August Martin High School football’s (Queens, N.Y.) offense never found its rhythm, and its defense could not keep the Seagulls in check, resulting in a 20–8 road loss in Saturday’s non‑league matchup.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Falcon head coach Kyle Allen said that they are a work in progress, with the offensive line experiencing some bumps during the contest. But he said that it will help them adjust when the Falcons (1-0) return to 1A Conference action next week.
“Off and on, in spats,” Allen said of offensive line’s up and down play. “They got caught off guard with a couple of blitzes that they ran late in the game. We’ll go and clean that up, and deal with that. I don’t think anyone is going to do that in the 1A, but if they do, we’ll be ready for it next time. These guys are making me proud, and we’ll be a hard out in the 1A.”
With both of the respective Public League Athletic League (PSAL) conference games won via forfeit, the Falcons (1A Conference) took on McKee/Staten Island Tech (MSIT/2A Conference) in another prelude to their league play.
The Falcons committed multiple mistakes, while the Seagulls (1-0) played well enough to take a 14-0 lead late in the first half.
But August Martin quarterback Nooa Allen connected with senior wide receiver Tyrese Vassell for a touchdown to narrow the gap at 14-6 with 0.29 to go in the second period. Allen and Vassell connect again on the ensuing two-point conversion pass to slice the deficit to 14-8.
Head coach Chris App, Jr. said that the first half did not go as well as MSIT would have liked it. But they regrouped at the break and went into locked in mode the rest of the wat for the win.
“Our kids adjusted at halftime,” App explained. “We were very down, players were upset. Normally, you’d have to take time out of coaching them to speak with them to get back (emotionally). But our guys were laser focused. They put their emotion aside, and they were just listening, which was great.”
On their first offensive possession of the third quarter, Allen rolled out and threw across his body. But the Seagulls intercepted the pass, stopping the Falcons from establishing any offensive momentum early in the second half.
However, August Martin’s defense forced a turnover on downs. But its offense went three and out.
After a solid Falcon punt rolled that to their 27, MSIT methodically drove the ball down the gridiron.
Seagull sophomore quarterback Samuel Tarlo capped the game’s scoring on a 10-yard touchdown rush with 1:36 remaining in the third period.
MSIT’s defense forced August Martin into a turnover on downs circumstance after stifling the opposition’s offense.
But Falcon sophomore inside linebacker Ian Turner-Burton recovered a fumble at the Seagulls’ 46 to give August Martin a measure of short-lived life in the fourth quarter.
However, MSIT continued to pressure Allen, recording consecutive sacks and into a long fourth down situation, which resulted in another Falcons’ turnover on downs.
It was August Martin’s third straight non-league matchup against a 2A Conference team, going 1-2, with Allen saying it was a good, challenging test for his boys, helping them to step-up for future competitions. But he said he is ready to start its league schedule.
“It’s ridiculous, already,” he quipped. “I’m tired of playing the 2A, but it’s getting us to play faster, having to play harder. And we’re used to the speed now. So hopefully that translates over when we finally play a 1A team. We’re a IA team. We want to play a 1A team.”
The Falcons will travel to Grady High School in Brooklyn Saturday at 11:00 a.m. to open up its league play.
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