SYRACUSE — Take your pick of remarkable stories: Sweet Home football did it again. So did Section VI.

The Sweet Home football team, hit with heavy graduation losses as well as one nobody could have ever imagined, capped off its second straight state championship season Saturday evening by routing Burnt Hills, 34-7, before an estimated 4,500 at the Carrier Dome.

On the sidelines for Sweet Home's victory was senior Deshanaro "Day-Day" Morris, who was paralyzed in a car accident last winter. Nearly a year to the day after Morris played the final football game of his career, Sweet Home again beat Burnt Hills for the Class A title.

"I never wanted to let him down — no matter what happened," said Sweet Home senior quarterback Pat McMahon. "Win, lose, I was going to walk off this field knowing that I did everything I could for "Day-Day.' And as a team, we did everything we could for "Day-Day.' "

Sweet Home's second straight 13-0 season and resulting 26th straight victory helped Section VI continue its unprecedented dominance at the state championships. No section had won more than two championships in one year before Section VI won four titles a year ago.

Section VI added three more on Saturday, and did so in dominating fashion. Sweet Home and Southwestern successfully defended their titles while Randolph assumed the Class D crown that Maple Grove won last year.

With Randolph shutting out Moriah, 41-0, and Southwestern distancing itself from Bronxville, 40-14, the combined scores of the three state championships Saturday was Section VI 115, opponents 21.

Section VI can repeat its feat of four titles from last year this afternoon, when North Tonawanda meets New Rochelle in the Class AA final at 1 p.m. (TWC13).

"I'll feel good [Sunday] when NT finishes the deal," said McMahon. "I'll feel pretty good that Section VI is a force to be reckoned with, that we're a powerhouse for football in New York State."

Sweet Home took a 19-0 halftime lead despite Section II (Albany area) champion Burnt Hills having significant edges in first downs (10 to 5), rushing yards (79 to 22) and time of possession (18:22 to 5:38).

That's because the Panthers' big plays didn't take that long, and they came through the air.

McMahon (13 of 20, 197 yards, two touchdowns, interception) hit senior Jahaan Williams for a 91-yard touchdown pass with 6:20 left in the second quarter. Williams caught a great spiral from McMahon in stride near Sweet Home's 40-yard line and just sped away from defenders down

the left sideline.

McMahon had a 54-yard connection to D.J. Nettles in which the senior standout receiver burst out from behind great blocking on a screen pass and ran down the right sideline.

Nettles, who has received Division I recruiting interest, was the game's MVP with seven catches for 142 yards and two interceptions on defense.

"We know his talent and his athleticism, and all we have to do is get him the ball," said Sweet Home coach John Faller. "Like I've told everybody: When he gets it, you better hold your breath."

Steve Spencer had 13 tackles for the Panthers and was named the game's most valuable defensive lineman while senior Stephan Mendez earned the most valuable offensive lineman honor. McMahon was the most valuable offensive back.

Burnt Hills scored in the third quarter on a 63-yard Brandon Beatty run to cut the lead to 19-7, providing flashbacks for some of last year's final, in which the Spartans made a valiant comeback.

But the Panthers responded with two more scoring drives as Ralph Neasman (19 carries, 50 yards) scored his second of three touchdowns on a 1-yard run with 10:13 left in the fourth. Neasman scored on another 1-yard run with 3:57 to go to make it 34-7.

"The first one was just unbelievable that we won it," said Faller. "When I looked up at the screen, it said 2009. These kids did it. They just believed they can't be beat, and they showed it. They're high school kids, and you have ups and downs, but when push came to shove,

they didn't get beat this year."

The Sweet Home team signed a card and sent a gift to Burnt Hills coach Matt Shell this week as a sign of support of Shell's 8-year-old son, Jacob, who is battling cancer. Morris had a maroon Burnt Hills T-shirt draped on his shoulders for much of the game.

"When we came out [before the game], I held up the shirt to show our love and support to his team, his family and his father," said Morris. "Hopefully he saw that. He's a good kid, just like I'm a good kid, and hopefully he pulls through like I pulled through."

Morris made his way through the handshake line in his wheelchair with many Burnt Hills players offering warm embraces. Then it was on to celebrating with his teammates.

"I'm shocked — 26-0," Morris said of the Panthers' record over the last two years. "It feels great, especially when everybody doubted us and said they couldn't do it without me. I knew they could do it without me. They did it. They proved everybody wrong."