Health Sciences coach Ty Parker knew his team had an enormous mountain to climb in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Class B semifinals on against Maine-Endwell. It was a hill the Falcons couldn’t conquer, as the Spartans won 50-30. They ran into a team on a dynastic run, as Maine-Endwell has advanced to four straight finals, winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

“We didn’t play great football today,” Parker said. “We blew some assignments, and it was the wrong day to have a bad game. I applaud my guys for having a helluva year and kept fighting. It just didn’t go our way because we didn’t play Health Science Falcons football today. We’re going to get better from it and learn from it and come back next year and try to be better.”

Entering halftime, Maine-Endwell was up 14-6 following two scores from Vinny Mancini of the Spartans with two extra points, and a 54-yard touchdown by the Falcons’ Kavon Pitts. Health Sciences was challenging Maine-Endwell and felt confident of pulling off the upset entering the break. That thought was shattered when the third quarter began.

On Maine-Endwell’s first play of the second half, Jaden Branch ran for a 59-yard touchdown, which was followed by Landon Rollo’s two-point conversion. On the team’s next possession, it was another one-play score with Branch going 76 yards into the end zone, and a two-point conversion by Luca Konrad made it a 28-6 game with 7:09 left. The Spartans began creating distance and it flustered the Falcons.

Health Sciences quarterback Jordan Oliver threw an interception to Rollo on the Falcons’ 12-yard line, eventually leading to Branch adding a 7-yard touchdown, and the team failed the two-point conversion. Maine-Endwell’s final score of the quarter was a 10-yard reception by Tyler Mathews on a pass from quarterback Preston Ocker. Max Policare’s two-point conversion made it a 42-6.

In one quarter, Maine-Endwell displayed why it’s one of the top football programs in the state, regardless of class. The Spartans executed on both sides of the ball while the Falcons struggled.

“We had blown assignments,” Parker said of the third quarter. “Guys blew coverages. Guys weren’t making tackles and weren’t getting to the football. That’s part of the immaturity. Today’s game showed how immature we are as a football team. Not as individuals, but as a team and collectively, we have to get right. That takes preparation, and it starts in the offseason. We have to hit it hard and come back dialed in. Maine-Endwell has run a tight program for the last 20 years, and I respect them. We want our football program up to that high standard.”

Parker is optimistic of the team’s future with only eight seniors . The team’s two main players are running backs Kevin Guy and Pitts, who finished with 15 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

“Our guys had a helluva year,” Parker said. “They achieved some goals and I think we overachieved in some areas. These guys got a chip on their shoulder and they’re going to work and get to it. I’m proud of my guys and they fought. Nobody thought we’d be here, and I love them and my coaching staff.”