Latin Academy (1-1) shut out the host Cardinals, 12-0, last night.

Madison Park (0-1) hasn’t scored since its 6-0 Thanksgiving Day victory over O’Bryant last season. The Cardinals were shut out by Shawsheen, 21-0, in their season finale.

The Cardinals, a team that picked up victories with a dominant running game last season, fumbled four times last night. The running style of Madison Park looked timid; the Cardinals gained 94 yards on the ground.

“We’re inexperienced and we’re just trying to get it together,’’ said MP coach Roosevelt Robinson. “I just think getting the first win down, we’ll have [a] little bit more work to do. So hopefully it will be a building block. Latin Academy played good. They came and they played good and that’s what’s important.’’

The all-around play of the Dragons, who made their last playoff appearance in 1992, suggested a vastly different approach from last season, when they went 5-5. The offense featured a balanced attack, led by junior Ernest Kellough, who rushed for a game-high 109 yards on 12 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown in the final minutes.

“Ernest always runs hard,’’ said Latin Academy coach Rocco Zizza. “He ran really hard, held the ball tight, and it opens up everything when you run the ball.’’

Receiver Lazarus Shavar got in on the ground game as well. The senior perfectly executed a reverse pitch in the second quarter and took it 29 yards to the end zone. The extra-point attempt was blocked.

“We came out here hungry and we came out and put everything in,’’ said Shavar.

The Cardinals will try to pick up the pieces next week against a tough foe in Minuteman Tech, while Zizza and the Dragons will try to build on their winning ways with a home game against Boston English.