YOUTH FOOTBALL: TIOGA 'A' TEAM FALLS IN SEASON-OPENER AT LANSING (2023-08-28)

Valley Sports Report
LANSING — Kaylah Nelson topped 100 yards on the ground for Tioga, but Lansing was a little too much in a 24-15 season-opening setback in “A” Division action in the Southern Tier Youth Football League.

Lansing’s first possession ended with a fumble, recovered by Tioga’s Bentley Zimmer at the Tiger 29, but the Tioga offense managed just one first down, and punted the ball away.

The Bobcats answered with a scoring drive and extra point to take an 8-0 lead with 1:13 remaining in the first quarter.

After a Tioga three-and-out, Lansing was again moving the ball, but a big hit by Jonah Palmer forced a fumble, and Tyler Haskins recovered it on the Lansing 47.

Nelson ripped off runs of 24 and 22 yards to the Lansing 1, and Haskins punched it in on a QB sneak to trim the deficit to 8-6.

Lansing answered with a scoring drive that culminated with a 33-yard TD pass to up their lead to 16-6 with 3:34 remaining in the half.

Lansing increased its lead to 24-6 with a six-minute scoring drive in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Mason Gerould broke loose on a 37-yard RUN, and Nelson followed with a 30-yard run to the Lansing 2. Nelson finished off the drive with a 2-yard TD plunger to close the gap to 24-15.

Tioga forced a fumble, and Dominick Ryck recovered it to give the Tigers the ball at the Lansing 49.

The Tigers drove the ball to the Lansing 5, but lost three yards on a third-down play. Dom Bacon provided Tioga’s final points of the game with a 25-yard field goal to make it 24-15.

Nelson rushed for 129 yards and one TD on 18 carries, while Gerald had 58 yards on eight carries, Palmer added 37 yards on four carries, and Haskins chipped in with five yards and one TD on two carries.

Haskins completed 1 of 3 passes for 7 yards, with Palmer contributing the only reception of the game.

Defensively, Nelson led Tioga with 11 tackles from the safety position, while Haskins had seven tackles and a fumble recovery, and Palmer had six tackles and a forced fumble.

Tioga returns to action Sunday at Elmira Black.