Panthers rake in postseason football honors

Sweet Home had the best football season out of any Town of Amherst school this past fall so it is only fitting that the Panthers have the most All-Western New York and divisional all-stars.

Sweet Home placed four players on the All-WNY team and 17 on the Class A North list. Williamsville East was next with two All-WNY picks and 10 divisional picks.

Sweet Home

Seniors Marcus Johnson, Nick Christman and Andrew Hopkins were named to the All-WNY defensive team.

Johnson, a defensive back and Christman, a defensive lineman, were chosen to the First Team. Hopkins, a lineman, made the list as an Honorable Mention.

Junior Casey Kacz earned All-WNY Third Team offensive honors at quarterback.

The Panthers had seven Class A North First Team selections and eight Second Team selections between offense and defense.

Kacz (quarterback), Johnson (running back) and Hopkins and Ryan Wilson (linemen) made the First Team offense. Christman and junior Steve Phillips (linemen) and sophomore linebacker DeShanaro Morris were named to the Class A First Team defense.

Second Team selections on offense were kicker Mike Lawandus and receivers Noah Nwachukwu and William Reese, all juniors.

Senior strong safety John Elliott, junior lineman Chris Akromas, junior linebacker Joel Tillman, sophomore Ibrahim Ramadan and freshman defensive end Mikal Coleman earned Second Team defensive honors.

Senior Carmen Morreale and junior Emanuel Reed were Honorable Mention.

Johnson (1,155 yards) was Class A North Offensive Player of the Year. Christman shared the league's Defensive Player of the Year with Grand Island's Christian Nestark.

Panthers coach John Faller was Class A North Coach of the Year.

Williamsville East

East placed 6-foot-4, 304-pound senior lineman Tyler Durinka on the All-WNY Second Team offense and junior punter Joe O'Gorman on the All-WNY Second Team defense.

Junior running back Mike Langfelder and O'Gorman (kicker) earned Class A First Team offense accolades. Durinka picked up First Team defensive honors.

Junior running back Mike Silvestri and senior quarterback Zach Stubbendeck made the Second Team offense.

Senior linebacker Max Cohen made the Second Team defensive team.

Senior linebacker Brad Teal, junior receiver Jordan DiBernardo and junior safety Phil Missana and sophomore offensive tackle Ben Khechen were Honorable Mention.

Williamsville South

Junior lineman Yahs Williams made the Class A First Team defense. He was the only Billie to make the First Team for offense or defense.

Senior receiver Tim Krempa earned Second Team offense honors.

Seniors Jerry Green, Josh Burke and Andy Esposito and sophomore Kevin Gerlach were Honorable Mentions.

Amherst Central

Junior defensive back/running back Bert Smith was named to the All-WNY Third Team defense and Class A South First Team offense.

Seniors Viron Hale and Matt Weber made the Second Team. Senior D.J. Filer and junior Vance Reeds were Honorable Mentions.

Williamsville North

The Spartans didn't have anyone picked to the All-WNY team but were honored at the Class AA North level.

Senior wide receivers Josh Barrett and Austin Benschadle earned Class AA North First Team offense accolades.

Seniors P.J. Abbarno, Andy Steinhaus and Mike Toth and juniors Jerome Fields and Mike Herberger picked up Second Team honors.

Sophomore Jim Gaines and junior Jason Heim were honorable mentions.