By Dylan Butler
Clinging to a 28-20 lead in the waning moments of the fourth quarter against neighborhood rival Campus Magnet Saturday, August Martin football coach Mike Greene made the call of the game, as the Falcons successfully executed a fake punt on fourth-and-5 from their own 43.
Did the head coach notice Magnet pushing extra players on the line of scrimmage in an attempt to block a possible punt? Did Greene notice a sudden switch in wind gusts? No.
“I just didn’t want to give them the ball,” Greene said.
And who can blame Greene for that rationale, especially with momentum and a partisan Homecoming crowd squarely in the Bulldogs’ corner. With that in mind, Moustapha Johnson took Trevor Shamblee’s handoff and rushed 17 yards for the first down to clinch the win and keep Martin’s playoff hopes alive.
“It’s always tough here. The kids know each other from the neighborhood,” Greene said. “Every year it’s [Magnet] and then Bayside as the hardest games of the year. It’s all for bragging rights.”
Defeating Campus Magnet this year was that much more important for Martin (4-3) because of Sunday’s regular season finale against Bayside (3-4) at noon is a game that could have major playoff implications.
“I was real emotional when we got that first down on the [fake] punt,” said August Martin senior fullback Anthony Pittman, who had a game-high 123 yards on 14 carries. “It was like Christmas, it was like a gift. We practiced hard all week and the hard work finally paid off.”
The Falcons played like that desperate team in the first half, as they jumped ahead 12-0 on touchdown runs of 33 and 11 yards by Shamblee, who gained 75 yards on 12 carries.
Martin took advantage of Campus Magnet’s slow start, as Jason Boyce scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper and passed to Shaine Smith for the two-point conversion to put the Falcons ahead 20-0 with 1:20 left in the first half.
“In the first half we couldn’t do anything,” said Magnet’s Raheim Bazile, who led the Bulldogs with 109 yards on 10 carries. “I guess we had to wake up. Everyone was thinking about Homecoming and they caught us by surprise.”
Campus Magnet (5-2) got a much-needed shot of adrenaline on the last play of the first half when junior Courtney Jones (11 carries for 97 yards), aided by a huge block by Bazile, rushed for a 61-yard touchdown run to cut the Bulldogs deficit to 20-6.
“I told the kids in life you can be down and out, you can be hurting, but you have to play the last two quarters,” Ryan said. “Because when you’re four quarters are up, you’re out of here.”
The words seemed to provide a spark for the Bulldogs, who went on a 12-play 75-yard drive to open the third quarter and, capped by Martin Weir’s six-yard touchdown run and Jones’ score on the two-point conversion, Magnet trailed just 20-14 with 5:28 left in the third quarter.
But just as quickly as the momentum shifted in the Bulldogs favor, it went back to Martin thanks to a huge 89-yard touchdown run on the ensuing kickoff by Smith. Shamblee ran in the two-point conversion to put the Falcons back up 28-14, 24 seconds later.
“At first I thought everything was closed up, but then I just saw the gap open up and I just had to go for it,” said Smith. “I just try to do anything to help my team win. If I can’t supply it on offense, then I’ll try to supply it on defense or special teams.”
Campus Magnet would not bow out though and four plays later Bazile found the end zone on a 57-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Omar Edward was stopped on the two-point conversion as the Bulldogs trailed 28-20 with 2:48 left in the third quarter.
“This was a real big game for me because I live right by Martin and I hear everyone talking,” said Bazile. “It’s like a playoff game. There was a lot of talk all week, but it’s just a matter of execution and you have to do for four quarters, not just two.”
Despite back-to-back losses to the borough’s top two rated teams, Campus Magnet’s playoff hopes are still alive as the Bulldogs face a much-win situation Sunday against Beach Channel (5-2) in a game played at Far Rockaway at 11 a.m.
John Adams 30, Flushing 12. Tristan Leefoon rushed for 150 yards and scored three touchdowns on runs of two and 62 yards and a 27-yard reception to lead Adams (3-4). Kyle Piccerello (6-for-16, 140 yards) also connected with Enrico Dorsey on a 52-yard touchdown reception for the Spartans, who close out its season at Far Rockaway Friday at 2 p.m. Flushing (0-7) hosts Bryant Sunday at 11 a.m. at Flushing Memorial Field.
John Jay 28, Long Island City 22. Hannibal Fleming had 124 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns and Joseph Abraham had six tackles and a fumble recovery and O’Neil Russell ahd an interception to lead John Jay (4-3). Richard Akowuah rushed for 167 yards on 21 carries, including touchdown runs of 72 and nine yards for LIC (2-5).
Bryant 13, Far Rockaway 6. Rashid Peterson scored on a 19-yard run to put Far Rock (6-1) ahead, but Bryant roared back as Charles Kim (25 carries for 123 yards) capped a nine-play, 78-yard drive with a 40-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Jimmy Raza’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Chris Villegas clinched the upset win for the Owls (4-3).
Boys and Girls 20, Springfield Gardens 0. The Golden Eagles (0-7) wrap up their long season Sunday at 11 a.m. at Long Island City still in search of their first win.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
