Upstate Football Weekly - New York State Sportswriters Association

Faller Honored After Title WinSweet Home coach John Faller was named the Coachof the Week after his Panthers won the Class A championshipwith a 28-7 win over West Seneca East in theSection 6 championship game.It was the 6th consecutive year that Sweet Home haswon the Class A championship and it was the Panthers60th straight win over WNY opponents.Many area fans were anticipating a closer gamebetween the two undefeated teams but Sweet Homedominated the ground game and the field position fromthe start.Kahlil Humphrey rushed for 126 yards and 2 TDs,including a 34-yardscoring burst thatgave Sweet Homea 6-0 lead.“We were ableto run the ball,”Faller said. “Wehad a nice mix ofrun and pass onoffense.”In the secondquarter, withSweet Home holdingan 8-0 lead,West Seneca Eastpunter AndySmigiera droppeda punt that wasdowned on thePanthers 1-yardline.Sweet Homewent into the “BigBird” formation andbegan to run thedouble-wingoffense.“We always use the double-wing when we need asolid running game,” Faller said. “It’s a good offense butit’s a safe offense. It makes the other team do thingsdefensively that maybe they aren’t used to.”Sweet Home executed a punishing drive, as they traveled99 yards for a TD.“It got us out of our own end zone,” Faller said.“Running that offense well really builds our confidencewhen we can move the ball. We went to spread for acouple of plays after we got out of our own goal line. Wepick and choose our times as to win to use it.”Sweet Home actually switched to their Spread offensefor two plays in the middle of the drive before switchingback into the Big Bird.The Panthers capped the drive when Mike Torrillo hitCarter Mann with a 7-yard TD pass for a 15-0 lead.Buffalo Bills Coach of the Week3“Any time you can go 99 yards, it’s pretty amazing,”Faller said. “That was a great accomplishment by ourkids. It was a statement as to what our capability was andI think it also sent a message to West Seneca East.”The drive totally deflated West Seneca East and themomentum totally shifted the Panthers way. Sweet Homeled 21-0 at the half.Faller acknowledged that most area fans were rootingagainst the Panthers.“I don’t know if people thought the streak would end orif they just wanted it to end,” he said. “We still have abullseye on our back. We are still a big mark for someoneto get if they can.”Faller said hewas proud of thisyear’s teambecause they wonanother titledespite not havinga bona fide star onthe roster.“They are differentfrom pastteams,” Fallersaid. “Every teamis different. Wedon’t have aPlayer of the Yeartype kid this year.We have talentedplayers but thisgroup works hardfor everything theyPhoto by Buffalo BillsSweet Home coach John Faller was named the Coach of the Week bythe Buffalo Bills and the U.S. National Guard after his Panthers won theClass A championship with a 28-7 win over West Seneca East.get.”The Panthersstill run the sameoffense but theyare quicker tochange.“There are changes every year,” Faller said. “We adaptto the kids we have each year. Maybe that’s why we keepwinning.”Faller said that he was especially pleased that thisyear’s group of players was able to continue the amazingrun of championships.“This is a pretty good group to work with,” he said.“These kids get along and play well together. That hasgone a long ways for us.”Faller also said that his staff of assistants are animportant part of the Panthers program.“They give the award to me but we work together andit’s everybody’s award. Mike Faulks (line coach), MikeTorrillo (defensive assistant coach) and James Bialasik(defensive assistant coach) are there everyday helping tomake the kids better.”