OBSERVER Staff Report
CLYMER - A rally in the second half carried Clymer to a non-league victory Saturday afternoon.
Clymer did all its scoring in the second half in rallying to defeat Cassadaga Valley, 22-18, to rack up its sixth straight win and sixth in seven games to finish the regular season.
After Cassadaga Valley (3-4) held a 12-0 lead on a 4-yard run by Jordan Crabtree and a 33-yard punt return by David Meadows, Jake Wiggers took over for Clymer.
Wiggers raced 74 yards for a touchdown and Matt DeStevens hit a two-point conversion pass to Mitch Einink.
Then, Wiggers went four yards for a score and Jarred Dunnewold's placement was good to tie the game at 14-14.
Jordan Boughton rambled 69 yards to put Cassadaga Valley back in front, 20-15, only to see Wiggers enter the end zone again on an 8-yard run. Dunnewold kick the extra point.
Wiggers finished with 154 yards on 23 carries and intercepted a pass while quarterback Matt DeStevens was 5-of-12 passing for 68 yards.
Connor Payne had 53 yards on 18 carries while making seven tackles and causing a fumble for the Pirates.
Defensively besides Payne, Austin Cramer had eight tackles and two fumble recoveries. Dan Lictus eight tackles and a fumble recovery and Tom Heiser seven tackles in the win.
The Pirates allowed a lone first down on Boughton's run and only 81 yards total offense. Boughton had 57 yards on eight attempts and the defense has allowed just four touchdowns in the last five games.
''We have a lot of respect for Cassadaga Valley," Pirates' head coach Dave Bodamer said. "They are a (Class) C school going to the playoffs and it is exciting playing a school from another division like this. Our special-teams play cost us a couple of touchdowns today, which is not normal for us, but the boys wouldn't quit. This was really a good game. Each team played hard and, thankfully, we came out on top. It is great for our seniors to win the last one at home, too.''
