August Martin Derails Transit Tech in Exciting 14-12 Football Win

August Martin High School football coach Kyle Allen asked his players to do him a huge favor last week: beat Transit Tech in its next game.

You see, Allen teaches information technology at Transit Tech (3-3) in Brooklyn, and he did not want to go to work on Monday on the losing side of the ledger.

Well, considered the favor complete, as the Falcons edged the Express, 14-12, Saturday in a thrilling, well-played PSAL Division A affair in front of a raucous crowd at Brooklyn Tech High School Field.

Transit Tech players and students alike talked trash to him all week long, and he was ready to respond and show them his team’s talent and mettle, which it did, making the victory even more special.

“It is so, so sweet,” an ecstatic Allen said after the game. “The kids played their hearts out, the kids from Transit Tech played their hearts out. It was a great environment, great atmosphere. It was just a fun football game.

“I have so much pride (in my guys) because I know that they played this game for me, ” he continued. “I wanted them to realize they needed this to make the playoffs. But they locked in and did it for me.”

August Martin (3-3) scored first on a touchdown run by junior Makai Coddett to stake the squad to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

Next, freshman Aidenn Scantlebury-Hanks came up big when he returned an interception for a touchdown. Then, Coddett converted the two-point play on a rush for a 14-0 advantage late in the second period.

Scantlebury-Hanks said he ball-hawked the Express’ quarterback, and then picked it off and proceeded to take it to the house.

“My eyes got mad big. I was like, ‘Oh, snap, I caught the ball,’ and I just started running straight,” the first-year player recalled. “Then, I saw nobody near me, so I just ran into the end zone. I baited him. I backed up, and I made sure the QB did not see me. And as soon as he threw the ball, I used my speed, caught the ball, and took it back for six.”

Coddett has been relishing in his role as stalwart defender who also has been used to gain tough offensive yards this season.

“It feels amazing,” Coddett said of performing well on both sides of the ball. “Coach gave me a job and I had to fill, and I did that. Defense is part of our offense also. Without our defense, we cannot play well. We put our 1000 feet forward and tried to get to the ball so the offense could get back out there and do their thing.”

The Falcons defense played well, bending a little bit, but refused to snap. After surrendering two scores — one in the third period and another in fourth — junior David Bennett broke up the two-point conversion pass in the end zone that secured the win for August Martin.

Senior Giovanni Faulkner led the Falcons’ ground attack with 42 yards on five carries, while junior Roger Kossally paced their stingy defense, which played well, with eight tackles, one for a loss.

Allen said that August Martin could have made things easier on itself by not letting the Express hang around for as long as it did. But a victory is a victory, the longtime coach noted.

“We kept them in the game; we should’ve put them away earlier,” he said. “But, at the end of the day, we won, so that’s what’s important.”

The Falcons travel to Jamaica High School on Sunday, November 5th at noon.

— Jerry Del Priore