It happened to come on homecoming for the Wolfpack.

John Watson made sure it didn’t happen again this year.

The senior linebacker made 11 tackles, including one of Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s nine for losses, and led a spirited defensive effort as the Wolfpack beat nonleague Salamanca 37-6 on Saturday afternoon in the “Pasture of Pain.”

“It was super competitive at practice this week. Last year on homecoming, we kind of embarrassed ourselves,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Ty Harper said. “We talked all week about kind of atoning for that. … I thought we did a lot of good things today. That was a statement win for sure.”

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's John Watson (7) takes down Salamanca's Maddox Isaac (11) during Saturday's nonleague football game in Clymer. Photo by Steve Garvey

Clymer/Sherman/Panama (6-0, 3-0 Class D) held the Warriors (4-2, 4-0 Class C South) to just 112 yards of offense and forced them into five turnovers as it remained undefeated with a pair of league games remaining on its schedule.

“It’s a tough one to look at the scoreboard. That’s a heck of a team, there’s no doubt about it,” Salamanca head coach Chad Bartoszek said. “As a coach of a team that I think is pretty talented as well, I don’t feel like we were able to execute.”

Watson was seemingly in the middle of every defensive play for the Wolfpack during a first half in which the Warriors turned the ball over on downs twice and threw a pair of interceptions to junior Bryce Hinsdale as Clymer/Sherman/Panama built a 24-0 lead.

“He’s such an outstanding leader, he’s one of the guys who really set the tone in practice this week. … He made sure guys were locked in and prepared today,” Harper said of Watson. ” … He was on fire at practice this week so I’m not surprised that he had a big day today.”

Junior quarterback Tate Catanese threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior Alex Barmore and then ran for a 1-yard score himself before junior Carter Brink outworked his defender in the back of the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown catch from Catanese with 11:52 remaining in the second quarter.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's Alex Barmore (3) stiff-arms Salamanca's Cameron McGraw during Saturday's nonleague football game in Clymer. Photo by Steve Garvey

“They did a good job of taking away some of our screens, and we felt like we would be able to take advantage of that with guys like Alex Barmore and Carter Brink,” Harper said. ” … When you’ve got a bunch of guys who are able to step up and make plays, it’s a blessing.

“He’s really done a great job all season long and I think he’s continuing to get better,” Harper added of Catanese. “Last year on homecoming, he was one of those guys whose inexperience and youth showed a little bit. … Today, I thought he was lights-out.”

After Hinsdale tacked on a 27-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, Salamanca finally got its offense going with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that ended with a Maddox Isaac 2-yard touchdown pass to Carmine Hoag on fourth down with 3 seconds remaining in the first half.

“They came out and hit us. They were ready,” Bartoszek said. “That’s what we needed. We needed a little taste of that.”

But the Warriors were unable to carry the momentum over through halftime as Hinsdale recovered a fumble on the second play of the third quarter. Salamanca couldn’t get out of its own way on its next drive as three penalties pushed the Warriors back to a fourth-and-23 from the 2-yard line and their punt only traveled 13 yards. Three plays into Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s ensuing drive, senior Bryce Posker scored on a 2-yard run to make it 30-6.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's Tate Catanese runs for yardage during Saturday's nonleague football game against Salamanca in Clymer. Photo by Steve Garvey

Junior Collin Ryan intercepted a pass to end Salamanca’s next drive and later fell on a fumble to cap the Wolfpack defense’s five-turnover day.

“I think it’s a good measuring-stick game to find out where you are at,” Harper said. “Chad Bartoszek’s an exceptional coach. Any time you get an opportunity to play against a really good team with a great coach, it’s a great opportunity.”

The Warriors will return to league play next Friday night against first-place Southwestern (4-2, 4-0) at Veterans Memorial Park.

“We talked about this game being like a mid-term exam. Where are we right now? We had a tough opener and a few weeks of success,” Bartoszek said. “We needed a reboot game. This came at the perfect time. We need to get healthy and go into these next two games with a championship mindset.”

Clymer/Sherman/Panama will host Gowanda/Pine Valley (3-2, 1-2) next Saturday in Panama with hopes of setting up a first-place showdown with Franklinville/Ellicottville (6-0, 4-0) in Week 8.

“They’re good. They’ve got a good thing wth the quarterback and the receiver,” Harper said of the Panthers’ Carter Capozzi and Quentin Centner. “I thought they played Franklinville/Ellicottville really tough. … We’re not taking anyting for granted.”

NOTES: Catanese finished 12 of 18 for 167 yards and four touchdowns. … Brink caught four passes for 66 yards, Hinsdale caught four for 42 yards and Barmore caught pair of touchdowns for 29 yards. … Isaac completed 8 of 12 passes for 69 yards. … Ryan was in on nine tackles, Posker was in on seven and senior Anthony Cipolla was in on six for the Wolfpack.

Salamanca 0 6 0 0 — 6

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 14 10 6 7 — 37

C/S/P–Barmore 24 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P–Catanese 1 run (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P–Brink 27 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P–Hinsdale 27 FG

Sal–Hoag 2 pass from Isaac (pass failed)

C/S/P–Posker 2 run (kick blocked)

C/S/P–Barmore 5 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)