Extras boost Madison Park
Extra points are crucial. Boston English scored the same number of touchdowns as Madison Park, but was not able to complete two point-after attempts and it cost the Bulldogs, who were served with their second Boston North loss of the season yesterday in Madison Park's 32-27 victory.
''We're lucky to get out of here [with a win]," said Madison Park coach Roosevelt Robinson.
English led, 12-8, at halftime, the first team to hold a halftime lead over the Cardinals this season, prompting Robinson to put a fire under his team, which seemed to be losing momentum. In all Boston English's wins this season, the team was tied or leading at halftime.
Angel LaCourt (19 rushes, 271 yards, 4 touchdowns) took the second-half kickoff 10 yards. After first taking a 2-yard run to the 37, setting up a third and 8, Jason Green bullied his way across the 50 to the 27 on a 35-yard run. LaCourt took the next run 27 yards, giving Madison Park its second lead. LaCourt completed the extra-point rush, making the score 16-12.
Boston English took the next possession from its 45 and put the ball on the ground. Beating up the turf, the Bulldogs ate up most of the third quarter on a 10-play drive, capped by a 6-yard Tony Tucker touchdown run. Quarterback Carlos Restrepo had Dana Rogers open on the extra point and hit him in the back of the end zone to swing the lead back to English, 20-16.
After a Madison Park 10-yard kickoff return and a Boston English facemask penalty, the Cardinals were nearly in the red zone before snapping the ball. From the Boston English 27, LaCourt ran for 13 before he beat English defenders to the sideline and turned the corner for a 14-yard touchdown run and accompanying extra-point bull rush up the gut to give Madison Park a 24-20 lead.
Driving to the Madison Park 21, English opted to count on Restrepo for a 38-yard field goal. When his kick sailed short and to the right, the English defense was forced to stop LaCourt, who seemed unwilling to stop.
Just as Madison Park assistant Dennis Wilson led his team in their call-and-response ''BINGO!" chant, LaCourt hit the jackpot, cashing in on an open hole with a 79-yard touchdown run.
''He wanted the ball and we gave it to him," said Robinson. ''He broke a lot of tackles. He took it and brought us home."
With 7:44 left in the game, Jason Green punched in the extra point to put Madison ahead, 32-20, but the Bulldogs were still fighting.
Restrepo looked to be having a rough series, with a potential first-down pass broken up and a sack by Trevor Holmes, but he stayed cool. On fourth and 13, Restrepo tossed the ball 32 yards to Kyle Walker in the end zone, who caught the pass over two defenders, to bring English within 6 points with 4:43 left in the game. A Restrepo extra point got Boston English within 5.
''We needed a key turnover there to [possibly turn] a 5-point defeat into a 1-point victory," said Boston English coach Keith Parker. ''We couldn't pry the ball loose and stop [LaCourt]. Not just then, but all game."
