CSP Dethrones Maple Grove For Class D Title

There’s a new top dog in Class D.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama showed why it’s the top-ranked team in New York State, dethroning two-time defending champ Maple Grove, 35-7, in the Section VI championship game on Friday afternoon at New Era Field.

“This is big for our program; this is huge,” quarterback Gerrit Hinsdale said. “Having merged just four year ago, this is an incredible feeling.”

CSP (10-0) will play the winner of Saturday’s Section V title game between Alexander and York/Pavilion in the Far West Regionals, which will be played at noon Saturday at Clarence High School.

“We’ve got big goals,” CSP coach Ty Harper said. “We feel like this is just the beginning. We have to be able to execute no matter what the score is, we can’t take it easy or relax. That’s the mindset we need to have.”

Derek Ecklund’s long run on the second play of the game set up a short TD run by Hinsdale. The Wolfpack got another big play to extend the lead on a nifty 46-yard TD catch and run from Hinsdale to Cameron Barmore.

But Maple Grove plugged away and drew within 13-7 at the break thanks to a 1-yard TD on fourth-and-goal by Carson Crist.

“We came out and attacked and played with an edge in that first half and then in the last three or four minutes, kind of lost that a little bit. We talked to our guys at halftime about getting that edge. Credit to the kids, what a great job they did.”

Michael Beatman’s 20-yard TD run extended it to 21-7 with 8:26 left in the third. The senior set that up himself with an interception near midfield. Following another MG turnover, Ecklund found pay dirt for a 28-7 lead.

Barmore’s 10-yard TD catch in the opening minute of the fourth quarter sealed the deal.

“We took the scorer’s motivation,” Barmore said. “We knew it wasn’t over, we’re more of a second half team. We just put it to them and executed.”

Ecklund ran 23 times for 143 yards and a TD. Hinsdale threw for 164 yards and a pair of TDs and Barmore had five catches for 75 yards and both of those scores.

Maple Grove finished the season at 7-3. Easton Tanner ran for 40 yards, threw for 31 more and added another 20 receiving. Crist threw for 54 yards.

football