2013 Season Recap (5-6, Island Cup Champions)

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Game 11: The Island Cup (Saturday, November 30, 2013)

	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 14
	NANTUCKET 0

Vineyard dominance continues By Russ Charpentier rcharpentier@capecodonline.com December 01, 2013 NANTUCKET — Martha's Vineyard just won't let the Island Cup go. The Vineyarders won the Cup for the 10th straight time, shutting out Nantucket 14-0 on a sparkling but cold island afternoon at Vito Capizzo Stadium. Sophomore Jacob Cardoza ran for 127 yards and scored all the Vineyard points in the first quarter on touchdown runs of 67 and 4 yards and a two-point conversion after his second touchdown. Another sophomore, linebacker Austin Chandler, recovered a pair of fumbles to set up both touchdowns. Nantucket still leads the overall series, 35-28-3, but since the Island Cup became the prize the Vineyard has an 18-17 advantage. "It's a good feeling," said MV coach Donald Herman. "We had several sophomores who I thought just played their tails off, played older than sophomores. We have six or seven sophomores that play. Jacob Cardoza, Austin Chandler, who recovered both of the fumbles. For a sophomore in this environment, that's encouraging." MV's defense held Nantucket to 114 yards of offense, 41 coming on a screen pass on third-and-12 on the opening drive of the game. Whalers freshman Keenan Phillips fumbled the ball away at the MV 33 at the end of the play and two plays later, Cardoza moved around the right side on a jet sweep and streaked 67 yards for a touchdown. That was only 2:21 into the game. Later in the quarter, Nantucket's Andrew Ray, only the third Whalers' sophomore in the last 30 years to play every game at quarterback, lost the handle on the ball and Chandler had his second fumble recovery. This one was at the Nantucket 39. The methodical Vineyarders took their time on this drive, using nearly five minutes and 10 plays to march to the end zone. Cardoza started to sweep right, then cut up and went in untouched with 39 seconds left in the quarter. He then ran in a two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead, and the Vineyard defense did the rest. "It means everything," Cardoza said. "I worked hard all season for it. It's a great feeling inside. I feel good for everyone on this team." While the sophomores were in the limelight, Herman credited the return of a senior with having a huge influence on the outcome. "The big thing was getting (senior linebacker) Tony Canha back," Herman said. "He had missed five games (injury). He's one of our better players and we really missed him. He's a senior and an emotional leader as well." Added Herman, "How often do you shut Nantucket out on Nantucket? I can't be more pleased. We were outsized all year but our kids kept fighting. Look at the size differential today." Everyone involved said the first Nantucket fumble and MV quick score was the big turning point. The crowd was big and loud, ready to be involved, the Whalers were sky high, and the air just left the field. "That was huge," Herman said. "That was a momentum changer. Third and forever, we even called the screen out and they still executed it well. Getting the fumble recovery turned things around. We got them on their heels a little bit and we made some runs." MV controlled the clock, gaining 275 of its 285 yards of offense on the ground. Senior Joe Turney picked up 53 yards on 11 carries, sophomore Ben Clark 52 yards on eight and sophomore Isaac Higgins 39 yards on seven. Nantucket had only one of its nine drives reach MV territory. The Whalers got to the MV 40 early in the fourth quarter but the drive stalled on downs. "Tough, physical football game," said Nantucket coach Bill Manchester. "What did we have, three turnovers? I was pleased with how hard the kids played. But again, you can't make those mistakes. "We played a great second half. We just couldn't get anything going offensively. We're still a young team. We lost some kids. As late as Wednesday we were fine tuning what we do on offense. You like to have that done in mid-September."   Vineyard Brings Home Island Cup in 14-0 Shutout by Sara Brown & Ivy Ashe Vineyard Gazette Saturday, December 1, 2013   The coveted silver trophy is back on Martha’s Vineyard, with the Vineyard football team defeating Nantucket 14-0 in the annual Island Cup. Sophomore Jacob Cardoza carried the ball and the day for the Vineyard with two touchdowns. — Ivy Ashe It was a low-scoring game at Vito Capizzo Stadium on Nantucket, but a vocal crowd of Vineyard fans were on hand to watch the Vineyarders shut out the Whalers. The only points of the game came in the first quarter, when the Vineyarders got off to a quick lead after less than three minutes. After a handoff by quarterback Tony Breth, sophomore running back Jacob Cardoza rushed for 78 yards to score a touchdown, and the Vineyard had a 6-0 lead. The extra point attempt was no good as Nantucket blocked the kick. With less than a minute left in the first quarter, Cardoza scored another touchdown with another handoff from Breth. The Vineyard were successful on a two-point conversion. Big welcome home for the team in Vineyard Haven Saturday night. — Mark Lovewell The rest of the game remained scoreless. In the third quarter, the Vineyard had possession of the ball for much of the time. In the fourth quarter, senior defensive back Joe Turney stopped a Nantucket drive on an interception. This put the ball back in Vineyard hands, and the team consistently kept the ball when they had it. As the clock wound down, players celebrated by dumping the water cooler on coach Don Herman. The Vineyard and Nantucket will both end their seasons with a 5-6 record. But the Vineyard has taken the lead in the Island Cup series, 18-17, and has now won the Island Cup for 10 years in a row. Vineyard fans and supporters joined the team in traveling to Nantucket on a the Steamship Authority ferry Nantucket. After clinching the win on Nantucket. — Ivy Ashe Arriving in Vineyard Haven Saturday night, the team received a hero's welcome. A row of ambulances and fire trucks sounded their horns and flashed their lights while a crowd gathered at the terminal, phones and cameras at the ready. The team marched off the boat to loud cheers, with a purple Vineyard flag waving and the cup held aloft. Earlier in the day, the junior varsity team ended their season with a 8-8 tie with the Whalers. Downtown Nantucket was decorated with Christmas trees and blue and white balloons. The temperature at game time was a crisp 36 degrees.

Martha's Vineyard wins 35th Island Cup over Nantucket Steve Myrick MV TIMES November 30, 2013   Martha's Vineyard defeated Nantucket 14-0 Saturday at Vito Capizzo Field on Nantucket, to capture the 35th Island Cup. The Vineyarders dominated the game with a steady running attack, and took advantage of two early Whaler turnovers to post an early lead, then controlled the football and the clock the rest of the way. Sophomore running back Jacob Cardoza scored both Vineyard touchdowns. The defense sparked the first score, recovering a fumble to stop Nantucket's opening drive. On the Vineyarders' very first offensive play from scrimmage, Jacob Cardoza took a handoff and ran 66 yards for a touchdown to give his team a 6-0 lead. The defense grabbed another fumble recovery on the next series, and again Martha's Vineyard took advantage. Quarterback Tony Breth marched the team down the field. Jacob Cardoza capped the long drive with a four yard touchdown run. He also ran for the two-point conversion. The Vineyarders took a 14-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Vineyarders controlled the clock by running the ball and racking up first downs. The defense shut out the Whalers offense, and sealed the win when Joe Turney intercepted a pass with less than three minutes left in the game. The victory breaks a tie in the overall Island Cup series. Martha's Vineyard now leads the competition for the Island Cup 18-17.

Game 10 (Friday, November 15, 2013)

	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 21
	ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS 32

By CAPE COD TIMES

November 16, 2013

Archbishop Williams 32, Martha's Vineyard 21: Kylan Philbert-Richardson ran for 195 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Bishops over the Vineyarders in Braintree.

Philbert-Richardson scored his first on a 5-yard score for Archbishop Williams (4-6) in the opening quarter, but Martha's Vineyard (4-6) struck right back with a 17-yard pass from senior Tony Breth to DeShawn James.

The Bishops then scored twice to open the second quarter, including an interception returned for a score and a 20-7 lead. James pulled the Vineyarders within 20-13 before the half, however, with a 80-yard kickoff return.

Philbert-Richardson put Archbishop Williams back up by 13 with his second touchdown, rumbling 64 yards for a 26-13 lead in the third quarter.

The Bishops added another score to start the fourth quarter, with Breth hitting senior Tyler Paulson with a 8-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.

The Vineyard got 58 yards rushing from sophomore Jacob Cardoza and 45 yards on the ground from sophomore Ben Clark while senior Kyle Stobie had 12 tackles and senior Andrew Jacobs-Walsh had 10 tackles.

Martha's Vineyard hosts Nantucket for the Island Cup on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Game 9 (Friday, November 8, 2013)

	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 29
	FAIRHAVEN 22

By CAPE COD TIMES

November 9, 2013

MV 29, Fairhaven 22: Jacob Cardoza scored three touchdowns and the Vineyarders accumulated over 300 yards in total offense as they came from behind to thump the Blue Devils in Fairhaven.

After going on top 7-0 on Cardoza's first score , a 12-yard run, and a successful kick by James Sashin, Martha's Vineyard (4-5) surrendered two scores to Fairhaven (3-6) including a recovered kickoff in the MV end zone that the Vineyarders failed to retrieve. That bungled play allowed the Blue Devils to seize a 14-6 halftime advantage.

However, the Vineyarders took control with 16 points in the third quarter on a Cardoza 4-yard scamper and the subsequent two-point rush by Cardoza, followed by a safety and a DeShawn James 34-yard scoring run.

After Fairhaven narrowed the gap to 23-22, Cardoza locked things up with a 40-yard TD jaunt in the final quarter.

Cardoza had 91 yards rushing on 12 carries and he had a 17-yard pass reception. Issac Higgins added 59 yards on 10 carries and Joe Turney had one carry for 52 yards before he was injured.

Defensively, Kyle Stobie had eight tackles and David Macias had seven. Ben Clark had a pair of QB sacks and he recovered a fumble.

Game8 (Friday, November 1, 2013)

	NORWELL 22
	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 8

By Jack Shea

MV TIMES

November 2, 2013

Martha's Vineyard Regional High School fell to Norwell High School Friday night by a score of 22-8. It was the Vineyarders final home game of the football season.

The Division 3 Clippers ran for three touchdowns, two in the first half. Martha's Vineyard could not match that output. The Vineyarders scored their only touchdown on a six yard run by senior Joe Turney in the second quarter. Turney and quarterback Tony Breth teamed up for a two point conversion to make the score 8 to 8.

Jacob Cardoza led the Vineyarders with 97 yards on 13 carries and Kyle Stobie returned from an injury to lead the defense with 11 tackles.

The loss left the Division 5 Vineyarders with a 3-5 record. Three road games remain in the season.

The Vineyarders play Fairhaven next weekend, followed by Archbishop Williams in Braintree.

The Nantucket game is 1 pm, Saturday, November 30 on Nantucket.

Game 7 (Saturday, October 25, 2013)

	COYLE & CASSIDY 7
	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 18

Eastern Athletic Conference Game

By Steve Myrick

MV TIMES

October 25, 2013

Martha's Vineyard beat the visiting Coyle & Cassidy Warriors 18-7 on homecoming night Friday at McCarthy Field.

The Vineyarders defense forced five turnovers, and held on long enough for the sputtering offense to get back on track. Senior running back Joe Turney scored two touchdowns.

Martha's Vineyard got off to a quick start, capitalizing on a botched punt. The snap sailed over the Coyle & Cassidy punter's head, and the Vineyarders recovered  on the two yard line.

Joe Turney scampered into the end zone for the touchdown, the first regulation time touchdown for Martha's Vineyard in more than three games.

The extra point try was no good, so the Vineyarders lead 6-0, and that's the way the half ended.

Late in the third quarter, Coyle Cassidy tied the score when quarterback Tristan Blaisdell capped a 61 yard drive with a touchdown pass to Henry Brechter. The Warriors converted the extra point to take a 7-6 lead.

The Vineyarders defense shut down Coyle & Cassidy  in the fourth quarter, giving the offense a chance for some late game heroics.

With just over a minute left in the game, sophomore running back Jacob Cardoza took a handoff and sprinted 34 yards to the end zone. Martha's Vineyard lead 12-6.

When Austin Chandler intercepted a pass deep in Warrior end of the field, it sealed the victory.

Joe Turney scored on a nine yard run to give the home team some insurance on homecoming night.

Final score, Martha's Vineyard 18, Coyle & Cassidy 7.

The Vineyarders finished the regular season with a 3-4 record (2-2 Eastern Athletic Conference).

Game 6 (Saturday, October 19, 2013)

	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 0
	SOMERSET BERKLEY 32

Eastern Athletic Conference Game

By CAPE COD TIMES

October 20, 2013

Somerset Berkley 32, Martha's Vineyard 0: Was Martha's Vineyard coach Don Herman being facetious Saturday when he said "We were good at making anybody in blue look like an All-State player?"

Good question considering Somerset Berkley trounced the Vineyarders 32-0 in an Eastern Athletic Conference game in Somerset.

Among other things:

• The Raiders' Chip Wood amassed 295 all-purpose yards.

• Somerset Berkley (3-3, 3-0 EAC) recorded 255 yards of total offense (223 on the ground) as compared with only 72 yards for the Vineyarders (2-4, 1-2).

• The Vineyarders twice were unable to capitalize on Raiders' turnovers, each of which gave them excellent field position.

The bottom line was the Vineyarders' inability to stop the Raiders' running game — a game in which they basically dare the opposition to stop the run.

"That's been their game plan ever since (coach) Nick (Freitas) has been here," Herman said. "It's been working for him. But we just laid an egg today.

"We were bad in all aspects of the game. We showed some signs of brilliance every once in a while on defense. But special teams, two big plays let us down. And offensively we were horrible."

The special teams plays Herman referred to were delivered by Wood.

Wood caught the opening kickoff and busted 80 yards down the left sideline for a 6-0 lead.

After Martha's Vineyard went three-and-out, Wood returned a punt 50 yards to the Vineyarders 19.

Three players later, Kyle Crombie sprinted 5 yards for a touchdown and then Mark Tonucci (18 carries for 90 yards) ran for a two-point conversion.

Late in the opening period, Andrew Jacobs-Walsh intercepted a Joe Fingliss pass which gave the Vineyarders a first down at the Raiders 17. But four plays only gained six yards.

Then, early in the second quarter, Kyle Stobie recovered a Fingliss fumble at the Vineyarders 42. But four plays only gained four yards.

The Raiders made the Vineyarders pay after that second turnover when Wood broke a counter 28 yards for a score and a 20-0 lead at intermission.

In retrospect, the Raiders burned the Vineyarders all day with that play.

"It's a counter play," Herman said. "We used to run this offense in years past. You run a super power off tackle and then you run a counter away from it.

"Those were the two best plays they ran and they worked."

Not surprisingly Wood broke another counter 48 yards for a score in the third.

"We are down in numbers," Herman said. "But we had two good weeks of practice and to come out here and play the way we did is a little disappointing."

Game 5 (Friday, October 4, 2013)

	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 8 (OT)
	BISHOP STANG 6

Eastern Athletic Conference Game

By Steve Myrick

MV TIMES

October 4, 2013

Martha's Vineyard defeated rival Bishop Stang Friday night in a varsity football edge-of-the-seat overtime thriller in North Dartmouth. 

Both offenses struggled in the first half. The Vineyarders red zone woes continued. In the second quarter they had the ball first and goal on the 10 yard line, but a costly penalty and a sack pushed them out of scoring range.

The first half ended 0-0.

Both teams proved equally ineffective in the second half. Linebacker Kyle Stobie stepped up for the Vineyard  defense, making a key tackle to end a long Bishop Stang drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters.

For the second week in a row, Martha's Vineyard went to overtime after failing to score in regulation time.

Bishop Stang won the overtime coin toss and got the ball. It took them only two plays to get in the end zone. Their two point conversion attempt failed, and the Vineyarders trailed 6-0, needing a touchdown to stay in the game.

The Vineyarders fate looked bleak after two failed running plays. But on third down quarterback Tony Breth rolled out, and found Mike Mussell in the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown pass.

Mussell, the starting quarterback for the first four games, injured his hand in last week's game, and saw limited time at the receiver position.  The two seniors teamed up when it counted most.

Joe Turney took a handoff on the conversion attempt and scampered into the end zone for two points, sparking a celebration in the end zone.

Final score: Martha's Vineyard 8, Bishop Stang 6, in one overtime.

The Vineyarders are off next week, and will face Somerset-Berkely on October 19.

By CAPE COD TIMES

October 5, 2013

NORTH DARTMOUTH — Practice makes perfect. Just ask Martha's Vineyard coach Don Herman.

After the Vineyarders bowed 9-6 to Feehan last week in three overtimes, they dispatched Bishop Stang 8-6 in "only" one overtime Friday in an Eastern Athletic Conference game.

One key to the victory was the versatility of Mike Mussell, the Vineyarders' starting quarterback who shifted to split end because of a fractured right thumb.

After Stang won the coin toss prior to overtime, the Spartans (2-2, 0-1) opted to take the ball instead of playing defense.

That move paid off when quarterback Matt Golden wedged into the end zone from the 4. But in what proved to be a key play, the Vineyarders (2-3, 1-1) stuffed Jack Landry short of the goal line for what would have been a two-point conversion.

When the Vineyarders got their chance, senior backup QB Tony Breth lofted a 4-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Mussell.

Joe Turney then busted off left tackle for the two points that proved to be the difference.

Playing a position other than quarterback wasn't an unknown commodity for Mussell.

"He can still catch and he can still block," Herman said of Mussell. "He played split end last year for us so it's not something that's foreign to him.

"He was our backup quarterback last year but he also played some split end. It's not foreign to him."

Playing quarterback was foreign to Breth who guided an offense that had more opportunities to score than Stang's.

"Tony, on the other hand, really hasn't played quarterback since his sophomore year on the junior varsity," Herman said. "He's been taking some snaps in practice all along. But of course this was the first time he was thrust into the situation (of being a starter). ... You have to tip your hat to the way he responded, especially playing both ways for the first time in this kind of game."

Herman didn't have to think long when asked why he called for the play that resulted in the TD pass from Breth to Mussell.

"It was just something we felt would be there," he said. "Mike was wide open. And he actually was the second receiver.

"Tony checked down to his number two receiver which was an indication of his composure."

The same could be said of Herman's defense, which held Stang to 142 yards of total offense.

"I can't say enough once again about the effort the defense gave — last week and this week," Herman said. "They just played their tails off."

Game 4 (Friday, September 27, 2013)

	BISHOP FEEHAN 9 (3 OT)
	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 6

Eastern Athletic Conference Game

By CAPE COD TIMES

September 28, 2013

Bishop Feehan 9, Martha's Vineyard 6: Brendan Mulligan's 20-yard field goal in the third overtime gave the Shamrocks the victory over the Vineyarders in the Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both clubs.

MV drops to 1-3 overall while Bishop Feehan improves to 1-2.

The game was scoreless at the end of regulation, but the Vineyarders scored on their first possession of overtime on Mike Mussell's 6-yard pass to Joe Turney to take a 6-0 lead.

Feehan scored on its first play on an Isaiah Douglas 10-yard run.

Both teams failed to score on their conversion attempts having to go for two points by rule in overtime.

Neither team scored in the second overtime and after MV failed to score in the third overtime, the Shamrocks kicked the winning field goal on 4th-and-goal from the 2.

The Vineyarders had a chance to win the game in regulation but missed a short field goal with 10 seconds to play.

"We had numerous opportunities to put it in the win column in regulation," said MV coach Donald Herman.

Andrew Jacobs had 12 tackles to highlight a strong defensive performance for the Vineyarders while Tony Canha added 11.

Game 3 (Friday, September 20, 2013)

	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 18
	RANDOLPH 6

By MIKE SCANDURA

CAPE COD TIMES

September 21, 2013

RANDOLPH — Just like special teams can be special in hockey, so were Martha's Vineyard's teams special Friday during an 18-6 non-conference victory over Randolph.

DeShawn James returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown and Andrew Jacobs-Walsh recovered a blocked punt in the end zone which enabled the Vineyarders to win their first game in three starts.

"Believe it or not there were some years when we would do that special teams were a very integral part of our team," coach Don Herman said. "It was the difference tonight."

Another difference, as compared with the Vineyarders two losses, was the play of their defense.

Not only did Tony Canha intercept two passes but the Vineyarders held Randolph (0-2) to a total of nine yards rushing.

"It was a big change from last weekend," Herman said, referring to a 60-41 loss to Brighton. "We wanted that team to run the football because we felt we could handle their run game. They have good athletes and put them in space.

"We held them to one big play. But, defensively, we played well tonight."

The Vineyarders also held Brent White and John Sass to a combined 7 of 24 passing for 85 yards and, as mentioned, the two picks by Canha.

Canha also scored his team's first touchdown when he dived over from the 1 early in the second quarter.

Then, just past the midway point of the third quarter, James took a punt in the middle of the field, cut to his left and dashed 88 yards for a score that gave his team a 12-0 lead.

But the Blue Devils needed less than a minute to halve their deficit when White connected with Nathan Fernandes for a 26-yard TD pass.

With just under six minutes left, Randolph's Jason Freeman attempted to punt from his 21. But he kicked the ball into the back of one of his teammates and Jacobs-Walsh pounced on it in the end zone for the 18-6 margin.

"Last weekend against Brighton, we were disappointed defensively," Herman said. "Offensively when you score 41 points you're supposed to win.

"So that was a big letdown. Tonight was huge. This was a really big win for us. We go into our league play next weekend. We've got Bishop Feehan at home so this was a big one."

Game 2 (Saturday, September 14, 2013)

	BRIGHTON 60
	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 41

By CAPE COD TIMES

September 15, 2013

Brighton 60, Martha’s Vineyard 41: The good news for Martha’s Vineyard is that one week after being shut out, the offense responded with 41 points. The bad news is the Vineyarders still lost.

Jalen Apperwhite threw four touchdown passes – three to Michael Derdus – and Ricardo Edwards returned a kickoff 53 yards for another score as the Bengals pulled away for the victory on Saturday.
Ahead 30-29 at the half, Brighton (1-0) outscored MV 30-12 in the second to avenge last season’s 45-38 defeat to the Vineyarders.

Martha’s Vineyard (0-2) struck first on a 5-yard run by Joe Turney but it did not take long for the Apperwhite-Derdus combination to take shape. A 65-yard TD pass to Derdus and the 2-point conversion gave Brighton an early 8-6 lead.

But the Vineyarders’ Mike Mussell wasn’t going to be outdone.

The junior signal-caller hit his first of four TD passes, this one to Turney for 17 yards for a 14-6 lead. The Bengals were quick to answer as Edwards recorded his kickoff-return TD to tie the score at 14.

The seesaw affair continued into the second quarter with both teams exchanging two touchdowns apiece with the difference at the half being an extra point.

A 7-yard TD run by Edwards would give the Bengals a lead they would not relinquish. Dexter Andrews followed with a 10-yard run and Brighton was ahead 46-29.

The Vineyard tried to climb back into the game with TD passes to Tyler Paulson and DeShawn James but an 80-yard TD run by Andrews put the game away.

Mussell finished 15 of 29 passing for 238 yards, four TDs and one interception.

Martha’s Vineyard will next play at Randolph on Friday.

Game 1 (Saturday, September 7, 2013)

	BEDFORD 21
	MARTHA'S VINEYARD 0

Players of the Game:

By CAPE COD TIMES

September 08, 2013

Bedford 21, Martha’s Vineyard 0: The final score is a bit deceiving as Martha’s Vineyard kept its game against early-season Division 4 favorite Bedford a lot closer than the Buccaneers had anticipated before losing 21-0 on the island.

But in the end, Bedford rode three touchdowns and a defensive stand that stifled the Vineyarders inside the visitors' 1-yard line when the game was still up in the air, to a season-opening win.

The Buccaneers scored only one TD in the opening half despite three Vineyard turnovers, something that caught the attention of MV coach Donald Herman.

“I’m not happy with the turnovers, but the fact that we only surrendered seven points in that half was a good thing,” Herman said.

The visitors went up 7-0 in the second quarter on a Joe Zampill 14-yard scamper and then jumped up to a 13-0 lead in the third quarter when Olas Abner raced into the end zone on a 4-yard run.

The Vineyarders drove down the field and early in the fourth quarter were in position to draw to within seven points with the ball on the Buccaneer 1-yard line and two downs to punch it in. But Bedford’s defense stiffened and stopped MV short of the end zone.

“Our youth and inexperience hurt us in the second half,” Herman said. “We had a key injury and the kids filling in tried hard, but could not contain Bedford.”

Kyle Stobe, a senior middle linebacker, was injured and missed the second half. Prior to that, he and Tony Canha (12 tackles), had done a solid job patrolling the center of the field and helping hold Bedford in check.

Also playing well on defense for MV were tackle Lochlund Chimes and safety Joe Turney.

The Vineyard is back in action Saturday in a nonleague game hosting Brighton.

Martha's Vineyard bruised by Bedford in pigskin opener

By Jack Shea

MARTHA'S VINEYARD TIMES
September 8, 2013

The Island's high school football season opened last Saturday with a 21-0 loss to a bigger, badder Bedford Buccaneers High School team that smashmouthed its way to a tidy win in just over two hours at nearly full Dan McCarthy Field.

The game was closer than the score indicates as the smaller, youthful Vineyarders were down 7-0 at halftime and 13-0 late in the third quarter when the Purple threatened to make the contest a one-score game again before the Bedford defense stopped two consecutive rushes inside the one-yard line. The Bucs capped the scoring with a TD late in the fourth quarter.

Earlier in the day, the Vineyarder junior varsity fell to the Buccaneers, 42-14.

Before team captains Kyle Stobie, Lochlund Chimes, Tony Canha, and Tony Breth won the coin toss, the program answered its first 2013 challenge: how to replace 2013 graduate Maggie Riseborough's consistently remarkable delivery of the national anthem before games. The strategy was a soulful a cappella duet from senior Sophie Nelson and junior Zana van Rooyen. The stadium then became silent in memory of Joe Jerome (MVRHS, 2008) who died at age 24 last week.

As advertised, the Vineyarders were small, fast, and athletic, but their offense sputtered all day and did not record a first down in the first half. The Vineyarders committed three first-half turnovers, an interception and two fumbles, one of which led to a Bedford score. Island momentum was absent until senior quarterback Mike Mussell Jr. unveiled a crisp short passing game late in the game. Mussell was 8 for 14 for 86 yards, principally targeting senior running back Joe Turney (3 receptions for 54 yards), fullback Tony Canha, and wideout DeShawn James. Turney also had 47 rushing yards on six carries.

On defense, the Vineyarders settled in quickly, despite giving up an early second quarter touchdown on a 49-yard Bedford drive. Bending, not breaking, the defense held until another long Bedford drive in the middle of the third quarter made it 13-0. Senior linebacker Kyle Stobie was lost for the game in the second quarter with a left shoulder injury. X-rays taken Sunday were clear, Coach Donald Herman reported.

In the stands, fans were cognizant of the size disparity between the teams. "I bet our O.L. (offensive line) maybe averages 190 (pounds)," veteran fan Richard Stone said to Frank Daly, another longtime fan. Mr. Daly brings a bell which is rung only when he feels victory is in hand. The bell would not toll on Saturday.

Minutes after the final gun, Mr. Herman wasn't buying size difference as a reason for losing. He considered the ground in front of him for a moment before answering a question about team performance. "I don't mind the loss. Losing the game doesn't bother me. The lack of effort is what bothers me. It can't be just a few players attacking the ball. Everyone on the team, I don't care whether you're a senior or a sophomore, you have an obligation to commit yourself on every play," he said.

Defensive standouts were pretty easy to spot: the same three or four names were called by announcer Ken Goldberg all day. Stobie was one. Defender Tony Canha's name was called on five consecutive plays in the second half, one forcing a Bucs' punt. Senior Lochlund Chimes showed up and sophomores Austin Chandler and Isaac Higgins heard their names several times. Chandler made two consecutive tackles for minimal gain in the first half as the defense found its legs early.

Offensively, the game was decided on running plays between the tackles. Bedford was successful; the Vineyarders were not. Bedford senior mega-backs Olin Abner and Robert McDonald sledgehammered the Vineyard D-line on alternate plays, keeping the chains and the clock moving.

Fans are hoping to hear Mr. Daly's bell knell next Saturday when the Vineyarders host the Brighton Bengals at 1 pm.