August Martin’s Shane Phillips (6) hauls in a touchdown catch. (Damion Reid)
Say one thing for August Martin: the fourth-seeded Falcons never gave up. Not even when facing a nearly insurmountable deficit in an eventual 29-28 loss to No. 3 Thomas Jefferson in the PSAL Bowl division football championship Sunday at Midwood Athletic Complex.
“We fell short by just one point,” coach Mike Scaduto said. “They fought hard.”
Jefferson (10-1) was ahead, 29-14, when Martin quarterback Thomas Greyer got in on a 1-yard keeper with 29.1 seconds left. An extra point or a 2-point conversion would have made it a one-possession game, but Shane Chambers’ kick was blocked by Jefferson defensive end Maurice George.
Martin (7-4) actually recovered the onside kick down 29-20 – and scored again. Greyer found Shane Phillips for a 20-yard touchdown and Shane Chambers ran in the extra point to make it 29-28 with 9.7 seconds to go. The blocked extra point loomed extremely large.
“That was big,” Jefferson coach Stephen Edwards said.
Chambers had a strong day on the ground, rushing for 102 yards on 17 carries. Greyer, who is not normally asked to throw much, stepped up with a 7-of-15 day for 149 yards.
“We moved the ball well,” Scaduto said. “Offensively, this was probably the best game of the year.”
Despite the loss, it was a successful season.. Martin went into the year without much expectations. Scaduto wasn’t even going to coach the team, but stepped in for his fourth season at the helm when the Falcons couldn’t find a replacement.
They went 6-3 in the regular season, led by a stifling defense, handed John Adams its first loss in Week 6 and blitzed No. 1 Truman, 29-12, in the semifinals last week.
“I don’t think anyone expected us to be here at the beginning of the season,” Scaduto said. “We got better quickly.”
