Sweet Home beats Grand Island, wins fourth straight on road
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

IN MEMORY - The Williamsville South boys soccer team, including Chris Amara (8) and Trevor Lawler (11) wore armbands in memory of Melissa Chudy during the team's game last Wednesday at Amherst. Chudy passed away Oct. 1. Her son, Rob, is a former South player. Another son, James, attends South. Photo by John Rusac

For the fourth straight game, the Sweet Home offense has scored 40 points and for the fourth consecutive contest, it has resulted in a Panthers road victory.

Sweet Home (5-1, 5-1) used a 21-6 halftime lead to win at Grand Island (3-3, 3-3), 42-14. It was a rematch of the Section VI Class A finals won by Grand Island, 20-14.

"It's four games in a row where we scored 40 or better," said Sweet Home coach John Faller. "I think we're getting better and the kids are gaining confidence in themselves. Offensively, we'll find something that will work whether it be run or pass."

Sweet Home scored on its opening drive capped off by a 1-yard Joel Tilman run. Grand Island tried to respond but Sean Burns recovered an Alex Webb fumble at the Sweet Home 15 which led to a 70-yard TD from Ian Goree to Glenroy Carr. Goree (6-of-12, 135 yards, two interceptions) would also hook up with Eric Lawrence for a 32-yard strike in the second quarter to put the Panthers ahead 21-0. Lawrence would return an interception 54 yards in the third quarter.

Grand Island scored a late second quarter TD, a 25-yard pass from Joe Oliverio to Phil Wendt. However, any momentum Grand Island had from the score was quickly killed when Sweet Home drove 70 yards in 11 plays on the first drive of the third quarter, finished off by a 3-yard Marcus Johnson score to take a 28-6 lead. Johnson also caught an interception.

"We mixed it up," said Faller. "We went to our spread then our tight formation."

Goree ran in a 2-yard score in the fourth.

Sweet Home rushed for 234 yards led by Allen Douglas (14 carries, 83 yards).

It was his first action since suffering a high right ankle sprain against Jamestown in week one. He ran four times in week two against Williamsville East.

"He's almost there," said Faller. "He said he just has to get his game legs back. That was the first time he was running and getting hit (since week two)."

Sweet Home held Grand Island to 154 passing yards and 99 yards rushing.

Sweet Home hosts Lew-Port in the Panthers' homecoming at 2

p.m. Saturday. If Sweet Home beats Lew-Port and Starpoint in Week Eight, they are guaranteed a playoff spot.

"We're a target right now," said Faller. Everybody that's coming to play us, no matter what their position is in the league, is going to want to knock us off."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com