THE FINAL WORD: PUTTING A BOW ON THE 2019 FALL SEASON (2019-12-01)
When a team wins its third consecutive Section IV football title, and it’s not even their longest streak in the same decade, that team is obviously doing things right.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: CRYSTAL BALL LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2020 FOOTBALL SEASON (2019-11-29)
It was a decent season for high school football in the Valley, with Tioga winning another Section IV title, and Sayre qualifying for the District 4 playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since the inception of the Pa. state playoffs in 1988.

Despite posting a losing record (4-5), Waverly overachieved in the rugged Class B ranks of Section IV, and Athens, despite a 1-10 record, proved to be a tough out for Valley rivals Sayre and Waverly on consecutive weekends late in the season. ...more

VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S EMMETT WOOD LEADS 'SUPER 7,' 'ALL-VALLEY TEAM' AS 'PLAYER OF YEAR' — TIOGA'S DOM WOOD, MANUEL, AIELLO, WAVRLY'S HALLETT, TOMASSO ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2019-11-29)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — A dynamic player on both sides of the ball, sophomore Emmett Wood accounted for 42 touchdowns, and led Tioga to the state semifinals to earn the moniker of 2019 Valley Sports Report’s Football “Player of the Year.”
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VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: THE 'SUPER 7' STORYLINES OF THE FALL (2019-11-29)
I've talked about storylines in the past and how they normally come in one of four realms: the start of a storyline, the continuation of one, the likely culmination of one, or a storyline totally out of the blue. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: CRYSTAL BALL LOOK AHEAD TO 2020 BOYS, GIRLS SOCCER SEASONS (2019-11-28)
The boys soccer scene in the Valley still revolved around Athens in 2019, but Waverly and Sayre both showed signs their rebuilding projects are taking steps forward. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: CRYSTAL BALL LOOK AHEAD TO 2020 VOLLEYBALL SEASON (2019-11-27)
It was a solid year on the volleyball hardwoods in the Valley. Much like last year, Waverly, Athens and Tioga qualified for the postseason, with the Lady Wolverines coming up just short of a Section IV, Class B repeat with a loss in the finals. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: A TOUGH ENDING TO A GREAT SEASON FOR TIOGA FOOTBALL (2019-11-26)
At halftime Friday night, Tioga appeared headed back to the state finals, but defending state champ Clymer / Sherman / Panama turned up its level of play, and an injury to sophomore standout Emmett Wood drastically altered the complexion of the game.< ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: CAN TIOGA RISE TO CHALLENGE AGAINST CSP, RETURN TO THE DOME? (2019-11-22)
Unlike last year, when few Section IV football fans knew what to expect from the combined forced of Clymer / Sherman / Panama, the Wolfpack is a known commodity this time around as they face Tioga in a rematch tonight in the New York State Class D semifinals. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: TIOGA ROLLS ON ... THOUGHTS ON THE VALLEY D-I TALENT (2019-11-20)
Tioga improved to 8-0 in the New York State, Class D quarterfinals Friday night with a 43-20 win over Section III champ Frankfort-Schuyler.

All eight wins have come against the Section III champs, and there’s no mystery surrounding why the Tigers have won those games by an average of 33 points per game. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 13 PICK — CAN TIOGA MAKE IT 8 IN A ROW IN STATE QUARTERFINALS; THOUGHTS ON SECTION IV REALIGNMENT (2019-11-15)
For the eighth time in nine years, Tioga will take on the Section III champ — this time Frankfort-Schuyler — with a chance to advance to the New York State Class D semifinals. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: TIOGA'S LATEST CLASS D TITLE WIN IS A CLASSIC ... MORE ON THE POSTSEASON (2019-11-14)
Tioga’s eighth Section IV, Class D title in nine years was the toughest one to win since its first.

In 2011, Walton was at the top of the heap in Class D, having won Section IV three titles in four years, and a state title in 2007. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 12 PICK — CAN TIOGA FINISH OFF THE THREE-PEAT? (2019-11-08)
Week 12 of the high school football season brings us perhaps the most intriguing match-up of the season — Walton versus Tioga for the Section IV, Class D Championship tonight at Johnson City High School. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON THE POSTSEASON ... AND A VALLEY RIVALRY RENEWED (2019-11-06)
Tioga overcame a terrible offensive start Saturday, and rolled to a 41-20 win over Delhi to advance to their eighth Section IV, Class D football title game in nine years, while Sayre dropped a heart-breaker at home to Muncy in the District 4, Class A playoffs. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 11 PICKS — WILL SAYRE, TIOGA BOTH ADVANCE TO TITLE GAMES? (2019-11-01)
Week 11 of the high school football brings us a pair of postseason games, and a regular-season finale between a pair of Valley rivals.
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THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON FOOTBALL WEEKEND, PLAYOFF SOCCER (2019-10-29)
The 20th edition of the Athens-Sayre “Rusty Rail” rivalry game is not one that will be included in a time capsule as a “how-to-video” for future generations, but it was an entertaining game nonetheless. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: 'RUSTY RAIL' HIGHLIGHTS WEEK 10 PICKS (2019-10-25)

Week 10 of the high school football season brings us the Rusty Rail rivalry game at the Lockhart Street Bowl, and home games for Waverly and Tioga.
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THE FINAL WORD: AN UP-AND-DOWN WEEKEND FOR VALLEY FOOTBALL ... AND SOME SOCCER (2019-10-22)
It was an up-and-down weekend for the Valley football teams with Tioga and Sayre turning in good performances, and Waverly and Athens registering on the not-so-good scale.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 9 PICKS — TWO VALLEY TEAMS VIE FOR DIVISION TITLES (2019-10-18)
Week 9 of the high school football season is upon us and features Sayre and Tioga playing for division titles, Waverly fighting to keep its slim playoff hopes alive, and Athens hosting the NTL Large School Division leaders. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON FOOTBALL WEEKEND ... AND SOME SOCCER (2019-10-15)
Tioga and Sayre picked up big wins Friday to put them on the doorstep of a division title, while Waverly kept its slim playoff hopes alive, and Athens nearly completed a monumental comeback.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 8 PICKS — TIOGA, SAYRE PLAY KEY DIVISIONAL ROAD GAMES — ATHENS LONE HOME GAME (2019-10-11)
It’s Week 8 of the high school football season, and we’re getting down to the nitty gritty in terms of division titles and playoff seeds.

Tioga and Sayre play key divisional road games tonight. Tioga has a chance to virtually lock up the Section IV, Division VI title, while a Sayre win will set up a monster game at Muncy in Week 9. ...more