August Martin Suffers First Defeat of Season Against Mott Haven, 50-8

By Jerry Del Priore

New to PSAL’s football Cup Conference, August Martin head coach Kyle Allen isn’t exactly sure what type of competition the Falcons will be facing each and every week.

Unfortunately, August Martin (2-1) quickly realized just how good host Mott Haven could be after scoring a quick touchdown on a pitch to running back Rasheen Longshore, who proceeded to throw the ball down field to receiver Nathaluis Halas for a 50-yard bomb en route to 50-8 demolition of the Falcons Friday night in the Bronx.

“Every week I walk into a mystery,” Allen told BrooklynSportsWorld.com. “By the end of the first quarter, I know what I’m dealing with.”

Before Friday’s game, with a group of student-athletes who don’t have a ton of organized football playing experience,  August Martin was 2-0, and losing was a foreign concept for most of the team.

But after the Falcons’ 42-point defeat, Allen is waiting to see how they answer back in the cerebral fortitude department in the forthcoming week of school, practice, and on game day.

“It’s a learning experience every week for us,” Allen said. “Now, they know what it feels like to lose. They haven’t felt that before. They were flying high. Now, I have to see how they’re going to respond to it. It’s fixable. It’s just a matter how they respond mentally.”

Down 8-0, senior Shavar Thomson returned the ensuing kickoff to the house, followed by a successful two-point conversion rush by senior running back Ashton Glasgow for an 8-8 tie midway through the first quarter.

But the Mavericks’ high-powered offense, which amassed 409 yards, was unstoppable, scoring another touchdown after three plays, and tacked on the two-point play for a 16-8 lead at the mid point of the first period.

August Martin struggled to move the ball on the next possession, and was forced to punt, which was botched, fumbled, and recovered by Mot Haven (2-1). Tack on a penalty, and the Mavericks started at the Falcons’ 12-yard line.

Before August Martin knew what had hit them, Mott Haven had scored again, increasing its advantage to 24-8 late in the first quarter.

The Mavericks posted 14 more points in the second period to end the half ahead by a score of 38-8.

When the Falcons were able to move the ball via the ground game, something thwarted their progress. This time it was a bad snap, which resulted in a Mott Haven fumble recovery at August Martin’s 45.

A few plays later, and the Mavericks were up by 36 points midway through the third period.

Mott Haven capped the scoring on a 32-yard slant pass to senior Wilmer Rodriguez for a 50-8 lead with few minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons return to action against Stuyvesant High School Friday night at 6:00 p.m. at Pier 40 at Hudson River Park in Manhattan.