 | INTO THE CLEAR...Cheektowaga Central receiver Dante Parker breaks away from Sweet Home defenders for a 27-yard touchdown catch and run Thursday in the Class A sectional final. (Times photo) |
In a battle between unbeaten Class A football teams Cheektowaga Central and Sweet Home, the Warriors faltered under the bright lights of Ralph Wilson Stadium Thursday in the Section VI final, and the Panthers proved to be too big, too fast and too talented.
Central, which finished its season 9-1 (6-0 in Class A South), found itself in a 17-0 hole at halftime and could do little to curb Sweet Home's momentum, dropping a 31-6 decison in what was the Warriors' first-ever trip to "The Ralph."
The Warriors appeared to be on the cusp of a comeback in the third quarter, when senior quarterback threw a crossing pattern toward senior receiver Dante Parker. The pass was tipped by a Sweet Home defensive back, but Parker made a spectacular one-handed catch to reel in the throw, scampering 27 yards to pay dirt. Although Central kicker Nick McLean hit the upright on the point after try, the large contingent of Warriors fans voiced their enthusiasm and Central's sideline erupted.
However, after Parker contributed an interception on Sweet Home's ensuing possession to give Central the ball back, disaster struck Central when Sweet Home defensive end Mikal Coleman hit Piscitello's arm, causing a fumble that was recovered by the Panthers on the Warriors' 21-yard line. From there, Sweet Home backup quarterback Michael Wolcott- filling in for injured starter Casey Kacz- hit Johnson with a short pass that led to an 18-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, and Sweet Home had a 24-6 lead, a sequence that seemed to drain the Warriors.
Johnson, who finished with 92 yards on 26 carries, added a one-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to seal Central's fate. Wolcott finished the evening 8-of-14 for 87 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Reese finished with a combined 74 yards rushing and receiving.
Central managed just 107 yards of total offense, as Piscitello was constantly harassed by Sweet Home defenders. The senior quarterback- who was forced to throw often in a comeback attempt- completed just five of 18 passes for 73 yards, contributing one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 59 yards on 11 attempts. Piscitello was also sacked four times.
"I don't think we were intimidated by playing at 'The Ralph,' I just think (Sweet Home) played better than we did today," a visibly Piscitello told the Times. "I'll never forget this team or this season."
Warriors senior linebacker Jake Havernick, another emotional leader on Central, said Thursday's game got out of hand early. He added, however, that the locals have nothing to be ashamed of.
"We just couldn't get anything going today," he said. (Sweet Home senior) Nick Christman is a hell of a lineman and he was matched up with me today. He gave me all I could handle...(Central) was special, though, all season. It was 22 guys coming together as a family and bonding."
The Panthers held the ball for a whopping 19 of 24 minutes in the first half, as star running back Marcus Johnson and slot back Will Reese helped chew up yardage and first downs behind a massive offensive line. A blocked punt on Central's 10-yard line led to Sweet Home's first score late in the first quarter, as Reese burst into the end zone from seven yards to put his team up, 7-0.
After Sweet Home took possession again on Central's 28-yard line following a short punt, the Panthers crawled down the short field in 10 plays, capped with a one-yard plunge to pay dirt by DeShanaro Morris. Following an interception by Piscitello- a bomb that was far underthrown into a strong wind- the Panthers tacked on a 26-yard field goal by Michael Lawandus with 10 seconds left in the second quarter.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of," Central head coach Scott Zipp told his team in a huddle after the game. "You battled all season long."
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