Sweet Home routs Albion, can clinch Class A North with league win
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Marcus Johnson stiff-arms Albion's Mike Warren during the Panthers' 28-7 home win last Saturday. Johnson finished with 184 yards and three touchdowns. A win on Saturday clinches the division for the Panthers. Photo by Patrick McPartland Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com

The Sweet Home Panthers are getting better as the 2007 high school regular season rolls on, and that's not good news for their opponents.

The Panthers committed only three penalties and outgained Albion, 355-159, in a convincing 28-7 home win last Saturday at Robert B. Barnczak Stadium.

"This was a pretty good team we beat," said Sweet Home coach John Faller. "We knew their backs were against the wall and had to come up here and get a win. But we did what we had to do and played Sweet Home ball. It was nothing out of the ordinary. The kids came up and made plays."

The win improved the Panthers to 6-0 overall and, more importantly, sole possession of first place in Section VI Class A North at 5-0.

Sweet Home can clinch the division title with a win over Williamsville East at 2 p.m. on Saturday. With back-to-back losses, Albion (4-2) is in third place behind Grand Island (4-1), whose only league defeat came to Sweet Home in week two.

The Panthers set the tone early against Albion when junior quarterback Casey Kacz optioned to senior running back Marcus Johnson, who shook off a couple of tacklers for a 57-yard touchdown on the sixth play from scrimmage. Johnson added a 5-yard TD with 2:22 remaining in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie and a 1-yard TD 3:46 into the third quarter.

Johnson finished with 24 carries for 184 yards. He had 108 yards in the first half.

"To play well in my last home game feels good," said Johnson.

"You can count on him," added Kacz. "He did that again and he opened up our passing game."

"If we make the holes, he'll run in them," said left guard Nick Christman.

Will Reese ran untouched for a 35-yard TD four plays into the fourth quarter. Many of the Sweet Home running plays during the game were designed to go off tackle.

"We knew we didn't match up real well inside with them," said Faller. "I thought if we found some seams and got kids outside and off tackle, we'd be OK. And it kind of showed."

Kacz was accurate, completing 11 of 18 passes for 108 yards and throwing to five different receivers.

"I had a decent game," said Kacz, who played JV last year. "I had so much time in the backfield. Our line blocked pretty good. It's pretty easy to just stand back there and read defenses when I have all day to throw."

"He had no interceptions and put the ball where he needed to," said Faller. "He's known the offense since he was a sophomore and has stepped it up."

The Sweet Home defense didn't cause any turnovers but forced Albion to punt six times. The Panthers held the Purple Eagles to 21 yards of offense in the third quarter. Faller said the only defensive adjustment his team made in the second half was moving Christman from nose guard to defensive tackle on the right side of the defensive line.

"Albion likes to run draws, and when their backs tried to cut back, Nick was there and made

(Please turn to page 21) four good plays in the second half," said Faller.

Justin Ward threw a 15-yard TD pass to Jeff Andalora with 2:12 left in the second quarter for Albion's only points.

It was the second straight time Albion coach Dick Diminuco was denied his 200th career coaching victory. Albion lost to Grand Island, 33-27, in week five.

"I was a little disappointed," said Diminuco. "I thought we would have played a little better."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com