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C/S/P Scores Three TDs In 29 Seconds In Win Over CV/F

By Scott Kindberg 7 min read

PANAMA -- The time allowed between snaps in a high school football game is 40 seconds.

For Clymer/Sherman/Panama, it took exactly 11 ticks less than that to score three touchdowns in Saturday's Class C South game at Jack Keeney Field.

That's not a misprint.

In precisely 29 seconds of the third quarter, the Wolfpack found paydirt on John Swabik's 79-yard kickoff return to start the half; Swabik's 10-yard run, set up when Keith Gormley fell on an uncovered ball on the ensuing kickoff at the Golden Cougars' 10; and Derek Sears' 25-yard interception return.

Three plays, three scores and three Jordan Svetz point-after boots transformed a reasonably close game into what turned out to be the Wolfpack's 41-7 victory over Cassadaga Valley/Falconer.

The win raised Clymer/Sherman/Panama's record to 4-0, heading into the regular-season finale against Fredonia this Saturday. The Golden Cougars, meanwhile, fell to 1-3, leaving Coach Dan Greco lamenting the momentum change in what seemed like the blink of an eye.

"We never kick the ball like that in practice, let alone to Swabik," he said. "We don't do that. … And what would cause (someone) to leave a ball on the field uncovered? … They worked so hard this week getting ready to try and stop this offense. We did a pretty good job for a while."

Greco was right.

Until the first minute of the third quarter, the only scores in the game came in the second period, courtesy of Connor Cooper's 1-yard run and Swabik's 28-yard pass reception from quarterback Bishop Kopta that staked Clymer/Sherman/Panama to a 14-0 lead.

"The first half they played us really tough," Wolfpack coach Ty Harper said. "We had a couple drives stall out in the red zone. That can't happen. We have to be better in that phase of the game."

The second half, however, belonged completely to Clymer/Sherman/Panama, beginning with the kickoff to start the third quarter, as Swabik, celebrating his 18th birthday, returned the boot to the house to put the hosts up by three touchdowns at the 11:44 mark.

But there was more where that came from.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Golden Falcons' returner failed to cover the ball and Gormley alertly fell on it at the 10. On the next play, Swabik scored, pushing the lead to 28-0, at the 11:32 mark.

Cassadaga Valley/Falconer started its next series at its own 16 and on the first play, Sears picked off a pass and raced 25 yards to paydirt, the third touchdown in a half-minute.

"I've personally never seen a team open a second half and score that quickly," Harper said. "We needed that, obviously."

The Golden Cougars' lone score came in the fourth quarter on a Landen Mower sweep from 8 yards out to cap a 22-play, 84-yard drive that took nearly 16 minutes off the clock. Brailyn Paladino booted the extra point.

The Wolfpack return to action this Saturday when they entertain Fredonia at Sherman Central School. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m.

"They have a nice quarterback, he's a good athlete," Harper said of Hillbillies' signal-caller Nick Whitfield, "and Matt Lotta is a load in the middle. We'll game plan for them and go from there. If we take care of business, (the playoff scenarios) will sort themselves out."

Cassadaga Valley/Falconer, meanwhile, entertains Southwestern this Friday at 7 p.m.

NOTES: The halftime intermission was a lengthy one because a fan was stricken in the bleachers behind the Clymer/Sherman/Panama bench and had to be transported from the field via helicopter. … Statistically, Cooper led the Wolfpack with 89 yards rushing on 12 carries, while Swabik added 48 yards on six trips. Swabik also caught five passes for 51 yards. … Defensively, Zach Chase had 10 tackles, including two for loss; Owen Gratto had nine stops, a blocked punt, a fumble recovery and two pass breakups; Ramsey had six tackles, including one for a loss, and a sack; and Micah Willink had five tackles, including one for a loss. … Mower rushed for 84 yards on six carries to lead the way for the Golden Cougars. … Sears of Clymer/Sherman/Panama and Brock Johnson of Cassadaga Valley/Falconer were named the Character Athletes of the Game.

Cassadaga Valley/Falconer 0 0 0 7 -- 7

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 0 14 27 0 -- 41

C/S/P -- Cooper 1 run (run fail)

C/S/P -- Swabik 28 pass from Kopta (Kopta run)

C/S/P -- Swabik 79 kickoff return (Svetz kick)

C/S/P -- Swabik 10 run (Svetz kick)

C/S/P -- Sears 25 interception return (Svetz kick)

C/S/P -- Ramsey 1 run (kick fail)

CV/F -- Mower 8 run (Paladino kick)

BLACK KNIGHTS REBOUND

SILVER CREEK -- Piling up 533 yards in total offense, Silver Creek/Forestville rolled past Maple Grove, 56-8, in a Class D football game Saturday.

Hunter Larson rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 65-yard pass for another score; Matt Woleben threw for 145 yards and two TDs; and Sam Braidich found paydirt on runs of 8 and 26 yards, and a 51-yard pass reception. Kayden Eggleston also scored a touchdown on an 11-yard run.

The Black Knights (2-2) led 43-0 at halftime, bouncing back from a road loss to Cattaraugus-Little Valley earlier in the week.

The Red Dragons' lone touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a 17-yard pass from Jackson Gowan to Matthew Welsh. Maple Grove falls to 0-3.

Maple Grove 0 0 0 8 -- 8

Silver Creek/Forestville 20 23 7 6 -- 56

SC/F -- Braidich 8 run (kick fail)

SC/F -- Braidich 26 run (run fail)

SC/F -- Larson 18 run (Braidich pass from Woleben)

SC/F -- Larson 44 run (Braidich pass from Woleben)

SC/F -- No. 7 7 run (Golembieski kick)

SC/F -- Braidich 51 pass from Woleben (Golembieski kick)

SC/F -- Eggleston 11 run (Golembieski kick)

MG -- Welsh 17 pass from Gowan (Martin run)

SC/F -- Larson 65 pass from Woleben (kick fail)

DUNKIRK PLAYS TUESDAY

The Dunkirk varsity football team will travel to Akron for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday.

That replaces the previously canceled game against West Seneca East.

With this schedule change, the Dunkirk-WNY Martime/Health Sciences game scheduled for this Friday at Karl Hoeppner Field, will now be played on Saturday at 7 p.m.

JHS JAYVEES ROLL

The Jamestown junior varsity football team had little trouble moving to 4-0 on the season Saturday morning at Strider Field.

The best part for Coach Steve Propheter was that he received contributions from virtually everyone.

Radon Wright rushed for 83 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns to highlight the Red Raiders' 60-0 victory over Niagara Wheatfield.

He had plenty of help offensively, too.

Sean O'Brien added 63 yards rushing on nine carries, scored a touchdown and tacked on a two-point conversion; Isaiah Sanchez added 40 yards on the ground and a TD; Anthony Mohney had 25 yards and a TD; Jackson Carlson completed 4 of 5 passes for 95 yards; and Michael Boron caught a 78-yard TD pass from Carlson and the duo combined on a successful two-point conversion pass.

O'Brien also paced the Red Raider defense, finishing with 12 tackles, including two for a loss. Mason McVinney chipped in eight tackles, including one for a loss, and intercepted a pass; Darius Freeney had six tackles, including two for a loss, and returned an interception for a score; Bradley Bennett and Jayce Van Giesen both recovered a fumble for a TD; and Brandon Lobb had eight tackles, including three for a loss, to go along with a sack.

Starting at /week.