NEW YORK STATE FOOTBALL: TIOGA'S BELLIS NAMED CLASS D 'PLAYER OF YEAR;' FIVE TEAMMATES ALSO EARN ALL-STATE HONORS (March 13, 2026)
TIOGA'S BELLIS, AIELLO RECEIVE STATE FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION'S HIGHEST HONORS Valley Sports Report
SYRACUSE — Tioga senior Logan Bellis was named the Class D "Player of the Year" honors and five of his teammates, including four first-teamers, received all-state recognition on the gridiron from the New York State Sportswriters Association.
Bellis was also named "Player of the Year," and longtime coach Nick Aiello "Coach of the Year" by the New York State High School Football Coaches Association.
Senior Dominic Palmer and junior James Howey were both first-team all-state selections on the defensive line, and seniors Kadin Cole and Jayden Duncanson were both first-team defensive backs, while junior Shane Platukis earned a second-team nod at linebacker.
Coming back from a major knee injury that caused him to miss most of the 2024 season, Bellis excelled on both sides of the ball, leading the Tigers to another state title.
Bellis, despite weighing in at 130ish pounds, was a workhorse back for the Tigers. On the season, he rushed for 2,272 yards and 31 TDs (9.16 yards per carry), and 19 two-point conversion runs. He also had five catches for 64 yards, and one TD.
In five postseason games, Bellis rushed for 1,090 yards and 16 TDs on 124 carries. He also 11 2-point conversions, and rushed for a state championship game record five TDs.
Defensively, Bellis had 66 tackles, including 29 solo stops, one tackle-for-loss, one forced fumble, and two interceptions.
Aiello may have done his best job of coaching yet in his 16-year career, leading the Tigers to another state title.
Prior to the season, the pundits were fairly split on whether Tioga could win a Section IV title, much less a state title.
After a season-opening 9-7 loss to Class C Windsor, the doubters increased, but Aiello and his staff did a patchwork job on the offensive line, which turned into one of the team's biggest strength, and the Tigers started to roll.
Ten straight wins later, Tioga hoisted its 12 Section IV trophy under Aiello's guidance.
Tioga then won three straight state playoff games, culminating with a 42-31 win over Tuckahoe in the Class D championship game.
Aiello now has a career record of 156-28 (.848 winning percentage), including a 33-3 record in the Section IV playoffs, and a 22-7 mark in the New York State playoffs. His teams are 12-0 against Section III teams in the Regional finals
Class D Player of the YearLogan Bellis, senior, RB-LB: See above.
FIRST TEAM
James Howey, junior, DL: A heady player, Howey is deceptively athletic and physical. He had 86 tackles, including 24 solo stops. He had two QB sacks and one fumble recovery.
Dominic Palmer, senior, DL: Fast, athletic, and physical, Palmer recorded 86 tackles, including 22 solo stops. He had seven QB sacks, four tackles-for-loss, and one fumble recovery.
Kadin Cole, senior, DB: Strong on run support and always around the ball, Cole had 125 tackles, including 47 solo stops, one QB sack, and one tackle-for-loss. He also had four interceptions.
Jayden Duncanson, senior, DB: Another ball hawk on defense for the Tigers, Duncanson recorded 128 tackles, including 42 solo stops. He also had one interception and one forced fumble.
SECOND TEAM
Shane Platukis, junior, LB: A physical defender, Platukis saw time at linebacker and one the line. He had 91 tackles, including 30 solo stops.
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