By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
CICERO, N.Y. - Last year, Tioga exorcised one off its demons with a win over Randolph on its way to a second straight New York State Class D football title. On Friday, the Tigers will have a chance to do it again in its quest for a three-peat.
Tioga — 12-0, winners of 39 in a row, and ranked No. 1 in the state, will square off with Clymer-Sherman-Panama (11-0 and ranked No. 2 in the state) here Friday at 3 p.m. at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.
Tioga’s wild 41-34 win over Randolph last year avenged losses in the state semifinals in 2012, ’13, and ’14 on its way to a three-peat. CSP topped Tioga in the same round in 2018 (54-19) and ’19 (28-27) en route to back-to-back state titles.
"It’s good to get another crack at CSP," said Tioga coach Nick Aiello. "There’s a reason we’re playing them … they do a lot of really good things.
"They beat us up pretty good the first time we played them, and nipped us the second time around.
"Since then, it seems like they’ve rebuilt," noted Aiello. "They have a lot of really talented athletes, and their coach is really, really good at getting those athletes the ball. Last time, we played them they were really good at spreading the ball around to their playmakers, and they’re doing the same thing again.
"Any team that comes out of Section VI is going to be very, very good," he added.
The match-up comes as no surprise to Aiello.
"CSP is definitely a team we’ve kept an eye on from week-to-week all season. We figured if they made it out of their section, we’d be seeing them this round."
Aiello says the Wolfpack is the complete package.
"They have playmakers, and they play with a lot of emotion and energy on both sides of the ball," he said. "Their defense is very quick to the ball, and they are comfortable in their scheme.
"They do a lot of the same things that we typically do.
"Even their kicker will put the ball deep, whether he’s punting or kicking. It forces teams to try to go 80 yards to score," noted Aiello.
"I think all that matters when you look at CSP as a whole when you try to prepare for them," Aiello added. "They are a complete team for sure."
Aiello believes his team is ready for the challenge, and says they’ve lifted their level of play, beginning with the regular-season finale against arch-rival Newark Valley. In those four games, Tioga has won by average of 59 to 10.
"I felt during the regular season the kids were very good about taking it one week at a time, and staying focused," said Aiello. "I never felt like were taking anything for granted or were being lazy. They had the ultimate goal in their mind.
"Since the Newark Valley game, and once we entered the playoffs, the guys were like, ‘finally, this is where we want to be,’" he noted. "They’re locked in, and working hard.
"The guys are still getting after it in Week 13. Their approach and preparation has stayed the same, but they’re ready to go. The intensity and focus at practice has been outstanding.
"They know they have a really tough opponent this week … they know you don’t just turn it on on Monday to win these types of games," continued Aiello. "These guys have been preparing for this type of game all season. They know they have to put the work in if they want to have the best chance of winning on Friday."
"They are a joy to coach. I’m proud of them for the way they always handle themselves," he added. "And, I’m proud of them for locking in during the playoffs, and putting the work in."
WHEN CSP HAS THE BALL
CSP has outscored its opponents by an average of 40.2 to 10.3 points per game, and enters the game averaging 345 yards per game in total offense — 192.5 rushing, and 152.5 passing. The ‘Pack average 6.72 yards per play this season.
CSP’s junior QB Tate Catanese has completed 69.1 percent (125 of 181) of his passes for 1,674 yards, and 25 TDs, while throwing only five interceptions.
Junior Bryce Hinsdale leads the Wolfpack receiving corps with 56 catches for 545 yards, and 10 TDs, while junior Carter Brink has 28 grabs for 555 yards, and seven TDs, junior Alex Barmore has 21 receptions for 393 yards, and six TDs and senior Devin Johnson has 16 catches for 134 yards, and one TD.
Senior Bryce Posker leads CSP with 781 rushing yards and nine TDs on 135 carries, and Catanese has 553 yards, and 11 TDs on 87 carries.
"We’ll see a lot from them. It’s a complete offense, everything from shifting to motioning — they try to get your head spinning a little bit," said Aiello.
"They have a solid under-center game with a lot of lead sweep, and play-action off of it," he noted. "And, they have some really solid shotgun formations that they use to spread the ball around.
"Their quarterback throws a pretty good ball, and they have good receivers. The only other receiving corps I can compare them with is Waverly.
"The quarterback also runs, and he’s more of a big, power running quarterback," said Aiello. "Where (Waverly’s Joey) Tomasso has so much speed, this guy can break off a long one once in a while, but he can churn out those 6- and 7-yard gainers that get you first downs.
"It’s a complete offense, it forced you to cover the entire field, and it forces you to line up correctly," he added. "I’d say it’s a pretty good mix between Delhi and Waverly from what we’ve seen."
WHEN TIOGA HAS THE BALL
The Tigers have outscored their opponents by an average of 54 to 9.4 points per game this season, and average 384.6 yards per game in total offense — 283.1 on the ground, and 103.5 through the air. They average 11.34 yards per play this season.
Senior QB Caden Bellis has completed 68.7 percent (46 of 67) of his passes for 1,205 yards and 24 TDs, with just one interception.
Senior Valentino Rossi, who has 12 grabs for 417 yards, and seven TDs, and senior Karson Sindoni, who has 12 receptions for 301 yards, and five TDs. lead the Tigers, while senior Evan Sickler has 11 catches for 327 yards, and seven TDs.
Senior tailback Drew Macumber leads the Tioga ground game with 920 yards, and 22 TDs on 114 carries (8.1 yards per carry), while Caden Bellis has 523 yards and 10 TDs on 41 carries (12.8 yards per carry), senior fullback Ousmane Duncanson has 505 yards and eight TDs on 48 carries (10.5 yards per carry), and junior Jonah Lamb has 400 yards and nine TDs on 31 carries (12.9 yards per carry).
"The defense is the part they haven’t changed much," said Aiello. "They’re still a 4-4 defense … their interior down tackles, and the two linebackers behind them are the ones that cause the most havoc.
"The other thing about their defense is that they put all their athletes on the defense," he noted. "They have two linemen numbers out there, and they play linebacker for them. Everybody else has a back number on, so they have a lot of speed and athleticism out there,
"I would describe them as very aggressive and quick to the ball," continued Aiello. "They try to force your hand with a lot of the stuff they do … they’re trying to control the line-of-scrimmage with all those athletes, and quickness off the ball.
"We’re trying to get the kids ready for anything they could possibly see, like we tend to do week to week, but traditionally they stay in a 4-4," he added.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Like it does in many big games, Aiello believes special teams will play a critical role in Friday’s outcome.
"It’s going to be interesting to see how the game unfolds, and I think special teams is going to play a huge part in that.
"Both teams have the ability to force the other team to go 80 yards to score a touchdown," said Aiello. "Both teams have the ability to win the field-position battle, and I think that’s going to be a huge factor in who wins this game."
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IN PHOTO: Tioga’s Nick Aiello.
