Tanner was last a member of the Wolfpack in the 2017 season; Collin pulled on his pads and snapped on his chin strap for a final time in 2018; and, now, there’s Brendon, a 5-foot-6, 155-pound junior, on this year’s team.

Let’s just say little brother came up big Friday night at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Make that huge.

Ramsey scored two second-half touchdowns and John Swabik dove into the end zone at the pylon for the deciding 2-point conversion to help second-ranked Clymer/Sherman/Panama rally for a heart-stopping, 28-27, victory over No. 1 Tioga in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinal.

Wolfpack quarterback Gerrit Hinsdale looks to make a throw. P-J photo by Tim Frank

The win means the Wolfpack (10-1) will have the opportunity to defend their state championship against Section VII Moriah, which rolled to a 46-12 victory over Section 1 Tuckahoe in the other semifinal yesterday. The title game is scheduled for noon next Friday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

Ironically, Clymer/Sherman/Panama defeated Moriah in last year’s championship game, using a trick play in the fourth quarter to finally pull away for a 26-6 victory. Last night, the Wolfpack knocked off Tioga (11-1) in the semifinals for the second straight season, but unlike 2018 (a 54-19 blitzing), this outcome wasn’t decided until junior Connor Cooper intercepted a pass with just over a minute remaining in the game.

Celebrating another Thanksgiving in Central New York is just fine with Clymer/Sherman/Panama coach Ty Harper.

“Nothing like eating turkey at the dome,” he said with a smile.

Less than a week before that holiday, fans of high school football were treated to a special clash between the two best Class D teams in the state.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Brendon Ramsey (18) celebrates his second-half touchdown with teammates Cameron Barmore (2) and Zavon Overton (83) during the NYSPHSAA Class D Western semifinal against Tioga on Friday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. P-J photo by Tim Frank

Emmett Wood, the Tigers’ dynamic sophomore running back, and teammate Brady Worthing, the senior quarterback, showed just how dangerous they are with the ball in their hands as they combined for, unofficially, 271 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the first half.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama countered with two TDs before the break — courtesy of Gerrit Hinsdale-to-Cameron Barmore passes — but the Wolfpack still trailed, 27-13, at the break.

The prospects didn’t look good for Harper’s kids coming out of the locker room.

Except nobody told them how dire it appeared to be.

“We just told the guys we loved them, that there was a lot of football to be played and we didn’t want it to be over with,” Harper said. “Let’s keep battling and play for seven more days, and they responded.”

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's John Swabik runs with the ball Friday. P-J photo by Tim Frank

While the Wolfpack defense was working on pitching a shutout in the final two quarters — Tioga’s possessions ended in three punts, a fumble, a turnover on downs and an interception — their offense just kept plugging along.

Brendon Ramsey’s 8-yard TD run and Jordan Svetz’s point-after boot with 6:11 remaining in the third quarter trimmed the deficit to 27-20. Nine minutes later, Hinsdale found Ramsey wide open for a 43-yard score, pulling Clymer/Sherman/Panama to within a point, 27-26, with 9:51 left in the game.

“He’s one of those kids you don’t ever see in the papers, but he’s doing all the dirty work,” Hinsdale said of Brendon Ramsey. “You’ll see him in the papers (now) for sure.”

There was still a question whether the Wolfpack would attempt the extra-point kick for the tie or go for the 2-point conversion and the lead.

Harper said there was no doubt in his mind what he was going to dial up next.

“We were going for it and (Swabik) was running the ball,” he said.

Operating out of the wildcat, Swabik, the nationally-ranked decathlete and the fastest player on the team, took the direct snap and sprinted right, just barely beating Tioga defenders into the end zone.

“I’ve always wanted to run that, but I’m not the fastest guy on the planet,” Hinsdale said. “We put our Olympian out there to do that.”

Mission accomplished for Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s “Mr. Versatility,” who finished with 169 yards rushing on 20 carries, caught two passes for 29 yards, registered a team-high 12 tackles, forced a fumble and recovered another.

“John Swabik was unbelievable,” Harper said. “Again.”

Armed with their first lead since the first quarter, the Wolfpack defense kept Tioga from any sustained drives the rest of the way, limiting Worthing and a hobbled Wood (36 yards after intermission) to modest gains.

And on Tioga’s final possession, which started at its own 13 with three minutes remaining, Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s defense came up big one final time when Cooper stepped in front of a Worthing pass with 1:20 remaining to seal the victory.

“I’m just happy that we’re going to play another game with this group of kids,” Harper said. “The message at half was simple. We just didn’t want this to be it for the seniors. They were incredible. I think our veteran leadership showed in the second half, and our young guys were great, too.”

NOTES: Hinsdale completed 11 of 29 passes for 196 yards and three TDs, and was named Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Offensive Most Valuable Player and was the recipient of his team’s Sportsmanship Award. … Swabik was the Wolfpack’s Defensive MVP. … Clymer/Sherman/Panama outgained the Tigers, 458-403. … Barmore was credited with 11 tackles and Brendon Ramsey added eight. … Senior Lucas Rater played a big role in the Wolfpack’s defensive effort in the second half, teaming with Barmore at defensive tackle. … Svetz connected on two of three point-after tries. … Emmett Wood (30 carries, 204 yards) was Tioga’s Offensive MVP, and teammate Dominic Wood was the Defensive MVP and the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award. … Worthing was successful on three of four PAT kicks.

Tioga 14 13 0 0 — 27

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 7 6 7 8 — 28

CSP–Barmore 6 pass from Hinsdale (Svetz kick)

Tio–Wood 5 run (Worthing kick)

Tio–Wood 15 run (Worthing kick)

CSP–Barmore 26 pass from Hinsdale (kick failed)

Tio–Worthing 79 run (kick failed)

Tio–Wood 1 run (Worthing kick)

CSP–Ramsey 8 run (Svetz kick)

CSP–Ramsey 43 pass from Hinsdale (Swabik run)