FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 14 PICKS — CAN TIOGA REACH ANOTHER STATE FINAL? (2022-11-24)

Tioga is the lone team standing in the Valley after winning Friday, and advancing to its 10th New York State Class D semi-final game in 11 postseason. The Tigers will take on Section VI champ Randolph Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. at U-E High School.

The Tigers are now 10-0 in the state quarterfinals against Section III champs, but are 2-7 in semi-final games during that span. Three of those losses came to Randolph in 2012, ’13, and ’14, and the Cardinals went on to win state titles in each of those seasons.

Both of Tioga’s semi-final wins are against Section V teams.

Except for Country Bob, it was a rough week for week for our pigskin prognosticators. Country Bob was 4-1, Little Red and I were 3-2, and The Mick was 2-3.

For the season, I lead the pack at 97-14, while Little Red is 95-17, Country Bob is 89-22, and the Mick is 84-27.

Tioga may be the only Valley team still alive, but there are other Section IV and District 4 champs, and we’ll test our mettle with some of those games this week.

New York State Class D Semifinals
Tioga (12-0) vs. Randolph (11-0): The Tigers advanced to the semis with a 42-6 win over Section III champ Dolgeville Friday, while the Cardinals topped Section V champ Oakfield-Alabama-Elba, 42-26, Monday.

Randolph features a tailback — Xander Hind — that has numbers reminiscent of Tioga all-time greats Emmett Wood and Jesse Manuel. Hind has run for 2,331 yards and 30 TDs this season.

The Cardinals will look to use its punishing ground game to shorten the game, and keep the ball away from Tioga’s offense.

Tioga’s offense has been much more balanced than Randolph’s this season, and actually threw for more yards than it ran for last week for the first time this season. It has the ability to score very quickly through the air, but its running game, namely junior tailback Drew Macumber, has improved in recent weeks.

Both defense have been stingy, allowing about 10 points per game this season.

Prediction: Last fall, following Tioga’s state title run, I picked them to reach the semifinals, and lose to Randolph. I’m not as sure about that pick as I was when I made it, but this is the best team the Tigers have seen since its loss to CSP in the 2019 state semifinals. … I’ve said the only team that could beat this Tioga squad is a team with a physical line, a workhorse running back, and the willingness to be patient on offense and pound the ball between the tackles. Randolph fits the bill. …RANDOLPH 30, TIOGA 28.
Little Red: Randolph 26, Tioga 22; The Mick: Randolph 28, Tioga 22; … Country Bob: Tioga 21, Randolph 20.

PIAA Class A Opening-round game
Canton (12-1) vs. Northern Cambria (10-3): The Warriors advanced with a 42-7 win over Muncy in the District 4 title game, while the Colts advanced with a 12-6 win over Penns Manor.

Prediction: The inability to throw the ball will catch up to Canton at some point, but I don’t think it’s this week. … CANTON 27, NORTHERN CAMBRIA 6.
Little Red: Canton 21, Northern Cambria 14; … The Mick: Canton 30, Northern Cambria 13; … Country Bob: Canton 21, Northern Cambria 7.

PIAA Class 3A Opening-round game
Wyomissing (12-0) at Danville (12-0): The Ironmen advanced with a 41-20 win over Loyalsock in the District 4 title game, while the Spartans crushed West Perry, 63-7.

Prediction: Danville and Wyomissing are similar in terms of their regular-season dominance, both outscoring their opponents this season by large margins — Wyomissing by 36.9 points per game, and Danville by 45.2 points per game. … DANVILLE 31, WYOMISSING 27.
Little Red: Wyomissing 35, Danville 21; …  The Mick: Danville 14, Wyomissing 13; … Country Bob: Danville 28, Wyomissing 14.

PIAA Class AA Opening-round game
Southern Columbia (10-3) at Bishop Guilfoyle (10-3): The Tigers advanced with a 48-18 win over previously-unbeaten Mount Carmel in the District 4 championship game, while the Marauders topped Penns Valley Area, 56-35.

Prediction: I don’t think this Southern Columbia team wins a state title, but I think it plays again next week. … SOUTHERN COLUMBIA 38, BISHOP GUILFOYLE 28.
Little Red: Southern 34, BG 14; … The Mick: Southern 28, BG 14; … Country Bob: Southern 34, BG 13.

New York State Class B Semifinals
Batavia (12-0) vs. Maine-Endwell (11-0): The Spartans advanced with a 53-8 win over Section III champ Homer in the quarterfinals, while the Blue Devils topped Section VI champ Iroquois, 20-8.

Prediction: Maine-Endwell is the team to beat in Class B until someone beats them. … M-E 35, BATAVIA 20.
Little Red: M-E 42, Batavia 14; …  The Mick: M-E 44, Batavia 16; … Country Bob: M-E 42, Batavia 6.

New York State Class A Semifinals
Hilton (11-1) at Union-Endicott (10-1): The Cadets advanced with a 49-34 win over Section VI champ Jamestown in the quarterfinals, while the Tigers stunned Section III champ West Genesee, 42-7.

Prediction: U-E lone loss was a 14-0 setback to Maine-Endwell, while Hilton lost its season-opener to Webster-Schroeder, 21-14, then avenged the loss in the Section V title game in a 40-7 romp. … Hilton is on a roll, but U-E is better than you think. … HILTON 27, U-E 21.
Little Red: Hilton 42, U-E 14; … The Mick: U-E 30, Hilton 18; … Country Bob: Hilton 27, U-E 13.