Sweet Home shuts out Starpoint
Panthers win Class A North division, opponent for playoffs TBA
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Marcus Johnson passes most of the Starpoint defense en route to a 47-yard TD late in the first half which put Sweet Home ahead 14-0. Johnson would leave the game with a right ankle injury.

Sweet Home is known for its prolific offense but it was the Panthers' defense that led them to victory over Starpoint.

The Panthers' defense created three turnovers, sacked Starpoint QB Joe Scibilia three times and held the Spartans to two offensive yards as Sweet Home clinched the Class A North division title with a 17-0 shutout at UB Stadium on Sunday.

Sweet Home (6-1, 5-1) will host a yet to be determined opponent in the Class A semifinals either Sunday or Monday. Sweet Home won't know its opponent until Wednesday night after West Seneca East plays Cheektowaga. Albion (5-1, 5-1) is the second seed from Class A North and will play at 7 p.m. Friday at Iroquois.

"To come here and get a win and pitch a shutout against a good team means a lot," said Sweet Home coach John Faller after the game, who was drenched from head to toe from a soaking rain. "Defense wins championships and today it kind of showed. Things weren't going real good on offense."

Sweet Home's Nick Christman (71) and Augie Merlino (24) bring down Starpoint's Dylan Turbin during the Panthers' 17-0 shutout on Sunday at UB Stadium. The Panthers held Starpoint to two yards of total offense. Sweet Home will host a Section VI Class A semifinal playoff game at a time and date yet to be determined.

Originally supposed to be played on Saturday, the Starpoint game was moved to UB a day later because Sweet Home's home field was not playable thanks to a 2-foot snow storm two weeks ago which closed several schools across the area and left home fields a mess. Sweet Home was allowed to practice at UB on Friday and Saturday.

"I'm just proud of the kids and everything they did under such a short time period and those circumstances," said Faller.

Sweet Home's offense looked dominant at times. Joel Tilman capped off a 10-play, 65-yard opening drive with a 1-yard TD and Ian Goree (9-of-14, 135 yards, interception) fired a 10-yard pass to Marcus Johnson, who outran four Starpoint defenders for a 47-yard score with 1:04 left in the first half.

But the Panthers committed 17 penalties, 14 coming on offense.

In addition, running back Allen Douglas (17 carries, 60 yards), hampered all season by a high right ankle sprain, re-twisted it but still played. Johnson (two catches, 77 yards) twisted his right ankle enough that two players carried him to the bus after the game. Goree sat out a couple plays after getting hit in the back. Center Ryan Wilson broke a finger in his right hand.

Mike Lewandus kicked a 35-yard field goal for the Panthers' final points. It was his first field goal of the year. A 29-yard attempt sailed wide left. Nate McConnell caught a 49-yard pass on Sweet Home's first scoring drive.

Sweet Home finished with 249 total yards (135 passing, 114 rushing) of offense.

DeMario Cordelius, Kyle Balcerak, and Steve Phillips recovered fumbles for Sweet Home. Johnson and Augie Merlino had two sacks.

Starpoint's best scoring opportunity came after Eric Roberts blocked a punt and was recovered at the Sweet Home 10. But two false starts in the drive led to a fourth-and-14 and five Panther defenders sacked Sciblia. Marc Sepanski had an interception for the Spartans.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com