It hardly mattered to Easton Tanner. The do-everything talent felt right at home anyway.

The senior ran for two touchdowns, passed for two more and caught a six-pointer to lift the second-seeded Dragons to a 38-7 victory over the third-seeded Warriors.

The win advances Maple Grove (6-3) into the sectional championship game next week against either No. 1 Clymer/Sherman/Panama or No. 4 Cattaraugus-Little Valley at New Era Field in Orchard Park. Salamanca, which defeated the Red Dragons, 23-21, in the regular season finale last week, ends its season at 4-5.

If Tanner plays like he did last night, look out.

Maple Grove’s Zach Hendrick intercepts a pass in the second quarter of Friday’s Section VI Class D semifinal football game against Salamanca at Dunkirk High School. P-J photo by Scott Reagle

All told, he carried the ball 25 times for 200 yards and TD runs of 2 and 1 yards; caught five passes for 129 yards, including a 19-yard reception from Carson Crist; and was a perfect 3-for-3 through the air, two of which went for touchdowns to Zach Hendrick and Crist from 1 and 28 yards respectively.

That was more than enough for the defending sectional champions, who amassed 506 yards of total offense, while yielding just 196. By halftime, the Red Dragons led 28-0 and breezed to the victory.

“Easton is incredible,” Maple Grove coach Justin Hanft said. “You could play Easton at any position on the field and he’d be one of the better players. He’s a good athlete. It’s just amazing. His ability to throw the ball without getting a ton of reps in practice is a huge weapon for us. We move him all over the field. We had other guys step up on offense and defense, but, yeah, he was phenomenal.”

Crist finished 8 of 13 for 200 yards and a touchdown; and Taige Jones rushed for 42 yards, but the feel-good story for Maple Grove had to be Hendrick, who wasn’t cleared to play until late Friday afternoon after suffering a shoulder injury last week. All he did was boot five extra points and a 24-yard field goal; intercept a pass; and catch a TD pass.

“He a huge asset in multiple facets,” Hanft said. “When he got cleared, it was great news.”

Leading the way defensively for Maple Grove were Ayden Reagle (nine tackles), Jones (nine tackle), Jake Tomlinson (six) and Dave Brown (six). Crist and Jones also recorded a sack apiece.

Salamanca’s lone touchdown came in the third quarter when Robert Overton bulled in from 8 yards out.

Next on the agenda for the Red Dragons is a trip to Orchard Park. Clymer/Sherman/Panama, which beat Maple Grove twice during the regular season, is a heavy favorite against Cattaraugus-Little Valley today.

“We’ve been talking about getting another crack at CSP,” Hanft said. “They’re a phenomenal team. That’s all you could ask for and we (should) get that opportunity.”

SALAMANCA 0 0 7 0 — 7

MAPLE GROVE 14 14 7 3 — 38

MG–Tanner 2 run (Hendrick kick)

MG–Tanner 1 run (Hendrick kick)

MG–Hendrick 1 pass from Tanner (Hendrick kick)

MG–Crist 28 pass from Tanner (Hendrick kick)

MG–Tanner 19 pass from Crist (Hendrick kick)

Sal–Overton 8 run (kick good)

MG–Hendrick 24 FG