The Chelsea Pride Spartans (9-1) dominated the Beverly Panthers (8-2) on November 14, securing a commanding 27-7 victory. From the opening kickoff, Chelsea demonstrated superior play and delivered what many considered their strongest performance of the entire season. While the team had built a reputation around offensive firepower, it was their defense that proved most formidable against Beverly. Throughout the contest, the “Red,” “Black,” and “White” defensive units punished the Beverly ball carriers, forced turnovers and did not allow one pass completion. Offensively the day belonged to the “dynamic duo”, Andre Cheek and Victor Rivera. Cheek’s power running style resulted in 2 TD’s & 3 Extra points, while Rivera, recognized as the NEC’s most elusive running back, added 2 TD’s of his own. A 76 yard double reverse from Carlos Vasquez to Rivera for a touchdown essentially sealed Beverly’s fate and eliminated any realistic comeback possibility.
Mikhel Collins delivered a career-best performance at Inside Linebacker, recording 3 sacks and 8 solo tackles while spending the afternoon in Beverly’s backfield disrupting both the QB and RB. Twin brothers Irah & Shaddai Irung combined for 5 tackles, with 3 going for losses. Leonardo Almeida made a crucial 3rd down interception during the 2nd quarter that halted Beverly’s drive and any thoughts of a Beverly comeback. The defensive front featuring Angel Negron, Jahhiah Carr and Sammy Cantor overwhelmed Beverly’s O-line throughout the day, enabling Mikhel Collins, Andre Cheek and Francisco Roca to operate freely as linebackers and make tackles all over the field, predominantly behind the line of scrimmage. Chelsea never allowed this game to become competitive.
This victory represented Chelsea’s first Superbowl championship, achieved against a Beverly team that brought everything they had to the field. Veterans including Oscar Lopez, Antoine Kelley, Carlos Vasquez, Victor Rivera and Mikhel Collins demonstrated their winning experience by playing as a TEAM. Last year’s playoff semifinal defeat to Beverly had taught these players that tomorrow does not exist in the postseason. From the opening kickoff of their first game, this team was special. The Chelsea Pride Spartans’ 2010 season merits congratulations for an outstanding campaign.