The third-seeded Lakemen have become the Cinderella story of the football playoffs after their 21-20 upset of No. 2 Franklinville/Ellicottville in last weekend’s semifinal round.

Over and over again, “house money” was the term used to describe Wilson’s mindset heading into today’s 5 p.m. Class D championship game against No. 1 Clymer/Sherman/Panama.

The Lakemen might need more than house money to beat the Wolfpack today.

They might need to rob the vault.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Bryce Hinsdale wraps up a Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove runner earlier this season in Sherman. Hinsdale leads the Wolfpack with five interceptions on the year. P-J file photo by Matt Spielman

The Wolfpack has rolled to a perfect 9-0 record this season, including a dominating 41-13 victory over the Lakemen in Week 3 that was 41-0 midway through the third quarter before Wilson scored the final 13 points of the game.

“C/S/P is the class of the class right now,” said Wilson head coach Bill Atlas, whose Lakemen moved down to Class D last year. ” … You think Class C is tough, it’s even tougher in D.”

In Week 3, Wolfpack junior quarterback Tate Catanese went 16 of 18 for 192 yards and two touchdowns, while 10 Clymer/Sherman/Panama players combined for 220 yards and three scores on the ground.

“To be honest, playing them in Week 3, I wasn’t really expecting to see them now, but I know that they’ve gotten a lot better,” Wolfpack senior offensive lineman and captain Grant Lictus said of the Lakemen. “They are a real contender. We can’t take them lightly.”

As impressive as the Wolfpack offense was that Friday night back in September, the defense was even better.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama forced Wilson senior quarterback Conner Ernest into a 2-for-8 night throwing the ball that resulted in just 10 yards passing and three interceptions.

“They may not have the size that some of these other teams have, but they are athletic and strong,” Atlas said of the Wolfpack. ” … In this sport, that’s all that it takes, especially in the third and fourth quarters.”

On the ground, Lakemen senior running back Jack Mahar totaled 177 yards, but 140 of them came on a pair of long touchdown runs after a majority of the Wolfpack’s defensive starters were on the bench to finish the game.

That has been the case all season for Clymer/Sherman/Panama. While the offense has received most of the accolades and attention, the defense has dominated.

“The goal each game is to allow low rushing yards and to make teams pass the ball on us,” said Clymer/Sherman/Panama senior linebacker and captain John Watson. “Obviously we want a shutout every week because we want some pizza.”

Entering today’s game, the Wolfpack has allowed just 85 points on the season, including 48 in five league games.

Even against a trio of bigger Class C South teams, Clymer/Sherman/Panama went 3-0 and outscored its opponents 119-30. Included in that is a 37-6 win over Class C finalist Salamanca.

Junior Collin Ryan has been in on 74 tackles, including 13 for a loss, and has two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

Watson has been in on 62 tackles, including 11 for a loss, while junior Dalton Richter, senior Tony Cipolla, senior captain Devon Johnson and junior Travis Owens have all been in on at least 30 tackles. Junior Bryce Hinsdale has five interceptions as the Wolfpack has 15 as a team.

“I think we have some loose cannons out there,” Watson said. “We go in and we hit hard.”

But the Lakemen are seemingly trending in the right direction, especially in the last 15 minutes of game action they have played.

After falling behind 20-0 against the Titans last Friday in Franklinville, Wilson rattled off 21 straight points to win the game.

Mahar made it a 20-7 game before a wild sequence of events late in the game. Following a Titans’ fumble in the fourth quarter, Mahar capped a 54-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown to make it 20-13.

“If Jack wasn’t here, we probably wouldn’t be where we’re at,” Atlas said. ” … At least once or twice a game, there is no hole and then I see Jack scoot out the side and go for 20 yards.”

Wilson then elected to attempt an onside kick with 5:40 remaining and recovered the ball.

“That was probably one of the best onside kicks in high school history. I’ve never seen anything like that before,” Atlas said. ” … That was crazy.”

On the next play from scrimmage, Mahar ran up the middle for a 45-yard TD and Ernest completed a 2-point conversion pass to Conor Peck for what ended up being the winning score.

“I think they shocked the section,” Watson said.

On the season, Mahar has run for 1,552 yards and 23 touchdowns. His yardage total is second in Section VI while his touchdown total is third.

“I think they are coming out and hitting harder. They are playing much better defense,” Watson said when asked how Wilson has changed since Week 3. “That running back … he’s a guy. If we stop him, I believe we can win this game.”

Ernest has completed 60 passes for 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns with eight players catching passes and six of them hauling in touchdowns.

“If they are keying on Jack, we’re going to have to do some other stuff,” Atlas said. “We’re going to have to do some things to get them out of the run box and then hopefully get Jack downhill.”

The Wolfpack will not need to be reminded that Wilson can play with a previously unbeaten team; their coaching staff witnessed in person Friday night in Franklinville.

“We’re a whole different team than they played last time,” Mahar said. “Hopefully they underestimate us.”

“We just have to play football,” Lictus said. “There is just another team in our way.”