FROM THE PRESS BOX: PIGSKIN PICKERS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK FROM BAD WEEK (2023-10-13)

It’s a bit of an odd week for Valley football, with three of the four teams playing on Saturday.

Athens will be lone team in action Friday night as it hosts NTL Large School Division co-leader Canton.

On Saturday, Waverly travels to Susquehanna Valley, and Tioga is on the road at Deposit-Hancock for afternoon games, and Sayre hosts North Penn-Mansfield to wrap up Homecoming Weekend at the Lockhart Street Bowl.

Week 7 was not a very good one for the Pigskin Prognosticators. I equalled my entire total losses of the season, with a 6-5 mark. Little Red and Country Bob also posted 6-5 records, with The Mick at 7-4.

On the season, I lead the pack at 58-10, while The Mick is one game off the pace at 57-11, Country Bob is 53-16, and Little Red is 52-17.

I think you’ll see a much better week for the foursome in Week 8. There doesn’t look to be more than one or two competitive games on the list of 13 we’ll pick.

So, what does Week 8 have in store for us? Let’s see what the Pigskin Pickers have to say:

Canton (7-0) at Athens (2-5): The Wildcats are coming off a 7-6 win over North Penn-Mansfield, while the Warriors thumped Montgomery in a game that wasn’t as close as the 45-12 final score indicates.

Prediction: Canton is a juggernaut cruising toward its Old Shoe showdown with Troy, while Athens is getting healthy, but young and a year away from being a dangerous team. … CANTON 45, ATHENS 6.
The Mick: Canton 54, Athens 0. … Little Red: Canton 35, Athens 0. … Country Bob: Canton 52, Athens.

Waverly (5-1) at Susquehanna Valley (3-2): The Wolverines are coming off a 56-6 win over Schuyler, while the Sabers dropped a 32-0 decision to Chenango Forks.

Prediction: Waverly won the battle in the trenches against Forks in a 19-15 win two weeks ago … Forks dominated SV up front last week. … WAVERLY 34, SUS. VALLEY 0.
The Mick: Waverly 40, SV 0. … Little Red: Waverly 49, SV 0. …  Country Bob: Waverly 44, SV 7.

Tioga (6-0) at Deposit-Hancock (1-4): The Tigers are coming off a 49-7 rout of SVEC, while the Lumberjacks dropped a wild 48-46 decision to Bainbridge-Guilford.

Prediction: Deposit-Hancock has been competitive this season, which is a step forward for a program that has really struggled in recent years. No one in Class D has been competitive with Tioga this season, and that won’t change Saturday. … TIOGA 55, D-H 6.
The Mick: Tioga 55, D-H. … Little Red: Tioga 42, D-H 0. … Country Bob: Tioga 62, D-H 0.

NP-Mansfield (2-5) at Sayre (0-7): The Redskins are coming off a 44-28 loss at Northwest Area, while the Panthers dropped a 7-6 decision at Athens.

Prediction: Sayre’s offense showed signs of life last week, but it was after game was already decided. North Penn-Mansfield has some big-play capabilities, and Sayre’s defense has struggled. … NP-MANSFIELD 33, SAYRE 13.
The Mick: NP-M 36, Sayre 0. … Little Red: NP-M 26, Sayre 14. … Country Bob: NP-M 37, Sayre 0.

Windsor (5-1) at Owego (3-2): The River Hawks are coming off a 22-19 win over Norwich, while the Black Knights dropped a 50-16 decision to powerhouse Maine-Endwell.

Prediction: A win would lock up a home game for Owego in the Class B semifinals. Of course, the same thing can be said for Windsor. … WINDSOR 28, OWEGO 6.
The Mick: Windsor 21, Owego 12. … Little Red: Windsor 28, Owego 7. … Country Bob: Owego 27, Windsor 13.

Hughesville (3-4) at Towanda (4-3): The Black Knights are coming off a 37-0 loss to Troy, while the Spartans dropped a 54-14 decision at Mount Carmel.

Prediction: Hughesville’s three wins come against teams with a combined 2-19 record, while all four of Towanda’s wins come against teams with 2-5 records. … TOWANDA 24, HUGHESVILLE 13.
The Mick: Hughesville 28, Towanda 13. … Little Red: Hughesville 21, Towanda 13. … Country Bob: Towanda 28, Hughesville 14.

Northwest Area (2-5) at Troy (7-0): The Trojans are coming off a 37-0 win at Towanda, while the Rangers topped Sayre, 44-28.

Prediction: The Trojan juggernaut continues to roll toward its Old Shoe showdown at Canton. … TROY 58, NORTHWEST 0.
The Mick: Troy 54, Northwest 0. …  Little Red: Troy 56, Northwest 0. …  Country Bob: Troy 54, Northwest 0.

Newark Valley (3-2) at Bainbridge-Guilford (2-3): The Cardinals are coming off a 22-16 win over Walton, while the Bears topped Deposit-Hancock in a wild, 48-46, decision.

Prediction: Newark Valley is improving each week … B-G is much more competitive than it has been in recent years. … NEWARK VALLEY 28, B-G 12.
The Mick: NV 28, B-G 7. …  Little Red: NV 21, B-G 6. … Country Bob: NV 38, B-G 6.

Harpursville-Afton (0-6) at SVEC (4-2): The Eagles are coming off a 49-7 loss at Tioga, while the Hornets dropped a 46-14 decision at Dryden.

Prediction: SVEC needs to win out to ensure a Class D playoff berth. Tonight, won’t be the problem. … SVEC 46, H-A 6.
The Mick: SVEC 45, H-A 0. … Little Red: SVEC 35, H-A 6. … Country Bob: SVEC 36, H-A 6.

Loyalsock (5-2) at Wyalusing (4-3): The Rams are coming off a 21-13 win over Wellsboro, while the Lancers topped Lewisburg, 28-14.

Prediction: Wyalusing’s wins come against four teams with a combined 5-23 record, while Loyalsock lost by a field goal to 6-1 Danville, and have played a much tougher schedule. … LOYALSOCK 40, WYALUSING 12.
The Mick: Loyalsock 50, Wyalusing 0. … Little Red: Loyalsock 40, Wyalusing 7. … Country Bob: Loyalsock 27, Wyalusing 12.

Muncy (6-1) at Cowanesque Valley (4-3): The Indians are coming off a thrilling, 29-28, overtime win over South Williamsport, while the Indians topped CMVT, 36-24.

Prediction: Cowanesque Valley is much-improved over last year, but Muncy is much better than I expected. … MUNCY 44, CV 22.
The Mick: Muncy 44, CV 13. … Little Red: Muncy 42, CV 6. … Country Bob: Muncy 38, CV 20.

South Williamsport (5-2) at Wellsboro (2-5): The Rams are coming off a 21-13 loss to Wyalusing, while the Mounties dropped a 29-28 overtime decision to Muncy.

Prediction: I would think South Williamsport will be playing with a chip on its shoulder after a crushing loss last week. … SOUTH 35, WELLSBORO 6.
The Mick: South 34, Wellsboro 6. … Little Red: South 28, Wellsboro 6. … Country Bob: South 41, Wellsboro 6.

Montgomery (1-6) at Warrior Run (4-3): The Red Raiders are coming off a 45-12 loss to Canton, while the Defenders topped Midd-West, 42-7.

Prediction: Warrior Run isn’t a threat in Class 3A, but they should easily handle a struggling Class A program. … WARRIOR RUN 42, MONTGOMERY 0.
The Mick: Warrior Run 44, Montgomery 0. … Little Red: Warrior Run 44, Montgomery 6. … Country Bob: Warrior Run 37, Montgomery 6.