Disappointing opener
Silver Creek/Forestville falls 35-6 to Wolfpack
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek/Forestville’s Manny Sanchez returns a kickoff as Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Talon Persons (16) pursues a tackle during a nonleague football game Thursday in Silver Creek.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek/Forestville quarterback Will Duliba rolls out to pass during a nonleague football game against the Clymer/Sherman/Panama Wolfpack on Thursday in Silver Creek.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek/Forestville's Alex Januchowski (10) catches a pass on fourth down to keep the drive going. The Black Knights later scored a touchdown on the drive.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek/Forestville’s Manny Sanchez returns a kickoff as Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Talon Persons (16) pursues a tackle during a nonleague football game Thursday in Silver Creek.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek/Forestville quarterback Will Duliba rolls out to pass during a nonleague football game against the Clymer/Sherman/Panama Wolfpack on Thursday in Silver Creek.
OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek/Forestville's Alex Januchowski (10) catches a pass on fourth down to keep the drive going. The Black Knights later scored a touchdown on the drive.
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SILVER CREEK -- The goal of any team is to start the season with a win. Thursday night, the Clymer/Sherman/Panama Wolfpack put a notch in the win column before most of Section VI even took a snap.
Following three first-half touchdowns, the Wolfpack left with a victory 35-6 over the Silver Creek/Forestville Black Knights in a nonleague game to start the season.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama (1-0) turned the ball over on its first drive, as Silver Creek/Forestville (0-1) recovered a fumble in the red zone just over two minutes into the game. The momentum flipped two plays later, however, as Will Duliba's first pass of the season was intercepted by Gavin Burchanowski, his counterpart.
After Buchanowski's interception set his own offense up in enemy territory, he capped off the short drive with a 4-yard touchdown run for the first six points of the season for either side. After a failed 2-point conversion, the Wolfpack led 6-0 with 6:34 left in the opening period.
Following a Black Knights punt, the Wolfpack added to the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run up the middle by Bryan Gomez. The Wolfpack added to the lead with a 2-point conversion for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The Wolfpack scored a third touchdown in the first half on a 3-yard run by Blake Beckerink with 4:07 left before the break.
Facing a fourth-and-4 from near midfield with just over two minutes remaining in the half, desperately needing a spark, Silver Creek/Forestville head coach Sean Helmer called a timeout and pulled his punter off the field to go for it. The decision paid off, as Duliba escaped the Wolfpack pass rush and found Alex Januchowski over the middle to convert the first down.
For the first time since the opening-drive fumble recovery, the Black Knights sideline was energized. The young children serving as ball boys jumped up to celebrate with Silver Creek security guard Brian Wagner along the sideline as the offense kept the drive alive.
With just 13 seconds remaining in the half, Duliba rolled to his right and found Jake Anders for a 2-yard touchdown. The score put the Black Knights on the board, trailing at the break 20-6.
Silver Creek/Forestville received the kick to start the second half, but just as the Black Knights did with their first possession of the first half, Duliba threw an interception.
On the ensuing drive Blake Beckerink took it up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the lead. With 6:20 left in the third quarter, following a 2-point conversion, the Wolfpack led 28-6.
Gomez added on with another touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter, and the first extra point attempt of the game gave the Wolfpack a 35-6 lead. Duliba responded with his third interception of the game.
Up next, Silver Creek/Forestville will host Falconer/Cassadaga Valley/Maple Grove on Friday, Sept. 11. Clymer/Sherman/Panama will host Fredonia on Saturday, Sept. 12 in Sherman.
For more information, see a complete story online at www.observertoday.com.