Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY — Athens hosts Troy tonight in an early-season NTL football battle that should determine the Large School champ, while Waverly and Sayre are both on the road.
In other action, the Waverly girls host Owego under the lights on the pitch at Memorial Stadium, while Tioga boys host IAC Small School rival O-M on the pitch at Haggerty Field.
FOOTBALL
Troy (2-1 overall, 0-0 NTL Large) at Athens (3-0, 1-0) 7 p.m.: The Wildcats are coming off a 56-22 win over Canton, while the Trojans rolled over South Williamsport, 42-13.
Athens is averaging 50.2 points per game, while allowing 16.3 points per game. (The first team has allowed 28 of 69 points the Wildcats have yielded.)
Troy is averaging 38.3 points per game, while allowing 11.3 points per game.
Athens junior dual-threat QB Connor Davidson is completing 70 percent (30 of 43) of his passes for 472 yards and nine TD, with three interceptions, while running for 12.9 yards per carry — 297 yards on 23 carries — and three TDs.
Six-foot, 5-inch senior James Friend has been Davidson most dangerous target with nine catches for 208 yards and four TDs
Troy's offense was without all-state running back Brendan Gilliland last week, and his availability this week is unknown, but first-year QB Mason Smith rushed for 241 yards and four TDs, and threw for two more scores last week.
Troy's strength during its run to a state title in 2024 was its play in the trenches. Athens is vastly improved in that area this season, but this is its biggest test of the season.
Last year, Troy won 55-0.
Waverly (1-0) at Windsor (1-0), 7 p.m.: Both teams have a week off since Week Double-Zero games. The Wolverines topped Troy, 14-13, while the Black Knights edged Tioga, 9-7.
Waverly's offense was run-heavy in its first game, led by senior Cooper Robinson's 95 yards.
The Wolverine defense bent, but did not break in its win over Troy, allowing a team that scored more than 50 points per game last season to just 13.
The Windsor defense limited Tioga to just 91 yards in total offense and two first downs.
The Black Knight offense racked up 301 yards, including 244 yards on the ground.
Last year, Waverly blanked Windsor, 42-0, in the Section IV, Class C semifinals.
Sayre (0-3, 0-1 NTL Small) at Cowanesque Valley (1-2, 0-1), 7 p.m.: The Redskins are coming off a 58-0 loss at Montgomery, while the Indians dropped a 48-6 loss to Muncy.
GIRLS SOCCER
Owego at Waverly, 7 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
O-M at Tioga, 4:30 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Tioga at Marathon, 4:30 p.m.
