The Health Sciences/Buffalo Science/Global Concepts football team knew there would be little margin for error heading into the Class B Far West Regional.
Its opponent, undefeated Section V champion Monroe, had been having one of the most dominant seasons in New York State this fall, with 470 points for and only six against during garbage time of a Week 1 blowout.
The Falcons ended that shutout streak and went blow-for-blow with the Red Jackets for the final 43 minutes Saturday afternoon, but untimely penalties, turnovers and missed opportunities ultimately did them in during a 14-6 season-ending loss at Williamsville South High School.
The Red Jackets (11-0) scored twice in the game’s opening 4:51 and forced five Health Sciences turnovers. The Falcons (10-2) broke into the end zone with 4:30 to go, but it wasn’t enough to advance to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals for the third time in five years.
People are also reading…
“The way we started in that first and second quarter was tough, but we didn’t come to play today,” Health Sciences coach Ty Parker said. “We picked the wrong day to have a bad game. I’m proud of our guys the way we made it this far, but it’s unacceptable. We can’t get in this Far West Regional championship game and play this way.
“But it’s a learning experience for our younger guys. Unfortunately, for our seniors, we didn’t go out the way we wanted to go out, but it still doesn’t discredit what we did during the year this season. We just didn’t come to play today, this is the result, and I tip my hat to Monroe.”
The Red Jackets took a screen pass 56 yards for a score just 32 seconds in and then intercepted a pass on Health Sciences’ first possession to set up a 7-yard score for a 12-0 lead at the 7:09 mark. The Falcons also had a snap go over their punter’s head and out of the end zone for a safety with 2:54 left in the first half.
While Health Sciences’ defense shut the door the rest of the way – forcing three turnovers and stopping Monroe on downs five times – its offense repeatedly hurt itself with six sacks, about a dozen penalties and five turnovers (three interceptions and two fumbles).
“I told them, the team with the most turnovers was going to struggle and lose the game,” Parker said. “And we had the most turnovers, we had the most penalties. We got to be more disciplined in what we’re doing, and I take responsibility for that.”
Health Sciences scored on its second-to-last possession with a 3-yard run by sophomore Kavon Pitts. The Falcons then stopped Monroe on fourth down on their own 25 with 1:13 left, but they couldn’t get past midfield as time expired following a third-down run by senior QB Shamere Banks.
Junior Izell James and sophomore Brandon Carroll had Health Sciences’ interceptions in the first half to keep Monroe from pulling away, while junior linebacker Tyrone Hughes Jr. and seniors Montrice Webster (one sack) and Sheldon Cunningham also had strong defensive efforts.
“We got a no-quit mentality,” Parker said. “I’m proud of our defense. They kept us in the game. They battled, they fought the whole game.”
In his final game as a Falcon, star senior running back and Connolly Cup finalist Antwan Ceasar finished with 144 yards rushing while battling through in-game injuries to both legs.
“Our senior class was a helluva class,” Parker said. “I’m proud of our seniors, they showed tremendous leadership and I feel like they did pass the torch to the younger guys to show some determination and discipline. But I just feel bad that we didn’t send our seniors out the right way.”
Monroe will face Section IV’s Maine Endwell at 3 p.m. next Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse, with the winner advancing to the state final. M-E beat Section III’s Indian River 41-14.
