ORCHARD PARK — The Pioneer football team left Highmark Stadium heartbroken for the second year in a row and the third time in six seasons. The Panthers fell to Health Sciences, 38-27, in the Section 6 Class B Final Friday night.
The game was far more eventful than last year’s dreary, rain-drenched defeat to Iroquois, but was ultimately a difficult loss, nonetheless.
“I don’t think any of us would be satisfied with the result of the game tonight,” Pioneer coach Jim Duprey said.
The team finished the season 9-2 with both losses coming to Health Sciences. Much like the week four matchup, the Falcons got off to a roaring start. They got the ball first, marched down the field, and scored on a Tyron Hughes Jr. five-yard run with 7:33 remaining in the first quarter.
After a failed two-point run, they kicked off to the Panthers and immediately forced a three and out. Health Sciences once again began rolling down the field until Pioneer senior Jake Kopinski came up with a big interception. But just a few plays later, a Gavin Schwab pass was tipped by Sheldon Cunningham and ended up in the waiting arms of Montrice Webster, who returned more than 50 yards for a touchdown. Antwan Cesar punched in the two-point conversion to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead with 1:38 left in the first quarter.
“They just blew us off the line,” Duprey said of his team’s difficult first quarter.
But much like in the regular season matchup, the Panthers got back into the game. Schwab connected with Dalton Giboo for a 56-yard touchdown pass with 7:24 left in the second quarter. After the defense forced a Falcons punt, the Schwab to Giboo duo would connect again, this time on an 84-yard aerial strike to tie the game. Schwab would ultimately throw for four touchdowns and more than 200 yards, another strong performance to cap off an impressive season.
“I thought he played a great game,” Duprey said. “He played a real warrior’s game.”
Meanwhile, Giboo once again shined both as a runner and pass catcher, as well as defensive back, finishing a memorable high school career in style.
“Dalton always is a warrior every game, week in and week out on both sides of the ball,” Duprey said. “He’s probably the best pound for pound player that plays both ways that I’ve ever been around.”
Health Sciences quickly responded, marching down the field with a strong run game. The Falcons would take a 20-14 lead into halftime after Shamere Banks found Demetrius Payne on a 22-yard post route with just over a minute left.
The Pioneer offensive momentum continued into the second half. After receiving the kickoff, the team embarked on the longest drive of the game – more than six minutes, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Schwab to junior tight end Sam Platt to give Pioneer a 21-20 lead.
“The kids never quit,” Duprey said. “I’m proud of them and I’m proud of their effort.”
That lead would not last, however. Health Sciences would score again before the end of the quarter on a one-yard Kavon Pitts run to put the Falcons ahead 26-21. After a Pioneer three and out, Banks would find Brandon Carroll for a 41-yard Falcons touchdown, extending the lead to 32-21.
Things went from bad to worse for the Panthers when a fumble on the ensuing kickoff set Health Sciences up with excellent field position. Webster would essentially put the game away with 7:37 remaining on his second touchdown of the day.
Pioneer would respond with a Schwab touchdown to Karter Giboo, but it was too late by then. Health Sciences ran out the remaining 5:55 on another long drive to seal their Section VI title.
“We just had too many turnovers,” Duprey said. “If we couldn’t create turnovers against them, we knew we’d be in trouble. It was the perfect storm. Health Sciences was the better team.”
While he didn’t score any of the six touchdowns for the Falcons, no one gave the Panthers more trouble throughout the game than Cesar. The senior back ran for more than 200 yards at around seven yards per carry, converting more than a half-dozen third downs along the way.
“He never stops his legs,” Duprey said of the opposing running back. “He’s always churning. He’s always finding an open hole. You never have him down until the whistle blows.”
Despite the loss, the Panthers have quite a bit to be proud of. The 22 seniors who walked off the field for the last time Friday night did so having gone 17-5 over the past two seasons with two sectional final appearances.
“I’m super proud of (the seniors’) effort and everything they accomplished over the years for us,” Duprey said. I’m gonna miss them terribly. They’ve done an awful lot for our team, for me and for the community.”
Still, losing consecutive championship games can take an emotional toll for both coaches and players.
“We’re proud of the season and when I reflect on it later on, we’ll be very proud,” Duprey said. “But now I think I just have 50 very disappointed kids and a lot of disappointed coaches, none more so than me.”
