Groton prepares to defend 8-man title

Last fall was one to cherish for the Groton football team. They went on a dominant tear through the 8-man scene in Section IV, winning their first sectional title since 2009 and making it all the way to the regional championship. This time around, they hope to make it back to the final under a new head coach.

Nick Dyson takes over the program after Joe Manning’s four-year stint as head coach. Dyson has been the school district’s business administrator since 2022, so he was treated to a phenomenal team to watch in his first year in Groton. After seeing the town’s thriving football community, it made his decision to join in on the fun a no-brainer.

“I know a lot about Groton and the pride that they have in their football program,” Dyson said. “I found out even more after I was hired what the community aspect is here. The support level and the involvement from the community is just phenomenal, and I’m glad I made the decision to be part of it.”

Dyson has firsthand experience with what it’s like to play and coach for a strong football program. He was a 2003 graduate of Tioga where he was the quarterback of the Tigers and also played basketball and baseball. He then went on to play college ball at Hobart and William Smith Colleges as a wide receiver for the Statesmen. He returned to Tioga as a volunteer assistant coach for three years, helping lay down the foundation for the Tigers becoming the state’s perennial powerhouse in Class D. Dyson is hoping to replicate what his alma mater has achieved over the past 15 years.

“They are mirror images of each other, and the possibilities are endless here,” Dyson said. “Obviously, the ultimate goal is to get back to 11-man. I think the public really wants to hear that. But those two communities are very, very close in proximity. [With] some solid coaching and some familiar faces, it wouldn’t take much for us to compete with the Tiogas of the world.”

In the meantime, Groton will continue to strengthen its grasp on 8-man football and continue to build on what worked so well for them last season. While the focus on defense first will remain the same, Dyson will put his own twist on the offense.

“Defensively, that’s where we start,” Dyson said. “We have one of the strongest defenses in the state. Fundamental defense is our foundation. Offensively, what we’ll bring to the table is a little bit of Joe Manning-style in the spread, but also a hybrid level from my Tioga days in running the football. That’s where we’re going to be successful offensively.”

A more run-heavy style will mean another strong season for Nick Karandeyev. The senior was an All-State Honorable Mention last year, having led the team with 1,151 rushing yards and 328 receiving yards while tallying 21 total touchdowns. While Karandeyev was frequently used as the player in motion, he’ll be featured more in the backfield this campaign to consistently run the ball.

“Nick is a dynamic player,” Dyson said. “[We want] to be able to get the ball in his hands because he’s just such a powerful weapon. In the offseason, he’s put in some work. Really all of our guys have and it’s really needed, but it starts with his leadership. All of our guys came in over the summer. We had a really good eight weeks of workouts from our guys. I’d say there were consistently 12 to 16 guys, and Nick headed that up.”

While Groton retains the magnificent services of Karandeyev, they also lost plenty of talent in significant areas. Their three All-State First Team selections—Austin Hunt, Ben DeMatteo, and Gaige Goodsell—have all graduated. Hunt and DeMatteo split time as the quarterbacking duo last year to great effect, leaving a notable hole at the most important position. Garrett Moffitt will be the new face under center. Dyson is confident that the senior will step into his new role without a hitch.

“He is truly one of our leaders on the team,” Dyson said. “He was right there with Nick over the summer and leading these guys in workouts, learning the offense even more, and asking great questions. He’s the guy everyone looks to in terms of direction and any sort of questions.”

Dyson is tasked with getting Groton back to the regional championship and winning it all this time around. He and his players know exactly what it will take to one-up themselves from their unforgettable 2022 campaign.

“I’ll say it just like our kids do, and that’s effort and attitude,” Dyson said. “We had that message out to the kids and they responded. Total effort and team effort is what it’s gonna take and just having an attitude that we’re going to win. We’re going to be 1-0. That’s our motto. Our attitude is that nobody else can defeat us. It’s just up to us to win.”

Groton begins the season on September 8 at home against Section III’s Onondaga.