SECTION IV FOOTBALL: TIOGA LOCKS UP TOP SEED IN CLASS D PLAYOFFS WITH 61-8 ROMP OVER B-G (22 PHOTOS) (2021-10-22)
Valley Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER - State-ranked Tioga had eight different players score touchdowns, and locked up the top seed in the upcoming Section IV, Class D playoffs with a 61-8 rout of Bainbridge-Guilford here Friday night in Section IV, Division VI football action at Haggerty Field.
The Tigers, ranked No. 1 in the state, improve to 7-0 with the Senior Night win.
"This is a really special group," said Tioga coach Nick Aiello. "These guys were sophomores the last time we made a playoff run, and they didn't get a shot to follow that up after the shortened season in the spring.
"Despite all of that, they worked hard through the summer, and right through until now," added Aiello. "They've worked so hard, and they deserve everything they get this season."
Aiello said the Tigers are in "playoff mode" now that they've locked up the No. 1 seed.
"The guys knew that with a win tonight, we locked up the number one seed, so from here on out. we're taking the mentality of getting playoff ready," said Aiello. "Now, it's all about going 1-0 each week, and it's important for us to get better each week."
Sophomore Caden Bellis led the Tioga offense, completing 4 of 7 passes for 137 yards and three TDs - all in the first half. In the last two games, Bellis has completed 9 of 13 passes for 310 yards and eight TDs - all in the first half.
The Tigers amassed 411 yards in total offense, with all but 81 yards coming in the first half. They rushed for 274 yards on 25 carries.
Senior tailback Emmett Wood led a balanced ground game with 68 yards on four carries, while senior Gavin Godfrey rushed for 60 yards and one TD on six carries, Bellis had 55 yards and one TD on four carries, sophomore Drew Macumber ripped off a 50-yard TD on his only carry in the contest, and senior Isaac Peterson ran for 11 yards on his only touch.
Tioga took an early 7-0 lead when Bellis connected with senior Cobe Whitmore on a 5-yard scoring pass, and sophomore Gavin Fisher made the PAT kick.
Bellis added a 20-yard TD scamper later in the quarter to give the Tigers a 14-0 lead.
Tioga blew the game wide-open with five TDs in the second quarter.
Peterson made it 21-0 with an 11-yard TD run, and Godfrey added a 41-yard scoring run to make it 27-0.
Godfrey, the only Tiger to score two TDs in the win, scored on a 60-yard TD pass midway through the second quarter, and moments later Wood scored on a 35-yard return of an interception to make it 41-0.
Senior Logan Roberts hauled in a 19-yard TD pass from Bellis in the final minute of the first half to give the Tigers a 47-0 lead at the intermission.
Macumber scored on his 50-yard TD run early in the third quarter, and sophomore Ousmane Duncanson capped the scoring with a interception return of 27 yards for a TD.
The Bobcats avoided the shutout with a 50-yard TD pass from Nolan Hawkins to Declyn Marshfield. Dominick Johnson added the conversion run.
The Tiger defense held B-G to 121 yards in total offense, including 11 rushing yards on 21 carries.
Hawkins completed 9 of 26 passes for 110 yards, one TD, and two interceptions. Marshfield led B-G with three receptions for 81 yards.
Tioga wraps up the regular season next Saturday at Deposit-Hancock.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Gavin Godfrey. ... PHOTOS COURTESY OF CRISTINA ROSSI.
