FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 3 PICKS — ATHENS HOSTS CANTON, SAYRE ON THE ROAD (2025-09-05)

It's time for Week 3 of Friday Night Lights with Athens hosting Canton, and Sayre on the road at Montgomery.

Waverly and Tioga, after their doubleheader last week are off this week, with the Wolverines preparing for a trip to Windsor next Friday, and the Tigers on the road at Deposit-Hancock Saturday.

The pigskins prognosticators are off to a tough start in 2025. The Mick leads the mediocre pack at 11-6 after posting a 5-4 mark last weekend, while Country Bob and I are both 10-7 after going 6-3 last weekend. Little Red is dragging up the rear at 9-8 after posting a 5-4 record in Week 2.

Without further ado, the VSR Pigskin Pickers make their picks for Week 3 (Week 2 in Pa. and Week Zero in N.Y.):

Canton (1-1) at Athens (2-0): The Wildcats are coming off a 49-20 win over Northwest Area, while the Warriors dropped a 31-14 decision to South Williamsport.

The Athens offense has been in high gear since the opening whistle of the season, and the defense has been pretty good as well. The Wildcats' first-team defense  has allowed just 21 points in two games.

Prediction: The Athens offense has been potent with big plays aplenty, while Canton has struggled to score. I think both patterns continue tonight. ... ATHENS 47, CANTON 14.
The Mick: Athens 48, Canton 7 ... Country Bob: Athens 35, Canton 13 ... Little Red: Athens 35, Canton 6.

Sayre (0-2) at Montgomery (1-1):  The Redskins are coming off a 25-0 loss to North Penn-Mansfield, while the Red Raiders dropped a 24-7 decision to Warrior Run.

The Redskins returned just a few bona fide varsity players, and their top offensive threat — senior Karter Green — was lost, possibly for the season, in the first possession of the season.

Prediction: The Redskins are struggling mightily, and the Red Raiders are in the midst of of an upturn in their program. ... MONTGOMERY 41, SAYRE 6.
The Mick: Montgomery 38, Sayre 6 ... Country Bob: Montgomery 42, Sayre 6 ... Little Red: Montgomery 34, Sayre 6.

Towanda (0-2) at North Penn-Mansfield (2-0): The Black Knights are coming off a 32-0 loss to Hughesville, while the Tigers blanked Sayre, 25-0.

Prediction: NP-M is one of the better stories in the NTL in the early-going, while Towanda has yet to score a point. ... NP-M 20, TOWANDA 6.
The Mick: NP-M 44, Towanda 6 ... Country Bob: NP-M 27, Towanda 6 ... Little Red: NP-M 14, Towanda 6.

Troy (1-1) at South Williamsport: The Trojans are coming off a 14-13 loss at Waverly, while the Mounties topped Canton, 31-14.

Prediction: Penalties cost Troy big time in its loss to Waverly. I expected a pissed off Trojans squad tonight. ... TROY 54, SOUTH 13.
The Mick: Troy 44, South 12 ... Country Bob: Troy 42, South 6 ... Little Red: Troy 35, South 6.

Wellsboro (0-2) at Wyalusing (1-1): The Rams rallied for a 30-14 win over Cowanesque Valley, while the Hornets dropped a 23-20 decision at home to Muncy.

Prediction: Wyalusing has been a bit inconsistent this season, while Wellsboro looked much better in Week 2. I really have no idea about either one of these teams. ... WYALUSING 20, WELLSBORO 15.
The Mick: Wyalusing 27, Wellsboro 16 ...  Country Bob: Wyalusing 28, Wellsboro 7 ...  Little Red: Wyalusing 27, Wellsboro 13.

Muncy (1-1) at Cowanesque Valley (1-1): The CV Indians are coming off a 30-14 decision to Wyalusing, while the Muncy Indians edged Wellsboro, 23-20.

Prediction: Still too early for me to get a handle on these two teams. ... MUNCY 26, CV 13.
The Mick: Muncy 27, CV 13 ... Country Bob: Muncy 34, CV 7 ... Little Red: Muncy 27, CV 0.

Owego at Chenango Forks: The Rivers Hawks were 8-2 in 2024 and loss to Maine-Endwell in the Section IV, Class B title game, but graduated about 20 players, while Forks returns the majority of its talent from a team that won the Section IV, Class C championship team.

Prediction: Forks may be the best team in Section IV. It's going to take a bit of time for Owego to find its footing. ... FORKS 34, OWEGO 6.
The Mick: Forks 44, Owego 12 ... Country Bob: Forks 21, Owego 14 ... Little Red: Forks 35, Owego 7.

Schuyler at Newark Valley: The Cardinals are coming an injury-plagued 2-8 season, while the Lake Hawks were 2-6.

Prediction: Newark Valley needs to get off to a good start, and a win during the first-ever night game at home would do it. ... NEWARK VALLEY 21, SCHUYLER 12.
The Mick: NV 16, Schuyler 14 ... Country Bob: NV 27, Schuyler 20. ... Little Red: NV 28, Schuyler 13.

Harpursville-Afton at SVEC: The Eagles are coming off a 5-5 season and return quite a bit, while the Hornets struggled to another 1-9 season.

Prediction: SVEC is the favorite among Section IV pundits to earn the second playoff spot in its division for the Class D playoffs. While this game has no bearing on the playoffs, a big win would do well for the Eagles. ... SVEC 44, H-A 6.
The Mick: SVEC 44, H-A 8 ... Country Bob: SVEC 28, H-A 20 ... Little Red: SVEC 28, H-A 7.

Print Friendly Version