By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
WAVERLY — For the third year in a row, Tioga and Waverly will open the season with a doubleheader at Memorial Stadium. This year is a bit different, however, as both teams are defending state champions.
Tioga, three-time defending Class D champion and winners of 41 consecutive games, and Waverly, the reigning Class C champion, will each take on teams from Section VI.
The afternoon beings with Tioga taking on Maryvale, which reached the Section VI, Class B championship game.
In the nightcap, Waverly hosts Clymer-Sherman-Panama, which won the Section VI, Class D title, and reached the state semifinals before bowing out to Tioga.
Maryvale vs. Tioga, 3 p.m. @ Memorial Stadium, Waverly: In its last game, Tioga rolled to a 63-14 win over Stillwater in the N.Y. State Class D championship game, while the Flyers dropped a 14-0 decision to the Buffalo Academy of Sciences in the Section VI, Class B title tilt.
“When I talked to the coach last year when we were trying to set up the game, I told him we graduated most of our skill guys, and return a lot of our line,” said Tioga coach Nick Aiello. “He said they were the opposite.
“So, we’re polar opposites in terms of what we return, and their skill guys are very, very talented,” he noted. “They have two very good running backs, and their QB is a good runner … he can throw the ball, too, and he seems to have athletes to throw the ball to.
“They seem explosive, and they run a lot of different sets — they’re very multi-formational.
“Going into a Week Zero game with a team that is inexperienced in terms of varsity game plans, it’s been a bit challenging,” added Aiello. “They’re a talented group, and I expect them to come in pretty hungry, especially after going 9-1 last year.”
WHEN MARYVALE HAS THE BALL
Maryvale averaged 37.3 points per game in 2023, while Tioga allowed 10.2 points per game.
The Flyers return their top two running backs in senior Brayden Tryon, who had 1,214 yards and 24 TDs, and junior Isaiah Hill, who had 666 yards and nine TDs.
Senior QB Jaxsyn Moritz completed 55 of 105 passes for 806 yards, three TDs, and five interceptions, and also rushed for 210 yards and two TDs on 21 carries.
“We’ll see a lot of heavy run, with some simple pass concepts that you need to be ready for,” said Aiello.
“They like to feed the ball to (Tryon) and (Hill), but they move around quite a bit,” he noted. “They can be in anything from Wildcat to three-back sets, full-house sets, pro-I, and they’ll go one-back shotgun stuff.
“They really have the full gamut, and they seem to do a good job of getting their playmakers the ball as much as possible,” added Aiello.
WHEN TIOGA HAS THE BALL
The Tigers averaged more than 50 points per game in 2023, but only return one skill player — senior Shea Bailey — that has started a varsity game.
Maryvale allowed 12 points per game last year, and returns seven starters.
“Defensively, they love to bring pressure, and they bring it from all over the place,” said Aiello.
“So again, going into a Week Zero game against a team that seems comfortable in the way they blitz is a challenge in itself, but our guys seemed to be doing a pretty good job of communicating and picking that stuff up this week.
“The biggest thing right now is picking up that pressure so we can keep our drives going,” noted Aiello.
“Their secondary is very aggressive. They fly downhill, and they’re athletic.
“We’re going to see a lot of athletes on the field,” he added. “I don’t think we’ll see a lot of big guys up front. I think they’ll utilize their speed and athleticism, and their ability to bring pressure on the defensive side of the ball.”
KEYS TO THE GAME
“It’s the first game, so a big key is getting the first-game jitters out, and getting through the first quarter, then hunkering down and playing football,” said Aiello.
“It will start up front for us on both sides of the ball.
“I think on offense, execution and keeping drives alive will be the key,” he noted.
“On defense, it’s going to come down to our ability to not give up the big play, and tackling,” added Aiello. “They have some big talented backs, so it’s going to be important that we get a lot of hats to the ball, and that we tackle well.”
Clymer-Sherman-Panama at Waverly, 6 p.m. @ Memorial Stadium: The Wolverines are coming off a 46-26 win over Fonda-Fultonville in the N.Y. State Class C championship game, while the Wolfpack dropped a 63-16 decision to Tioga in the Class D state semifinals.
“They are well-coached. (Ty Harper) has won a few state titles, and if it weren’t for Tioga, he would have won another one or two,” said Waverly coach Jason Miller. “They’ve had quite a run.
“They went to the state semifinals last year, and the majority of that team is back,” noted Miller. “I think they feel really good about themselves, and are a confident group.
“They are very talented, skill-wise,” he added. “We need to dominate up front — I think that’s our advantage.”
WHEN CSP HAS THE BALL
The Wolfpack, who bring back 17 seniors and 20 seniors overall, averaged 38.2 points per game, while the Wolverines allowed 13.7 points per game.
“They have a mature, veteran quarterback (Tate Catanese),” said Miller. “All their receivers are back, and they are capable of making plays.
“We’re going to see a lot of spread stuff, a lot of motion, a lot of trades,” noted Miller. “They’ll try to confuse us pre-snap, and move people around.”
Catanese completed 64.6 percent (137 of 212) of his passes last year for 1,760 yards and 25 TDs, while being picked off just six times.
Senior all-state wide receiver Bryce Hinsdale had 58 receptions for 562 yards and 10 TDs in 2023, while senior Alex Barrmore had 25 grabs for 430 yards and six TDs,, and senior Carter Brink had 32 catches for 580 yards, and seven TDs.
“We need to find (Hinsdale) and know where he is,” said Miller. “He’s not their only receiver, but he’s their most accomplished receiver.
“We’re going to have to avoid giving up big plays, and get after their quarterback,” added Miller. “We’re going to have to contain him because he will run the ball.”
WHEN WAVERLY HAS THE BALL
Waverly averaged 41.1 points per game in 2023, while CSP allowed 14.6 points per game
“Their linebackers flow to the ball hard,” said Miller. “I Like the way they play, they are really fast.
“I think they’re going to do everything they can to disrupt us, run blitz, and try to get in gaps,” he noted.
“When they played Tioga, they ran an odd-front, and an even-front,” Miller added. “In their scrimmage, they played an even-front 4-4 and some two-high stuff — they have multiple fronts and multiple back-ends … so I’m not really sure what to expect. We’re prepared for both.”
