Madison Park captures Boston North flag

City crown in the Cards
By Bruce Lerch | Saturday, November 13, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com |

After three years of being the bridesmaid in the Boston City North, Madison Park can now call itself champion.

Khayree Hudson caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ely Plaza, and Dequell Golson and Isiah White each ran for scores as the MP Machine cranked up a 22-14 victory over East Boston at Airport Stadium last night.

The win clinches the North title and a Division 4 playoff berth for Madison Park (6-1, 5-0) for the first time since 2007.

“All year our whole mentality was to get to the Super Bowl,” Plaza said. “Second place is the first loser and we were sick of that. We aren’t losers anymore.”

Following a sloppy quarter and a half of play that included three turnovers, the Cardinals went to work on an 11-play, 71-yard drive to close out the first half. Hudson had a 15-yard run out of the Wildcat formation to get MP into Jets territory, and a pass interference call set them up at the 30-yard line.

Four plays later, Plaza found a wide-open Hudson on a fade route to give MP 6-0 lead at the break.

“The first time I threw it to him, he dropped it. And when he came back to the huddle, he looked at me and said he was going to make up for it,” Plaza said. “I didn’t think he was going to be open, but he broke out and I just tossed it to him and he caught it. That set the tone for the rest of the game.”

MP forced Eastie (6-3, 3-1) to punt on the opening possession of the second half, and a 37-yard return by Stevon Brathwaite gave the Cardinals the ball at the Jets 34. Big runs by White and Chris Philyew (12 carries, 86 yards) helped push the ball to the 3, with Golson punching it in. After Philyew’s two-point rush, it was 14-0 to the Park.

Eastie responded quickly, getting off to a good start on a 58-yard kick return by Marvin Depaz, then scoring on an 18-yard TD pass from Anthony Whitney to Maicol Restrepo.

Undeterred, MP marched right back downfield with White (8 carries, 51 yards) capping an eight-play drive with a 1-yard plunge with 4:40 remaining.

Eastie tacked on another score when Whitney caught an 11-yard pass from Davonte Holloway on a flea flicker, but MP’s Plaza was able to kneel out the clock.

“I’m really happy for the seniors, because they have watched years of us being in second place,” said MP coach Roosevelt Robinson. “Now they can finally take this one home. I’m really proud for them. This is what you set your sights for, and we were the ones that got it done.”

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