CANISTOTA — Canistota and Platte-Geddes — two teams with recent state championships under their belts — brushed up for the postseason on Friday. 

Canistota held off Platte-Geddes for a 22-8 high school football win in both team’s regular-season finales. It also continued a recent trend of high-level football between the nine-man powers. 

The Black Panthers won both meetings last season, including a 14-8 decision in the state championship over the Hawks (Canistota/Freeman last year). 

“They are a great football team,” Canistota coach James Strang said. “They are extremely well coached and disciplined and for a group that’s been as successful as they have, they just keep turning them back out.”

The teams locked into another slugfest on Friday. The Hawks posted 301 total yards, while the Black Panthers racked up 279 yards. They also combined for five turnovers on a windy and chilly afternoon. 

“I think both teams just have great defensive-minded teams,” Canistota running back/linebacker Noah Kleinsasser said. “That’s the strong suit of both of us.”

The Hawks (4-4) found themselves in an early hole. Canistota received the opening kickoff, but fumbled on its fourth play from scrimmage. The Black Panthers (4-4) pounced on it and Joey Foxley scored a 28-yard touchdown run on the very next play. 

“I am not sure if we had some confusion about alignment on that opening one and they definitely tagged us on it,” Strang said. “...They beat us in the state title game last year. So I think we were just a little hot under the collar and maybe we over pursued a little bit. They beat us on a nice counter play and hats off to them.” 

From there, Canistota kept Platte-Geddes out of the end zone and Kleinsasser racked up the rushing yards for the Hawks. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder rushed for 163 yards and scored three touchdowns. 

“It’s nice being able to get the touches,” Kleinsasser said. “But I think our offense played really well and our line blocked well, too.” 

Platte-Geddes' Joey Foxley goes up for a pass in between Canistota's Levi Schroder (25) and Brady Scott (2) on Friday in Canistota. (Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Kleinsasser’s first touchdown was set up after Tage Ortman intercepted a Platte-Geddes pass. On fourth down, Kleinsasser emerged from a scrum at the line of scrimmage for a 17-yard touchdown run. He later plowed in for a 10-yard touchdown run and Canistota led 16-6 at halftime. Kleinsasser’s fourth-quarter touchdown run stretched Canistota’s lead to 22-6. 

“Noah does a nice job,” Strang said. “In my opinion, maybe he dances a little too much but a couple of dance steps tonight paid off pretty big, a couple of them he thought he was stopped and then he just bounced around the outside.”

Defensively, Kleinsasser was also Johnny on the Spot. In the fourth quarter, Platte-Geddes drove deep into Canistota’s territory, but fumbled on both drives. Kleinsasser jumped on both fumbles, including one at the one-yard line with under one minute left. 

“It was huge,” Strang said about the defensive stops. “We bent, but we didn’t break. That’s just a great thing that we can rally around each other late.”

Backed up at their own one-yard line, Canistota took a safety with 34 seconds left to reach the final margin. 

Platte-Geddes quarterback Dawson Hoffman completed 19 of 30 passes for 201 yards, while Foxley had 49 rushing yards on 11 carries. Aiden Bultje had 56 receiving yards. 

Ortman completed 7 of 11 passes for 69 yards, while he rushed for 65 yards. Kleinsasser added 31 receiving yards and had 7.5 tackles on defense. Ortman had an interception on defense. 

Up next, the teams will turn their attention to the postseason. Canistota plays at Alcester-Hudson on Oct. 20 in the Class 9A playoffs. Platte-Geddes plays at Hanson on Oct. 20 in the Class 9AA playoffs.