SECTION IV FOOTBALL: TIOGA PULLS AWAY LATE IN 35-14 WIN OVER SVEC IN CLASS D SEMIFINALS (24 PHOTOS) (2024-11-09)
By TIM BIRNEYTioga County Sports ReportCONKLIN — SVEC kept it close into the fourth quarter, but three-time defending state champion Tioga pulled away late for a 35-14 win in the semifinals of the Section IV, Class D football playoffs here Saturday afternoon.
First-year SVEC coach Jared Wayman said the game was much closer than the final score indicated.
"It was 14-14 going into the half, it was a lot closer than it looks.
"I think we were just a couple plays away from beating these guys," said Wayman. "We just have to play a full four quarters.
"Tioga has a really deep bag of tricks," he added. "They're deep on the depth chart, and they showed that today."
Tioga opened the game with the ball, and thanks to a 53-yard kick return by Connor Streeter started at the SVEC 27.
After seven straight running plays — six by Jake Browne, Tioga faced a fourth-and-3 at the Eagle 9. An offsides call moved the ball inside the 5 for a first down, and Browne finished off the drive with a 4-yard TD run with 7:51 remaining in the first quarter. James Miller's PAT kick made it 7-0.
SVEC answered with a similar drive, which started at the Tioga 30 after Jakobe Foster returned the kick 40 yards.
The Eagles needed five runs plays — all by Logan Aman, who capped the drive with a 4-yard TD run with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter to close the gap to 7-6. The Tigers stuffed the run for conversion to maintain their lead.
Two plays after the ensuing kickoff, Tioga coughed up the ball and Ryan Huizinga pounced on it at the Tiger 40.
Four plays later, Aman broke loose around left end on a 23-yard TD run with 3:35 remaining in the opening stanza. Aman added the run for conversion to give SVEC a 14-7 lead.
On Tioga's ensuing possession, Browne ripped off an 11-yard run to the SVEC 42 on the first play, but the Tigers faced a fourth-and-11 moments later.
Junior QB Jayden Duncanson, who has not played since injuring his ankle against Waverly four weeks ago, subbed in for Lukas Nichols and promptly connected with Gavin Albrecht on a 17-yard completion to the Eagle 26.
Streeter followed with an apparent 26-yard TD run, but a block-in-the-back call brought the ball back to the SVEC 23.
Duncanson then hit Dominic Palmer on a 23-yard TD strike down the middle of the field with 31.4 seconds left in the first quarter. Miller's PAT tied the game at 14-14.
Foster appeared to give the Eagles the momentum back with an electrifying 75-yard return of the ensuing kickoff for a score, but a block-in-the-back call brought the ball back to the SVEC 46.
The Eagles picked up a pair of first downs, the first on a 3-yard QB sneak by Chris Merrick on fourth-and-1, and the second on a 15-yard run by Aman to the Tioga 27.
However, a fumble on second down resulted in a 9-yard loss, and a third-down pass was picked off by Tioga junior Kadin Cole, but the Tigers fumbled the ball back to SVEC three plays later at the Eagle 41.
"There were definitely times today when momentum shifted our way, and we weren't able to capitalize on it," said Wayman.
The Eagles picked up a pair of first downs, but a fumble on fourth-and-10 (recovered by Cole) turned the ball back over to the Tigers.
With Duncanson ripping off runs of 24 and 26 yards, sandwiched around a holding penalty, Tioga quickly moved the ball to the SVEC 20.
Runs of nine yards by Palmer, and six by Duncanson set the Tigers up with a first-and-goal at SVEC 5.
Duncanson scored on a 5-yard run, but it was nullified by a holding call. After Palmer broke off a 10-yard run back to the 5, Duncanson scored again, but it was also nullified by a holding call.
The half ended with a 32-yard field-goal attempt by Miller that was just under the cross bar.
The Eagles, who did not complete a pass in the contest, ran the ball for 135 yards in the first half, but only managed 17 yards and one first down — on its final possession of the game — in the second half.
"Tioga adjusted really well," said Wayman. "They shut us down on the outside, and were really stringing out plays.
"We don't have a lot of depth on the line, but we were slugging it out for four quarters," he noted. "I won't say they wore us down, but when you're playing 'iron man' football with a small school it's bound to happen.
"We were still moving the ball all right, but had a couple mishaps on snaps — just a couple plays where we took our heads out of the game," added Wayman. "There was blood in the water, and they were like sharks and able to capitalize."
After a SVEC three-and-out to start the second half, Tioga marched 74 yards on 15 plays in a drive that consumed nearly 7 1/2 minutes off the game clock. Browne capped the drive with a 5-yard TD run with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter. Miller's point-after made it 21-14.
SVEC fumbled the ball away on its first play of the ensuing possession, but Tioga gave it back three plays later.
The Eagles could not capitalize on the turnover, and punted it back to the Tigers.
Back in the game, Nichols directed a five-play, 39-yard drive, which included runs of 9 and 11 yards by Browne, and finished it off with a 21-yard TD pass to Palmer with 7:02 remaining in the game. Miller's point-after made it 28-14.
SVEC's next possession ended with a turnover on downs, and
Tioga took advantage of the short field with a 3-play, 16-yard drive, capped by Browne's third TD of the day — a 7-yard run with 4:19 remaining in the game. Miller's kick provided the final margin.
Tioga's ground game pounded out 296 yards on 52 carries. Browne led the way with 111 yards and three TDs on 29 carries, while Duncanson had 84 yards on five carries, Palmer had 36 yards on four carries, Streeter had 26 yards on four carries, and junior Gage Hopkins added 24 yards on four carries.
Duncanson completed 2 of 5 passes for 40 yards and one TD, and Nichols was 1-for-2 for 21 yards and one TD.
Palmer led Tioga with two receptions for 44 yards, and two TDs, and Albrecht had one catch for 17 yards.
Aman led SVEC with 103 yards and two TDs on 20 carries, while Charlie Hilbert added 31 yards on 11 carries, and Foster chipped in with 15 yards on four carries.
SVEC finishes off the season at 5-5, and Wayman is sad to see the season end.
"Everyone showed up today — the players, coaches, and community," said Wayman.
"I just wish we had another week," he noted. "This is a great group — top to bottom, it's a special group. It's the most fun I've ever had coaching."
Wayman is looking forward to 2025.
"Going into next year, we're not losing many guys in the skill positions.
"I think we're turning the corner with this program," he said.
—————————
IN PHOTO 1: SVEC's Jakobe Foster. IN TOP PHOTO: SVEC's Logan Aman. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
Print Friendly Version
