OBSERVER File Photo Ty Harper’s Clymer/Sherman/Panama Wolfpack won the third NYSPHSAA Class D state championship in the program’s 10-year existence this fall.

Ty Harper was blessed with more talent in Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s senior class this season than some Class D coaches see in their lifetimes.

The Wolfpack was expected to win a New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship this fall.

With that expectation came pressure — both on Harper and his players.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama didn’t back down from the challenge.

The Wolfpack ran the table to a perfect 5-0 league season, outscoring Franklinville/Ellicottville, Randolph, Gowanda/Pine Valley, Wilson and Cattaraugus-Little Valley 266-57 along the way.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama welcomed nonleague tests from Class C Waverly — the defending state champion — Class B Lackawanna and Class B Lake Shore.

In a season-opening loss at Waverly, the Wolfpack showed they had a lot to learn and get right if they wanted to compete for a state title. Clymer/Sherman/Panama was humbled in a 24-3 loss.

But that was the first game for the Wolfpack’s brand-new offensive line, which had a combined zero varsity starts heading into the season.

They rebounded nicely with three straight league wins: 48-0 over Randolph, 42-12 over Gowanda/PIne Valley and 21-6 over Franklinville/Ellicottville.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama had another big nonleague test next on the schedule, hosting undefeated Lackawanna in Panama. On that Saturday afternoon in October, Steelers’ sophomore running back Tyrone Clark Jr. gashed the Wolfpack for 294 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-28 defeat.

This time, the game was a learning opportunity for the Clymer/Sherman/Panama defense.

The Wolfpack beat Lake Shore 50-6 the following weekend and it looked like everything was fixed for Harper’s team.

But with two weeks to go in the regular season, Clymer/Sherman/Panama did not look like itself in a 15-7 win over Wilson in Clymer. The Wolfpack needed a late touchdown and a stop to avoid the upset.

After beating Cattaraugus-Little Valley in its regular-season finale, Clymer/Sherman/Panama did not know what to expect following a bye week when it hosted Gowanda/Pine Valley in the Section VI semifinals. A bad first half was even more worrisome.

But the Wolfpack began a magical run in the second half that day in Panama.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama beat the Panthers 51-24 with a 29-0 second half.

The next weekend at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, the Wolfpack systematically took down Franklinville/Ellicottville 33-8 for their fourth sectional title since merging 10 years ago.

A 48-14 win over Section V’s Avon at SUNY Brockport gave Clymer/Sherman/Panama its second straight Far West Regional title.

A year after losing to Tioga in the state final four, the Wolfpack took down Section III’s Dolgeville at Vestal High School in the West Semifinal.

Finally, five years after winning its second of two straight state titles, Clymer/Sherman/Panama beat Section IX’s Burke Catholic 46-7 at the JMA Dome on the campus of Syracuse University for its third championship.

Senior quarterback Tate Catanese was named the league Player of the Year, while fellow senior Carter Brink was a co-Offensive Player of the Year. Senior linebacker Collin Ryan was named a co-Defensive Player of the Year and Harper was named the league’s Coach of the Year.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama was represented on the league’s First Team by Catanese, senior offensive lineman Andrew Spiesman, senior tight end Alex Barmore, Brink, senior defensive lineman Kolten Rhoades, Ryan, senior defensive back Bryce Hinsdale and senior safety Dalton Richter.

Wolfpack on the Second Team included senior running back Travis Owens, senior offensive lineman Blayne Rumaihi, junior offensive linemen Troy Chambers and Matthew Redlecki and sophomore linebacker Bryan Gomez. And honorable-mention selections included senior Jordan Mescall, junior Kam Einink and freshman Sawyer Whitney.

For developing a boatload of talent over the past several years and reaching state-championship-winning expectations, Harper is this year’s OBSERVER/Post-Journal Football Coach of the Year.