For the third straight year the Tioga Tigers and the Unatego Spartans will square off in the Section IV Class D Championship.  Each of the last two years have gone to Tioga.  That may be a good thing for Unatego because they're hungry.  Also, they have two years of experience in scouting Tioga.  Spartans Head Coach Frank Microni says that while he knows what to expect from Tioga, subsequently so do the Tigers know what to expect from his team.

Meanwhile, for the Tigers, their advantage is in their discipline and execution, primarily on the running game.  If, and that's a big if, you can stop Section IV's all-time leading rusher Jesse Manuel... and yes, he is only a junior, you then have to deal with running back 1A Brad Jump.  No one has ever been able to get one without the other.  They've been sharing a backfield since they were kids.  Head Coach Nick Aiello has no problem with how close they are, especially when they put up the kind of numbers they do, both surpassing 2,000 yards a season regularly.  Not to mention, they're close relationship brings the rest of the team closer together.

The Tigers and the Spartans clash on Friday night at U-E's Ty Cobb Stadium at 5:00.