SECTION IV FOOTBALL: WAVERLY OPENS SEASON AGAINST TROY; BUMPS UP TO CLASS B IN 2025 (April 20, 2025)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Waverly, just two seasons removed from the New York State title, will open the 2025 season at Memorial Stadium against reigning PIAA champion Troy on Saturday, Aug. 30.

The traditional Week Zero doubleheader, which also features Tioga, will be moved up a week this fall, and will be played in Week Double-Zero.

"Playing in Week Double-Zero, we'll be one of the first games in New York State," said Waverly coach Jason Miller. "We'll have 10 practices in, and (Troy) will have all their practices, plus a game. So, we're going to be a little under-the-gun against the reign Pa. State champion."

Miller has been eyeing this game since Troy was forced to go to Delaware in Week 2 of the Pa. season last year.

"They had a bye last year, and picked up a game late and went to Dover, Delaware. I told (coach) Jimmy (Smith) if we can work it out, I would love to play them.

"At that point, I knew New York State would have to push our start date back, and they did," said Miller. "As soon as I found out, I called Jim (Smith) and we set it up.

"I love it, it's a big match-up," noted Miller. "(Troy) has a lot returning, and is going to be very good, but you know I like playing very good teams early, it gives us an opportunity to see where we stand.

"I always feel like we're pretty good early in the season," said Miller. "I don't know if we're going to be good enough, but it's a great match-up for us because ultimately it will demonstrate what we need to work on.

"I think it will be a big-game atmosphere, and it will be great for the kids," added Miller. "I have a lot of respect for the Troy program, and I'm excited to play them before we get into our league schedule."

Waverly bumps up to Class B this season and will be in a five-team division with Maine-Endwell, Johnson City, Norwich, and Owego.

The Wolverines play Windsor in Week 1, then host divisional foes Norwich in Week 2, and travel to play another divisional rival, Johnson City, in Week 3.

After a non-league game at U-E in Week 4, Waverly hosts defending Class B champion M-E in Week 5, and travels to Owego to wrap up divisional play in Week 6.

Waverly closes out the regular season with home games against reigning Class C champion Chenango Forks and Oneonta.

The Class B playoffs begin Nov. 7, with the championship game set for Nov. 15.

"We play U-E, M-E, Owego, and Forks in consecutive weeks, that's a tough stretch of games," said Miller.

"Our goal is to win a divisional title and give ourselves a chance to win a Sectional title," he added.

Miller is looking forward to the jump to Class B.

"I thought we competed very well against M-E last season.

"They lost a lot of guys, and we lost a lot of guys," said Miller. "I'm looking forward to a real good match-up.

"I have a lot of respect for the M-E program, and I have a lot of respect for the Owego program, and what Patton Taylor has done there," noted Miller.

"Overall, I think we have a good schedule. It's full of good non-league games that will prepare us for the postseason," continued Miller. "I thought we hit a stretch last year, toward the latter part of the season, where we didn't play very hard.

"Our division was down, and it gave us an opportunity to prepare for Windsor (Class C semifinals) all along ... our guys were playing for a quarter or a quarter-and-a-half, and they got a little stale — that certainly will not be the case this year," he added.

The jump to Class B is nothing new for Miller, who coached the Wolverines to Class B titles in 2008 and 2015

"We've been in this situation before, in Class B with Maine-Endwell and the target is on their backs," said Miller.

"Over the course of years, we've won Sectional titles in both Class C and Class B," he noted. "This year, our goal this year is to win Class B.

"It's only going to be for one year, and our numbers go back down, and we'll be back down to Class C the following year," he added.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly coach Jason Miller.

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2025 WAVERLY FOOTBALL
Aug. 30 ... WEEK 00 ... vs. Troy
Sept. 6-7 . WEEK  0 ... BYE
Sept. 12 .. WEEK  1 ... at Windsor
Sept. 19 .. WEEK  2 ... vs. Norwich
Sept. 26 .. WEEK  3 ... at Johnson City
Oct.   3 .. WEEK  4 ... at Union-Endicott
Oct.  10 .. WEEK  5 ... vs. Maine-Endwell
Oct.  17 .. WEEK  6 ... at Owego
Oct.  24 .. WEEK  7 ... vs. Chenango Forks
Oct.  31 .. WEEK  8 ... vs. Oneonta
Nov. 7-8 .. PLAYOFFS .. Class B Semifinals
Nov. 15 ... PLAYOFFS .. Class B Championship

HOME GAME IN BOLD.

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