But the Martha's Vineyard football team left their cowbell-ringing faithful with more than frozen fingers and tingling toes last night. They sent them home with a championship to be remembered, after a Super Bowl that will not soon be forgotten.

The final: Martha's Vineyard 26, Manchester Essex 24 in the Div. 6 Super Bowl at Chelsea High. Afterward, MV coach Donald Herman could only shake his head and breathe a sigh of relief.

"There were so many plays where I was like, 'Yeah!' and then it was, 'Oh, wait,'" he said. "I can't ever remember coaching a game like this."

It was a roller-coaster ride of emotions for both teams that finally came to a rest on an unfortunate, critical mistake when Manchester's Justin Collens, who was wide open in the end zone, dropped quarterback Vinny Orlando's two-point conversion pass with 34 seconds remaining. In an ironic twist of fate, the Hornets' chief weapon failed them when it was needed most.

Whenever a title is captured, there are a host of heroes. The Vineyard received contributions throughout the lineup last night. The offensive line opened holes that allowed J.D. Wild, Kyle Robertson and John Valley to control the ball, while the defense, led by Zack Mahoney, harassed Orlando just enough to force a couple of costly mistakes.

"The strength of this team is that we play with one heartbeat," Wild said. "And that's what we did today."

Wild scored three touchdowns on runs of 5, 1 and 4 yards while leading a relentless, balanced ground game that piled up 253 yards. Wild had 81, while Robertson, hampered all week by the flu, started at fullback and collected 68, mostly by pounding up the middle and shaking off tacklers like pesky flies.

Valley chipped in with 56 yards and quarterback Hans Buder tallied his entire positive yardage on a 49-yard scoring scamper around the left end with 2:18 remaining.

The Vineyard displayed the character of a champion following a disastrous finish to the first half. They had just denied Manchester on 4th-and-1 from the MV 24 by sacking Orlando to seemingly preserve a 6-6 deadlock heading to intermission. But with just 29 seconds remaining, the team that rarely passes went to the air and it backfired. Buder's pass into the left flat was intercepted by Peter Aiello and returned 50 yards for a touchdown, giving Manchester a 12-6 edge.

"I told them at halftime that the problem with MV teams the past couple of years was that they hadn't finished the job," Herman said. "I told them they needed to go out and finish the job."

They did just that, thanks both to their bruising rushing attack and Manchester's collapse in the punting game. The Vineyard tied the game after a high snap led to an 11-yard Orlando punt that gave them possession at the Manchester 39.

Consecutive runs of 12 and 16 yards by Robertson and Valley brought the ball to the 11, and Wild busted in from the 1 on fourth down.

On Manchester's next possession, another high snap in a punting situation sailed over Orlando's head and he fell on it at the 28. Five plays later, Wild was in the end zone. With E.J. Sylvia's boot, MV led 19-12.

And then things got crazy.

After Manchester scored with 3:50 remaining (but missed its third straight two-point conversion) to close to within one point, Buder's TD appeared to seal the victory. In reality, it provided the Hornets their last glimmer of hope. Had Buder dropped to the ground after picking up the first down, the Vineyard could have run out the clock. Instead, they got the ball back trailing by eight points, with the ever-dangerous Orlando at the controls.

"The first thing I said was that we scored too soon," Herman admitted.

Orlando, who finished 10-for-19 with two TD passes, had stunned the Vineyard moments earlier on a scrambling 4th-and-goal 2-yard shovel pass to Ty Haskell that he got off just before or after (depending on your point of view) his knee touched down. The officials ruled it a touchdown, drawing them to 19-18. But Rob Hale kept it that way by picking off Orlando's two-point conversion pass.

"I didn't think (Orlando) looked like an athlete when I first saw him," Wild said, "but he was one great athlete. It was frustrating, because he kept eluding our pressure and making plays."

Now Manchester had the ball with 56 yards to the end zone, and Orlando pulled a few more rabbits out of his hat. On 3rd-and-10, he found Collens for 12 yards. On 2nd-and-10 from the 32, he dropped the snap from center in the shotgun formation, scooped it up, retreated back to midfield with four MV defenders in hot pursuit and completed a 31-yard pass to Ben Sollosy. On the next play he burrowed into the end zone. But once again, Manchester failed on the two-point conversion.

"It was destiny, just destiny," Wild said. "We just weren't going to lose this game."

Mayflower League Large RESULTS November 8
Nantucket 28, Blue Hills 0
B-P 38 SE 8
CTH vs W. Bridgewater

Mayflower League Large RESULTS November 1
Nantucket 34, Cape Tech/Harwich 21
Bristol-Plymouth at Blue Hills, Saturday

Note the right side blocking for Wild's 2nd TD: Ward and Goose early to left, Mahoney seals inside TE, Valley pushing outside, and Grassia leading. Add J.D.'s desire = 3 TDs.

10-24| MV 43, Blue Hills 0
Vineyard runs WILD and then some on Warriers
J.D. Wild scores 3 TDs, Robertson, Valley, Farrissey, and Hale score also as Martha's Vineyard dominates Blue Hills at home on a chilly night. MV moves to 6-1 and 2-0 for the MLL lead, while Nantucket defeats B-P 26-6 to stay undefeated in league with MV.
A dominating effort by the Vineyarders against a bit off BH squad who fumbled the opening kickoff, allowing the MV O to go off tackle right side three times straight for 30 yards and an easy TD for Wild. After stopping the Warriers on D, an MV fumble threatens to let the Warriers back in the game, but the MV D stopped 'em in 8 downs and gave the O the ball again. Early in the 2nd, JD went right again on Grassia, Ward, Mahoney, and Valley's (check out the photo) blocking to grab another 6 -- and it continued, with Kyle Robertson getting the 3rd tally to get MV a 21-0 halftime lead.
A rousing performance by some speedy young players in our MV Flag League surprised the crowd and encouraged them about the future, and most of them did not see the MV Junior High squad pound Wixon 46-24 earlier in the afternoon, using mostly 2nd squad players. Matt Lucier scored thrice on his first three carries.
The 2nd half was more of the same for MV. An excellent effort up front for the Vineyarders resulted in TDs by Wild, Andrew Farrissey, Rob Hale, and John Valley to go with huge defensive stops by James Rebello, Dan Defoe, Brad Cortez, Zack Mahoney, Josh Potter, Zack Sweeney, Tristan Atwood, and the whole squad who brought their 'A' game on the TEAM-me level to grab a front lead on the MLL. Mike Shea did a great job at QB (handing off and faking -- no passing necessary), but the main praise here goes to the coaches for this offense which fits a strong, unselfish but tenacious line and an attacking running crew who are patient to find the hole and then power through it and power more for personal yards. Add this to the stat: two straight League shutouts. Credit goes all over the field but let's start with newcomer Cortez sealing the right DE, Captain Mahoney sealing the left DE, and 'Alabama' Defoe wreaking havoc up the middle. Put in Rebello, Farrissey, Wild, and Potter at LB and you have one nasty front. If a runner should sneak through, there's Valley, Coleman, and Hale making key tackles. A very good Belcher D. So ... now that we got that far, let's talk about the singular effort, inspirational running, and leadership of quad-captain J.D. WIld.
Wild's not imposing to stand beside him in the hall, but he is if you are lifting 220 presses, or watching him get the 10 yards his outstanding line gives him, and then like the proverbial bull, takes 15 more before 8-10 opposing jerseys slow him, not stop him really, enough for the whistle to blow. Yeah, he's got a great line, but he makes yards up in the open field like nobody since Jeff Lynch, and maybe he's even more enthusastic than that. His legs churn like they cannot stop, he makes huge defensive stops up the middle if Defoe misses (and that's rare, too, this Alabama guy can stuffit). Any scout reading this should know he's a game day player, a leader, and tough (he's got a broken hand, but it's not slowing him). His teammates believe in him on gameday, and as a Captain he brings it on. Tonight watching J.D. blow through the Warrier defense in the crucial first possesion and keep on going the whole game, you get to appreciate his intensity.
31 gets the nod as the Webtappers Player of the Game. We call that muscle & hustleball. A big nod to the O line again - Rebello, Bishop, Montanile, Simoes, Grassia, Ward, Mahoney, plus the 'Rabbits' Hale, Coleman, and Valley (who's a second nod for hustle-man).

COACHES' AWARDS: Offensive player: JD Wild, Defensive player: James Rebello, Coaches' Award: Matt Rossi, Special teams: Andrew Farrissey.

CHANNEL 10's MEN: Offense - J.D. WILD, Defense - JAMES REBELLO.

Mayflower League Large RESULTS October 25
Nantucket 26. Bristol-Plymouth 6
Blue Hills lost to MV 43-0
Cape Cod Tech 14, Southeastern 12

John Valley stretches for a first down

MV runs over North Shore
J.D. Wild's two touchdown runs help the Vineyarders improve to 5-1. CAPE COD TIMES Story here.

10-18| MV 21, North Shore 12
Resiliency and some depth
The N. Shore Bulldogs ventured to McCarthy Field on the Vineyard for MV's homecoming contest and played tough and scrappy against a determined but not perfect Vineyarder team (now listed #95 in the Globes Top 100). The MV O committed three uncustomary turnovers, the MV D gave up a 20 yard TD pass on 4th and 9, and the MV special teams gave up a 75 yard kickoff TD to go with 2 missed FGs. BUT -- add up a Brad Cortez 80 yard kickoff return for 6 in response to NS's score, a clutch INT and return by Hans Buder (whipped to the ground out of bounds, suffering a mild consussion) that set up a tough O line ground drive for another 1st half drive and TD for J.D. Wild, a hard driving PAT run by John Valley, key play by backup QB and game standout Mike Shea, a passioned defense that would not allow the Bulldogs to get any offense going consistently, and a 3rd quarter drive that put the Vineyarders on top for good. It was sloppy, but it was gritty knowing they weren't playing their best, and knowing they were without senior QB Hans Buder (concussion) and FB Kyle Robertson (hand, 2nd qtr) and OT Nathan Larsen (hip). Junior Shea (4-5 passing) was step up spendid and un-fazed in his first major varisty appearance taking over the QB spot, junior Andrew Farissey played big at rover LB, and the seniors were inspiring: Wild with 2 TDs and a possible broken hand, Seth Coleman and Rob Hale with key stops in the D back, Valley and James Rebello 100% full-bore on both sides, Zack Mahoney playing his keister off blocking on O, tackling, sacking, blocking another punt, Cortez getting better every game and very tough at both DE and returning kicks, and the awesome linemen: Defoe, Montanile, Bishop, Grassia, Ward, Simoes, Petkus grinding and working, grinding and working. Jr. Monty could barely get his usual smile up he was so spent after the game. Tired, but victorious pups they were walking off the field. The scrappy Bulldogs played better than their 1-4 record, and the resilient Vineyard upped their record to 5-1.

Webman's players of the game: Shea and Valley on O, Defoe on D and Wild playing hurt with the will to win.
Key plays: Cortez on any return, Buder's INT to set up game winner TD, Mahoney's blocked punt, Shea shaking off a cheap late hit to keep the O going ahead.
Channel 10 Players of the Game - Offense: Mike Shea, awesome job: Defense: Zack Mahoney with contains, blocked punt and always pressure despite double-teams. Watch 95 on KOs - speed undertestimated.
Coaches' Players of the Game - Offense: Mike Shea, awesome job: Defense: Zack Mahoney with contains, blocked punt and always pressure despite double-teams. Watch 95 on KOs - speed undertestimated.
Next week: home on McCarthy Field against Blue Hills (3-2, 1-0) for the MAYFLOWER LEAGUE lead.

NOTES:
Globe 100: Martha's Vineyard #95, Somerset #49. Westwood #62 (nothing aginst SHS but Westwood seemed better and this would be a great matchup!), our neighbors Falmouth #19, Bourne #63 - Oct 17, 03.
ALL LEAGUE GAMES this weekend -- should be fun! (See below for schedules)

Mayflower League Large RESULTS October 18
Bourne 22, Nantucket 12. Whalers lose close to tough Div 4 team Bourne (5-1).
Blue Hills 38, S. Shore 24
Bristol-Plymouth did not play [scheduled opponent Old Colony program dropped]
W. Bridgewater 20, Southeastern 6
Cape Tech/Harwich 15, Avon/Holbrook 0

10-10 | MV 36, Cape Tech-Harwich 0 | Solid V over young Crusaders
The Mayflower League Large schedule began for Martha's Vineyard (4-1, 1-0) with a square offensive and defensive performance at overmatched Cape Tech (1-2, 0-2). Kyle Robertson scored on the first drive, J.D. Wild on the second drive with a long 50 yard run. QB Hans Buder scored, RB John Valley scored, J.D. again, kicker E.J. Silvia scored, all on the way to a 29-0 halftime lead. The line controlled the scrimmage against a very young Crusader squad: six possessions in the 1st half, six scores. CT-H is very young -- only six seniors, the center is a soph, the starting tailback a frosh, so each game is learning time. James Rebello looked stronger, Andrew Farissey and Josh Potter had fun returning to the game, the D secondary (Hale, Coleman, Valley) got into it, Zack Mahoney had a blocked punt, QB sack, and tackles, and as always it's the lines: Ward, Grassia, Bishop, Montanile, Defoe, Larsen, Simoes, et al, that make the O move and the D stoppers. Nice effort, a TEAM effort -- no real standouts, just everyone giving it their best. As for Cape Tech, we welcome them to the Large, youth is gaining experience and their entry into the MLL is tough, but they will grow with the challenge.

NOTES: Tristan Atwood continues to gain experience and confidence, Mike Shea, too. John Pachico is getting better, Brad Cortez is now returning punts and starting to get comfortable with the team, Adam Petkus has his roles and is rising to the challenge, and there's others we see: Duncan McMullen is the spirit of MV football: four year player seeing special spot duty, no complaint, all heart.
CT-H's field is about as plush a playing surface as you will ever see, beautiful gridiron, and a nice facility for fans.
Hale, Mahoney, and Rebello are nominated for Homecoming king (seniors nominate, school votes).
A LOT of opposing scouts (them N guys, too), media and photographers at the game for some reason.
MLS Tri-County playing well -- a loss to N, but a big defeat of BH and B-P.

10-3 | MV 7, Somerset 6 | TEAM Effort, McCarthy Field Magic

From The Cape Cod Times 10-04-03
OAK BLUFFS - Kyle Robertson's 1-yard touchdown run and E.J. Sylvia's extra point helped the Vineyarders pull a wild fourth-quarter victory over the Raiders.

Somerset (3-1) went up 6-0 on a 20-yard pass from Eric Thibeault to Jordan Nunes with 6:24 left, but the pass play for the two-point conversion was incomplete.

The Vineyard (3-1) then marched 56 yards on 10 plays, mixing in two 11-yard pass plays, and got Robertson's 1-yard run with 2:20 left. Sylvia then kicked the extra point for the difference, and Rob Hale picked off a Seekonk pass to seal the victory.

"I like the character our team showed tonight," Vineyarders coach Donald Herman said.
J.D. Wild, Hale and Hans Buder had seven tackles each on defense for the Vineyard, with John Valley pulling in an interception on Seekonk's first drive. Buder finished 5-for-7 for 46 yards passing at quarterback while Robertson finished with 86 yards on 13 carries.

The Vineyarders head to Cape Tech/Harwich on Friday.

Webmaster's Report: Undefeated 3-0 Somerset traveled to Martha's Vineyard's McCarthy Field for the first time, but it was not their coach's first -- he formerly coached Southeastern, and knew the advantage McCarthy holds. With Division 4 credentials, a no. 44 rank on The Globe's Top 100, and players being scouted by college programs, they looked to be the favorite. And then there's the coaching and the heart of the Vineyarders. Somerset seemed truly surprised by MV's abilities in the first three quarters, mostly controlled by MV's ground O. SHS's first play resulted in a John Valley interception. MV was in the red zone with 1 minute in the 1st half, but was held when a Silvia FG was blocked. A really nifty pickup of the block by holder Hans Buder with a 25-yard throw to Adam Petkus alomost scored. While SHS could whip up big gains, they could not sustain a drive. In the beginning of the 4th they finally found a hole and pounded it, eventually scoring on an 18 yard pass but missing a crucial PAT (Rob Hale with a defending catch).

And then MV fourth-quarter heart took over. A nice return by Seth Coleman gave excellent field position at the 50. Pounding blocks by the two TE line up front allowed big gains by J.D. Wild and Robertson. Key passes to Hale kept the chain-gang moving. And finally Robertson bulled in from the 1 to tie the score with only 2:15 left. The CLUTCH kick by E.J. Silvia made it 7-6, followed by a big Silvia KO and excellent coverage that landed SHS on the 25. A good non-call incomplete with Hale covering made it 2nd down and on the ensuing pass, Robby hauled it in to give the O the ball. Wild had a big 1st down run to give MV the knee down and MV had come from behind late to put away a talented Somerset squad.

Tremendous efforts across the ball in every position from the O line starting with Willie Bishop and Matt Montanile up front, Coleman very solid every game so far, Mike Shea catching a couple, Wild over played by the SHS D but making big stops on the MV D, Mahoney-Ward-Grassia on the power O right, and the continued growth and superior play of QB and DB Hans Buder, who improves with every game.

The fun of this '03 MV team is their passion and commitment to the game and each other. Each player seems to rise in key situations and you can call every one a standout.

NOTES A big thanks to the SHS Blue Raider Marching Band and their fans. It was thrilling to see a full band performing on McCarthy and the MV fans loved every minute, cheering them on heartily. We love that stuff here and wish for one of our own, but we know it's tough to do and we appreciate the SHS travel to entertain us. They also improv'd: when our singer was stuck in ferry traffic, SHS performed the Anthem, doing a sweet live rendition. Thank you!