Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Travis Owens runs between Wilson defenders during a Class D football game Saturday in Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Alex Barmore took down Wilson’s Michael Ruble in a Class D football game Saturday at Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Carter Brink tackles Wilson’s Ryan Huff during a Class D football game Saturday in Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Bryce Hinsdale attempts to run away from Wilson’s Vic Kousatis during a Class D football game Saturday at Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Travis Owens runs between Wilson defenders during a Class D football game Saturday in Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
Climber — Four dropped passes, two bad shotgun snaps and blown coverages plagued Climber/Sherman/Panama in the first half Saturday.
Things didn’t improve much after halftime.
Somehow, the Wolfpack survived Wilson’s terror.
Travis Owens rushed 16 times for 113 yards and the Climbers/Shermans/Panamas scored the winning touchdown with 5:13 left in the game to defeat the Lakemen 15-7 in a Class D slugfest.
In fact, with the win, the Wolfpack at least clinched a share of the Class D league championship (5-2, 4-0), but that mattered little to head coach Ty Harper after Saturday’s game.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Alex Barmore took down Wilson’s Michael Ruble in a Class D football game Saturday at Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
“I take full responsibility for this. We came out and slept and walked the first half,” Harper said. “I take full responsibility for the team and the lack of intensity in the first half.”
The teams fought their way through the first half and the score was tied at 7-7 after 24 minutes.
“We were lucky to have a few drops on their team,” Wilson head coach Bill Atlas said. … Our defensive coordinator is trying to put (the Wolfpack) in the worst position to be successful. He had a great game plan against them again and we played tough. ”
Wilson (1-6, 1-4) punted on the first three possessions of the second half, Clymer/Sherman/Panama punted twice, and it quickly became clear that the team that put up points late would win the game. I did.
“We made a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes, and that’s what happens in high school football. Kids aren’t perfect, coaches aren’t perfect,” Harper said. “I think the things I don’t agree with are not doing my shifts properly, not rushing to the line of scrimmage, not being focused on the mission. I thought there were a lot of things like that.”
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Carter Brink tackles Wilson’s Ryan Huff during a Class D football game Saturday at Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
The Wolfpack took the Lakemen’s 47-yard line with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter and scored eight plays later, but the drive was still plagued by mistakes by the New York State Sportswriters Association’s No. 2 Class D team. .
Owens ran for 6 yards on the first play, followed by freshman Sawyer Whitney with runs of 11 and 5 yards, setting up a second-and-5 from their own 25-yard line. Owens ran 3 yards toward the Wolfpack sideline to somehow set up a third-and-2, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty forced Clymer/Sherman/Panama back to a third-and-17 from the 37-yard line.
From there, senior quarterback Tate Catanese connected with fellow senior Dalton Richter for a 23-yard score to the 13-yard line. It was Catanese’s fifth shutout and Richter’s only win of the day.
“I thought Tate Catanese showed a lot of leadership by staying angry even when things weren’t going well,” Harper said.
Once again, the Wolfpack couldn’t move the ball, and Whitney gained just 1 yard on the next two plays. Catanese was pressured on a third-and-9 from its own 13-yard line, but senior Carter Brink eventually got open in the middle of the goal line for the go-ahead point.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Bryce Hinsdale attempts to run away from Wilson’s Vic Kousatis during a Class D football game Saturday at Clymer. Pajama photo: Matt Spielman
“Once you start making more mistakes, you put too much pressure on yourself and start overthinking things more than you need to instead of just going out there and trying to make plays,” Harper said. “I’m so proud of Carter for bouncing back, catching the ball, and getting to the end zone.”
Clymer/Sherman/Panama faked the point after the kick and Catanese found Colin Ryan open in the back of the end zone for an eight-point lead.
“They tend to bring a lot of pressure from the right side on kicks,” Harper said. …I thought maybe no one would be home there, so I decided to fake it and go alone. It paid off for us. ”
Wilson, who had lost five games by a combined 116 points entering Saturday, had one last chance to seal the victory at its own 20-yard line with 5 minutes, 13 seconds left. Junior Brock Repsch, who had 70 yards on 13 carries on the day, ran for 1 yard on first-and-10 but did not touch the ball the rest of the drive.
“They left the middle open a little bit for us, so we continued to do a lot of iso training, but we didn’t practice that much or run a ton,” Atlas said. said. “If they were going to give it to us, our line was ready to do it.”
The Lakemen lined up to punt on fourth-and-8 from their own 43-yard line, but junior Michael Ruble started running and was tackled for an eight-yard loss.
“They actually really surprised me. They’re super, super young this year. We’ve been improving every week,” Atlas said of the team. … Little No. 28 Michael Ruble ran the ball well and Brock ran the ball as fast as he could. It’s hard to beat him. If those two were dispatched, a certain amount of damage would be done. ”
Catanese looked for a first down on third-and-5 and completed a 15-yard pass to senior Alex Barmore on fourth-and-6 before time expired for the Wolfpack.
“We had to root it out and we found a way to get it done in the second half,” Harper said.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama will be looking to complete a perfect league season before visiting Cattaraugus Little Valley on Thursday night and gearing up for what the Wolfpack hopes will be a long run in the postseason.
“Wilson clearly had the will to play. We’ve seen them in the past disrupt opponents in games they didn’t think they had a chance to win,” Harper said. “With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, we were fighting for our lives. Wilson deserves credit today.”
NOTES: Catanese scored on a 5-yard run with 4:45 left in the second quarter, but just four plays later, with the teams trailing 7-7 late, Wilson made a pass from junior Vic Kousatis to junior Ryan Huff. He responded with a 75-yard scoring strike. In the second quarter. …Climber/Sherman/Panama outscored Wilson 310-167. …Defensively, Ryan had 14 tackles, two of which were for a loss. Richter had eight tackles, two of which were for a loss. Senior Jordan Mescall had eight tackles, one for a loss. Senior Kolten Rose participated in five tackles, including three sacks. Owens had five tackles.
Wilson 0 7 0 0 — 7
Climber/Shaman/Panama 0 7 0 8 — 15
C/S/P – Catanese 5 runs (Hinsdale kick)
Will-Huff, 75 pass from Ksatis (Repschkick)
C/S/P – Blink 13 Pass from Catanese (Ryan Pass from Catanese)
