Health Sciences gains Buffalo bragging rights running it back in Class B
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Doing backflips on the turf at Highmark Stadium, the Falcons took flight into the corner of the end zone to celebrate their championship defense.
The football team merged from charter schools Health Sciences, Global Concepts and Buffalo Academy of Sciences retained its Section VI Class B title and outlasted its city competition with a 22-18 win against South Park on Friday night.
"We have a lot of perseverance, dedication, determination, and passion for the game. It was a total team effort," said coach Ty Parker, whose program, previously merged with Maritime, has claimed the sectional crown in its past five seasons playing in Class B. "I'm proud that our program is proving that we are a top program in Western New York."
Kavon Pitts rushed for 161 yards and two touchdowns, and Kevin Guy also ran for a TD to cap an 87-yard drive for the third-seeded Falcons (8-3).
"Everybody counted us out the last two weeks," Parker said. "Everybody had Lackawanna, everybody had South Park winning. We used that as motivation."
South Park running back Adam Nunes had 161 yards and a touchdown, finishing his season with 2,468 yards rushing, the second-highest total in Western New York history, and among the top 20 in the country, according to MaxPreps. Jahshawn Robinson caught two touchdowns for the Sparks (9-2), who could not overcome early turnovers.
"We knew it was going to be heated, we knew it was going to be a tight ball game, we knew they was going to keep fighting," Parker said. "Half of them grew up together, half of them hang together every day. But when we get on this field and cross this line, friends turn to foes until after the game."
Health Sciences now advance to the Far West Regional playoffs against the Section V champions on Saturday at SUNY Brockport.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.