By Dylan Butler
There is some good that actually came out of August Martin’s season opening 47-0 loss to defending PSAL football champ Sheepshead Bay Friday at Ralph Jones Memorial Field.
Since it was a non-league game, the Falcons can just erase any memory of it. It won’t count against Martin’s league mark, nor will it affect the team’s power points.
But that’s about the only good thing to come from that game for Martin.
The Falcons were thoroughly trounced by a Sheepshead Bay team eager to prove last year’s championship was no fluke. Marlon Beckles opened the scoring with an 82-yard run. He would also score two more touchdowns and rush for 172 yards.
Chris Santiago scored on a quarterback sneak and Brian Ellis added a nine-yard touchdown run in the rout.
August Martin looks to bounce back as it opens its league slate Saturday at Brooklyn Tech at noon.
PSAL dumps Flushing
Citing the program’s inability to get sufficient eligible players in time for the start of the season, the PSAL announced Monday the league dropped both Flushing and Adlai Stevenson, effective immediately.
In the case of Flushing, the team has had a number problems for at least three years. The Red Devils had to forfeit two games at the start of the 2000 season because it didn’t field enough eligible players.
Last year Flushing had enough players to start, but struggled on the field, losing every game it played. The team, which was a power in the now-defunct Metro Conference four years ago, is 0-17 over the last two years.
The Red Devils were scheduled to open its season Friday against Grand Street Campus, but was forced to forfeit that game as well.
Flushing coach Joe Kaso could not be reached for comment.
“I think after you look at the programs the last couple of years, it’s in the best interest of the programs and the best interest of PSAL football,” PSAL football commissioner Alan Arbuse said of Monday’s decision. “We look forward to working with these people and try to figure out how to make these programs successful again.”
The decision to drop Stevenson was met with disappointment by Springfield Gardens, which was scheduled to play its first home game in two years Saturday against Stevenson.
Now the Golden Eagles, who are 2-0 because of the forfeit, will have to wait until Sept. 28 to kick off on its new FieldTurf surface.
“It’s disappointing, the kids have been really hyped about the game,” said first-year Springfield coach Charlie Yarborough. “It’s all they’ve been talking about, wanting to show off at home.”
John Adams 40, Bryant 6. Tristan Lefoon scored three touchdowns, including an 80-yard kickoff return and rushed for 101 yards, Richard Lopez ran for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Spartans Friday afternoon. Robert Knight had 12 solo tackles and Gary Livingstone added six solo tackles. Adams faces Erasmus Hall Saturday at 11 a.m.
Springfield Gardens 2, Erasmus 0. Allister McMillan forced Erasmus quarterback Marvin Bernabe to intentionally ground the ball in the endzone midway through the fourth quarter for the game’s only score.
Linebacker Dwayne Brown had nine tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery and Garet Lynch added four tackles and one sack for the Golden Eagles, who matched last year’s win total. Springfield returns to action Sept. 21 at Grand Street Campus.
Long Island City 38, John Jay 8. Ronald Whittingham scored four touchdowns and rushed for 112 yards and Mark Satterwhite rushed for 91 yards on eight carries as LIC won its first season-opening game in its three years of varsity football. The Bulldogs host New Dorp Saturday at 11 a.m.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
