OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Tate Catanese (14) sprints toward the end zone for a first-half touchdown during Saturday’s Class D football game against Randolph at Clymer Central School.
CLYMER — Deflected at the line of scrimmage, the pass from Clymer/Sherman/Panama quarterback Tate Catanese appeared destined to land in the welcoming arms of a Randolph defender near the midway point of the third quarter Saturday afternoon.
And then it wasn’t.
Carter Brink had other ideas.
The Wolfpack athlete saw the football in the air, raced to its expected landing spot, high-pointed it and prevented what was an almost-certain turnover.
Fittingly, three plays later, Catanese and Brink connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass, one of many highlights for the Wolfpack in their 48-0 Class D victory over the Cardinals at Clymer Central School.
OBSERVER Photo by Scott Kindberg
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Carter Brink, left, attempts to wrestle Randolph’s Jaxon Morrison to the ground during Saturday’s Class D football game at Clymer Central School.
Catanese finished 8 of 13 through the air for 176 yards and three touchdowns, and rushed for 67 yards on six carries and three more TDs. Yes, the senior signal-caller was responsible for SIX touchdowns to go along with a two-point conversion run.
No. 14 had himself a day.
“I do think he’s tremendous from the pocket, but I think he does his best work on the move,” Wolfpack head coach Ty Harper said. “When he’s improvising, you can’t teach that. He’s just naturally very gifted. Anytime he does something crazy, we’re not surprised.”
One week after losing to Class C defending state champion Haverly of Section V 24-3 in its nonleague season opener, Clymer/Sherman/Panama served notice to the rest of Section VI Class D that it will be tough to beat as the Wolfpack scored four touchdowns in the first quarter — a 52-yard Catanese-to-Alex Barmore pitch and catch and Catanese runs of 1, 1 and 55 yards. By halftime, the host’s lead had ballooned to 34-0 when Catanese connected with Collin Ryan on a 15-yard middle screen for the fifth score of the half.
It was much of the same after the break, highlighted by Catanese’s scrambling-to-his-right long ball to Brink for a 30-yard score and Sawyer Whitney’s 10-yard TD burst in the third period.
Armed with a 48-0 heading into the final period — Bryce Hinsdale was 4 of 6 on point-after kicks on the day — Clymer/Sherman/Panama breezed the rest of the way.
The win confirmed to Harper that scheduling the nonleague opener against Waverly was the right thing to do, noting that the offensive line, composed of Andrew Spiesman, Blayne Rumaihi, Kolten Rhoades and Matt Redlecki, along with Barmore at tight end, had played much better against the rival Cardinals, who fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the division.
“Those kids were making their first varsity start collectively (against Waverly),” Harper said. To be thrown in the fire like that is going to be a good thing. They played great today. I thought we did a pretty good job of controlling the line of scrimmage. They did a great job in pass protection. We have to keep working on getting better, but it was encouraging, for sure.”
In addition, the victory demonstrated to Harper the toughness of Brink, who was injured on the opening kickoff against Waverly and didn’t return.
“Carter is symbolic of this program,” Harper said. “He’s so unselfish, I can’t say enough about him. He’s a tremendous competitor.”
For Randolph coach Brent Brown, Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s firepower was just too much, as the Cardinals were outgained 332-86 despite holding a nearly three-to-one advantage in time of possession.
“On the line they manhandled us,” he said. “Offensively, we could do nothing. … They’re a good team.”
NOTES: Hinsdale (four receptions, 76 yards), Barmore (two catches, 55 yards), Brink (one reception 30 yards) and Ryan (one catch, 15 yards) led the C/S/P’s offense. … The Wolfpack’s defense was paced by Ryan (eight tackles, one sack), Rhoades (five tackles, one sack), Travis Owens (five tackles, including two for loss); and Carson Pinzok (seven tackles). … For Randolph Kevin McElwain rushed for 44 yards and Alex Garland intercepted a pass. … Clymer/Sherman/Panama is on the road against Gowanda/Pine Valley on Friday, while Randolph entertains East Aurora/Holland on its new turf.
Randolph 0 0 0 0 — 0
C/S/P 27 7 14 0 — 48
C/S/P — Barmore 52 pass from Catanese (kick fail)
C/S/P — Catanese 1 run (Catanese run)
C/S/P — Catanese 1 run Hinsdale kick)
C/S/P — Catanese 55 run (kick fail)
C/S/P — Ryan 15 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)
C/S/P — Brink 30 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)
C/S/P — Whitney 10 run (Hinsdale kick)