Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY — "Football Friday" features a trio of games, with Tioga opening divisional play at home against arch-rival Newark Valley, while Waverly and Athens play divisional foes on the road.
FOOTBALL
Newark Valley (2-1) at Tioga (2-1), 7 p.m.: The Tigers, now ranked No. 1 in Class D in New York State, are coming off an impressive 34-14 win over the previously top-ranked Delhi, while the Cardinals rallied from an early 20-0 deficit to edge Bainbridge-Guilford, 35-34.
Tioga is outscoring its opponents by an average of 25.3 to 18, while Newark Valley has been outscored 20 to 19.3.
Tioga senior Logan Bellis, who missed all but the first half of the first game of his junior season, has returns and rushed for 427 yards in the last two games for the Tigers.
QB Nate Hinckley and tailback Jackson Hoover have provided the majority of the offensive punch for the Cardinals.
Last meeting: Tioga rolled to a 32-14 win at Newark Valley in Week 6 last season.
Athens (4-1) at Wellsboro (3-2), 7 p.m.: The Wildcats are coming off a 54-13 win at North Penn, while the Hornets rolled to a 37-15 win at Cowanesque Valley.
Athens has outscored its opponents by an average of 48.2 to 26.6, while Wellsboro has been outscored 22.8 to 20.8 points per game.
Junior Connor Davidson has been the driving force in the Athens offense. He completed 63.4 percent (52 of 72) for 962 yards and 14 TDs with five interceptions, and has run for 435 yards and five TDs.
Senior James Friend has been Davidson's most dangerous target with 14 receptions for 294 yards, and five TDs, but Gage Marmor and Ryan Cook have also been major contributors.
Sophomore QB Griffin Morral has led the Hornets through the air and on the ground.
Last meeting: Athens won a 21-13 decision last season in Week 6.
Waverly (3-0) at Johnson City (1-1), 7 p.m.: The Wolverines are coming off a 30-18 win over Norwich, while the Wildcats rolled over Binghamton, 44-6.
Waverly has outscored its opponents 26 to 14.7 in its 3-0 start, while Johnson City has outscored its foes 27 to 10.
Senior Cooper Robinson leads Waverly's ground game, which is averaging 150.7 yards per game, with 273 rushing yards and three TDs.
Junior Ben Shaw has completed 63.9 percent (23 of 36) for 435 yards and four TDs with just one interception. Senior Daltton Davis leads the receiving corps with seven catches for 173 yards (24.7 yards per catch.
Last meeting: Waverly rolled to a 41-6 win over JC in Week 3 of the 2019 season.
FIELD HOCKEY
Tioga at Owego, 6:45 p.m.
