FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 3 PICKS — LOOKS LIKE AOTHER BIG WEEKEND FOR VALLEY TEAMS (2022-09-09)

The high school football season rolls on with all three Valley teams on the road in Week 3 (Week 1 in N.Y. — Week 2 in Pa.)

Waverly makes the short trip East to the Tioga County seat to take on Owego tonight, while Athens travels to Wyalusing. On Saturday, Tioga is on the road to face arch-rival Newark Valley.

I had a strong start to the pigskin prognostication season with a 9-1 mark — only Troy’s win over Montoursville kept me from perfection, while my counterparts struggled with the Little Red and The Mick at 6-4, and Country Bob at 5-5.

FRIDAY
Waverly (1-0) at Owego (0-1), 7 p.m.: The Wolverines are coming off a 31-13 win over Section IX Chester Saturday night, while the Indians dropped a 28-7 decision to Section IX Burke Catholic.

Waverly’s offense appears a bit more balanced this season after running for 250 yards, and throwing for just 111 last week.

Owego threw the ball effectively in its first outing with with sophomore QB Elijah Lewis completing 9 of 14 passes for 111 yards, but struggled to run the ball.

Prediction: The Indians gave up 275 yards on the ground last week, and that doesn’t bode well for tonight. … Both teams are young, but Waverly’s youth has a lot of experience. … I think you’ll see junior QB Joey Tomasso bounce back from an uncharacteristic three-interception performance. … WAVERLY 34, OWEGO 6. … Little Red: Waverly 41, Owego 6; Country Bob: Waverly 48, Owego 6; The Mick: Waverly 31, Owego 7.

Athens (1-1) at Wyalusing (1-1), 7 p.m.: The Wildcats are coming off a 48-0 home win over Cowanesque Valley in Week 2, while the Rams blanked Section IV’s SVEC, 14-0.

Athens clicked on all cylinders last week against a young CV team, while Wyalusing’s defense stymied a young SVEC team, and took advantage of a couple scoring chances.

Wyalusing lost quite a bit to graduation, and are also without senior QB Blake Morningstar, who is concentrating on baseball.

Prediction: The Wildcats have big-play capabilities, and I think you’ll see some of that tonight, with senior wideout Lucas Horton, and sophomore Xavier Watson the top candidates. … ATHENS 40, WYALUSING 6. … Little Red: Athens 35, Wyalusing 14; Country Bob: Athens 34, Wyalusing 7; The Mick: Athens 54, Wyalusing 6.

SATURDAY
Tioga at Newark Valley, 1:30 p.m.: The Tigers are coming off a 48-20 win over Section IX Marlboro, while the Cardinals open the 2022 campaign.

Tioga showed it’s once again an offense to fear with 370 yards in total offense, including 276 yards on the ground.

The Tiger defense limited Marlboro to 152 yards in offense, including just 23 on the ground.

Newark Valley, up to Class C this year, graduated a boatload of seniors, including two-way standout Mikey Wandell, but returns Landon Spoonhower at tailback, and speedy Joey Sherwood, who will move from wideout to QB.

Prediction: Newark Valley lost to Tioga twice last year — 46-15 in the regular season, and 48-20 in the Section IV, Class D championship game — but the scores were a bit misleading. I expect a similar outcome today. … TIOGA 41, NEWARK VALLEY 12. … Little Red: Tioga 28, Newark Valley 6; Country Bob: Tioga 21, Newark Valley 14; The Mick: Tioga 38, Newark Valley 14.

OTHER GAMES OF INTEREST
Susquehanna Valley at SVEC (0-1), 7 p.m.: The Class D Eagles dropped a 14-0 decision at Wyalusing in Week Zero, while the Class C Sabers will be opening up the season tonight.

Prediction: SVEC is young and inexperienced, and lost to a Wyalusing team that may struggle to top last year’s 2-8 mark. … SUS. VALLEY 48, SVEC 0. … Little Red: Sus. Valley 34, SVEC 0;  Country Bob: SV 28, SVEC 13; The Mick: SV 40, SVEC 7.

Troy (2-0) at North Penn-Mansfield (0-2), 7 p.m.: The Trojans are coming off an impressive 28-7 win over Montoursville, while NP-M was throttled, 53-0, by Canton.

Prediction: This is a mismatch on paper, and it will be on the field as well. … TROY 52, NP-M 6. … Little Red: Troy 42, NP-M 0;  Country Bob: Troy 45, NP-M 12; The Mick: Troy 36, NP-M 7.

Towanda (1-1) at Northwest Area (2-0), 7 p.m.: The Black Knights are coming off a tough 21-7 loss to Milton, while the Rangers rolled to a 62-14 win at CMVT.

Prediction: Northwest Area is averaging 56.5 points per game, but it was against CV and CMVT, while Towanda has played better competition. … TOWANDA 22, NORTHWEST AREA 13. … Little Red: Northwest 27, Towanda 14;  Country Bob: Northwest Area 35, Towanda 13; The Mick: Northwest 33, Towanda 12.

Montgomery (0-2) at Cowanesque Valley (0-2), 7 p.m.: The Red Raiders are coming off a coming off a 59-14 home loss to South Williamsport, while the Indians were blanked, 48-0, at Athens.

Prediction: Montgomery has been outscored 101-14 in its two losses, while CV has been outscored 99-19. … This is “moveable object” against the “resistible force.” … COWANESQUE VALLEY 20, MONTGOMERY 16. … Montgomery 28, CV 0; Little Red: Montgomery 28, CV 0; Country Bob: Montgomery 28, CV 6; The Mick: Montgomery 7, CV 6.

Wellsboro (0-2) at Canton (2-0), 7 p.m.: The Hornets dropped a 30-22 decision to Muncy last week, while the Warriors steamrolled North Penn-Mansfield, 53-0.

Prediction: Wellsboro has lost a pair of close decisions to a pair of good teams in Montoursville and Muncy. … Canton is on another level. … CANTON 36, WELLSBORO 6. … Little Red: Canton 34, Welsboro 7; Country Bob: Canton 45, Wellsboro 7; The Mick: Canton 45, Wellsboro 13.

Newburgh at Corning, 7 p.m.: The Hawks open the 2022 campaign tonight against a Newburgh squad that dropped a 15-7 decision to New Rochelle in Week Zero.

Prediction: Newburgh has a game under its belt, but may be without 6-8 wideout and Rutger commit Deondre Johnson, who missed last week’s game. … Corning graduated the majority of its hosses up front, and lost defensive standout Will Kibler to a season-ending injury. … NEWBURGH 20, CORNING 13. … Little Red: Newburgh 34, Corning 21; Country Bob: Corning 42, Newburgh 14; The Mick: Newburgh 22, Corning 6.


Prediction: Elmira always has the athletes … Ithaca, down to Class A, could be a little better than it has been. … ELMIRA 26, ITHACA 20. … Little Red: Elmira 28, Ithaca 6;  Country Bob: Elmira 36, Ithaca 14; The Mick: Elmira 54, Ithaca 0.