OAK BLUFFS — Martha's Vineyard Regional High exploded for 28 second-quarter points, all fueled by Nantucket turnovers, and rolled to a record-setting 48-6 thumping of Nantucket yesterday in the 61st renewal of the football rivalry between the islands.

Three of those TDs came in a span of just one minute, 14 seconds — and just like that, a 7-0 edge became 28-0.

The win was the fifth consecutive Island Cup conquest for the 9-2 Vineyarders, who still trail in the series, 35-23-3. Yesterday was the 30th year the teams have vied for the Island Cup trophy, and Nantucket holds a 17-13 advantage.

MV can still tie for the Mayflower Large title, but loses out to Blue Hills in every tiebreaker for a postseason berth.

MV set a rivalry record for most points scored against the Whalers for the second straight season — they won 47-22 in 2006. Yesterday's 42-point margin of victory was the largest in the 61 games of the series.

"We're going through a bad cycle," said Nantucket veteran coach Vito Capizzo. "Things change."

Josh Paulson scored three touchdowns, two by running and one on a reception, and junior quarterback Mike McCarthy ran for two and threw for a third to lead the Vineyarders' rout.

Overall, the Whalers (3-6) threw four interceptions, lost three fumbles and didn't move quickly enough to field a kickoff, leading to another Vineyard score.

It was all so sudden after a first quarter in which MV was lucky to have a 7-0 lead.

"Turnovers hurt? That's an understatement," said Capizzo. "You can't win ballgames that way. We had our chances."

It was a bad day all around for Capizzo, who was wiped out on a Nantucket running play that went out of bounds and was limping noticeably after the game. "My pride is hurt more than anything. I never saw him coming," Capizzo said.

Each team tried to give the game to the other in the opening quarter. Nantucket punted, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in the first 10 minutes, and the Vineyarders lost a pair of fumbles around a 9-yard Paulson TD run.

"It got sloppy in the first quarter, and we did our share of turning the ball over," said Vineyard coach Donald Herman. "Defensively, we were able to recover and hold off Nantucket."

Nantucket came out throwing, and the Vineyarders came out hitting. Some ferocious but clean shots on the Whaler receivers delivered the message early, and made those receivers wary of finishing their routes or fully extending in traffic.

"We wanted to be physical and control the tempo of the game," said Herman.

Paulson put it more succinctly: "Our slogan for the Nantucket game is 'keep hitting until no one answers.' "

Nantucket stopped answering in the second quarter. MV began the quarter with an 11-play, 63-yard march, capped by a McCarthy 10-yard keeper for a 14-0 lead. But there was still an eventful 6:49 to go in the half.

On the first play of the ensuing Nantucket drive, MV junior corner Nick Gross jumped a quick slant and returned it 24 yards for a score. Zach Coutinho's third of six extra points upped it to 21-0.

Nantucket failed to field the following kickoff, and MV's Anthony Cardoza fell on the ball at the Whalers' 24. Four plays later, Paulson raced around the left side for a 2-yard TD, MV's third touchdown in 1:14.

Another Nantucket fumble set up a McCarthy 19-yard TD pass to Paulson on a crossing pattern, and it was a shocking 35-0 with 2:16 left in the half.

McCarthy scored on a 19-yard run on MV's first third-quarter drive. Backup running back Liam O'Callaghan had an 8-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter.

David Loveberry came up with the Whalers' only score, breaking free for 43 yards with 2:53 left in the contest.

Jwann Johnson, Jeff Osborn, Gross and Ben Rossi had the Vineyard interceptions.

Paulson gained 55 yards rushing on eight carries and had two receptions for 45 yards. Cody Brewer led the Vineyard with 88 yards rushing on 11 carries. McCarthy completed four of seven passes for 89 yards.

The MV defense held Nantucket to 131 yards of offense, 43 of which came on Loveberry's run against the reserves.

With the win, the Vineyarders continued their recent string of dominance over the Whalers in the storied rivalry. They have won five straight Island Cups and eight out of the last nine.

For the Vineyarders, another really good season, but one 4th quarter of miscues on October 12th left them out of the MLL chase. And that's the way the ball bounces: it's tough to be perfect - it's what you strive for, but life its ownself throws those little bones now and then.

Webmaster can tell you this: about anyone in the country will take a 9-2 season and enjoy it for what it is: A SUCCESS.

The 30th Island Cup victory also sent coaches Bill Belcher and Dan Rossi in retirement with a win. We'll miss both these great coaches. We'll also miss Norman Vunk, who broadcast Vineyard games for 27 years and has seen it all. Norm's decided to retire from his illustrious and glamorous television career and play more golf. Our favorite: "Say Good Night, Norm!"

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