FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 10 PICKS — VALLEY TEAMS GUARANTEED ONE LOSS THIS WEEK (2022-10-28)

It’s rivalry week in Pa., but as we all know the Rusty Rail is on hiatus for at least this year. In New York, making rivalries a priority at the end of the season was thrown out the window years ago by Section IV.

And while it’s not a rivalry, a last-minute change has a pair of Valley teams squaring off for the first-time ever as Athens hosts Tioga at Alumni Stadium.

Give both programs props for making this game happen on Tuesday after Deposit-Hancock pulled out of its scheduled game at Tioga.

Last week was a good one for three of our four prognosticators. I had a perfect 10-0 mark, while Little Red and The Mick were 9-1, and Country Bob was 7-3. On the season, I have a 70-10 mark, while Little Red is 68-12, Country Bob is 63-17, and The Mick is 62-18.

So what do our pigskin pickers think this week has in store for us? Let’s take the plunge and see:

Tioga (8-0) at Athens (6-3): The Tigers are coming off a 28-21 home win over Delhi, while the Wildcats notched a 17-10 home win over Central Columbia.

A last-minute addition to the schedule, this game pits New York State’s top-ranked Class D team, against a PIAA, Class 3A team ranked fourth in District 4. Athens has an enrollment that is approximately 2.3 times bigger than Tioga.

In terms of football, those numbers are just that — numbers. Tioga has a big and talented line, a talented QB, and a boatload of skill players. Athens’ line has improved as the season has progressed; it also has a talented QB, and a boatload of skill players.

Prediction: I’ve been a bit like a broken record this year, but I’ll say it again: If Athens can protect QB Mason Lister, they have a chance to win this game. … The Wildcat defense did a great job in holding Canton to 21 points, but Tioga’s offense is multi-dimensional. This should be a very fun game to watch. … TIOGA 26, ATHENS 21.
Little Red: Tioga 28, Athens 14; … The Mick: Tioga 28, Athens 21; … Country Bob: Tioga 35, Athens 21.

Waverly (7-1) at Norwich (6-2):  The Wolverines are coming off a 49-14 rout at Chenango Valley, while the Purple Tornadoes won a 23-20 come-from-behind decision at Owego.

If you look at the offensive numbers, these two teams are virtually identical, except that Norwich has more production in the run game than the passing game, while Waverly throws for more yardage than it runs.

The difference tonight could be Waverly’s defense, which has been a bit stingier than Norwich’s against a better schedule.

Prediction: This is a very good Waverly team. I don’t think it gets caught looking ahead to the postseason. … WAVERLY 34, NORWICH 13.
Little Red: Waverly 42, Norwich 14; … The Mick: Waverly 24, Norwich 14; … Country Bob: Waverly 40, Norwich 21.

Canton (8-1) at Troy (8-1):  The Warriors are coming off a 23-0 loss to state-ranked Jersey Shore, while Troy lost a 36-35 heartbreaker to state-ranked Loyalsock.

Both teams have dominating ground games, and the pass game isn’t much of a factor for either team. While it’s nearly always the case, it’s especially true tonight, whichever team wins the battle in the trenches, wins the game.

Prediction: Canton is widely considered the best team in the region, but I think this Troy team will give the Warriors all they want. … CANTON 26, TROY 22.
Little Red: Canton 27, Troy 14; The Mick: Troy 17, Canton 14; … Country Bob: Canton 35, Troy 14.

Wyalusing at Towanda: The Rams dropped a 20-14 decision at home to North Penn-Mansfield last week, while the Black Knights rolled to a 34-0 road win at Tunkhannock.

Prediction: Towanda’s Riley Vanderpool is the difference-maker tonight. … TOWANDA 34, WYALUSING 6.
Little Red: Towanda 35, Wyalusing 14; … The Mick: Towanda 35, Wyalusing 7; … Country Bob: Towanda 40, Wyalusing 6.

Chenango Forks (7-1) at Owego (2-6): The Blue Devils barely escaped with a 12-7 home win over Newark Valley last week, while the Indians dropped a 23-20 decision at home to Norwich.

Prediction: Forks isn’t quite what it has been, which is dominant and untouchable, but the improving Owego squad still isn’t ready for them. … FORKS 34, OWEGO 7.
Little Red: Forks 35, Owego 7; … The Mick: Forks 44, Owego 14; … Country Bob: Forks 56, Owego 0.

North Penn-Mansfield (2-7) at Wellsboro (1-8): The Hornets are coming off a 35-7 loss at Bald Eagle Area, while the Tigers topped Wyalusing, 20-14.

Prediction: A few years ago these were both playoff teams. This year, they’re playing for pride. … WELLSBORO 28, NORTH PENN 14.
Little Red: Wellsboro 28, North Penn 7; … The Mick: Wellsboro 36, North Penn 12; … Country Bob: Wellsboro 21, North Penn 13.

Corning (4-3) at Ithaca (1-7): The Hawks are coming off a 20-7 win over Horseheads, while the Little Red dropped a 38-0 decision at Binghamton.

Prediction: Corning should have its way with Ithaca this week. … CORNING 52, ITHACA 0.
Little Red: Corning 55, Ithaca 0; … The Mick: Corning 64, Ithaca 0; … Country Bob: Corning 56, Ithaca 0.

Horseheads (4-3) at Elmira (5-2): The Blue Raiders are coming off a 20-7 home loss to Corning, while the Express rolled to a 31-16 win at Fayetteville-Manlius.

Prediction: Horseheads has beaten the teams it’s suppose to beat this season, while Elmira has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the region this fall. … ELMIRA 36, HORSEHEADS 14.
Little Red: Elmira 35, Horseheads 21; … The Mick: Elmira 28, Horseheads 7; … Country Bob: Elmira 45, Horseheads 6.

SATURDAY
Windsor (3-4) at Newark Valley (2-5): The Black Knights are coming off a 33-16 win over Section IX’s Burke Catholic, while the Cardinals lost a 12-7 heartbreaker at Chenango Forks.

Prediction: Despite a few injuries, the Cardinals are big, physical, and dangerous. … NEWARK VALLEY 20, WINDSOR 13.
Little Red: Newark Valley 28, Windsor 14; … The Mick: Newark Valley 24, Windsor 16; … Country Bob: Newark Valley 35, Windsor 14.

Delhi (6-1) at Walton (6-1):  The Bulldogs are coming off a 28-21 loss at Tioga, while the Warriors rolled over B-G, 44-7.

Prediction: Both teams have just one loss — both to Tioga. Delhi was competitive against the unbeaten Tigers; Walton was not. … DELHI 35, WALTON 13.
Little Red: Delhi 35, Walton 14; … The Mick: Delhi 19, Walton 16; Country Bob: … Delhi 28, Walton 20.