VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S WATSON HEADLINES SUPER 7 AS BOYS 'ATHLETE OF THE FALL' (2024-12-09)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — A threat to score every time he touched the ball, Waverly senior Xavier Watson was a dominant presence on the gridiron in every facet of the game. He is the 2024 Valley Sports Report Boys "Athlete of the Fall."

A 6-5, 220-pound chiseled specimen with a knack for highlight-reel catches, Watson, who was double-covered most of the season, hauled in 45 receptions for 692 yards, and 11 TDs. He also had three carries for 34 yards.

Defensively, Watson had 29 tackles, including 17 solo stops, three interceptions, and several pass break-ups.

On special teams, Watson averaged 32 yards per kickoff return, including a 92-yard return for a TD, and 13.4 yards per punt return.

Watson is headed to UConn in January as enrollee to play Division I football for the Huskies.

2024 Super 7 Boys Athletes of the Fall
Xavier Watson, senior, Waverly: See above.

Connor Davidson, sophomore, Athens: Davidson was the main source of offense for the Wildcats in 2024, and an impact player in all three facets

Davidson ran for 1,101 yards and 15 TDs on 179 carries (6.2 yards per carry) and had five 100-yard plus games. He also threw for 1,387 yards and 12 TDs, completing 48.8 percent (101 of 207) of his passes.

Defensively, Davidson had 64 tackles, including 33 solo stops, one interception (a pick-6), two pass deflections, and one forced fumble.

On special teams, Davidson returned 19 kicks for an average of 30.4 yards, and two TDs.

Eli Hicks, sophomore, Athens golf: Hicks was a key cog in Athens unbeaten league championship team, and the Wildcats' first-ever District 4 title.

Hicks was second in the NTL with a 78 scoring average over 14 rounds this season. He also shot a career-best round of 69.

Hicks led at Districts after Day 1 when he shot a 73.  He finished second with a two-day total of 158. At States, he shot rounds of 75 and 79, and tied for 51st with a two-day total of 154.

Graham Wanck, sophomore, Athens: During the regular season, Wanck was fifth at the prestigious McQuaid Invitational, fourth at the Owego Dash in the Dark, sixth at the rugged Paul Short Invite at Lehigh University, and 11th at the season-opening Forbes Invite.

Wanck kicked off the postseason by winning the NTL Coaches Invite, then finished third at the District 4, Class AA Championships.

After finishing 53rd as a freshman, Wanck finished 112th at the state meet.

Kolsen Keathley, senior, Waverly:  Keathley was a disruptor on the defensive side of the ball for the Wolverines.

He had 44 tackles, including 23 solo stops and one QB sack, and a number of tackles-for-losses. He also had two interceptions — both pick-6s, two tackles for safeties, two kick returns for scores, and one fumble recovery.

Keathley saw some time at tailback, but spent the majority of his time at receiver. He rushed for 384 yards and four TDs on 41 carries (9.4 yards per carry), and hauled in 24 catches for 595 yards (team-high 24.8 yards per reception), and seven TDs.

Nick Pelliano, senior, Sayre: Pellicano was a big contributor in all three facets of the game for the 1-9 Redskins.

Pellicano averaged 31 yards per kick return this season, and had three returns for TD, including two in Week 3. After that game, teams very rarely kicked to him.

Dangerous in the open field, Pellicano hauled in 29 receptions for 562 yards (19.4 yards per catch), and eight TDs.

Defensively, he recorded 50 tackles, and had three interceptions.

Troy Beeman, junior, Waverly: A physical offensive lineman on a Wolverine offense that could run and pass the ball with equal aplomb.

A force in the middle of the defensive front, Beeman had 46 tackles, including 15 solo stops, 3.5 QB sacks, and two pass break-ups.



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