest prognosticators - The Mick, Country Bob, and Little Red - return this season. I've used pseudonyms to protect the innocent, but I will tell you that all three are either current or former coaches in the Valley, and all three are Valley grads.)

WEEK 4
Chenango Valley (0-1) at Waverly (2-0) @ Memorial Stadium: The Wolverines are coming off a 35-0 win over Owego, while the Warriors dropped a 35-12 decision to O-M / Watkins Glen.

Waverly is clicking on all cylinders. The offense is averaging 375 yards per game, and the defense has yet to allow a score.

Prediction: Chenango Valley has been a thorn in Waverly's side over the years, holding a 19-4-1 advantage in the rivalry. Waverly's last win over the Warriors was a 48-26 victory in the Section IV, Class B title game in 2015. ... I think this Waverly team overcomes that history tonight. ... WAVERLY 27, CHENANGO VALLEY 13.
Little Red: Waverly 35. Chenango Valley 7
The Mick: Waverly 44, Chenango Valley 7
Country Bob: Waverly 42, Chenango Valley 6

Sayre (2-1) at Montgomery (3-0), 7 p.m.: The Redskins are coming off a 63-14 win over CMVT last week, while the Red Raiders thumped Warrior Run, 46-13.

Montgomery's opponents have a combined record of 1-6, with the lone win coming against hapless CMVT, while Sayre is nearly back at full strength - missing just one starter - after a two-week battle with Covid-19.

Offensively, the Redskins have had little trouble moving the ball, with dual-threat Brayden Horton leading the way. He has thrown four TD pass, and run for six more.

Prediction: The Redskins are the best team the Red Raiders have faced this season. With a loss to Small School rival Cowanesque Valley already on the ledger, this is a must-win game for Sayre. ... SAYRE 34, MONTGOMERY 20.
Little Red: Sayre 38, Montgomery 6.
The Mick: Sayre 28, Montgomery 15
Country Bob: Sayre 38, Montgomery 6

South Williamsport (1-2) at Athens (2-1), 7 p.m. @ Alumni Stadium: The Wildcats are coming off a 35-0 win over Towanda, while the Mounties dropped a 21-7 decision at home to Canton.

Athens has displayed a much-improved defense this season. They've also scored a lot of points in their wins, but struggled against Troy's physical defense.

The Mounties have lost two in a row - to Canton and Wellsboro, but beat up on a much-improved Cowanesque Valley team.

Prediction: The Wildcats are in for a physical battle, much like they faced against Troy. If they can protect QB Mason Lister, they will be in good shape. ... ATHENS 17, SOUTH 15.
Little Red: Athens 27, South 21.
The Mick: South 21, Athens 7.
Country Bob: South 21, Athens 10.

O-M / Watkins Glen (1-0) at Tioga, (1-0), 7 p.m. @ Haggerty Field: The Tigers are coming off a 56-3 win over Sidney in Week 1, while the Seneca Indians rallied for a 35-12 win over Chenango Valley.

Tioga has a plethora of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, with senior Emmett Wood being the marquee name. However, sophomore Caden Bellis completed 5 of 6 passes for 121 yards and one TD last week. This is not you father's Tioga team.

O-M / WG is an experienced squad, led by QB Cam Holland, and two-way stud Travon Jones. The Seneca Indians like to run the football, but Holland has a strong and accurate arm.

Prediction: This could be the Tigers' toughest test of the season. I think O-M / WG keeps it close for at least a half. ... TIOGA 38, O-M / WG 20.
Little Red: Tioga 58, O-M / WG 0
The Mick: Tioga 54, O-M / WG 12
Country Bob: Tioga 52, O-M / WG 0

North Penn-Mansfield (1-2) at Troy, (2-1) 7 p.m. @ Alparon Park: The Trojans are coming off a 35-7 win over Central Columbia, while the Tigers were thumped, 50-7, by Bald Eagle Area

Prediction: Troy is big and physical, and NP-M struggled a similar team in BEA, which also beat Troy 20-0. ... TROY 35, NP-M 6.
Little Red: Troy 28, NP-M 13
The Mick: Troy 36, NP-M 6
Country Bob: Troy 28, NP-M 17

Wyalusing (1-2) at Canton (3-0), 7 p.m. @ Miller A. Moyer Field: The Warriors are coming off a 21-7 win over South Williamsport, while the Rams dropped a 42-8 decision to Muncy.

Prediction: Canton averaged 50 points in its first two games, while Wyalusing has managed just 26 points in its last two games after a 64-point outburst against hapless Montrose in Week 1. ... CANTON 48, WYALUSING 12.
Little Red: Canton 42, Wyalusing 21
The Mick: Canton 50, Wyalusing 6
Country Bob: Canton 42, Wyalusing 21

Muncy (2-1) at Cowanesque Valley (2-1), 7 p.m.: The CV Indians are coming off a 15-14 win over Northwest Area, while the Muncy Indians topped Wyalusing 42-8.

Prediction: CV has been a nice story to this point with back-to-back wins over Sayre and Northwest Area, but Muncy is an elite team. CV is not quite ready for them. ... MUNCY 41, CV 6.
Little Red: Muncy 35, CV 0
The Mick: Muncy 35, CV 12
Country Bob: Muncy 35, CV 0

Milton (3-0) at Towanda (0-3), 7 p.m. @ Endless Mountains Sports Complex: The Black Knights are coming off a 35-0 loss to Athens, while the Panthers

Prediction: Towanda has been outscored 133-9 in its three losses, while Milton has outscored its foes 122-54. Milton's opponents have a combined 1-7 record (1-10 now if you include Towanda). ... MILTON 42, TOWANDA 13.
Little Red: Milton 35, Towanda 0
The Mick: Milton 27, Towanda 0
Country Bob: Milton 35, Towanda, 0

Newark Valley at Bainbridge-Guilford, 7 p.m.: The Cardinals are coming off a wild, 42-33, home loss to Harpursville-Afton Saturday, while the ??? blanked Section III's Beaver River, 16-0, at home on Friday.

Prediction: Newark Valley may have graduated 20 seniors, but the cupboard is not bare. And, Harpursville-Afton is pretty good. ... NEWARK VALLEY 42, B-G 12.
Little Red: Newark Valley 21, B-G 0
The Mick: Newark Valley 21, B-G 16
Country Bob: Newark Valley 21, B-G 0

Owego at Johnson City, 7 p.m.: The Indians are coming off a 35-0 loss to Waverly, while the Wildcats were embarrassed in a 72-8 loss to Union-Endicott.

Prediction: I'm not sure what to think of this game. The loss at Waverly was a little closer than the final score indicates. ... OWEGO 14, JC 12.
Little Red: Owego 28, JC 7
The Mick: Owego 28, JC 12
Country Bob: JC 49, Owego 0