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Broome County Team's Preview with Roger Neel & "Coach" Smith · Cover IV Podcast

• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to Cover Four.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: If you're a Sector 4 football fan, you're in the right place.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: This is your podcast.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Coach Smith, and I'll be your host.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Buckle up.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: Let's go.
• 0:24
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Cover Four podcast preseason team preview for the Broome County teams.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: I'm joined by our Hall of Fame football analyst, Roger Neal.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: You know him as the sports voice of the Southern Tier.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Roger will analyze five teams and then I will analyze the other five teams.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome, Roger.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: Take it away.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_01: And welcome to another football season.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: Unbelievable how fast the summer's gone.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: And now it's showtime.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_01: They've had scrimmages, some games, but now everything starts to count.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: Let's take a look at Bingleton, the Patriots, Class A football.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: They opened with a tough one.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_01: They lost to Shenango Valley.
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_01: And they have four of the first five of their games away.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_01: So nothing easy for the Patriots.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: They're trying to improve on last year's tough year, a record of one and eight.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: And they're not home until they play Vestal on the 27th of September.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_01: Some key players for the Patriots, quarterback Elijah Johnson, the senior, wide receiver Devontae Santiago, and senior cornerback and running back Nico Nembhard.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_01: Our coach Vaughn Lehler is back for his second season.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_01: And the Patriots looking to regain some of the great teams that they had in years past, but that goes back a while.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_01: The Patriots are just 4 and 25 over the past four seasons.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: Not easy coming up this week.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_01: They travel on the road to play at Rome Free Academy.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: Again, the Binghamton Patriots getting things underway, but they opened up with a loss to Shenango Valley.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: What about Shenango Valley?
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: Well, from Class B to Class C this year, they had that win over the Patriots, 41-28, and 20 points were scored by them in the second half.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: They traveled to Ithaca for a game against the Little Red this Friday night.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: They have October 3rd scheduled circled on their calendar.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: Why?
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_01: Because they play at Shenango Forks, their longtime rivals.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: Head coach Brad Tom back for another year.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_01: 14 seniors coming off a three-and-seven year last year.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: And they're in the same division as Windsor, Oneada, and Susquehanna Valley.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_01: How about Class B continuing Johnson City's Wildcats?
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_01: They opened at Oneata this weekend.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: And they have three straight at home Binghamton, Waverly, and Windsor following that away game.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_01: At Oneana Saturday, and then the home schedule, and including hosting Binghamton Saturday, September the 20th.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: Big game for them coming up later in the season against Shenango Forks at Wildcat Wildcat Stadium.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_01: Also, taking a look ahead, previewing things.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_01: How about the premier team in the area?
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: Certainly at the top of the list, the main endwell Spartans in Class B.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_01: Division III Class B.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: And they have a huge opener.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_01: Two mega rivals at Shenango Forks at Main Anwell this upcoming Friday.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: Three straight home games for Maine Anwell Spartans after Shenango Forks, Horses, and a we go at home.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_01: Twenty-one players returned from last season.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_01: And they uh have graduated rather than twenty-one nine seniors this year.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_01: So quite a few newcomers, however, they've got the veteran quarterback Preston Awker returning for his second year at the helm.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: He's expected to lead another high-powered offense for Coach Matt Gallagher.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: Gallagher is back for his 18th season.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_01: And of course, the tradition runs high.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: They have reached the New York State finals in fourth grade seasons.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_01: They won championships in 2021 and 22.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: On to Class C in Susquehanna Valley.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: They opened at a Wigo coming up on Friday the 12th, they're in Division IV.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: The Sabres were four and five last season.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Coach Mike Ford returns for his 13th year at the helm as head coach.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: Six seniors are back, and his sophomore will be counted on to replace Maddox Kopko, who threw for 1,500 plus yards and 14 touchdowns at sophomore Nolan Weed.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_01: So lots of hopes for him to come through and lead this SB team.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: Coach Ford will look to get back to the winning ways of the program as they've had back-to-back four and five campaigns.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_01: But the Sabres and all the people around them still have those great memories of back-to-back New York State Class C championships in 2018 and 2019.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_01: So they're hopeful things will be even more so on the rebound as they get things underway this upcoming weekend.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_01: Tim, that's a look at some of the teams and some of the key teams coming up right here in our area this weekend and throughout the season.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you very much, Roger, as usual.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: Very good job, very thorough.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: And uh on my segment, I'll pick up the other five teams out of uh the Southern Tier, and then that will wrap up the overall teams in Section Four and the Southern Tier.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: So thanks again, Roger.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: Really appreciate what you do, and uh, we'll be keeping you around.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: We'll begin with the Windsor Black Knights, led by longtime coach Tim Hogan.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: And it's only right that we start off with Windsor because they're the first ones that practice football in Section Four.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: They have a tradition of 12-01 a.m.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: on that Monday morning, kicking off their practice.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_00: And they've got they're coming off a 7-3 season, and Coach Hogan is looking for some good things from the team, and especially a couple of their outstanding players.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: That's Luke Beatty, uh offensive and defensive lineman, and senior running back free safety, Tyson Schmidt.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: And they're in that ever-tough Class C division now with uh Susquehanna Valley and then two new division comers, Oneana, who's an up-and-coming program, as is Shenango Valley.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: So you can expect some good things from them.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they had played a game on August 30th and they won 9-7 over Tiaga, which is absolutely huge because Tyoga is a perennial powerhouse, regardless of the division.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: And their week one game on the Friday, September 12th, will be home against Waverley at 7 p.m.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: And that's another litmus test for the program.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see what uh how the Windsor Black Knights favor this season.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: Now on to the Whitney Point Eagles, coached by Coach Hakes.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they're looking to improve on a three and six record last year, and a bulk of the team last year was sophomores and juniors, so those are going to be uh juniors and seniors this year.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: And Coach Hakes is looking for good things out of them, particularly senior lineman Jace Clark and also senior receiver Dylan Whitney.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as we all know, Section 4 Class C contains the champions from previous years, last year and years past is the Shenango Forks Blue Devils.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's gonna be a tough task, but uh nonetheless, Coach Hakes feels that the Whitney Point Eagles are up for that challenge.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: The Eagles play on Friday, September 12th at Bainbridge Guildford at 7 p.m.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: Now on to the Shenango Forks Blue Devils, coached by longtime head coach Dave Hogan.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: Not only are the Blue Devils, you know, a perennial power in Section 4 Class C, but they are one of the premier programs throughout the state level.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: And Coach Hogan is looking for good things this year from offensive lineman linebacker Andrew Bunker, and also Tate Bender, who is Mr.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: Do Everything for the Blue Devils.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: Coach looks to see him continue to do good things.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: And they bring back an experienced junior quarterback, Sam Paske.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: And that bows really well if you bring somebody back that's experienced, particularly in that position.
• 8:03
  SPEAKER_00: Also, coach is looking for offensive uh and defensive lineman Jacob DeYoung, some good things out of him as well.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_00: Uh they play Friday, September 12th at Maine Endwell at 7 p.m.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_00: That will be a game to watch.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_00: Again, they play main end well this Friday at Maine Endwell at 7 p.m.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: Now on to the Unionicot Tigers, led by longtime head coach Tommy Bellino.
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: 2004 was a rough year for the Tigers.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: They hit they went 1-9, which is uncharacteristic for a traditional powerhouse like Union Indicott.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_00: And it only seems like just a couple short seasons ago, the Tigers were actually playing in the state championship game.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Coach Bellino is looking for a lot of good things out of his quarterback, senior Joey Gennarelli.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: And don't be surprised if you see him in a lot of different positions and formations to take advantage of his athleticism.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_00: So the uh Tigers open their season on September 11th at West Jenny at 6 p.m.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: That'd be September 11th at West Jenny at 6 p.m.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: And I'll finish up with the Vestal Golden Bears.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: They have a new head coach, and he's also the offensive coordinator, and that's Jake Spalick.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: And he's no um stranger to Vestal.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: He's coached there for a few years.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_00: He was an outstanding student athlete at Johnson City, then went on to Brockport and set records there, and also coached at the collegiate level, including at Cortland.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: So he knows what time it is in terms of uh coaching.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: What the coach is looking for uh are some special things out of some returners that played a lot of key contributing roles last year.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: That would be running back Caden Kitchen, quarterback Josh Queller, and um although they lost 17 seniors, they they do have a young overall group of student athletes, uh 29 on the on the roster.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: But uh also another student athlete to watch is uh Preston Antisberger, who's a kicker, and he kicks into the end zone a lot and bringing the team, the defense uh starts defending at the 20-yard line.
• 10:15
  SPEAKER_00: So that's great defense in the kicker itself.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: So if you can kick in inside uh the end zone each time, you're gonna make your opponent go the uh the long field uh to try to score on you.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the Russell Golden Bears have been in seven of the late, I'm sorry, seven of the last eight subsequent finals, and most recently in 2023 they against Horseheads, uh, where they won, and then they fell to the Blue Raiders in 2024.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: So Coach Balick, although has a young roster, is looking for good things out of his team.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: They play on September 12th, they play Utica Proctor at home at 7 p.m.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: And Utica Proctor is a AA program out of Section 3.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: And also on a special note, remember the Vestal Athletic Network, Vestal Athletics Network will broadcast all home games on fan.huddle.com.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's f-a-n.h-ud.com.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: And they're run just like a uh professional uh sports team.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_00: They have Sideline Reporters replay.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: Even though you're at the game, you can still watch there and actually see replays, or if you're anywhere in the world.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: So that uh one keynote, how can I forget?
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: There's one glaring uh empty roster spot on the Vestal program, and that's JT Gannon.
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: You'll remember his name the last couple of years, prolific uh Mr.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: Everything for Vestal.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: He'll run the ball, catch passes, uh returns kicks, uh, and also as the current uh Vestal record holder for a number of receiving records.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: But he chose to go the prep school route, and he's gonna be at Chalk 8 Rosemary Hall, and uh getting prepared to hopefully go on and play at the collegiate level.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_00: I know as a former uh college scout, um, I would definitely uh recommend JT as a slot receiver or a slot corner and also a kick returner at the collegiate level.
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: So good luck to him and uh good luck to all the teams in section four.
• 12:21
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• 12:24
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• 12:30
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• 12:34
  SPEAKER_00: In football and life, it's not where we line up, it's where we wind up.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to the Cover 4 podcast.