Total domination
Sweet Home explodes for eight touchdowns, defeats Billies 56-0
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Sweet Home's William Reese hauls in a catch that becomes the Panthers' fifth touchdown of the day as Williamsville South's Jake Keim can only watch. Sweet Home beat South, 56-0, on Saturday in the Panthers' homecoming game. Photo by Jason Nadolinski Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

Sweet Home's homecoming football game couldn't have gone any better.

The Panthers' offense amassed 559 yards, 339 coming on the ground, and the defense caused three turnovers in a 56-0 blowout over divisional opponent Williamsville South last Saturday.

The 56 points is the fourth-highest single-game point total in the school's history. The highest record being 65 points against Kenmore West in 1974, followed by 60 against Kenmore East in 2005 and then the 58 points Sweet Home put up on South in 2001.

The Panthers scored on five of its seven possessions in the first half to build a 35-0 halftime advantage. Senior running back Marcus Johnson had 127 of his 187 yards on his first two carries. Johnson busted up the middle of the South defense for a 60-yard TD on the second play from scrimmage and after the South offense was held on downs, cut to the outside for a 67-yard TD with 9:06 left in the first quarter.

"Our offense came ready," said Johnson. "We did what the coaches told us to do and the offensive line and receivers made their blocks."

Johnson also helped out on defense, intercepting a pass by South quarterback Chris Hauser at the Sweet Home 42, which led to a four-yard QB keeper by Sweet Home's Casey Kacz five plays later.

Kacz added a 25-yard TD to senior receiver Richard Rush in the back of the end zone with 1:07 left in the first quarter and a 36-yard bomb to junior back Will Reese with 4:53 remaining in the first half. He also hooked up with junior receiver Noah Nwachukwu on a 46-yard TD strike on the Panthers' first offensive possession of the second half.

A 10-yard TD run up the middle by freshman back Mikal Coleman late in the third quarter and a 15-yard TD run by junior back Michael Scott with six minutes left in the game rounded out the scoring. Scott's TD was set up by an interception from Jamel Werts.

Sweet Home kicker Nathaniel Moore broke a 10-year-old school record with eight extra points. Tim Round had seven in 1997.

Reese led all receivers with three catches for 73 yards.

Hanif Russell also had an interception for Sweet Home.

The only mistakes Sweet Home made was a fumble late in the first half that was recovered by South's John Willet and at least eight penalties, including six holding calls.

"I think South was a little outmatched, but our kids executed well," said Sweet Home coach John Faller. "Marcus (Johnson) ran well and the line did an exceptional job blocking too. The kids had big holes. Even our reserves were blocking well."

"Penalties are penalties," he added. "Obviously we can't do it in games where it makes a big difference. We got everybody in and did what we had to do."

South was held to 129 yards of total offense. Howard Clark rushed 15 times for 59 yards. Tim Krempa had two catches for 41 yards.

The Billies were playing without nine of its 22 starters due to injury. Many are two-way starters. Starting senior quarterback and cornerback Dae-shaune Clark was out with a torn hamstring, junior running back and strong side linebacker Yahs Williams had a concussion, center and defensive tackle Kevin Gerlach has a broken growth plate in his knee and junior wide receiver and safety Arman Wood has a hyperextended knee.

In addition, Hauser, Clark's backup QB and a starting linebacker, injured his left ankle in the first half against Sweet Home and did not return. Junior Zach Murray replaced Hauser at QB in the second half.

"You can't go into a game against Sweet Home, make mistakes, and not have your best players play," said South coach Kraig Kurzanski. "We were banged up, but that's no excuse."

"We need to get better, we will get better," he added. "I promised the kids that a game like this will never happen again as long as I am the football coach at South."

Sweet Home (5-0) hosts Albion (4-1) in a huge Class A North showdown at 2 p.m. Saturday. An Albion win would give Albion coach Dick Diiminuco 200 coaching victories.

"You think you're in the driver's seat but we're far from it," said Faller. "Hopefully we can do some of this (playing well on offense) on Saturday."

South (1-4) travels to Grand Island for a 2 p.m. game on Saturday.