Canisteo-Greenwood's historic football season ends in state quarterfinals

WILLIAMSVILLE - The Canisteo-Greenwood Chargers football team made history last week, when the Class D school became Section V champions for the first time.

Turns out that was the pinnacle of Canisteo-Greenwood's season.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama pushed Canisteo-Greenwood out of the first round of the state tournament Friday when it won the Section V versus Section VI matchup 50-16 at Williamsville South High.

"They are very good, a lot of good players in very important positions," Canisteo-Greenwood coach Steve Donlon said about the team from the Buffalo region.

Player of the game

Clymer/Sherman/Panama quarterback Tate Catanese, a junior listed at 6 feet tall and 200 pounds who threw three touchdown passes, as he completed 9 of 12 pass attempts for 164 yards. His night was over after one series in the third quarter.

Football: Section V scores for 2023 season

Play of the game

Canisteo-Greenwood trailed 7-0 after the first C/S/P offensive series. The Chargers tried to gain their first first down on third-and-one at their own 27, but running back Beau Zeh was dragged backward by Collin Ryan and Tony Cipolla for no gain.

By the numbers

4 - Number of touchdowns scored by C/S/P in the team's first four possessions. A two-point conversion run gave the Wolfpack a 29-0 lead with 11:44 remaining in the second quarter.

43 - The size of the lead in points the Wolfpack held at halftime.

1 - The number of yards for the first C/S/P touchdown, a quarterback sneak by Catanese.

6 - Number of yards for the second C/S/P touchdown, a reception or catch by Bryce Hinsdale from Catanese.

2 - Number of yards for the third C/S/P touchdown, a two-yard pass from Catanese to AlexSamone.

2 - The quarter when Canisteo-Greenwood achieved its first first down, at its 31-yard line with about 3 minutes remaining in the half.

67 - Yards C/S/P junior linebacker Collin Ryan returned an interception for a touchdown with 1:05 remaining in the second quarter.

2 - Touchdowns scored by Canisteo-Greenwood senior running back Beau Zeh, both 1-yard runs in the second half.

78 - Rushing yards for C/S/P leader Bryce Posker on eight carries.

317 - Yards of total offense for the C/S/P Wolfpack.

They said it

"If you noticed, they don't have a lot of kids going both ways (playing offense and defense). That is the exact opposite of what happens in Class D football in Section V. They are fresh, they are good," Canisteo-Greenwood coach Steve Donlon.

"They did a lot of shifts, so we were ready for formations and then they were in a totally different formation," Canisteo-Greenwood coach Steve Donlon.

"I will never bet against this group of kids," Clymer/Sherman/Panama coach Ty Harper.

"We're going to play a Tioga team that hasn't lost a game since the spring of 2021" Clymer/Sherman/Panama coach Ty Harper.

What's next

Clymer/Sherman/Panama faces Tioga of Section IV or the Binghamton/Elmira region in a matchup of the top two state-ranked Class D teams, No. 1 vs. No. 2, in a state semifinal November 24, 3 p.m. at Cicero-North Syracuse High.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canisteo-Greenwood's historic football season ends in state regionals