Curie crowned city champs

There are some games that don’t need extra hype. Hubbard vs. Curie is one that fits that bill. Being a city championship game is a bonus, but neighborhood bragging rights are equally important. The bragging rights for the year, along with the city title, belong to Curie after a 28 – 7 victory Friday night at Gately Stadium.

The Condors (11-2) claimed their second city championship in school history while the Greyhounds (8-5) were stopped from gaining their fourth city title. Curie will face Loyola in the Prep Bowl on 11 a.m. Friday at Soldier Field.

The Greyhounds’ game plan was obvious: to stop All-City running back Chris Baldwin. The Condors scored first with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter on a 12-yard touchdown run by Baldwin, to cap an eight-play, 62-yard drive. The Greyhounds capitalized on a shanked five-yard punt that was recovered on Curie’s 16-yard line and scored three plays later on a Josh Lamb 7-yard run to tie the score with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter.

The Condors got things going in the second half when Macio King scored on a 2-yard run with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter to take a 14-7 advantage — a lead they would never relinquish. The touchdown was set up by a 41-yard reception to wide receiver Eren Jenkins from quarterback Mike Goldsmith.

The Goldsmith-to-Jenkins combination proved to be unstoppable. The pair connected again for a 76-yard touchdown with 6:29 remaining in the third quarter and a 21-7 lead.

Curie coach Jay McDonaugh said a few key adjustments were made at halftime that changed the complex of the game. “They were stacking the box big time in an attempt to stop the running game.,” McDonaugh said. “Those key passes loosened things and allowed us to take control.”

Curie put a bow on the victory with 4:43 remaining in the fourth quarter on an interception by Matthew Cole that stopped a Hubbard drive. Cole later scored on an 8-yard run.

Jenkins said he and Goldsmith were just clicking. “Coach told us at halftime that the big play would be there for us,” Jenkins said. “I was really happy that I was able to deliver when my number was called. I am a senior and I did not want to leave without getting a city championship.”

“You always have goals that you strive for,” Goldsmith said. “If you don’t obtain your first goal, you have to focus on the next goal. We are happy to be still playing.”

Baldwin was limited to 62 yards on eight carries. Goldsmith was 3-for-3 for 126 yards.

Hubbard coach Elton Harris was disappointed after the loss but said his team has a lot to look forward to. “We have a lot of players coming back,” Harris said. “We got a lot further than anyone expected us to get. We will take this experience, get back to work and we will be back next year.”