August Martin High School Football 2024 Season Preview: High Optimism and Expectations

After a 5-3 PSAL regular season and making it to the A Conference semifinal game, which August Martin High School’s (N.Y) football team lost, 27-16, to Petrides, the Falcons will return most of their squad in 2024.

To that end, head coach Kyle Allen is optimistic that August Martin will have an even better season than it had last year, he noted, even though the PSAL promoted it to the AA Conference. He said the Falcons have not lost much, so his team should be very good.

“I have the majority of my team coming back,” Allen said. “We lost Gio (Faulkner), but pretty much everyone is coming back. We’ll compete, no doubt.”

Players who are returning are the big three of rising seniors Rowayne McKenzie, Roman Summers (OT/DE) and Makai Coddett (OG/DT). They were All-Conference and All-City players in 2023 and who will be featured upfront on both sides of the pigskin, Allen said.

He also added that the trio and the rest of August Martin have been hitting the weightroom with a vengeance, increasing strength and explosiveness, which should translate to better on field performance.

“These are my trench guys,” the longtime PSAL coach said of the three two-way line guys. “My strength of my team is my defensive line. My O-line is strong, too. But my defensive line is really good. This is a really, really strong team. We’ve been in the weightroom working really hard. We’re strong up front.”

Furthermore, as far as suiting up at the next level, Allen said he is confident that the talented trio can accomplish it.

“My big three, they can play at the next level,” Allen said. “All three of them have the ability, but Rowayne has the biggest upside.”

An additional player to watch is rising senior Rawl Norton, who stood out for his quiet play-making ability, Allen noted. “He made a lot of plays last year, but quietly,” he said.

A newcomer to the offensive line is 240-pound Norley Quiceno, who will man the center and outside linebacker positions. Allen said another player to eye is Roger Kossally, a rising senior tight end/linebacker who made All-Conference in 2023.

“He’s bigger, stronger, and a lot more confident,” Allen said of Kossally.

Plus, returning starter and rising senior Nicholas Morrison, who is an offensive lineman and inside linebacker.

Quarterbacking the Falcons’ offense will be Henry Lancaster, a rising senior who progressed well after a slow start to the campaign. Allen said that he has learned to not let mistakes stay with him long and has added a ton of power to his frame after pushing heavy weights in the offseason.

The former Brooklynite also attributes Lancaster’s steady improvement to more reps, and better self-esteem after playing the position for the first time in his life last year.

“I think he gained that (confidence) toward the end of the season,” Allen recalled. “That kid is going to be a lot better. He’s strong. He benched 290 (pounds) and squatted 420 (pounds). He’s more confident than last year, and he’s gotten faster.”

Lancaster will have offensive compliments in Aidenn Scantlebury-Hanks, a rising sophomore slot receiver, and David Bennett, a rising senior running back who, Allen said, should see a lot of gridiron action.

Bennett rushed for 271 yards (5.11 per carry) and a touchdown during seven regular season tilts and tacked on 101 yards and a score in two postseason contests, according to PSAL.org.

“He is going to get the ball a lot,” Allen said.

With all the hard work, better team atmosphere, and more experienced players suiting up in 2024, August Martin’s coaching staff has raised expectations for the Falcons. And it should, all factors considered.

“This will be an exciting year. Even though they (PSAL) moved us up to the AA, we’ll be very competitive,” Allen said. “There’s great team chemistry. They actually care about each other. It will be interesting to see how we come out of the gate.”

August Martin will take on Transit Tech CTE High School in non-league action on Sunday, September 1st at 1:00 p.m. at Old Boys & Girls Field in Brooklyn. Then, the Falcons will face Eagle Academy For Young Men II on Saturday, September 7th at the same field in another non-league contest.

— Jerry Del Priore