No takeoff in sight – Thrashed by Grady, August Martin falls to 0-3 for fourth straight season

After another disheartening defeat, this one a mistake-filled 32-14 setback Friday afternoon to Grady, new August Martin football Coach Nedvonne Young spoke to his players for close to a half hour. Technique and execution, however, weren't the subject of the closed-door meeting, his team now 0-3 for the fourth consecutive season.
&#8220The toughest thing to deal with is breaking these kids out of old habits,” he said. &#8220I came to a program that, I think, the people and the kids, they don't want to lose, but they've gotten kind of used to it.”
So, Young &#8220dared,” as he put it, his players to be different. &#8220Teams in the past, when they went 0-3,” he said, &#8220they just laid down.”
Junior tailback Kwaku Kontoh, a newcomer to the program as well, has noticed the losing mentality. &#8220When something bad happens, they (his teammates) just give up. Like ‘aw, we lost. It's over.' ”
The Falcons, by the mere competitiveness of their games, have been different so far, losing by a point in week one to Campus Magnet, hung with Brooklyn power South Shore the next game, and were right there with Grady until costly mistakes did them in.
&#8220It's tough,” freshman Thomas Greyer said. &#8220But we're going to have a win by next game, because we're going to practice hard, play mistake-free football.”
Effort was certainly there against Grady. Despite falling in an early 16-point hole, the Falcons received big plays to get them back in the game: Greyer returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score and Kontoh scored off-tackle from 65 yards out.
But it was the chances they were unable to capitalize on that proved to be their downfall. After a Stanley Walker interception, the Falcons moved to the 12, but the drive stalled, junior quarterback Mustafa Young throwing a fade out of bounds on fourth down.
To begin the second half, August Martin, trailing 24-12, went on a lengthy 15-play, 48-yard drive, eating up nearly the entire third quarter. But again, they failed to see any dividends on the scoreboard; Greyer missed a 45-yard field goal after Young was unable to find an open receiver on third down.
There was still one miscue remaining. After a safety, the Falcons had one chance left, set to receive a free kick with 6:01 remaining. But Kontoh, running up to catch the bouncing kick, caught a bad hop, and the ball banged off his right foot, rolling into the grasp of a diving Grady defender, Josh Valentin.
&#8220I was thinking it would bounce up to me,” Kontoh said. &#8220I feel like it was all on me, I'm the reason why we came up short.”
Of course, that's inaccurate. Young, off-setting the Falcons' 165 rushing yards, was, throwing more interceptions (2) than completions (0). &#8220I'm thinking too much,” he said, &#8220when I should be throwing.”
And, although the defense produced four turnovers, they also yielded over 30 points for the second straight week.
Obviously, a lot of improvements need to be made. Number one on that list is erasing the painful memories of seasons past.
When asked what the Falcons must to differently, Young was blunt: &#8220Don't think about last year,” he said. &#8220Move on. Make sure your next game is your best game.”