The Panthers' aim was much better during the game as they defeated Grand Island, 23-16, to win the Section VI Class A title before an estimated 3,000 in Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Sweet Home (10-0) advanced to Saturday's Far West Regionals back in the Ralph. They'll play Aquinas, a 28-15 winner over Victor on Saturday night. Aquinas has been the No. 1-ranked Class A team in New York State for most of the season.

Grant Schulte was the main reason Sweet Home was able to secure its first sectional title in school history. The junior quarterback completed 10 of 17 passes for 157 yards and was the unlikely rushing leader with 76 yards on 16 attempts. He threw a pair of TD passes and ran for another.

Trailing by seven points with 3:46 left, Grand Island started its final drive from its own 20-yard line. Sweet Home's defense forced a three-and-out and was able to run out the clock. A 13-yard run by Schulte gave the Panthers the only first down they would need.

"Grant Schulte was the difference in the game tonight, not their backs," said Grand Island coach Dean Santorio. "We kind of held their backs in check for the most part, and we can't ask for our defense to play a whole lot better. Schulte kind of broke our backs on a couple of his scrambles and a couple of his draw plays."

Grand Island took its first lead when Mike Feathers booted a stadium playoff record 43-yard field goal. Feathers' kick, coming out of the hold of Chris Sica, had plenty of distance.

"I hit it solid, right down the middle," said Feathers. "I've been practicing all week at UB on the turf, getting used to the angles and the field goal posts."

The lead didn't last. Sweet Home scored on the first play of the second quarter when Schulte found Todd Robertson wide-open in the right flat after Grand Island bit on a fake reverse.

The Vikings answered on their next possession, taking a 9-7 lead when junior running back Mike Blocho scored standing up from a yard out to cap a 76-yard drive. Sweet Home took the lead for good, 15-9, when Schulte scored on a 6-yard draw play. Schulte kept the drive alive by finding Corey Harge for a 30-yard gain on a fourth-and-5 pass play.

Harge, who has done most of his damage on the ground this season (855 yards), caught five passes for 92 yards.

Sweet Home took a 23-9 lead into the locker room at halftime when it managed to score with just three seconds left. A Michael Williamson interception gave the Panthers the ball on their own 32 late in the half. They were able to squeeze in six plays before Schulte found Bennett DelleBovi on a 26-yard TD pass. The score capped a 23-point second quarter.

"I thought that was big," said Faller. "A couple coaches wanted me to kneel down and take it in, and I saw, "Naw, let's be aggressive.' You know, hindsight is 20-20, but that aggressiveness paid off."

The only points of the second half were scored by Grand Island when Blocho scored his second TD of the game on a 1-yard run with 4:15 left in the third. Blocho finished with 108 yards on 15 carries to end his season with 1,075 yards.

Punter Brett Kern made Sweet Home work for every yard it got, averaging 45 yards on five kicks.

Grand Island, a team with plenty of talented juniors, ended its season at 8-2, with both losses to Sweet Home. The Panthers beat Grand Island, 26-13, in a Class A North contest in Week Three.