Sweet Home football
Panthers looking to break through
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Andrew Hopkins, far left, Marcus Johnson and Nick Christman are the captains for the Sweet Home varsity football team. Photo by Joe Eberle Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Sweet Home has seen its share of success on the gridiron the past couple of years but in Section VI Class A title games, the team has fallen short.

Two years ago at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Panthers lost to Grand Island, 20-14. Last year, Sweet Home fell to Iroquois, 53-20. Sweet Home coach John Faller and his players don't want the trend to continue this season.

"I said (to this year's team) 'how do you want to be remembered?' said Faller. "(Last year's sectional final) was one of those games that turned into a runaway. It's over. But we'd like to get to that point and go on and see how good of a team we are."

"It's always in the back of our minds," added Panthers lineman Andrew Hopkins. "It's one of the driving points that we had in the offseason and has made us work twice as hard as last season. We want to be a better team. What happened last year was last year. It's a new season, a whole new clean slate."

"What happened last year can never happen again," added lineman Nick Christman. "That was embarrassing. This is my third year (on the team) so hopefully, third time is a charm."

On paper, Faller has enough talent to make another run for the Ralph, starting with Hopkins (5-foot-11, 235 pounds) and Christman (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) at left and right offensive guard, respectively.

Christman, one of the strongest players on the team (365 bench press), has started since his sophomore year and last year was named first team Class A North offense, first team All-WNY and second team All-New York State. Hopkins can bench over 300 pounds.

Other players on the offensive line this year are juniors Steve Phillips at left tackle and Ryan Wilson at center as well as junior Chris Akromas or senior Carmen Morreale at right tackle. Wilson was a starter last year. Phillips filled in at times at left tackle.

"Our lineman overall are pretty strong kids so that will help us," said Faller.

"We've been working hard in the offseason," said Hopkins. "A lot of us know each other so we mesh pretty well. Hopefully, a tremendous offseason will correlate to a good season."

"I think we have the best line around," added wide receiver Marcus Johnson (5-foot-11, 170 pounds), who with Christman and Hopkins is the team's tri-captains.

Johnson, a third team All-WNY selection, is a double threat as a running back as well depending on the team's formation. Last year, Johnson rushed for over 600 yards and had over 260 receiving yards. He scored nine touchdowns.

Other receivers who will see time are seniors John Elliott and Richard Rush and juniors Ryan Gutt and Manny Reed.

Junior Will Reese can be used as running back or slot back. Other running backs are underclassmen Deshanaro Morris (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) and Ibrahim Ramadan (6-foot, 190 pounds), both sophomores, and freshman Mikal Coleman (5-foot-11, 215 pounds). When Morris, Ramadan or Coleman is not in the offensive lineup, they'll be playing defense. Morris is a linebacker; Ramadan and Coleman are defensive ends.

The quarterback duties have been split in training camp between juniors Casey Kacz and Mike Wolcott. Both played JV last year with Kacz as the starter.

"Both are smart kids that can run the offense," said Faller. "We got a good line in front of them and some good runners so I won't have to say 'hey you have to pass 15 times a game'."

The defense will feature Coleman, Ramadan, Reed or Phillips at defensive end, Christman, Hopkins (returning second team Class A North all-star), Wilson, Akromas, Morreale or senior Matt Costa at defensive tackle, senior Cody Brudge and juniors Matt Zon and Joel Tillman at linebacker and junior Hanif Russell, Johnson, junior Brandon Hudson and Elliott or senior Nate James in the secondary. James can also play linebacker.

Faller thinks the defense overall is quick which will enable players to get to the ball carrier faster.

With 58 athletes listed on the roster, the team also has depth at every position. Faller said it's the biggest roster he's had in his 30 plus years at Sweet Home, so big that he filled three teams of offensive and defensive players for a recent scrimmage.

Sweet Home finished 7-2 last year. The Panthers open with a non-league game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lancaster. They begin league play at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8 against rival Grand Island.

"Everybody puts up a big fight against us," said Faller. When you see Sweet Home, you expect to see a good football team and we try to live up to that reputation."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com

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