Brownsville seeks to spark program revival with new coach after breaking losing streak

By: Matthew Purucker
Friday, August 23, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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One win can mean everything.

When Brownsville left the WPIAL to play an independent schedule for the 2022 season, the program was in dire straits. After back-to-back campaigns without a win, leaving the WPIAL was its only hope.

However, now the Falcons can do more than hope. They emerged from last season with that one win and now they are looking for more.

New coach David Martin III understands that victory can provide momentum to the program going forward.

“The fact that they’ve won last season checks something off the list for me already,” Martin said. “Now I have to establish consistency and maintain winning habits and a competitive mentality. Our first goal is to always be competitive when we step on that field.”

Martin was hired in May, so he only had a couple of months to implement the changes that he believes will begin to establish a culture of success for the years ahead. He talked with players about their experiences and expectations, established his offseason training program and created a behavioral standard for his players to follow.

“(I want) ultimately to break the stigma this program carries currently and disperse the dark cloud over Brownsville football. Again, we want to just hit the ground running and be competitive in all of our games, and with consistency, the success will follow,” Martin said. “We just want to give our athletes, families, school and community something to be proud of and take pride in as we mold these young men to go out and be positive functioning members of society after graduation.”

Ultimately, the move out of the WPIAL had its pluses and minuses.

“I think it has improved participation on the team, although the results have been negative over the years. I think the idea of unfamiliar competition naturally brings hope of the possibility to succeed,” Martin said. “But, from a coaching and administrative standpoint, having to find a sufficient amount of reasonable games can be very draining. I did not like that process at all.”

Junior quarterback Kaden Wimmer and junior wide receiver Jaiden Praster look to be the mainstays of the offensive attack. They will be joined by a running back committee consisting of junior Exzavier Vargas, sophomore Elijah Booker and senior Omarion Grayson. Standout senior Michael Ulery is promising to be a proverbial Swiss Army knife on the offensive line, playing multiple positions up front.

Because Brownsville is a small team, those players will also likely see significant snaps on the defensive side of the ball. Adding to the defense will be seniors Bryce Horabik and Chris Hawk Jr. at linebacker, sophomore Stefond Tinsley at strong safety and Ahijah Kriamakbar at defensive end.

“From this year, I want to grow back the pride in this program and that starts in house first. I want my players to have pride in everything that we do. I like to call this ‘our brand’ and that will be built upon respect, accountability, trust, effort and overall hard work,” Martin said. “To demand respect of our brand, we must first respect it ourselves and the rest will follow. The expectations are to always be competitive. No matter what end of the scoreboard we finish on, our opponents will know and feel the work we just put in during that game.”

Brownsville

Coach: David Martin III

2023 record: 1-7

All-time record: 416-524-34

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 vs. Bentworth at Charleroi, 7

8.31 at Northern Garrett (Md.), 7

9.6 at Uniontown, 7

9.14 at Bellaire (Ohio), noon

9.20 Martins Ferry (Ohio), 7

9.27 Uniontown, 7

10.4 Carrick, 7

10.11 Meyersdale, 7

10.18 at Albert Gallatin, 7

10.25 at Hancock (Md.), 7

FAST FACTS

• Brownsville will play four away games this season and three of them are outside Pennsylvania. Those two are against Bellaire High School in Ohio and Northern Garrett and Hancock High School in Maryland.

• Brownsville’s 36-30 victory over Carrick last year snapped its 34-game losing streak that dated back to 2019.

• The most recent Brownsville football player to play in the NFL was Dick Guesman. He was a defensive tackle and kicker that played for the New York Titans, New York Jets, and Denver Broncos from 1960-64.

•.Brownsville will start the season with five out of its first six games at home before finishing the season with back-to-back matchups on the road.

Tags: Brownsville