FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 12 PICKS — POSTSEASON IN FULL SWING ON BOTH SIDES OF BORDER (2025-11-07)

The football playoffs are in high gear, with Section IV opening postseason play this weekend, and District 4 in the semi-final and championship round.

Waverly has a home game, while Tioga is at a neutral site, and Owego and Troy are both on the road.

Last week, The Mick was perfect at 13-0, while Country Bob, Little Red and I were all 11-2.

For the season, The Mick has built a comfortable four-game lead with a 101-18 record, while I am at 97-22, Country Bob is 95-24 and Little Red is 93-26.

Without further ado, the VSR Pigskin Pickers make their picks for Week 12 (Week 11 in Pa. and Week 9 in N.Y.):

Norwich (5-4) at Waverly (8-1): The Wolverines are coming off a 33-8 win over Oneonta in the regular-season finale, while the Purple Tornadoes thumped Susquehanna Valley, 49-6.

Norwich's only win against a team with a winning record was against Oneonta, which played a very weak schedule. Waverly, on the other hand, beat Troy, M-E, Windsor, and U-E — all playoff teams, as well as Oneonta.

Prediction: Waverly beat Norwich, 30-18, early in the season. I expect the Wolverines' veteran coaching staff learned a lot from that game. It will be interesting to see what Norwich's new staff took from the loss. ... WAVERLY 37, NORWICH 13.
The Mick: Waverly 28, Norwich 14 ... Country Bob: Waverly 35, Norwich 6. ... Little Red: Waverly 28, Norwich 20.

Owego (6-3) at Maine-Endwell (5-3): The River Hawks are coming off a 13-12 win over Horseheads in the regular-season finale, while the Spartans cruised to a 60-8 win at Union-Endicott.

After a slow start offensively, M-E has averaged 56 points per game in its last three games. Owego has not allowed more than 14 points in a game this season.

Prediction: It looks like M-E is putting things together offensively, and I'm not sure Owego can outscore them if the recent Spartan offensive resurgence is for real. ... M-E 24, OWEGO 13.
The Mick: M-E 27, Owego 6. ... Country Bob: M-E 7, Owego 6. ... Little Red: M-E 14, Owego 7.

Deposit-Hancock (7-2) vs. Tioga (8-1): The Tigers are coming off a 36-7 win over SVEC last week, while the Eagles topped Sidney, 44-30.

These two teams met in Week 1, and Tioga pulled out a 35-31 win, but the Tigers are a very different team, especially at QB, where junior Jackson Bombard has taken the reigns, and on the defensive side of the ball, which has allowed just 11 points per game in seven wins since the first meeting.

Prediction: D-H is a bit banged up, but still has stud RB Noah Bass, who 222 yards in the first meeting. Tioga is also a different team offensively, and a healthy Logan Bellis, who was starting in his first game at RB in their first meeting, has made a world of difference. ... TIOGA 39, D-H 22.
The Mick: Tioga 30, D-H 24. ... Country Bob: Tioga 28, D-H 20. ... Little Red: Tioga 35, D-H 28.

Trumansburg at Delhi (7-2): The Blue Raiders are coming off a 41-0 win over Greene-Oxford, while the Bulldogs topped Harpursville-Afton, 41-18.

Prediction: Delhi won the regular-season meeting, 30-26, but they appear to be a rapidly-improving team. ... DELHI 36, T-BURG 20.
The Mick: Delhi 24, T-Burg 21. ... Country Bob: Delhi 27, T-Burg 20. ... Little Red: Delhi 33, T-Burg 22.

Troy (10-1) at Warrior Run (10-1): The Trojans are coming off a 49-8 win over Wellsboro in the Class AA quarterfinals, while the Defenders topped South Williamsport, 41-7.

Prediction: Warrior Run is the real deal, but a Troy-Southern Columbia rematch just seems inevitable. ... TROY 48, WARRIOR RUN 28.
The Mick: Troy 21, Warrior Run 16. ... Country Bob: Troy 42, Warrior Run 5. ... Little Red: Troy 35, Warrior Run 27.

Bloomsburg (9-2) at Southern Columbia (10-1): Bloomsburg is coming off a 34-13 win over Loyalsock in the Class AA quarters, while Southern Columbia topped Cowanesque Valley, 41-20.

Prediction: Southern Columbia beat Bloom, 61-0, just three weeks ago. It may not be quite that bad this time, but it shouldn't be real competitive either. ... SOUTHERN 48, BLOOM 6.
The Mick: SC 44, Bloom 8. ... Country Bob: SC 42, Bloom 0. ... Little Red: SC 45, Bloom 0.

Montgomery (9-1) at Line Mountain (10-0): The Red Raiders are coming off a 33-0 win over Muncy in the Class A semifinals, while Line Mountain has been off since a 63-14 win over Susquenita two weeks ago.

Prediction: Line Mountain has a couple of impressive wins on its schedule, including a 36-34 win over perennial state power Steelton-Highspire. I think they prove to be a little too much for Montgomery. ... LINE MOUNTAIN 34, MONTGOMERY 14.
The Mick: LM 24, Montgomery 12. ...  Country Bob: Line Mountain 35, Montgomery 20. ... Little Red: LM 45, Montgomery 12.

Montoursville (8-2) at Mifflinburg (8-2): The Warriors are coming off a 43-42 win over Mount Carmel in the Class 3A semifinals, while the Wildcats rolled over Danville, 56-14.

Prediction: Mifflinburg thumped Montoursville, 35-7, in Week 3, but I don't think it will be quite that easy this time. ... MIFFLINBURG 26, MONTOURSVILLE 16.
The Mick: Mifflinburg 36, Montoursville 16. ... Country Bob: Mifflinburg 28, Montoursville 13. ... Little Red: Mifflinburg 35, Montoursville 7.

Jersey Shore (7-3) at Shamokin (10-0): Shamokin is coming off a 37-7 win over Shikellamy in the Class 4A semifinals, while Jersey Shore filled to a 73-14 win over Athens.

Prediction: Is this Shamokin's year? Jersey Shore is a proud program, with a state title in its recent past. ... JERSEY SHORE 45, SHAMOKIN 41.
The Mick: Jersey Shore 43, Shamokin 42. ... Country Bob: Shamokin 35, Jersey Shore 13. ... Little Red: Shamokin 35, Jersey Shore 31.

Horseheads (6-3) at Vestal (5-4): The Blue Raiders are coming off a 13-12 loss at Owego, while the Golden Bears topped Corning, 31-14.

Prediction: Vestal won the first meeting at Horseheads, 14-12, just three week ago. I think Horseheads gets a bit of redemption. ... HORSEHEADS 21, VESTAL 14.
The Mick: Horseheads 21, Vestal 20. ... Country Bob: Vestal 21, Horseheads 7. ... Little Red: Vestal 21, Horseheads 13.

Binghamton (0-9) at U-E (7-2): The Tigers are coming off a 60-8 loss to Maine-Endwell, while the Patriots lost to Elmira, 28-6.

Prediction: U-E is coming off a devastating loss to M-E, but Binghamton seems to be a tonic for every one's ailments. ... U-E 45, BINGHAMTON 12.
The Mick: U-E 36, Binghamton 7. ... Country Bob: U-E 42, Binghamton 6. ... Little Red: U-E 48, Binghamton 13.

Ithaca (2-6) at Corning (3-5): The Hawks are coming off a 31-14 loss to Vestal, while the Little Red dropped a 35-34 overtime decision to Schuyler.

Prediction: Corning beat Ithaca, 56-14, two weeks ago. It will be more of the same tonight. ... CORNING 56, ITHACA 14.
The Mick: Corning 44, Ithaca 0. ... Country Bob: Corning 27, Ithaca 0. ... Little Red: Corning 48, Ithaca 14.

Sus. Valley (3-5) at Chenango Forks (9-0): The Sabers are coming off a 49-6 loss to Norwich, while the Blue Devils topped Johnson City, 34-8.

Prediction: I said before the season, Chenango Forks is the best team in Section IV. And, I've seen nothing to change my mind. ... FORKS 51, SV 6.
The Mick: Forks 54, SV 0. ... Country Bob: Forks 42, SV 6. ... Little Red: Forks 42, SV 7.

The Mick: Windsor 42, Oneonta 3. ... Country Bob: Windsor 27, Oneonta 6. ... Little Red: Windsor 42, Oneonta 14.

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