VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S BELLIS, WAVERLY'S TOMASSO SHARE "BOYS ATHLETE OF THE FALL" HONORS (2023-12-07)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY - Tioga senior
Caden Bellis and Waverly senior
Joey Tomasso led their respective teams to state titles on the gridiron, were both MVPs in the win, and share the 2023
Valley Sports Report "
Boys Athlete of the Fall" honors.
Bellis, who capped his career with a 40-0 record at QB with three state titles, was a dangerous dual-threat quarterback, and a sure-fire tackler at strong safety / linebacker.
Bellis completed 69.9 percent (51 of 73) of his passes for 1,350 yards, 28 TDs, and just one interception. He also rushed for 737 yards and 12 TDs on 55 carries — an average of 13.4 yards per carry, and ran in a pair of two-point conversions.
Bellis will graduate as the all-time leader in nearly every passing statistic in program history.
Defensively, Bellis perfected the ankle tackle, leading the Tigers with 89 tackles, including 22 solo stops, and five tackles-for-losses. He also had two interceptions.
A once-in-a-lifetime talent, Tomasso topped 9,000 career passing yards, and 100 TDs in his five seasons (4 1/2 actually considering the spring 2021 Covid season) at Waverly.
A dangerous dual-threat QB, Tomasso completed 74.1 percent (206 of 278) of his passes for 3,160 yards, and 43 TDs against just three interceptions.
Tomasso, who was limited by a knee injury in his last three games, rushed for a team-high 628 yards and 12 TDs on 120 carries.
Tomasso will graduate third all-time in New York State in career passing yards, and passing TDs, as well as third all-time in single-season passing yards, and passing TDs. He also holds just about every passing record in school history.
2023 SUPER 7 "BOYS ATHLETES OF THE FALL"Joey Tomasso, senior, Waverly football: See above.
Caden Bellis, senior, Tioga football: See above.
Ousmane Duncanson, senior, Tioga football: Duncanson is an explosive athlete, and sure-fire tackler, who forced opposing coaches to game-plan for his presence. He missed three games, and led Tioga at 7.4 tackles-per-game. He also had seven tackles-for-loss, five QB sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
Offensively, Duncanson rushed for 697 yards, and 10 TDs on just 57 carries (12.2 yards per carry). He also had two catches for 22 yards, and one TD.
Drew Macumber, senior, Tioga football: Macumber was another dynamic two-way performer.
He led Tioga with 1,296 rushing yards, and 30 TDs on 159 carries. He also had one catch for 79 yards, and a TD.
Defensively, Macumber had 62 tackles, including 20 solo stops, one tackle-for-loss, and two QB sacks.
Kolsen Keathley. junior, Waverly football: Keathley was a force on defense for the Wolverines all season, and became a major part of the offense late in the season.
Defensively, Keathley had 82 tackles, including 38 solo stops, and three QB sacks. He also had six interceptions, including a "pick six."
Offensively, Keathley had 441 rushing yards and five TDs, on just 34 carries (12.97 yards per carry), and topped 100 yards in both the state semifinals, and finals. He also had 30 catches for 454 yards, and six TDs.
Jay Pipher, senior, Waverly: A record-setting receiver at Waverly, Pipher was also a force in the defensive backfield.
Pipher
led the Wolverines with 62 receptions for 1,185 yards, and 12 TDs. He
also carried the ball 16 times for 72 yards. Defensively, Pipher had 45
tackles, including 22 solo stops. He also had one interception.
Tyler Roe, senior, Tioga soccer: Senior Tyler Roe smashed school scoring records, and led Tioga to is first division title since 2015.
Roe finished the season with 30 goals, which gave him 65 for his career — both school records. He also had three assists this season, and had multiple games with four and five goals.
Roe, who is extremely quick with the ball at his feet, is a whirling dervish of offensive energy. He possesses a high soccer IQ, a strong leg, and a limitless motor.
Graham Wanck, freshman, Athens cross country: Wanck, who let everyone know he would be a factor this year by winning the junior high race last year at the prestigious McQuaid Invitational, is also the "Newcomer of the Year" for the 2023 All-Valley Boys Cross Country team.
Wanck finished ninth this year in a time of 16:13 in a field of 369 runners in the A-1 Small School race at McQuaid Invitational He also won the McDaniel-Baxter Invite, and finished second at the Owego Invite, and the Forbes Invite.
He finish third at the NTL Coaches Invite, and 13th at District 4 Championships, before capping off the season with a 53rd-place finish at the PIAA Championships.
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IN PHOTO: Tioga’s Caden Bellis (left) and Waverly’s Joey Tomasso (right).
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