It’s safe to say the Wolfpack did that Friday night.

Quarterback Tate Catanese found all of his weapons, Clymer/Sherman/Panama controlled the clock with its running game, and the Wolfpack defense forced four turnovers en route to a 48-14 victory over Avon in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D Far West Regional at SUNY Brockport’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium.

“The key was just for us to get better this week,” Catanese said postgame. “They didn’t do anything we haven’t seen before, so really just perfect our craft and have a good week of practice.”

Next up for Section VI’s champion is a Western semifinal date with Section III’s Dolgeville next Friday evening at Vestal High School in suburban Binghamton.

Wolfpack quarterback Tate Catanese finds room to run. P-J photo by Tim Frank

“I scouted Tioga. We thought we’d see them for sure,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama defensive coordinator Chris Payne said. “But whoever comes in our way, we’re going to take care of business.”

Catanese was in control Friday on a cold, rainy evening on Bob Boozer Field. The senior went 15 of 20 for 224 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding 17 carries for 73 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as the Wolfpack advanced to their second straight state semifinal game. Last year, they lost to eventual state-champion Tioga.

“We made it to the state semifinal last year and we really wanted to make it back,” said senior wide receiver Bryce Hinsdale. ” … All the guys worked really hard and it feels good to be back there.”

After Carter Brink nearly broke free for a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the game, Clymer/Sherman/Panama marched 58 yards in 12 plays to take a 6-0 lead. Catanese connected with senior Alex Barmore for a 20-yard gain on the drive, had a would-be 22-yard touchdown to senior Hinsdale called back due to a penalty and nearly threw an interception on what was really his lone mistake of the night before scoring on a fourth-down quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line.

“We really focused on trying to come out and be sharp on the first possession. That was a big emphasis this week,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Ty Harper said. “We’d been a little bit sloppy the first time we’ve had the ball the past couple of weeks so we really wanted to clean that up.”

The Wolfpack made it 14-0 on their first possession of the second quarter. On the fourth play of the drive, a first down from the Avon 42-yard line, Catanese rolled to his right and was about to take off on his own before Brink broke free behind the River Hawks defense and Catanese found him for a leaping catch in the end zone.

“He had a post-corner on that, but he just made it deeper and obviously no one was covering him,” Catanese said of Brink. “I was going to run it, but then I saw his hand at the last second, and you know what, I gave him a chance.”

Avon looked like it might make a game of it on its next drive as it went 75 yards in seven plays, keyed by a pair of 24-yard runs by senior running back Wesley Farley and senior wide receiver-turned-quarterback Kalman Dolgos. On second down from the Wolfpack 15-yard line, Dolgos found an open Blayden Borsching for a touchdown to make it a 14-7 game.

When Catanese scored on another 1-yard run with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter, it looked like Clymer/Sherman/Panama would take a 21-7 lead into halftime. But Avon tried to put together a quick scoring drive, instead punting the ball back to the Wolfpack just 39 seconds later.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama quickly capitalized as four throws later Catanese connected with Brink again, this time from 14 yards out, to make it 28-7 with 14 seconds left in the first half. The key play on the drive was a 14-yard completion to Hinsdale that gave him seven receptions in the opening 24 minutes.

“Before the half, I thought that was huge too,” Harper said. “The defense did a great job, got us a three-and-out, and we were able to score there again before the half.”

“I think it’s the chemistry,” said Hinsdale, who finished with eight catches and is seven shy of tying Bruce Williams’ state record of 227 receptions in his career. “Alex Barmore, Carter Brink, myself and Tate Catanese have been playing with each other since midgets. We know where each other are going to be at a certain time. We all trust Tate because Tate is one of the best quarterbacks in Western New York.”

Avon fumbled twice on its first five plays from scrimmage in the second half and the Wolfpack turned them into touchdown runs of 2 yards from Barmore and 7 yards from Catanese as their lead ballooned to 42-7, effectively ending the game.

“We watched film and told them, there are a lot of times where they’d drop a snap or it would be bad, but they were so good they’d fumble the snap and run for 80 yards,” Payne said. ” … Five plays, two turnovers and we scored a couple of times … that’s what we envisioned coming out of the half.”

Despite facing Avon, an undefeated team ranked No. 2 by the New York State Sportswriters Association entering Friday, Clymer/Sherman/Panama will likely face a stiffer test next Friday against Dolgeville, which knocked off Section IV champion Delaware Academy 28-16 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

“Different opponent; it’s a team we’re maybe not as familiar with. I’m sure Coach Payne will text me at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning and ask if the (film) is up yet,” Harper said. ” … They have a nice team. … We need a great week of preparation. I’m sure it will be another battle.”

NOTES: Travis Owens had 11 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown for Clymer/Sherman/Panama. … Hinsdale had eight catches for 112 yards, while Brink had four catches for 57 yards and two touchdowns. … Defensively for the Wolfpack, Collin Ryan and Dalton Richter had seven tackles apiece; Andrew Spiesman, Kolten Rhoades and Noah Skarzenski each recovered a fumble; and Gavin Burchanowski intercepted a pass.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 6 22 14 6 – 48

Avon 0 7 0 7 – 14

C/S/P-Catanese 1 run (run failed)

C/S/P-Brink 42 pass from Catanese (Barmore pass from Catanese

Avo-Borsching 15 pass from Dolgos (Mayen kick)

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

C/S/P-Brink 14 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Barmore 2 run (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Catanese 7 run (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Owens 4 run (kick failed)

Avo-Chase 59 run (Mayen kick)