It turned out to be one on the field, too.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama scored touchdowns on five of its six first-half possessions and led 43-0 at halftime on its way to a 50-16 victory over Canisteo-Greenwood in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association quarterfinal at Williamsville South High School.

“We were extremely focused coming into this week. There was a lot of outside noise, but the kids focused in,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Ty Harper said. “We’re a big family and have each other’s backs.”

The win vaults the undefeated Wolfpack into next Friday’s 3 p.m. state semifinal against Section IV champion Tioga at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. The Tigers beat Section III’s Dolgeville 56-12 in another quarterfinal Friday evening.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Bryce Posker scores a touchdown during Friday’s Class D Far West Regional at Williamsville South High School. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“Somebody’s going to have to beat them,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama junior wide receiver Bryce Hinsdale said of the Tigers. “We want them. … We have to be locked in the entire week because this Tioga team is really good.”

Tioga and Clymer/Sherman/Panama have history. Ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, by the New York State Sportswriters Association for this entire season, the Wolfpack beat the Tigers in the state semifinals in both 2018 and 2019 en route to the program’s only two state championships. Since then, Tioga – the two-time defending state champion – has won 43 of 44 games, including its last 39 straight.

“I know they’re good. They’re well coached. It seems like they are in this game every single year. … The quarterback is awesome. The running back is awesome,” Harper said of Tioga. ” … They are going to be a great opponent, but if there’s one team in the state that I would take to play against them, it would be this group of guys. I’d never bet against this group of kids.”

Clymer/Sherman/Panama got all of its offensive weapons involved Friday night.

Junior quarterback Tate Catanese scored on a 14-yard run, then completed scoring passes of 6 yards to Hinsdale, 2 yards to junior Alex Barmore and 53 yards to junior Carter Brink as the Wolfpack made it 29-0 on their first play of the second quarter.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's Alex Barmore finds the end zone. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“When you’ve got a bunch of talented kids, you want them all to touch the ball,” Harper said. “Tate Catanese does a phenomenal job of making sure he gets the ball to the open player. We’re not really worried about getting one guy or the other guy the ball. He’s going to throw it to whoever is open.”

Senior Bryce Posker tacked on a 15-yard touchdown run and junior Collin Ryan returned an interception 72 yards for another score as Clymer/Sherman/Panama made it 43-0 just before halftime.

“I really think it showed how versatile our offense is. Our running back got a touchdown, our three receivers got touchdowns,” Hinsdale said. ” … I think that shows what we can do on the offensive side.”

The Wolfpack outgained Canisteo-Greenwood 257-90 in the first half, including 173-16 during a 21-0 first quarter. The Chargers did not pick up their first first down until an 8-yard completion from Collin Cox to Carson Chaffee with 2:53 remaining in the second quarter.

“I thought every unit fed off of one another tonight. The special teams fed the offense and the defense,” Harper said. ” … It was great to see them hit the field and play the way they are capable of playing.”

Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Carter Brink tumbles down at the 2-yard line. P-J photo by Tim Frank

All that was left to accomplish was to get Hinsdale his Section VI record-setting 168th career reception. Needing three to tie Amherst graduate Mark Rubin’s all-time record, Hinsdale caught three in the first half and had a fourth nullified by a holding penalty. Then, after a Dalton Richter interception got the ball back for the Wolfpack early in the second half, Catanese completed a swing pass to Hinsdale behind the line of scrimmage before he raced out of bounds for a 9-yard gain.

“I didn’t know about the reception record until (this week) … Coach Harper was going to take me out at halftime, but I asked for one play,” Hinsdale said. ” … It’s a surreal feeling to have that record.”

“Bryce is just such a hard worker. This year, he’s been a pretty unselfish kid. He knows that we have a lot of guys who can make plays,” Harper added. “I think that Bryce … absolutely deserved to do that. It’s nice to get that out of the way so that we can focus again on a great opponent next week.”

With the game – and record – in hand, Clymer/Sherman/Panama turned to its backups to stay healthy and get ready for a showdown with Tioga next weekend.

“We’re going to play a team in Tioga that hasn’t lost a game since the spring of 2021,” Harper said. ” … It’s going to take our best shot. It’s going to take every single one of us.”

NOTES: Catanese completed 9 of 12 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Hinsdale caught four passes for 41 yards, Barmore caught three for 31 yards and Brink caught two for 92 yards. Posker led the Wolfpack with eight carries for 77 yards. … Defensively, in addition to interceptions by Ryan and Richter, senior John Watson was in on six tackles, including one for a loss. … Hinsdale made all six of his point-after kicks.

Canisteo-Greenwood 0 0 8 8 – 16

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 21 22 7 0 – 50

C/S/P-Catanese 1 run (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Hinsdale 6 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Barmore 2 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Brink 53 pass from Catanese (Posker run)

C/S/P-Posker 15 run (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Ryan 72 interception return (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Cipolla 3 run (Hinsdale kick)

C-G-Zeh 1 run (Weeks run)

C-G-Zeh 1 run (Reese pass from Cox)