August Martin High School Football Wins 28-8 Against Transit Tech in Non-League Action

August Martin High School (Queens, N.Y.) football team did get off to a slow start in its non-league game against Transit Tech, committing several penalties early on in the tilt.

After falling behind 8-0 in the midway through the first quarter, the Falcons got their act together and went on to score 28 unanswered points in their 28-8 PSAL victory Sunday at Old Boys & Girls High School Field in Brooklyn, N.Y.

The fact that it was August Martin’s first tilt of the season, head coach Kyle Allen anticipated some hiccups and misfires. But he was happy the Falcons returned to form in due course.

“Well, I expected a rough start. We came out a little flat,” Allen told NYNJSportsWorld.com. “We had a couple of mistakes on the defensive line, but once we settled in, and the nerves settle down, then we played like us.”

August Martin scored its first touchdown on a 57-yard rush that closed the gap at 8-6 early in the second quarter.

Next, senior Chris Saunders hit pay dirt on a decent run, while senior Henry Lancaster converted the two-point rush on a quarterback sneak to put the Falcons ahead 14-8 late in the first half.

In a highlight reel-worthy play, senior Rowayne McKenzie used his strength and size to jump up and wrestle the football away from the Express defender in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown reception, thrown by Lancaster. It gave August Martin a 20-8 advantage at the midway point of the third period.

With Transit Tech pinned deep on its own one-yard line, its center snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety, extending the Falcons’ lead to 22-8 late in the third period.

Senior Zidane Peart, on the ensuing kickoff, received one key block and bolted down the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown and 28-8 lead to start the fourth quarter and cap the game’s scoring.

With the August Martin’s ground attack moving the ball well, Allen said he did not feel it was necessary to put the ball in the air that much, though he like to work on that going forward.

“We just got to get the passing game going,” he said, “but I didn’t call a lot of passes; I didn’t need to. We ran the ball well.”

The key to game, however, Allen said was winning the battle on the offensive and defensive lines.

“We worked the trenches first, because that’s where you win football games,” the seventh-year coach at August Martin explained. “So, both sides of the ball, we did well in the trenches. That’s the tone setter. We were able to block well, and we had backs picking up yards.”

One of those running backs was Saunders, who enjoyed a breakout game, ripping off 72 yards on seven carries with a TD, while senior David Bennett rushed for 37 yards on five touches.

“Chris was a pleasant surprise, but we’re not always surprised, because we know the talent Chris has. He has had a fumbling problem, but he didn’t fumble today, so that was good.”

Defensively, Roger Kossally made two tackles and had two sacks. Peart added five stops, while seniors Makai Coddett, Rawl Norton and Norley Quiceno each picked up two tackles for a loss. Senior Roman Summers sacked the quarterback once.

The Falcons return to action next Saturday, September 7th at 11:00 a.m. against Eagle Academy for Young Men II (Brooklyn), a 4A Conference squad, in a non-league affair at Old Boys & Girls High School Field.

— Jerry Del Priore