2021 Week 4 Tioga County Teams - Tim Birney & Games of the Week - Roger Neel

In this episode, Tim Birney shares insight into the Tioga County Teams, while Roger Neel, provides his weekly insight into The Games of the Week for the Section IV Football Season.

This podcast will run weekly during the season and continue as long as a Section IV Football team is playing.

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Transcript

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SPEAKER_02 0:09

Welcome to Cover 4. If you're a Section 4 football fan, this is your podcast. I'm Coach Smith, and I'll be your host. The Cover 4 podcast is brought to you by TDS Performance Improvement. 60% of first-time leaders fail. TDS Performance Improvement prevents these failures by verifying often overlooked prerequisites. To see if you have the leadership prerequisites, visit TDSPI.com. That's TDSPI.com. Click the Let's Have a Conversation button and schedule your free informative conversation. Our guest today is Tim Bernie. He is the football analyst covering the Tioga County teams. Welcome back, Tim.

SPEAKER_00 1:07

Coach, how are you today?

SPEAKER_02 1:08

Good. Glad to have you back. And you're one of our uh number one guys, so go ahead and let it rip, coach.

SPEAKER_00 1:15

So uh this week, let's see, week four in uh New York State play. Well, week three, but with week zero mixed in there, kind of confusing. Uh, we've got uh all five teams in Tower County in action. We'll start with Oigo. They are one and two overall, one and oh in uh division three of Class B. Uh their lone win of the season was a divisional win over Johnson City, struggling Wildcat program. We go beat them 20 to 8. Uh their other two games they lost to Waverly and to Elmira. Uh, you know, they graduated 22 seniors. They're still struggling to find their identity, and they've really had a problem moving the football this year, only 33 points. And like I said, 20 of those coming against Johnson City. Uh Spencer Meade's done a nice job at quarterback. Um, they've struggled up front to protect him. They haven't had much luck running the football. Um, like I said, very young, but Coach Burkler does a nice job there. Um, I think you know, if they can keep everybody in the program, you know, this is a team that that'll it'll get better over the next year or two as these kids get some seasoning under their belt. Uh, this week they travel to Odessa Montour, Watkins Glen, face the Seneca Indians. Pretty good program up there. They have uh Cameron Holland at quarterback, throws a nice ball, can run the football. Trayvon Jones does a little bit of everything for him out of the backfield, wide receiver, you know, goes in motion, catches a lot of balls. One of the best players, I think, in section four. Uh, they they gave Tyoga quite a football game, 27-14 last week. Um, I think uh We go's gonna have their hands full up there uh this week. We'll move on to Newark Valley. The Cardinals uh graduated 20 players from Class D program. Uh, most times that's gonna be a pretty devastating uh loss and tough to overcome. The Cardinals dropped their uh week one game against Harpersville Apton 42 to 33. Uh offensively, they didn't skip much of a beat. Defensively, they really struggled to stop the Hornets, uh, who were able to run ball pretty much at will. Um Newark Valley's bounced back the last two weeks with big wins over uh scoring 62 points, I believe, in both games, beating Bainbridge Guildford and Deposit Hancock. Uh Mike Wandel at quarterback, tremendous. Uh he can run the football, has a great arm, you know, throws a 90 mile an hour fastball on the baseball diamond. So we can see at quarterback, he can he's got a rifle. Uh Landon Spoonhauer's done a nice job at running back. Joe Sherwood has uh done real well out of the backfield or you know, catching passes at split end, excuse me. And then Max Flesher, Luke Rankavic, a couple another nice running backs. They they seem to plug him in up at Newark Valley. Uh the offensive line, uh, we'll see. They'll get they'll get um this week they play Dryden, another team struggling. Uh they're 0-3 this season. They've given up 147 points, scored just 21. I think Newark Valley will probably have another big, big week offensively, but they'll get tested after Dryden. They uh play back-to-back road games at Tyoga and Dal High in their division. So that'll give us a really big uh indication of how good this Cardinal team is. Um I think they're gonna surprise some people, but I you know they already uh exceeded some people's expectations. I heard a lot of people talking about you know they'd been lucky to win two or three games with all the kids they graduated. That coaching step up there is too good for this team just to fall into an abyss. Um, I figured they'd win four or five games this year. And like I said, we'll see how good they are uh by going the Tyoga and Dow High in back-to-back weeks. Let's move on to uh spec, Spencer Vanette and Candor. Eight-man football, they are ranked number two in the state. Uh, and there's there's a good reason for that. They are scoring 62 points a game in their two wins and only giving up six. Uh, they'll play Thomas Edison this week. I happen to watch uh my first ever eight-man football game last weekend, uh, two weekends ago. Thomas Edison beat Notre Dame. Uh the Spartans better than they were last year. Um, so that you know it's good to see a program moving in the right direction. They run the football well. Um we'll see if they can match up with the Eagles. I mean, this spec team, Nick Thomas at quarterback, Devin Beach at fullbackslash tight end. They've got Jason Terriberry on the split as a split end, Logan Newell, Logan Newell, Cameron Smith. They've got athletes up there. Um, they're physical on defense. Uh Devin Beach is a man among boys. Um, you know, if he catches the ball out in space, good luck. One-on-one tackling him. And then they hand the ball off to him, and you know, he's a he's a load to bring down. Um, you know, I think they're gonna be uh they are the team to beat, I believe, in section four. I think green is pretty solid. Um Newfield has played okay, but I think um I think it comes down to Speck and Green this year, and uh should be fun to watch.

SPEAKER_02 6:43

Yeah, also in that eight-player uh classification, Groton is ranked statewise number nine, and T Burg or Trumansburg number 10. So that my bad.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

I yep, uh you're right. I overlooked both those teams, both pretty solid teams. Um, you know, Groton's only given up eight points in two games, good defensively. You know, and the funny thing is you look at that, Groton and uh Green both played 11-man football as recently as two years ago, and same with Speck. And now they're all having success on the eight-man front. Um, we'll see. I think um Groton and Trumansburg play soon, so that'll be a big uh that's a big battle in that division because uh they're in the division seven, and uh I think the winner of that game has a pretty good shoe-in for one of the top two seeds in uh the eight-man football playoffs. So let's move a little bit west in the county. We'll get to Waverly. A uh perhaps the biggest surprise for me um in Tywa County. Not perhaps, definitely. I know I I tabbed them at five and five in my preseason picks, and uh Jason Miller gave me a little grief over that. And they are they are currently four and oh, and they've only allowed 20 points in those three games. One of those was on a kick return. Uh they they their defense is um extremely quick. Uh they're secondary, they're tough to throw on because they're secondaries, um, very athletic. So, you know, and I don't think they've even hit strides yet offensively. I think the best is yet to come. Uh sophomore quarterback Joey Tomaso has done a nice job. He keeps progressing, keep improving. Um, he's found a uh running mate and sophomore Jay Piper, um, who, if you know, any any uh Section 4 fans, if they remember the name Tommy Kingston uh from about 25, 30 years ago, he was a uh tremendous three-sport athlete here at Waverly State Wrestling Champion, uh tremendous football and baseball player. That is uh uh that would be uh Mr. Piper's uncle. So he's got good bloodlines going there. So I know they've got Brady Bloiveld at another split end who's had 10 catches in a game just recently. Um they they really like to throw the ball. They've got a couple big running backs who can uh can pound the ball a little bit when they need to. Um they've they play um Ithaca this week, another struggling program. Um Little Red, I believe they're 0-3 up there. And uh no, excuse me, they're one and two. And you know, so Waverley's gonna go up there. They'll have their hands full because Ithaca's athletic. They've got a lot of numbers, but I you know, I think Waverly beat them two years ago, and um they're not gonna be intimidated by walking onto a you know a field against a double-A team. Uh the Wolverines, they're it gets tougher for them, though. They're they play uh Ithaca this week and then Dryden next week. So there's a good chance they walk into Odessa Montour Watkins Glen battle at 6-0. And then they not only do they play the Seneca Indians in week seven or six, they follow that up with Oneana and Susquehanna Valley. So it they're gonna be tested the last three weeks of the season. Um, the division crown will probably be decided when they play at Odessa Montour Watkins Glen. Um both teams right now one and oh in the division. Um both still have to play dryden aside for playing each other. So obviously, you know how important winning that division is so that you don't have to play Schnangle Forks in the Class B or Class C semifinals. Um, not that Norwich or Susquehanna Valley will be a cakewalk, but it, you know, you you definitely have a better shot of getting to the finals against Snango Forks than you do getting the finals if you have to play Shenango Forks in the semifinals. And last but not least, big big game this week in Class D football section four, Tyoga, which uh jumped into the number one spot in uh Tuesday's rankings. Uh climbing climber Sherman Panama, the two-time defending state champion uh who beat Tyoga three consecutive years in the uh state semifinals. They were beaten 22 to nothing by another old state playoff nemesis of Tyoga. That would be Randolph. So Tyoga jumps into the number one spot. They had the Delhi Saturday. Uh Del High 3-0. They've outscored their opponents 111 to 33, uh, while Tyoga has outscored their opponents in three games, 124 to 26. So statistically, as far as point differential goes, quite similar. Uh Tyoga running game that's averaging well over 300 yards per game, and a passing attack that's actually averaging about 125 yards, 120 yards a game. So they're putting out about 420 to 25 yards per game. Um, and that balance is gonna make them very tough to defend as the season progresses. Uh, I know Delhi um pretty big up front, so they've got an advantage over Tyoga there. Walton showed last night with a couple uh possessions, lengthy possessions that you know, Tyoga, if they have an Achilles heel, it's it's that between the tackles, being able to run the ball, being physical and running the ball between the tackles. Um so it's gonna be very interesting. You know, Emmett Wood uh closing in on 6,000 career rushing yards. Uh Nick Aiello, coach Nick Giello, 99 career wins. So this Saturday could be a milestone for him. Uh very, very good football team. Um, I I think uh, like I think I told you in the preseason, I'll be shocked if this team doesn't represent Section 4 in the state playoffs. And for the first time in you know, a long first time ever, I actually picked one of my teams to win a state title. So not that I'm putting any pressure on them, but I think they're a they're a pretty good squad. And and to be honest with you, coach, um, I think the expectations around this program this year are sky high. You know, they have been, and I think everybody involved, you know, will be disappointed if they if they don't at least get to the state finals. So, you know, that that's uh when you when you put your program in position like Coach Aiello has to have those type of expectations, not only from your community and maybe from the media, but from your team itself. Um, I think that's a testament to the job he's done there. I mean, you look at 11 seasons plus, you know, actually last year was 10, you know, it was a half a season. So basically 11 full seasons, he's got 99 wins.

SPEAKER_02 13:39

Yeah, and he always does a really good job putting uh good student athletes on the field, and he's really solid. Their programs are solid and fundamentals, and in their you know, blocking and tackling, and then the traditional ball handling position. And he's always has those go-to running backs that are just workhorses for a number of years. So, yeah, that he's always got that program set up for success, and they're fun to watch, as are all these teams in section four. It's just so good to be back.

SPEAKER_00 14:07

And I and I'll tell you, coach, too, if you get a chance to see Tyoga play, watch their linebackers because Emmett Wood is not only one of the best tailbacks in the state, he's a tremendous linebacker, and he's got another senior there, Isaac Peterson, who um, you know, I always thought Tyler Spires was the best linebacker I've seen at Tyoga in the years I've been covering them. And it's funny because he's around the program now a little bit. And we got talking one day last week um when I happened to be up there uh shooting a soccer game, I believe. I ran into him and I joked with him. I said, you know, the Peterson kid might be the he might hit harder than you. And he laughed and he said, I always thought I was the best linebacker uh from Tyoga. Now I'm not so sure. I mean, he can really play. And then they've got another one, the Duncanson, uh Osman Duncanson, who transferred in from uh they his parents bought a place right in Nichols, uh or in Tyoga, excuse me. And you know, he's going to Tyoga this year. Uh, he's playing linebacker, and he's been a tremendous uh addition. So those three linebackers are I you know, I haven't seen everybody else in section four, but in the small school ranks, I I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better trio linebackers than what they've got.

SPEAKER_02 15:16

Nice. Well, have you got anything else, Tim?

SPEAKER_00 15:20

No, I just you know, again, props to uh Coach Miller and the Waverly Wolverines for their start at four and oh. You know, we're we're looking at uh Tyoga at 3-0, uh Newark Valley 2-1, uh Speck unbeaten. You know, we go struggling a little bit, but that was kind of to be expected with the graduation losses they had. But uh, you know, I think you'll see them improve as the season goes on. It's just a great, great year, not only that just to have football back, period, but a great year to be in uh a section or a Tywood County football fan. I mean, you know, right now, collective record of like 13 and three, so not too bad at all.

SPEAKER_02 16:01

Yeah, and and I have a soft spot for the Tiger County. That's where I got my coaching start, as I was alluding to with you. It was uh coaching in the Uego App Laken Junior Football League for uh a couple of years while I was playing with the Jets. And then also I got a chance to coach there at the high school in a Uego, and uh I really appreciate what I got there as far as you know the knowledge and the opportunity. So, yeah, it's very exciting uh time to be a Section Four football fan. Uh Tim, thank you for uh all your knowledge and insight that you share with us. I know our listeners really appreciate that. The numbers reflect that, and uh keep doing what you're doing. Thank you, Tim.

SPEAKER_00 16:42

Hey coach, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 16:44

Welcome to the week four preview of the Section Four football season. Our guest analyst today is our steady guy, Roger Neal, the sports voice of the Southern tier. Let it rip, Roger.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

All right, Tim, thank you very much. A quick uh recap of uh several big games last weekend. Maine Enwell keeps rolling. They up the record to three-0. Uh uh win 31-7 against Horseheads, horseheads falls to two-one. The forks clobbering Susquehanna Valley 40-nothing, and Windsor upends Norwich 12-8 in a big battle between those two schools. Now, coming up this weekend, certainly a marquee matchup will be two backyard rivals, and it doesn't get much better than rivalry for these two teams. Emmy at UE in Tycomb Stadium set for Friday night. UE's coming off a win 20-13 against Vestal. Of course, Emmy coming up with their third win of the season over horseheads. A big question mark. Jordan Owen was injured in that win last weekend. A key two-way player for Maine Henwell's status is unknown at this stage of the week. So we'll see if that has uh a situation that really impacts Maine and well, but have to hurt in some way because he's a tremendous player. But you talk about evenly matched teams, even though they're not in the same classification. In B-play, for example, Maine Henwell 113 points scored, 28 against UB Tigers have scored 135 points and given up 27. So the newfound offense for the Tigers has been rolling, and Emmy's defense certainly will get a big test coming up this weekend. Also, this weekend in the Western part of section four horseheads will match up at Corning on Friday evening. Horseheads is two and one coming off that loss that made in well. And Corning is continuing to put up big numbers, crushing the Bigaman Patriots 61 to 19. So it's Horseheads 2 and 1 against undefeated Corning coming up on Friday at Corning. Also, a couple of other good matchups set for this weekend. Windsor, uh game at Johnson City. Windsor is 3-0, and they'll match up against the Wildcats yet to win. Also, uh in uh play involving Norwich, Norwich looking to rebound. They play at Sydney, Norwich now after that loss this past weekend, three and one. Meanwhile, Sydney 0-3 looking for their first victory. So those are some of the big key matchups coming up this weekend. It should be another exciting time for Section 4 football fans. Tim?

SPEAKER_02 19:14

Yeah, absolutely. One other one, Roger, we'll touch on a little bit, is Susquehanna Valley and Shenango Valley, the battle of what I call the the um the battle of the valleys. Uh Susquehanna Valley's kind of uh taken on the uh chin here the last couple of weeks, and Shenango uh Valley is a team that's really coming back around now. So that itself should also be a very good game as well.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

Absolutely. And again, you look at that, you know, um uh the records are not as impressive, certainly, as M E and U E, but it's the same kind of rivalry. So when you have those games, records, stats, the first snap, it's all over, and you start again.

SPEAKER_02 19:51

Yeah, exactly. All right, uh some of the rankings right now, Roger, and double A. We've got uh Corning is ranked number 17th, and honorable mention is Almira in the A classification. UE has jumped into the top 25, coming in at number 24, and honorable mention is horseheads. The uh B classification, Maine Edwell again after uh three weeks has continued to be ranked number one in class B. Windsor comes in at number 18. The C classification is really, I feel, one of the stronger classifications, as I alluded to last week. Shenango Forks is number six, Norwich is ranked 12th, immediately followed by Waverly at 13. An honorable mention, you have Oniana and Watkins Glenodessa Montur. So again, the team that uh from Section Four that gets their way out of uh that C classification division into the the state level has uh probably got really good uh things ahead of them at the state level. In the in the D division, uh you've got Tyoga at number one now, and you've got uh Harpersville Afton at number 11, followed at Delhi, number 14. And actually, those two teams play each other this weekend. Harpersville Afton uh plays Walton, so that should be a really good game. And in the eight-player classification, now keep in mind we've got 13 teams in section four that play eight-player football. We've got six of them that are ranked in the state. You've got Spencer Vanetton at number two, Green at six, Groton at nine, followed immediately by T Burg or Trumansburg at number 10. And the honorable mention you've got Lansing and Newfield. So uh there's gonna be some really good representation uh out of section four, come playoff time in section, and also at the state level as well. So that wraps up week four preview. Thanks again, Roger. Really appreciate that. Take care.

SPEAKER_01 21:53

All right, you too, Jim. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 21:54

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