Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY — After two years away from the gridiron, senior Jake Browne returned and became an old-fashioned Tioga workhorse in the backfield. He is the Valley Sports Report 2024 Boys "Newcomer of the Fall."
Browne, who was goal keeper on the Tioga soccer team the last two years, rushed for 1,422 yards and 23 TDs on 186 carries (7.6 yards per carry) on the season.
In Tioga's 56-28 win over then-unbeaten Deposit-Hancock, Browne set team and Section IV record with 421 yards (on 32 carries), and eight TDs, which tied a Section IV record.
Defensively, Browne had 15 tackles, and one forced fumble.
2024 All-Valley Super 7 Boys Newcomers of the Fall:
Jake Browne, senior, Tioga football: See above.
Shane Platukis, sophomore, Tioga football: Platukis missed several games with an injury, but still rushed for 496 yards and seven TDs on 75 carries (6.6 yards per carry).
Defensively, Platukis had 37 tackles, including 12 solo stops and one tackle-for-loss.
Ty Owen, freshman, Athens golf: Owen immediately worked his way into the starting line-up for the three-time defending NTL champs, and helped them to a fourth.
He was sixth in the league with an 18-hole scoring average of 84.36 for 11 matches. His low round of the season was a 76.
Brendan Cooke, sophomore, Athens football: A hard-nosed defender, Cooke recorded 90 tackles, including 30 solo stops, one QB sack, and two tackles-for-loss. He also had three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception, and one blocked field goal.
Offensively, Cooke ran for 78 yards and one TD, and had five catches for 52 yards, and one TD.
Kadin Cole, junior, Tioga football: Cole had a nose for the football, and led the Tigers in tackles with 56, including 20 solo stops and one tackle-for-loss. He also had two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
He also saw some action on offense — two carries for 10 yards, and four receptions for 28 yards.
Dominic Palmer, junior, Tioga football: Palmer had eight catches for 105 yards, and three TDs. He also ran for 129 yards and one TD on 10 carries.
Defensively, had 42 tackles, including 12 solo stops, five QB sacks, five tackles-for-loss, and one fumble recovery.
Jesse Lantz, freshman, Waverly soccer: Quick and not afraid of contact, Lantz scored five goals for the Wolverines.
