The Parkville 8-10 football team lost to the St. Peter's Panthers, of Montgomery County, in the Maryland Youth Football State Championship by only one point.

Yet for Patriots coach Chae Neale and his players, just advancing to the title round felt almost like winning a championship.

No wonder.

It's been more than a half century since a Parkville club reached the title game.

"No Parkville team has made it to the state finals in 52 years," said Neale, whose team finished the season 12-2 overall after a 4-1 postseason. "We will put the trophy in our case. The kids were tremendous. I couldn't have asked for anything more from these kids."

Even so, for Parkville players, the 7-6 defeat was still a major disappointment simply because a victory seemed to be within reach.

The Patriots led for more than half the game.

Tailback Jonte Parker scored on 68-yard run early in the second quarter, working behind a staunch line that featured center Kenny Devine, tackles Tyler Woodard and Deonta Melvin, guards James Diggs and RaQuon Carson and tight ends Kaleb Baglioni and Ryan Williams.

That lead held up until the final two minutes when St. Peters scored on a 40-yard kick return.

The Panthers ran in the one-point conversion for the victory.

"We had the better of the play and moved the ball up and down the field on them," Neale said. "We had the game until the very end."

Parkville advanced to the Super Bowl after beating Prince Frederick, 6-0, in a playoff semifinal as Williams caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Chae Neale Jr.

One game earlier, Parkville won the Harford/Baltimore County Football championship, posting a 28-16 win over Havre de Grace.

Havre de Grace scored early in the first quarter to go ahead, 8-0, but Parkville controlled things the rest of the way.

Parker threw a halfback option pass for a touchdown to Baglioni while Parker, back Damontay Chase and Neale Jr. each rushed for scores.

Leading up to the Havre de Grace win, Parkville had convincing playoff victories over Dundalk and Middle River.

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