FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 11 PICKS — ATHENS IN POSTSEASON MODE, SECTION IV WRAPS UP REGULAR SEASON (2025-10-31)

Postseason football begins in District 4 this weekend, while Section IV wraps up the regular season.

The biggest games of the weekend for Valley teams are Athens' Class 3A semi-final game at Jersey Shore, and Tioga's home game against SVEC, which will determine the Class D postseason bracket.

In other action, Waverly wraps up its regular season at home against Oneonta, while Troy begins its defense of the PIAA, Class AA state title hosting Wellsboro at Alparon Park, and Cowanesque Valley makes a trip to face top-seeded Southern Columbia.

Last weekend was another good one for the VSR Pigskin Prognosticators. The Mick and I both posted 11-1 records, while Country Bob and Little Red were both 10-2.

On the season, The Mick leads the pack at 88-18, I am 2 games back at 86-16, with Country Bob at 84-22, and Little Red bringing up the rear at 82-24. 

Without further ado, the VSR Pigskin Pickers make their picks for Week 11 (Week 10 in Pa. and Week 8 in N.Y.):

District 4, Class 4A semifinals
3-Athens (9-1) at Jersey Shore (7-3): The Wildcats are coming off a 57-0 win over Sayre in the "Rusty Rail" rivalry game, while the Bulldogs rolled over winless Central Mountain, 63-26.

Jersey Shore has scored a ton of points this season, but has allowed three-quarters of a ton against a very tough schedule.

Athens has won convincingly this season, outscoring its foes 48.4 to 19.7 points per game, but has only beaten two teams (Wellsboro and South Williamsport — both 6-4) with a winning record.

Prediction: One of Jersey Shore's losses was a 43-42 double-OT thriller against top-seeded and unbeaten Shamokin. Playing without its best player does not bode well for Athens. ... JERSEY SHORE 37, ATHENS 14.
The Mick: Shore 44, Athens 13 ... Country Bob: Jersey Shore 28, Athens 7 ... Little Red: Shore 56, Athens 6.

4-Shikellamy (5-5) at 1-Shamokin (10-0): The Indians are coming off a come-from-behind, 26-21, win over Mount Carmel, while the Braves were thumped by Southern Columbia, 61-28.

Prediction: Shamokin already owns a 52-21 win over Shikellamy. It will be more of the same tonight. ... SHAMOKIN 48, SHIK 6.
The Mick: Shamokin 54, Shik 16 ... Country Bob: Shik 27, Shamokin 26 ... Little Red: Shamokin 42, Shik 14.

Oneonta (5-3) at Waverly (7-1): The Wolverines are coming off a 31-13 loss to Chenango Forks, while the Yellowjackets dropped a 42-14 decision at Windsor.

Oneonta has not beaten a team with a winning record this season, and two of its losses (Norwich and Windsor) come against teams Waverly beat convincingly.

Prediction: Waverly will likely play with more of an attitude than usual after last week's loss to the Blue Devils. I think the Wolverines roll. ... WAVERLY 52, ONEONTA 7.
The Mick: Waverly 48, Oneonta 6 ... Country Bob: Waverly 35, Oneonta 6 ... Little Red: Waverly 35, Oneonta 14.

SVEC (6-2) at Tioga (7-1): The Tigers are coming off a 48-8 rout of Oxford-Greene, while the Eagles rolled over Groton, 41-8.

SVEC is in a must-win situation to make the postseason, thanks to a 28-6 loss to Trumansburg three weeks ago, while Tioga can lock up a top seed with a win.

Prediction: SVEC has a puncher's chance with a trio of very good athletes, and Tioga is a bit banged up. ... TIOGA 27, SVEC 22.
The Mick: Tioga 38, SVEC 28 ... Country Bob: Tioga 46, SVEC 12 ... Little Red: Tioga 28, SVEC 7.

Horseheads (5-3) at Owego (5-3): The Blue Raiders are coming off a 60-14 win over Binghamton, while the River Hawks blanked Johnson City, 20-0.

Prediction: The Owego defense has allowed just 7.9 points per game this season, and has not allowed more than 14 points in a game. Horseheads owns a 14-12 over Maine-Endwell (beat Owego, 8-6), but lost 14-12 to Vestal (lost to Owego, 30-13). ... OWEGO 14, HORSEHEADS 10.
The Mick: Owego 16, Horseheads 14 ... Country Bob: Owego 7, Horseheads 6 ... Little Red: Horseheads 21, Owego 7.

Newark Valley (3-5) at Groton (3-4): The Cardinals are coming off a 28-21 loss to Trumansburg, while the Red Hawks dropped a 41-8 decision to SVEC.

Prediction: The Cardinals have lost four of their last five, but all of them are to four of the five teams with winning records in Class D. ... NV 27, GROTON 21.
The Mick: Groton 14, NV 13 ... Country Bob: NV 17, Groton 13 ... Little Red: Groton 24, NV 13.

District 4, Class A semifinal
3-Muncy (5-5) at 2-Montgomery (9-1): The Red Raiders are coming off a 21-6 win over Cowanesque Valley, while the Indians dropped a 24-21 decision to Hughesville.

Prediction: Montgomery beat Muncy 27-7 in Week 6, but I think it's going to be closer this time around. ... MONTGOMERY 26, MUNCY 22.
The Mick: Montgomery 28, Muncy 8 ... Country Bob: Montgomery 28, Muncy 7 ... Little Red: Montgomery 21, Muncy 6.

District 4, Class AA semifinal
8-Cowanesque Valley (5-5) at 1-Southern Columbia (9-1): The Indians are coming off a 21-6 loss to Montgomery, while the Tigers rolled over Shikellamy, 61-28.

Prediction: I have a feeling Southern Columbia is on a mission this year, with its sights set on Troy. That said, they won't overlook anyone. ... SOUTHERN COLUMBIA 58, CV 7.
The Mick: Southern 56, CV 7 ... Country Bob: Southern 48, CV 6 ... Little Red: Southern 60, CV 0.

5- Loyalsock (5-5) at 4-Bloomsburg (8-2): The Lancers are coming off a 52-14 loss to Montoursville, while the Panthers blanked Central Columbia, 46-0.

Prediction: Bloomsburg already owns a 32-23 win over Loyalsock in Week 5. Loyalsock played a brutal schedule this season, including Montoursville and Shamokin to end the season. I smell an upset. ... LOYALSOCK 27, BLOOMSBURG 23.
The Mick: Bloom 24, Loyalsock 23 ... Country Bob: Bloom 21, Loyalsock 6 ... Little Red: Loyalsock 32, Bloom 21.

7-South Williamsport (6-4) at 2-Warrior Run (9-1): The Mounties are coming off a 62-0 win over Northwest Area, while the Defenders topped Milton, 31-10.

Prediction: Warrior Run played a mediocre schedule at best, but so did South Williamsport. ... WARRIOR RUN 42, SOUTH 13.
The Mick: Warrior Run 48, South 8 ... Country Bob: Warrior Run 34, South 20 ... Little Red: Warrior Run 42, South 13.

6-Wellsboro (6-4) at 3-Troy (9-1): The Trojans are coming off a 49-6 win over Canton, while the Hornets rolled to a 48-10 win over North Penn.

Prediction: The Trojans have been held under 42 points once this season, and already own a 53-7 win over Wellsboro. It will be more of the same tonight. ... TROY 55, WELLSBORO 7.
The Mick: Troy 36, Wellsboro 12 ... Country Bob: Troy 47, Wellsboro 6 ... Little Red: Troy 53, Wellsboro 13.

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