FROM THE PRESS BOX: A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2022 FOOTBALL SEASON (2021-12-04)

It was quite a season of high school football in the Valley.

Tioga won 12 in a row in dominant fashion to win its second New York State Class D title since 2015, Waverly won its first 10 games - the first time in program history - before falling to eventual state champion Chenango Forks in the Section IV, Class C championship game, and Athens and Sayre both qualified for the District 4 playoffs.

So what does 2022 have in store for the four Valley football teams?

Well, I've dusted off the crystal ball, and while it's a bit cloudy with the start of the season still 9 1/2 months away, I can see one Section IV title, and possibly two, and two more postseason appearances South of the Border.

Athens Wildcats: The Wildcats lose a strong senior class, including two-way starters Karter Rude, Shayne Reid, Dylan Harford, Troy Jennings and Troy Pritchard, as well as Jared Peterson and J.J. Babcock, from a 6-5 team

They return QB Mason Lister and tailback / D-back Caleb Nichols, and tailback / D-back Jaden Wright for their senior years, but they'll need a lot of young players to step up in 2022.

Athens has some candidates to step up and fill some holes, namely Kolsen Keathley in the backfield and Xavier Watson at wide receiver, as well as Jack Cheresnowsky at linebacker / tight end, Josh Martin at linebacker, and Josh NIttinger and Caleb Nason in the trenches.

Prediction: Jack Young and his staff have a lot of work to do. They have a lot of quality pieces to start with, but they have a lot of positions to fill and mot many experienced players to choose from. With eight teams qualifying for the postseason in Class AAA, they are a shoo-in for the playoffs, but a winning record could be a challenge. ... 2022 Record: 5-6 with a loss in Class AAA quarterfinals.

Sayre Redskins: The Redskins finished at 5-6, and graduate a host of talented seniors, including QB Brayden Horton, two-way starters David Northrup, Jake Bennett, Cayden Firestine, Donovan Wynn, Nik Polzella, Josh Arnold, and Dom Fabbri.

The Redskins bring back Lucas Horton, who was their top receiver, but may have to shift to QB, and Jackson Hubbard, Glen Romberger, and Zach Garrity for their senior years, as well as junior-to-be Kaden Bennett

Sayre will have several underclassmen who saw some varsity action this season returning, and they'll be asked to step into starting roles.

Prediction: Without a JV team this season, Sayre's younger players didn't get as much playing time as normal, especially the freshman - so it was a lost year of development quite a few of the Redskins' returning players. Again, with eight teams qualifying for the postseason in Class AA, Sayre has a good shot to qualify, but it's not a sure-thing. ... 2022 record: 4-7 with a loss in the Class AA quarterfinals.

Tioga Tigers: The Tigers will lose eight key seniors in tailback Emmett Wood and his 7,363 yards and 99 TDs, Gavin Godfrey, Isaac Peterson, Justin Hopkins, Cobe Whitmore, and three two-way linemen in Chris Walsh, Josh Snell and Matt Watson.

But don't feel bad for the reigning Class D state champions because the cupboard is far from bare.

Caden Bellis will return at QB, along with two of his top receivers in Evan Sickler and Valentino Rossi. Ousmane Duncanson and Drew Macumber both enjoyed some success in the backfield this season, and will likely get the majority of carries next year.

Tate Macauley and Karson Sindoni will anchor the line, but it will need to be re-stocked. Garrett Godfrey, who saw some action the defensive line, should slide into one starting spot, and JV grad Jackson Clark could grab one of the other spots.

Defensively, Macauley, Sindoni and Garrett Godfrey return up front, while Bellis, Duncanson and Macumber is a very good corps of linebacker, and Sickler and Rossi is a good start in the defensive backfield.

Prediction: It's hard to say what Class C opponents Section IV may throw at Tioga next season, but with Newark Valley moving back up to C that's one definite possibility. A game with Waverly or Chenango Forks is not out of the question either. ... With Newark Valley out of Class D, I don't see anyone challenging the Tigers in 2022, so a 10th Section IV title since 2011 is a good wager. ... 2022 record: 10-2 with a loss in the state semifinals.

Waverly Wolverines: I'll say this one last time: I totally under-estimated the 2021 Waverly Wolverines. I predicted a 5-5 season, and they finished at 10-1.

Waverly will lose six starters, with the toughest to replace being D.J. Shaw and Cayden Turcsik at linebacker. The duo combined for more than 200 tackles.

Joey Tomasso will return at QB, along with running back Gage Tedesco, wide receivers Jay Pipher and Isaiah Bretz, and tight end Nate DeLill.

More importantly, the Wolverines will return a trio of offensive linemen in Ty Beeman, Jake Benjamin, and Zach Vanderpool, as well as two more linemen who saw significant action at the end of the season in Cam Hills and Troy Beeman.

Prediction: The Waverly offense shouldn't have any problem scoring points, and defensive coordinator David Shaw has a proven track record of putting a solid defense on the field. ... It's difficult to project schedules for Section IV teams, but it's a given coach Jason Miller will find a Week Zero. I can guarantee you it won't be East Syracuse-Minoa. ... I can see Waverly winning its division and challenging Chenango Forks in the Class C title game. ... 2022 Record: 9-2 with loss to Chenango Forks in Class C finals.