Things started off on the right foot for August Martin High School Football (Queens, N.Y.), as it scored on its first possession of its game against Thomas Jefferson (1-0).
But several mistakes and missed opportunities throughout the tilt plagued the Falcons, as well as missing their two key running backs, as they fell to the Orange Wave, 26-22, Saturday afternoon at Moe Finkelstein Field in Starrett City, Brooklyn, in PSAL football 2A Conference action to kick off the regular season.
“Big plays (against) special teams, big penalties in key situations, big pass plays (against us),” August Martin head coach Kyle Allen said of what led to his team’s demise. “Our defense played well. And every time we held them, we’d give up something in the secondary.”
With seniors Hunter Gardner (eligibility issue) and David Bennett, who twisted his ankle in the first half, missing in the offensive backfield, the Falcons (0-1) were short on their running attack offensive firepower.
Though through all of those misfortunes, August Martin still had the chance to win the tilt, Allen noted.
“It came down to the last play. We could have won, should have won, but we didn’t,” he said. “So, without our running backs, there was nothing we could do. We have Hunter Gardner waiting for the PSAL to clear him to play. We’ll see what happens.”
Falcon senior quarterback Henry Lancaster rumbled in for a five-yard touchdown early in the first quarter for a 6-0 advantage. Senior Roger Kossally added a safety for an 8-0 lead not too long after August Martin’s first TD.
However, the Falcons fumbled the ensuing kickoff that gave the Orange Wave good field position at the opposition’s 44-yard line.
Next, a deep pass landed Thomas Jefferson inside the red zone. A few plays later, the Orange Wave scored a 11-yard touchdown pass to narrow the gap at 8-6 midway through the first period.
But senior Rowayne McKenzie ran the ball in from the nine-yard line to make it 14-6, while senior Christian Saunders converted the two-point run for a 16-6 August Martin lead midway through the second quarter.
Not to be outdone, a Thomas Jefferson receiver slipped a Falcon would-be tackler on a screen pass and proceeded to bolt for a 53-yard score to slice the deficit to 16-12 with less than four minutes left in the first half.
The Orange Wave scored again on a 21-yard touchdown pass to surge ahead 18-16 early in the fourth period.
But the Falcons reclaimed the lead after Lancaster rounded the corner and lumbered left for a 6-yard TD rush and a 22-18 advantage with 7:01 remaining in the contest.
Again, the screen pass victimized August Martin, this time going for a 47-yard touchdown for a 26-22 Thomas Jefferson lead midway through the fourth quarter.
But the Falcons had one last possession to win the game. The refs called a horse collar on the Orange Wave, pushing the ball to its 20-yard line, but with not much time left for August Martin’s potential last second heroics.
The Falcons moved the ball to Thomas Jefferson’s 10 yard, But August Martin’s next two passes missed its marks to end the contest in disappointing fashion.
Orange Wave junior quarterback Stephan Riley enjoyed a terrfic day, completing nine of 15 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Martin Blair collected four receptions for 88 yards and three TDs, while junior Nehemiah Ozua had two catches for 67 yards and a score.
The Falcons will travel to Springfield Gardens to face last season’s 1A conference champions Saturday at 11:00 p.m.
— Jerry Del Priore
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 