OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Clymer/Sherman/Panama quarterback Tate Catanese gallops into the end zone for one of his two touchdown runs during Thursday’s Section VI Class D championship game victory over Franklinville/Ellicottville at Highmark Stadium.
ORCHARD PARK – For as high scoring as its offense is, Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s defense isn’t bad either.
That unit shined for the Wolfpack on Thursday.
No. 1 Clymer/Sherman/Panama held No. 3 Franklinville/Ellicottville to just 193 yards of offense en route to a 33-8 victory in the Section VI Class D championship game at Highmark Stadium.
“I think we hang our hat on playing great defense and being a physical football team,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Ty Harper said. “Coach (Chris) Payne does a phenomenal job coaching that side of the ball. I’m not surprised they came out and played as well as they did.”
The Wolfpack forced two Titans turnovers and held Franklinville/Ellicottville to just 4 of 13 on third and fourth downs, while converting 11 of 16 in those situations themselves, on the way to their second straight sectional title.
OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Bryce Hinsdale makes a finger-tip catch during Thursday’s Section VI Class D championship game at Highmark Stadium. Defending is Franklinville/Ellicottville’s Carter Smith (29).
“They go out there and ball out. They played amazing tonight,” Wolfpack quarterback Tate Catanese said of his defense. “I was just standing here on the sideline watching every single one of them buy into our team and make great plays out there.”
Next up for Clymer/Sherman/Panama is a Far West Regional date with Section V’s champion at 5 p.m. next Friday at SUNY Brockport. Avon and Alexander will play for the Rochester area’s title Saturday.
“I watched my brother do it so this is really special,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama wide receiver Bryce Hinsdale said of his team’s second straight title. “I know it’s really special to the team and the coaching staff. We put in the work every week and it’s good to have it pay off.”
The Wolfpack and Titans played a scoreless first quarter Thursday before Catanese connected with Carter Brink for a 7-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter to make it 7-0 after Hinsdale’s point-after kick.
“We saw some adversity in the first quarter. We expected Franklinville/Ellicottville to come out and give us a hard time,” Harper said. “Our kids buckled down in the second quarter and got back to playing Wolfpack football.”
Franklinville/Ellicottville, which was set to receive the second-half kickoff, had a chance to tie the game, but was stopped on a fourth-and-3 with 2:17 remaining in the second quarter.
“There were a couple of misses. We had a drop, we had a couple of missed blocks, plays that were really close to being home runs,” Franklinville/Ellicottville head coach Justin Tatlow said. ” … C/S/P is a strong team. … They stepped up.”
Clymer/Sherman/Panama took full advantage. Catanese connected with Hinsdale for a 34-yard gain on first down and three plays later Alex Barmore caught a 19-yard pass from Catanese to set up first-and-goal from the 7-yard line.
“We knew we wanted … to get one because we were getting the ball back. We ended up turning it over,” Tatlow said. “They ended up driving it down and scoring a touchdown. It’s double the pain.”
After a 2-yard loss, Catanese scored on a 9-yard run to make it 14-0 with 42 seconds left in the first half after Hinsdale’s second PAT.
“Our guys held up well,” Tatlow said. “We got some pressure early and got (Catanese) off his mark, but he was able to escape and extend plays with his legs.”
Much like they did in their 51-24 semifinal win over Gowanda/Pine Valley last Saturday, the Wolfpack dominated the second half.
Hinsdale caught a 7-yard touchdown and Catanese ran for a 19-yard touchdown in the third quarter before Travis Owens ran for a 1-yard score in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring for Clymer/Sherman/Panama.
“Bryce does it all, man; all three phases of the game, whether it’s catching passes on offense, being a lockdown defender and creating turnovers on defense,” Harper said of Hinsdale, who intercepted a pass. ” … Bryce is like a Swiss army knife and he’s a huge reason why we’re here and why we’re successful.”
Billy Slavinski ran for an 8-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to cap a drive that accounted for 81 of the Titans’ yards in the game.
“I’m so proud of ‘Bubba.’ He made a bunch of big hits and set the tone,” Harper said of Ryan, who set the program record for tackles this season. ” … Collin Ryan is one of the best players we’ve ever had in this program.”
“Collin Ryan is the best defensive player I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hinsdale added. “He’s not a huge kid, but he fills the hole with aggression and violence.”
Now the Wolfpack will wait for their New York State Public High School Athletic Association quarterfinal opponent. Last year, Clymer/Sherman/Panama beat Canisteo-Greenwood 50-16 in the Far West Regional before losing to eventual-champion Tioga 63-16 in the state semifinals.
“It feels really good, but I can’t say it’s the best feeling we get,” Catanese said of the sectional crown. “I hope there’s a better feeling coming.”
NOTES: Catanese ran 14 times for 76 yards and completed five passes for 86 yards. … Hinsdale had three catches for 60 yards. Kolten Rhoades had a sack and Dalton Richter added an interception for the Wolfpack. … Slavinski ran 17 times for 117 yards to lead Franklinville/Ellicottville.
Franklinville/Ellicottville 0 0 0 8 – 8
Clymer/Sherman/Panama 0 14 13 6 – 33
C/S/P-Brink 7 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)
C/S/P-Catanese 9 run (Hinsdale kick)
C/S/P-Hinsdale 7 pass from Catanese (kick failed)
C/S/P-Catanese 19 run (Hinsdale kick)
C/S/P-Owens 1 run (kick failed)
F/E-Slavinski 8 run (Slavinski run)