Local Sports

Starting early

Wolfpack cruises past Portville/C-R/B-R 42-14

PANAMA -- Clymer/Sherman/Panama scored touchdowns on its first two possessions against Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg and that was enough cushion to keep the Wolfpack in the lead on the way to a 42-14 Class C South football win on Saturday at the Jack Keeney Athletic Complex.

"We've been doing that a lot this year," Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Dave Bodamer said about starting strong. "We've come to kind of expect that with our guys, it's not a guarantee, but that's huge. Coming out the first couple of drives especially, that's why we wanted to get the ball back in our offense's hands as fast as we could."

Wolfpack senior Gavin Burchanowski made his mark on the game early, ending the Panthers' opening drive abruptly with an interception. Burchanowski cashed in on his own turnover with the first touchdown of the game with a 29-yard run.

"The first turnover they had a drive going," Bodamer said. "Anytime you can get a turnover and not penalize yourself, getting that pick is big and it was a nice return as well. It set up a shorter drive and we didn’t have to drive the whole field there."

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's defense quickly got the ball back forcing a punt and Burchanowski wasted no time on the next drive breaking free down the sideline for a 52-yard touchdown as he dove for the pylon. Blake Beckerink rushed in the 2-point conversion and the Wolfpack established a 14-0 lead in the first opening quarter.

"Gavin just loves playing," Bodamer stated. "He loves competing, he's a gamer, he prepares very hard and we trust the kid. He's a gamer."

The Panthers made their next drive count, needing points before the Wolfpack could put the game out of reach. Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg marched into the red zone for the first time, but it was nearly all for nothing.

With Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg fighting for extra yards on each run the Wolfpack found extra time to fight for fumbles and one nearly came on the 10-yard line, but lineman Logan Englehardt swooped in to keep the drive alive.

A few plays later the Panthers finished off the time consuming drive with a 3-yard punch by Liam Gadley and cut the deficit to 14-6.

The Panthers attempted some trickery after the TD, pulling off an onside kick after a line drive hit a Wolfpack player. However, the Wolfpack defense was up for the challenge as they forced a punt and had one more shot at putting points on the board.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama moved the ball into the Panthers-30, but a shot at the end zone landed into the wrong hands with Tyler Wilson grabbing an interception.

The start to the second half nearly mirrored the first and Clymer/Sherman/Panama quickly doubled its lead in the third quarter to 28-6.

The Wolfpack received great field position courtesy of Talon Persons on the kickoff, getting to the Panthers-30. A few plays later, Beckerink punched in a 1-yard touchdown and added his own 2-point conversion again.

"Talon Persons is a senior and doesn't get a ton of playing time," Bodamer said. "He's a special teams kid who had that big return to kick things off. It gave us some juice and when the offense can start at the 30 you better score is what your mindset is. That kick return was absolutely big in setting up the second half."

Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg had a porous response, tossing its second interception of the game, this time Daniel Redlecki grabbing the ill-advised pass. Then a few plays later, Burchanowski finished off the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run and the 28-6 lead.

Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg began switching up its offense, incorporating more passing with the greater deficit, but it was to no avail.

Instead, the Wolfpack on their final possession of the third quarter had the biggest passing play of the game with Burchanowski hitting Hayden Sexton in the flat followed by him breaking two tackles and running for the end zone and the 35-8 lead.

Portville/Cuba-Rushford/Bolivar-Richburg (3-2, 1-2) managed another touchdown in the fourth quarter when Peyton Carter connected with Braxton Clark on a 43-yard touchdown pass, but it was not enough to dig out of the deep hole. Burchanowski's fourth touchdown of the game put the stamp on the performance and the Wolfpack earned a big Class C South victory 42-14.

Burchanowski finished the game with 154 rushing yards with the four touchdowns on 11 carries, Beckerink added 107 yards on 14 rushes with a touchdown and Sexton was the top target with 54 yards on three catches. Dylan Kriner secured 12 tackles for the Wolfpack, Konner Morgan made 11 tackles and Redlecki secured eight tackles along with his interception.

With the victory, Clymer/Sherman/Panama stays right near the top of the Class C South standings, improving to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in league.

"This is a big win," Bodamer added. "We've got a couple in a row now coming off of that loss in Falconer who everybody is chasing now. We were talking that you've got to show up every weekend and now we're getting into the second half of the season, every week is pretty much a playoff game."

Portville/C-R/B-R 0 6 0 8 -- 14

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 14 0 21 7 -- 42

CSP--Burchanowski 29 run (Pass failed)

CSP--Burchanowski 52 run (Beckerink run)

Por--Gadley 3 run (Run failed)

CSP--Beckerink 1 run (Beckerink run)

CSP--Burchanowski 4 run (Run failed)

CSP--Sexton 44 pass from Burchanowski (Gomez kick)

Por--Clark 43 pass from Carter (Taylor run)

CSP--Burchanowski 10 run (Gomez kick)