Mikal Coleman, left, and Kyle Luchey are the team captains for the Sweet Home football team. The Panthers have won back-to-back Class A state titles and have not lost a game since 2007. As the Sweet Home football team keeps earning state championships, so does the pressure to keep winning.

The last time the Panthers lost a football game was the 2007 Far West Regional to Aquinas, 28-7. Since then, the Panthers have won 26 consecutive games — second-longest streak in the state only to Southwestern’s 29 — and back-to-back Class A state championships. In a recent prepnation. com national football pool, they were ranked as the top team in the state and 11th in the Northeast Region. To say there is pressure on the Panthers to keep winning is a huge understatement.

“Coach always asks us if we want to be the first team to lose a game,” said senior co-captain Mikal Coleman. “None of us want to be the first team.”

“There are a lot of teams that want us,” said senior co-captain Kyle Luchey. “It’s really important to keep it going. The seniors from two years ago and last year are talking about it. It would be very disappointing if we lose a game this year. We have the personnel. We’re a team on and off the field. When you have chemistry and personnel, you can pretty much do anything, and we have confidence.”

“I told them, this is your team. Let’s see what you can do,” said Sweet Home coach John Faller. “The bull’s-eye is on your back. It’s a little bit bigger. There isn’t a team out there that puts their schedule together that sees us and sees everything to gain.”

Lots of talented players are gone from last year’s 13-0 team led by the Class A offense state co-Players of the Year, quarterback Pat McMahon and wide receiver/ defensive back D.J. Nettles, two other starting receivers, the entire starting offensive line and running back/linebacker De- Shanaro Morris, who did not play the entire 2009 season after injuries sustained from a major car accident.

But it seems like when players graduate, Sweet Home always seems to reload with outstanding talent and this year looks like it could be no different.

Six-foot-one, 190-pound junior Jordan Johnson takes over at quarterback. The speedy Johnson was effective in spot duty at QB last year, scrambling for 495 yards and scoring nine touchdowns.

“He’s a big threat,” said Faller. “Teams are going to have to worry about him. He can do all the things we need him to do. His biggest challenge is going to be doing it under pressure.”

Johnson’s backups are juniors Keenan Terrell and John McGinty.

Johnson will throw passes to senior wide receivers KJ Zinernon, Luchey - Class A North Honorable Mention – and Nick Spidell and junior Tim Oaks – Class A North Honorable Mention - and hand off to a number of talented running backs – seniors Ralph Neasman and Coleman and juniors Juwan Douglas and Oaks.

Neasman led the Panthers last year with 948 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Neasman scored three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 34-7 win over Burnt Hills in the state final. He’s a returning Fourth-Team Class A All-State, All-WNY Honorable Mention and a returning First-Team Class A North all-star who shared with McMahon the Jim Braxton Award for Section VI Class A offensive playoff MVP.

Coleman was second on the team in rushing with 647 yards and 11 TDs.

The brand new offensive line features one player with varsity experience – senior tackle Chris Bobo. The rest of the line is: seniors Chris Wolcott (center) and Tony Paterno (tackle) and junior Scott Schriver (guard). Senior Henry Fumerelle will most likely play at guard but is injured as of press time.

Juniors Anthony Green and sophomores Luca Chimento and Kevin Armstrong could also see time at guard.

The 5-foot-10, 246-pound Coleman, a four-year starter at defensive end, anchors the Panthers’ defensive line. Coleman recorded 10 sacks, recovered six fumbles, and returned two fumbles for touchdowns last year.

Coleman is a returning First-Team All-Western New York and First-Team Class A North selection who was also Class A Defensive Player of the Year.

“He should be making plays,” said Faller.

Johnson, a Second-Team Class A North selection, plays at the other defensive end.

On the defensive line will be seniors Jamil Mustapha (291 pounds), who saw spot duty at tackle last year, and George Eremionkhale (318 pounds) and Green (268 pounds).

Oaks, juniors Rashaad Rogers, Douglas and T.J. Worley and senior Nathan Madera lead the linebacking core.

Luchey starts at free safety and juniors Will Byrd and Mitchell Thomas are also in the secondary.

Faller hopes junior Steve Stapleton will take on the kicking duties.

Faller likes the team’s overall speed on offense and defense.

“Team speed is something that we have that some teams don’t have as much of,” said Faller. “That’s always been an advantage for us, especially on defense. People talk about our offense a lot because of the style we run but it’s our defense the last couple years that has really been stepping up.”

Sweet Home begins its quest for a three-peat when they host Kenmore East at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“13-0 - that’s the goal,” said Coleman.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com