MV runs away with
48-6 Island Cup victory
By Russ Charpentier, Cape Cod Times, November 18, 2007
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.
To Paulson, the rivalry is far from dead despite the recent Vineyard
dominance. "They've won it seven years in a row before,"
he said. "It's just a drought for them."
But the Whalers suited up only 21 players yesterday and couldn't field
a JV team. Even coming out spread wide and throwing, Nantucket couldn't
negate MV's superiority.
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!"
OTHER NEWS:
 |
The NBC segment on Martha's Vineyard will be airing
on two "Sunday Night Football" telecasts, November 18 and
25. These segments coincide with pieces appearing in Sports
Illustrated.
You can view the video and read more on this special at Line
Of Scrimmage.com. |