SECTION IV FOOTBALL: SENIORS PROPEL TIOGA TO 48-8 WIN OVER GREENE-OXFORD (24 PHOTOS) (2025-10-24)

Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga scored five second-quarter TDs en route to a 48-8 "Senior Night / Homecoming" win over Greene-Oxford here Friday night in Section IV, Division VII football action at Haggerty Field.

"We had an interception, a turnover on downs near midfield, and we recovered a fumble on one of their kick returns, and were able to turn all those into points to take a 34-0 lead into halftime," said Tioga coach Nick Aiello.

"It was Senior Night, and going in I thought it would be nice to get a good rotation going, especially with a lot of seniors, trying to get everyone some touches.

"It worked out that we had a lot of seniors score," added Aiello. "I was happy for those guys to be able get in the end zone on Senior Night in front of a big Homecoming crowd."

After allowing 60 yards on Greene-Oxford's first possession, the Tioga defense allowed just 39 yards and forced a pair of turnovers the remainder of the first half.

"The defense played well," said Aiello. "Aside from the first possession, we were in real good position and made some good plays, especially in the pass game.

"We have some guys coming back who were banged up. They were playing real well at the beginning of the season, and we were able to get their feet wet again tonight, and they did some good things for us.

"Looking ahead, we've been playing good defense all season. I think the kids are getting comfortable, and they're still working on the little things. It's going to be important that we continue to play fast and physical on that side of the ball," added Aiello.

Senior Jayden Duncanson scored on a 7-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive that consumed four minutes, and four seconds off the game clock. Junior Allen Winans' PAT kick made it 7-0 with 11:53 remaining in the half.

"We had a holding call on the first play and that put us a little behind the sticks, but we were able to convert on third-and-seven to keep that drive alive," said Aiello. "After that we were able to drive down and score."

After a Greene-Oxford three-and-out, Tioga took over at midfield following a 35-yard punt.

Two plays later, senior Logan Bellis ripped off a 40-yard TD run off right tackle. Winans PAT kick made it 14-0 with 8:29 remaining in the half.

G-O's next possession was a four-and-out, turning the ball over on downs at its own 42.

Six plays later, senior Kadin Cole scored on a 2-yard run, which was set up by Cole's 14-yard run to the 2 on the prior play. Winans' PAT kick made it 21-0 with 4:03 left in the half.

After a nice return to near midfield, G-O hit on a halfback-pass for 39 yards to the Tioga 18, but on the next play junior Max Stauder intercepted an under-thrown pass at the 5-yard line and returned it 35 yards to the Tiger 40.

On the next play, Bellis broke free on a 58-yard run to the G-O 2, then he tacked on a 2-yard TD run to make it 28-0 with 1:48 left in the half.

Just nine seconds later on the game clock, Tioga recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the G-O 25 with 1:39 left in the half.

Tioga overcame a personal four and an illegal procedure call, thanks in large part to a 17-yard pass from junior QB Jackson Bombard to junior Josh Rought to the G-O 15.

Three plays later, senior Connor Streeter pitched the ball to senior Gavin Albrecht on a reverse, and he scampered 10 yards to score with 1.8 seconds remaining. The extra point was missed, but the Tigers led 34-0 at the half.

Tioga, which won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, took the kick to start the third quarter, and marched 60 yards on six plays with senior Gage Hopkins capping the drive with a 14-yard TD run to make it 41-0 with 9:22 remaining in the third quarter.

After Greene-Oxford scored on a 25-yard pass play in the third quarter to close the gap to 41-8, Brendan Clark capped the scoring with a 1-yard TD run that was set up by Clark's 40-yard run on the prior play.

Greene-Oxford received the opening kickoff and marched from its 21 to the Tioga 13 in a possession that consumed eight minutes and three seconds off the game clock, before the Tiger defense stiffened, with senior Elijah Bellis' fourth-down sack forcing a fumble that was recovered by senior Nate Hurlbet at the G-O 25.

"The first quarter went fast because (Greene-Oxford) had the ball for the majority of it," said Aiello.

The Tigers produced 353 rushing yards on 33 carries, with Logan Bellis leading the way with 130 yards and two TDs on seven carries.

Clark added 57 yards and one TD on six carries for the Tigers, while Duncanson had 33 yards and one TD on four carries, senior Connor Streeter had 24 yards on four carries, and Cole and Hopkins each had 23 yards and one TD.

Bombard completed 2 of 3 passes attempts for 37 yards, with Rought snaring both of Tioga's catches.

Tioga improves to 7-1 on the season, and 4-0 in divisional play. SVEC and Trumansburg are 3-1.

The Tigers host SVEC (6-2) Friday night.

"Next week is big," said Aiello. "We have a couple things on the line.

"We have the opportunity to go 8-0 in the regular season against what I think was a heck of a tough schedule.

"We had to play the top three teams (Delhi, Deposit-Hancock and Bainbridge-Guilford) in the other division, along with a tough Trumansburg team in our own division," said Aiello.

"The other thing on the line is the number-1 seed in the playoffs.

"We're really looking forward to this game, and I think the kids will be fired up, and ready to work hard all week to prepare for it," added Aiello.

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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga's Dominic Palmer. ... PHOTOS BY MIRANDA SZYMANSKI.



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