On to the dome

It turns out, the gap between them is quite large.

Tate Catanese threw for four touchdowns as No. 1 Clymer/Sherman/Panama turned a 36-0 halftime lead into a 43-14 victory over the second-ranked Blue Devils in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s West Semifinal at Vestal High School.

“The kids did a great job in preparation this week. … We felt really good coming into this one,” Clymer/Sherman/Panama head coach Ty Harper said. ” … Just proud of the way the kids came out and executed.”

Next up for the Wolfpack is a 3 p.m. title game tilt with Section IX’s Burke Catholic next Friday at the JMA Wireless Dome on the campus of Syracuse University. The Eagles beat Section II’s Greenwich 25-18 in overtime of their East Semifinal on Friday at Middletown High School.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Alex Barmore (3) finds a clear path to the end zone after catching a pass in the second quarter of Friday’s NYSPHSAA West Semifinal. Celebrating is teammate Matthew Redlecki (58).

“We try not to look ahead too much,” Catanese said. “We were just focused on Dolgeville this week.”

If Clymer/Sherman/Panama plays as well as it did in the opening 24 minutes at Dick Hoover Stadium, it’s hard to imagine Burke Catholic being much of a test.

The Wolfpack needed less than three minutes to score their first touchdown on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Catanese to Bryce Hinsdale and then needed just over two minutes to tack on their second score when Catanese connected with Carter Brink for a 23-yard touchdown with 2:45 left in the opening quarter. A pair of point-after kicks made it 14-0.

“I thought we came out really well and punched them in the mouth. That was kind of our goal, to come out hot and make sure they knew who we were,” Catanese said. “They haven’t really faced adversity all year so we were trying to give them some to start the game.”

Travis Owens recovered a Dolgeville fumble on the Blue Devils’ next possession and just over three minutes later, Clymer/Sherman/Panama converted that turnover into a 22-0 lead after Owens’ 2-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion plunge from Catanese.

“We feel like we have a lot of playmakers,” Hinsdale said. “We want to do what we can to help the team win, if scoring touchdowns is it, that’s what we’re going to do.”

Brink caught his second touchdown of the game, a 16-yarder from Catanese, with 3:01 left in the first half and after the Blue Devils muffed the ensuing kickoff, Alex Barmore capped the first-half scoring with a 16-yard touchdown catch of his own on a fourth-down screen pass with 1:20 remaining in the second quarter.

“We kind of make sure everyone can get the ball and get everyone ready to go,” Catanese said. “It’s important for all of them to touch the ball because they are all playmakers.”

“As the season has gone on we have really tried to emphasize to the kids the importance of starting well,” Harper said. ” … It really kind of sets the tone for the game.”

All that remained to be discovered in the second half was whether or not Hinsdale would chase down the state’s career receptions record. Entering the game seven away from Bruce Williams’ mark of 227, Hinsdale grabbed four passes in the first half.

After Dolgeville turned the ball over on downs to open the third quarter, Catanese quickly targeted Hinsdale on the Wolfpack’s drive. On first-and-10 and second-and-5, the pair hooked up for Hinsdale’s 225th and 226th catches. After an 11-yard run by Owens, Hinsdale tied the record with a 6-yard catch on a screen pass.

Then, on second-and-4 from the 50-yard line, Hinsdale ran a 6-yard out toward the Dolgeville sideline to establish a new record with 3:47 left in the third quarter.

“I give total props to Coach Harper, he knew that I wanted it,” Hinsdale said. “Now we have nothing left to get except for a ring.”

Two plays later, Catanese hooked up with Hinsdale for a 9-yard gain for his 229th reception.

Owens pushed the ball down to the 1-yard line with a 17-yard run and then capped the drive with his second score of the game to make it 43-0.

“I think it is kind of a weight lifted off of all of our backs that we did get here, since we were expected to since we were super young,” Catanese said. “It’s just a happy feeling.”

While Hinsdale’s night was done on offense, he killed Dolgeville’s final drive with an interception inside the 1-yard line.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s reserves were then tasked with running out the clock while Catanese and his weapons celebrated on the sidelines as they clinched a trip to the home of the Orange next weekend.

“We knew we had the group at the beginning of the year,” Hinsdale said. ” … It feels really nice to be back.”

“To me, it’s all about the kids,” Harper added. “It’s great as a coach … but for this group of kids to have an opportunity to play for a state title, that’s everything for me.”

NOTES: Catanese completed 16 of 20 passes for 233 yards. … Hinsdale caught nine passes for 100 yards and Brink caught five passes for 113 yards. … Owens ran 11 times for 78 yards and Catanese ran nine times for 53 yards. … Dalton Richter was in on seven tackles and forced a fumble; Collin Ryan was in on six tackles, including one for a loss; Carson Pinzok was in on six tackles, including two for losses; and Jordan Mescall was in on six tackles and intercepted a pass for the Wolfpack.

Dolgeville 0 0 0 14 – 14

Clymer/Sherman/Panama 14 22 7 0 – 43

C/S/P-Hinsdale 3 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Brink 23 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Owens 2 run (Catanese run)

C/S/P-Brink 16 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

C/S/P-Barmore 16 pass from Catanese (Hinsdale kick)

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

Dol-Moore 55 pass from Borst (Comstock kick)

Dol-Borst 14 run (Comstock kick)