August Martin HS Football Locks in First Win of Season Over FDA; Tyrese Vassell Scores 3 TDs

August Martin High School (Queens, N.Y.) football’s game against Fredrick Douglas Academy (FDA) could have gone either way.

Both teams struggled at times, but the Falcons played well when it mattered most. Behind three touchdowns from junior Tyrese Vassell, August Martin took down the Lions, 18-12, in Public School Athletic League (PSAL) 1A Conference action Sunday afternoon at Alfred E. Smith High School Field in the Bronx.

Head coach Kyle Allen said that picking up the Falcons’ first win of the season for a squad that is largely new to football is special to them, as well as the coaching staff.

Allen went on to say that August Martin kept letting FDA hang around, but it ultimately stayed the course and emerged victorious, despite making several errors.

“It’s definitely gratifying to get the win, especially with these young, old kids,” Allen explained. “I have a big group of seniors who are playing football for the first time in their lives. So, I have an old group, but young as far as in football.

“And we put ourselves in position to lose today,” he continued. “But they fought through it, and they were able to overcome all the early and late mistakes that we made and get the win.”

Vassell caught three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns and had a pick-six on defense. He said his intense desire to not suffer another defeat fueled his impressive, productive afternoon.

“I was tired of losing,” said Vassell, who dropped what would have been a fourth TD pass. “I just wanted everyone to step up. O-line did their thing–they blocked. Then, we got the ball in air, and we made big plays.”

It did not take long for the Falcons to want to hang their collective head, as it fumbled on their second play from scrimmage.

It led to an eventual 35-yard touchdown screen pass for the Lions, for a 6-0 advantage in the first period.

To make matters worse for the Falcons, on the ensuing drive, FDA recovered another one of their fumbles at the Lions’ 26.

However, a few plays later, Vassell came up big with a long pickoff return for a TD and 6-6 tie midway through the second quarter.

But the Lions responded with a 23-yard touchdown toss to run the score to12-6 late in the first half.

With time expiring in the second period, junior quarterback Nooa Allen completed a 26-yard score to Vassell to tie the contest at 12-12.

After a few plays to start the second half, August Martin was on the positive end of recovering a FDA muff at the opposition’s 32-yard line.

The Falcons took advantage of the good field position and move the pigskin down field.

On fourth and long, Allen slinged the ball into the end zone, as Vassell outjumped two defenders, and came down with the ball to give August Martin a six-point lead late in the third period.

After the two squads traded fumbles from there, the Falcons’ defense clamped down the rest of the way, while their ground attack grinded out the clock to secure the victory.

The younger Allen completed four of seven attempts for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Kazime Burroughs rushed for 61 yards on 12 touches, while senior Samuel Augustin ran for 45 yards on eight carries and had a sack of defense.

Senior Mario Brown made two of the team’s four sacks and added two stops for a loss.

The Falcons travel to Brooklyn to take on A-Tech Friday at 6:00 p.m. at Canarsie High School.

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— Jerry Del Priore