Morgan Park beats Kenwood, claims the city championship by winning the Public League Red

It wasn’t easy. Some interceptions can be made by just about any football player, or at least a receiver or defensive back. That wasn’t the case for Darrell Mattison’s exceptional grab on Saturday in the Public League Red championship game at Lane Stadium.

Mattison, a 6-2 safety committed to Mississippi, leaped so high to grab the interception that the trip back to Earth was perilous. Mattison slammed down on his back and took a moment to get back on his feet.

“I just had to go up and get the ball and be a ball hawk and get an interception and make a play for my team,” Mattison said. “That always feels great.”

Morgan Park trailed Kenwood at the half, but Mattison’s big play sparked a 24-14 Mustangs win.

“I saw the energy of my kids change,” Morgan Park coach Chris James said. “Darrell Mattison showed why he is a big-time player.”

The Mustangs (8-1) took a 16-14 lead later in the third quarter when Ronald Smith Jr. connected with Travezz Jones on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Smith Jr. bullied in for the two-point conversion.

Then Smith found Jaxon Bland for a seven-yard touchdown with 2:42 left to seal the win for Morgan Park.

“That was surreal,” Bland said. “They called my number, and it was go time.”

Smith, a junior, was 15 of 22 for 178 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He was excellent on the first drive, distributing the ball to five receivers while sucking up most of the first-quarter clock.

“That first drive was kind of relieving for us all,” Morgan Park defensive end Milen Porter said. “I just sat down and watched it and had a great time.”

William Smith Jr. had 19 carries for 92 yards for the Mustangs. Jones finished with seven catches for 83 yards and Bland had three catches for 46 yards.

Kenwood (6-3) scored on its first play from scrimmage, an electrifying 78-yard touchdown pass from Malachi Henegan to Lawrence Carr. But the Broncos’ passing game was mostly shut down after that.

“They do a lot of play action that we saw on film,” Mattison said. “Just be patient. It was easy. They have one player on the field that can go, so it wasn’t hard.”
Henegan had 12 carries for 71 yards, and Jamarius Andrus had 13 carries for 111 yards for Kenwood.

“We run the ball well all the time,” Broncos coach Chris Goffer said.

This was the Public League’s first Red Conference championship game, pitting the winner of the Shield division against the winner of the Star division. Those two divisions include all of the Public League’s top-tier teams.

“This is the city championship,” James said. “They are tagging it as the conference championship because of the history and tradition of the Prep Bowl.”

The Public League’s Prep Bowl representative was traditionally considered the city champion, but since the Public League joined the state playoffs, that team was rarely the city’s top team. The Prep Bowl is essentially a consolation tournament now.

“CPS officials are just nervous about calling it the city championship because of the tradition of the league, but it is time for the change,” James said.

The kids aren’t worried about whatever terminology the adults decide on.

“This means so much,” Ronald Smith said. “It means we are the best. Morgan Park is one of a kind.”