The Islanders began on the right foot. Nick Gross took the kickoff from the 20 to the 30-yard line. Quarterback Mike McCarthy mixed runs with passes, marching 70 yards in 14 plays to garner the game's first touchdown on a plunge from the two-yard line. Brooks Billingham kicked the extra point and the Vineyard led, 7-0.

Brandon Holbrook ran back Fin Kaeka's kick from the 25 to the 40-yard line. The Crusaders ground game moved the ball to the Vineyard 41 before it bogged down and Carver punted to the Martha's Vineyard 21.

McCarthy took to the air, completing passes to Randall Jette and Nick Gross, and collecting three first downs. But Carver intercepted on its own goal line to halt the Vineyard drive as the first quarter ended.

The Crusaders could only move the ball five yards in three plays and punted to their 40.

McCarthy's first down pass was intercepted, but Carver fumbled the ball at midfield to be covered by Eric Dolliver.

Martha's Vineyard turned the ball over again, this time fumbling on the Carver 40. Ten plays later the Crusaders posted a touchdown and added a point after. The score was tied at seven.

The Vineyard immediately regained its advantage as McCarthy connected first with Nick Gross, then with Matt Costello and finally with Doug Asselin in the end zone. Billingham's big toe made the score 14-7. That was the score at the half.

Carver began the second half on their own 45-yard line and went three and out. But the out was blocked by Pat Hart and Martha's Vineyard took over on the Crusader 30. Four plays failed to gain 10 yards and Carver took over on the 30.

The Crusaders moved the line of scrimmage to the Martha's Vineyard seven where Costello intercepted a pass for the Vineyard on the one-yard line. Aided by a pass interference call, Martha's Vineyard advanced the ball 25 yards, then had to punt.

Beginning on their own 45, Carver wasted little time. It took just four plays to score their second TD on a 44-yard scamper by Holbrook

This time Carver went for a two-point conversion and made it to take the lead, 15-14.

The Vineyard's next possession was cut short when Holbrook intercepted a McCarthy pass. Unable to advance the ball, Carver punted to the Martha's Vineyard 25. A roughing the kicker penalty extended the Vineyard's possession, long enough for McCarthy to break a 36-yard run to the Carver 6 and find Gross in the end zone, retaking the lead. Billingham was perfect on the day (and thus far for the year) and the score was 21-15.

It took Carver nine plays and a minute and ten seconds to tie the count, then add another two-point conversion. Carver 23, Martha's Vineyard 21. There were 32 seconds remaining on the clock - not enough, as it turned out, for Martha's Vineyard to mount a scoring drive.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Defensive player - Matt Costello
Special Teams - Will deBettencourt
Prides - Ben Ferry, Matt Costello

Game 3: Vineyard 43, Bishop Connolly 0
SEPTEMBER 26, OAK BLUFFS, MA – In its first Mayflower League Large contest of the year, Cody Brewer took the opening kickoff 73 yards for an easy TD and all the Vineyarders (2-1, 1-0) needed. The Cougars (0-3, 0-2) were grossly overmatched and gave up TDs to Mike McCarthy, Matt Costello (on 75 yd. pass from McCarthy), Nick Gross, Randall Jette (24 yd. recep.), and finishing with a 47-yard punt return by Lamar Moreis - all in the first half. McCarthy added a PAT two, and Brooks Billingham kicked 5 PATs.

In the second half, any available purple jersey saw action against a BC team that is rebuilding and perhaps should be in the Mayflower Small division. If there was any flaw to the MV game, it may have been a couple muffs with punts on a wet night. Next week MV travels to a much better Holbrook/Avon opponent, a team with a strong-armed, pass minded attack. H/A defeated MLL Bristol-Plymouth in the first game of the season 12-2. The Vineyard defense will need to be sharp in the defensive backfield against them. As always, protecting the ball on offense will be key.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offensive - Matt Costello
Defensive - Erik Dolliver
Coaches - DJ Kaeka
Special Teams - Cody Brewer
Prides - Bill Fielder, Paul Bagnall, DJ Kaeka, DK Kaeka

WEBMASTERS OPINION!
Shocker of last week: Cape Tech losing to Diman Voke - Diman couldn't run a play against South Shore, so they have a ways to go on both sides of the ball. South Shore is very disciplined, and will give the Vineyarders a battle. But what happened to CCT?

Trouble in paradise? Nantucket is getting pummelled in every game. Fans of the Whalers are quietly wishing for a coach retirement to get some fresh energy in there. Vito's a legend and quite the guy, but have the new setups passed him by? Unfortunately, it may not be his fault: a few losing seasons kills recruiting of kids who may opt for other sports. The Whalers haven't had a winning season since 2003, and are winless this season.

Eye-opener: Matt Costello had a breakout game last week, showing good hands, good tackling, speediness, and excellent agility. He is quite a weapon when he's on his game. Erik Dolliver displayed some of the skills he's been promising - he was in the Connolly backfield all night.

Game 4: MV 28, Holbrook/Avon 14
OCT 3, HOLBROOK — Quarterback Mike McCarthy led the Vineyarders past Holbrook/Avon in a nonleague clash.

McCarthy sandwiched scoring runs of 20 and 2 yards around a score by the home side as the first quarter ended 14-6 in favor of MV (3-1).

McCarthy had a second-quarter score from the 6. He finished with 17 rushes for 152 yards, 135 in the first half.

The sun came out, but the third quarter was scoreless before the Bulldogs (2-1) pulled within a score with a 2-point conversion of its second touchdown of the day.

The Vineyard put it away by scoring on an option play. McCarthy went the first 15 yards down the sideline before pitching to Nick Gross, who finished the 49-yard scoring play. Brooks Billingham then kicked his fourth extra point.

The defense had a plethora of heroes (Cape Cod Times words - not webfoot's!) with Cody Brewer recording a sack and an interception to cap a great defensive day. He also assisted on nine tackles.

Erik Dolliver made seven unassisted tackles and assisted on six more. Matt Costello had four unassisted and three assisted tackles while breaking up four pass plays.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Offense - Michael McCarthy
Defense - Fin Kaeka
Coaches - Cody Brewer
Special Teams - DK Kaeka

Game 5: MV 43, Bristol-Plymouth 14
OCT 10, OAK BLUFFS — Mike McCarthy threw for four touchdowns and ran for one, and Martha's Vineyard topped Bristol-Plymouth 43-14 in a Mayflower League rout.

Nick Gross caught four passes, including three scoring strikes from McCarthy. Cody Brewer caught the senior’s other touchdown pass and ran back a kickoff 75 yards to paydirt. MV (4-1, 2-0 ML) led 36-7 at halftime after McCarthy hit Gross for a 45-yard score, ran it in from 1, threw to Gross for 23, threw to Brewer for 60 and threw to Gross for 52.

Brooks Billingham went 5-for-5 in extra-point attempts, and McCarthy (4-for-7, 180 yards, no interceptions) ran for a 2-point conversion of his own. Defensive tackle Zach Maciel had nine tackles and tipped a pass leading to a Blair Rancich interception.

Game 6: MV whips Southeastern 37-0
SOUTH EASTON – Mike McCarthy was 4-for-8 with two touchdowns and Martha’s Vineyard held the Hawks to just 38 yards of offense to remain unbeaten in Mayflower Large play.
MV improves to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mayflower with the whitewashing. Southeastern falls to 1-5, 0-2.
McCarthy had 189 all purpose yards: 87 yards passing and 12 carries for 102 yards. Cody Brewer finished with 73 yards on three carries and a touchdown. Vineyard kicker Brooks Billingham also had a busy day with a 30-yard field goal and four successful point-after attempts.

Players of the game:
Offense - Randall Jette
Defense - Ben Ferry
Coaches - Nick Billingham
Special Teams - Andres Silva

Last week's MV opponent results:
Cape Tech shocked South Shore Voke, 15-14 - CCT displays rapid improvement after weird loss to Diman Voke in week 2 - hard not to look past 1-5 non-league Charlestown to the now key MLL game of CCT @ MV
Latin Academy 18, Charlestown 14 - Charlestown lost star player early in year after he went into stands after a fan
Blue Hills 22, East Boston 14 - Warriors remain unbeaten
Holbrook/Avon 44, Nantucket 28 - Whalers put some points up, but still get whomped

This week's upcoming opponent schedule:
Blue Hills @ CCT/H, Fri. - CCT is tough at home, good contest here
South Shore @ B-P, Fri. - SS hurt their league title chances last week with last minute loss to CCT
Southeastern @ Nantucket, Sat. - Whalers need a 'W' badly

Game 7: MV cruises past Charlestown 42-8, next up: Cape Tech
OAK BLUFFS, OCT. 25

It’s going to be a very happy Halloween for the high school football team from either Cape Tech/Harwich or Martha’s Vineyard Regional.

CT/H beat defending Mayflower Large champion Blue Hills 34-24 on Friday, and the Vineyarders blasted nonleague foe Charlestown 42-8 yesterday, keeping both teams on a roll going into their Friday, Oct. 31, showdown on the island.

The 5:30 p.m. game will have major Division 3A Eastern Massachusetts playoff implications. Either CT/H or MV will exit with the only unbeaten divisional record – and a firm grasp on the Mayflower Large driver’s seat. But there's more to the game: after visiting MV, Cape Tech has easy league games with winless MLL basement teams Connolly (0-6, 0-4) and Southeastern (2-5, 0-2).

So, if the Crusaders can win on the road Friday, they title will be theirs. The Vineyarders still have Blue Hills and South Shore after Friday.

Against Charlestown, senior quarterback Mike McCarthy led the Vineyarders with touchdown runs of 1, 3 and 3 yards. Senior Matt Costello opened the scoring for MV with a 19-yard scoring run in the first quarter, and McCarthy made it 8-0 with a 2-point conversion run. McCarthy’s first TD run made it 14-0, and – despite a quick Charlestown TD – the rout was on.

McCarthy scored from 3 yards out before halftime, and Cody Brewer (10 carries, 136 yards) scampered 71 yards for a third-quarter score. McCarthy and Nick Billingham (8-yard rush) finished the MV touchdown blitz. Junior Brooks Billingham made two extra points.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offense - Christian Flanders
Defense - Erik Dolliver
Coaches - Cody Brewer

Game 8, Surprising Dominance: Vineyarders crush Crusaders easily, showing speed in the backfield, power and strength on lines
Oct. 29 McCarthy Field, Oak Bluffs

Senior Mike McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran in another last night, and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School inched closer to a Division 3A Eastern Massachusetts football playoff berth with a 35-8 victory over Cape Tech/Harwich. “We’ve taken sole possession of first place (in the Mayflower Large),” MV coach Donald Herman said. “Now it’s a matter of holding on to it over the next two weeks.”

The Vineyarders improve to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the Mayflower Large with Blue Hills and South Shore Voke – each with a league loss – still on the schedule. The Crusaders fall to 5-3, 3-1. Blue Hills hosts South Shore this afternoon in a game that will knock the loser out of the division race.

McCarthy went 6-for-11 passing and had 145 yards rushing on 16 carries for MV, which ran to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and kept CT/H out of the end zone until the fourth. The Vineyard quarterback opened with a 1-yard TD scamper, and Erik Dolliver scored on runs of 18 and 5 yards. Brooks Billingham went 3-for-3 on extra-point attempts in the opening quarter and was a perfect 5-for-5 on the night. McCarthy connected with Matt Costello in the third quarter for a 16-yard scoring pass and the two hooked up again in the fourth on a 4-yard pass.

CT/H quarterback Mike Hamilton was bottled and busted all evening by the harassing and relentless MV defense. The kid couldn't sneeze without seven purple jerseys getting wet. He finally got loose with 4 minutes left in the fourth, ran in a 21-yard touchdown and tacked on a 2-point conversion on the Crusaders’ only scoring drive. Ironically, it was the Crusaders straight ahead running game which cost them: the Vineyard scored so quickly that all they needed was clock killing - which Tech gave them in spades. Give creit to the defense, which consistently made the Crusaders go to 3rd and 4th down conversion, most of which they didn't get. Coach Steve McCarthy was visibly excited after the game about his squad's performance. "Yes! Yes" he exclaimed as he pumped his fist.

MV’s Dolliver showed impressive running: he racked up 121 yards on 15 carries and had nine tackles on defense. Fin Kaeka led with 11 tackles.

Key moments: 1) McCarthy's deft handiwork on fakes fooled everyone (including the officials) on the first play from scrimmage - he went 50 yards to set the tone and set up his 1-yard TD 2) Nick Billingham's diving interception of Hamilton's first quarter pass led to a score to make it 14-0. 3) A perfect 'pooch' onside kick landed right in CCT's Ali Pierce's hands at full speed going down the home sideline when the score was 28-8 - but he may have looked upfield a tick early as he dropped it and MV took the ball back for good. 4) WMVY's co-player of the game Gus Hayes won MVRHS' Halloween costume contest - he was dressed as non other than Donald Herman, with the charcoal 'stache, purple jacket and headphones. When the game was in hand with 30 ticks left, Hayes snuck onto the sideline to act out his role as the coach. That's when Ben Ferry and Zack Maciel got the water barrel and totally doused him to complete the act. Beautiful!

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offense - Mike McCarthy
Defense - Fin Kaeka
Coaches - Erik Dolliver
Special teams - Brooks Billingham

Game 9: VINEYARDERS defeat Blue Hills 28-12, earn league share, head to D3A playoffs
By MIKE SCANDURA, Cape Cod TimesCONTRIBUTING WRITER
November 08, 2008
CANTON – Martha’s Vineyard coach Donald Herman referred to last night’s 28-12 victory over Blue Hills Regional as “a little payback.” Why not? The Warriors eked out an 8-6 victory last season that knocked the Vineyarders out of the race for the Mayflower Large title and a spot in the Eastern Massachusetts Division 3A playoffs. By winning last night, MV (8-1, 5-0) not only clinched at least a share of the league title but also secured the team’s first playoff berth in five years. “We lost 8-6 but what was hard about it was that was a game we could have or should have won,” Herman said. “These guys remembered it. It was a little payback. “We’re extremely happy because this is the first time since ’03 that we’ve been in the playoffs. And we were able to accomplish a goal of mine, which was to win the league before the season is over. We’ve never been able to do that before.”

One thing the Warriors (7-2, 3-2) were unable to do was to stop MV’s option offense in general and senior quarterback Mike McCarthy in particular. McCarthy carried the ball 17 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. The third-year QB executing his handoffs and pitchouts flawlessly – which was of major importance considering the sloppy field conditions (MV fumbled only once and recovered the ball). “Mike came to football camps on the Island before his family moved here from Connecticut,” Herman said. “He’s been running this offense basically since fifth grade. “I don’t know if you call him a quarterback with running back ability or a running back that plays quarterback. He’s smart and makes good reads. We didn’t get a chance to throw the ball much tonight because of the poor field conditions.” On the other hand, why pass when the opponent can’t stop your running game? “If it isn’t broke don’t fix it,” Herman said referring to his inclination to keep the ball on the ground.

The Vineyarders’ ability to execute their offense was apparent on the game’s first series when the slogged their way through a 55-yard, seven-play drive that culminated with Erik Dolliver turning a routine dive into a 12-yard touchdown run. Special teams set up the Vineyarders’ next score when Patrick Hart partially blocked a Riley Melo punt, which gave MV a first down on Blue Hills’ 41. That time McCarthy engineered a nine-play, 41-yard drive that took 3:58 off the clock and ended when he bulled his way into the end zone from the 4 with 1:14 left in the second quarter. That score gave the Vineyarders a 13-0 halftime lead.

Jordan Reed gave Blue Hills a jump-start when he returned the second-half kickoff 69 yards to MV’s 10 and Kevin Murphy burst through right guard from the 2 for his league-leading 26th touchdown that cut it to 13-6. But MV promptly countered with a nine-play, 53-yard drive that ended with McCarthy wedging his way into the end zone from the 2 and then running for a 2-point conversion to make it 21-6. Blue Hills made it interesting when, on fourth-and-13 from MV’s 25 early in the fourth, James Merrick threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Reed. But Nick Gross planted Reed short of the goal line on a 2-point conversion run which left MV with a 21-12 lead. Gross came up big again shortly thereafter when he recovered a Murphy fumble on MV’s 40. And four plays later Cody Brewer (who gained 101 yards on 10 carries) sped 51 yards for a touchdown with 1:14 left on the clock. All that remained after that was for the Vineyarders to pile on top of one another on the muddy turf while celebrating a championship.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME - BLUE HILLS
Offense - DJ Kaeka
Defense - Kevin O'Donnell
Coaches - Zach Maciel
Special Teams - Marcus Hopkins

Game 10: VINEYARDERS defeat South Shore 42-22 and claim MLL title outright with gusto
OCT 14 2008, OAK BLUFFS – The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School football team’s Mayflower Large finale was sealed in a three minute fury. The Vineyarders drubbed South Shore Voke 42-22 last night, clinching the division title outright and adding luster to a season that will include at least one Division 3A Eastern Massachusetts playoff game.

Meanwhile, quarterback Mike McCarthy carried 13 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Vineyarder to surpass the 1,000-yard mark in a season since Ben Higgins in 1997. He has 1,022 total. McCarthy also threw for 48 yards and two scores last night. At 9-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the ML, MV has won eight straight going into the Nov. 22 Island Cup game against Nantucket.

The Vineyarders and South Shore (6-4, 2-3) traded scores in the surprisingly tight first half. MV scored within 30 seconds on it's second play of the game with Cody Brewer striking first for MV, running for a 63-yard touchdown. But the Vikings ground it out toughly, as MV had trouble tackling the slashing Jon Sullivan and Frank Mugavero. After a South Shore TD, McCarthy punched it in from a yard out. After another grind it out offensive drive, the Vikings scored again easily to make 14-14 with only 1:15 in front of a large and surprised Vineyard crowd (the hot dogs and cheeseburgers - the best in the league, no question - were sold out before halftime).

In the next three minutes, Martha's Vineyard showed why they are wowing opposing coaches. Brewer (6 carries for 128 yards - powerball!) took the kickoff 56 yards and three plays later with 45 ticks left, Nick Gross caught a 15-yard scoring pass from McCarthy to make it 22-14 MV in only 30 seconds, leaving the Vikes stunned at the break. Budda-bing! just like that.

The Vineyarders then caused a fumble on SS's first 2nd half play followed by a 55-yard score by Brewer, highlighted with a brilliant block from Randall Jette (who was amazing with down field blocking technique all night); an interception on SS's very next play by Matt Costello, who returned it 30 yards, then caught a 20-yard TD pass from McCarthy; and shortly thereafter the purple and white put it away for good, completing a 20-point third quarter with a 4th and 1 pounder by McCarthy.

A masterful performance by a strong offensive line led by center Christian Flanders, while Zach Maciel had a field day on defense, and the versatile Brewer made seven tackles on defense.

Congrats to Coach Herman, Bill Belcher, Steve and Mike McCarthy, and staff in the last Mayflower League game, a league they have dominated in the last decade (7 of the last 11). Every MLL title goes through the Rock. Besides the MLL, MV has the best playoff game record on the Cape and SE Mass (3 titles, 7 appearances - NOTE: not overlooking great earlier 91 and 92 back-to-back champion teams, just looking at last decade), as well. SO, Norm - "Just WIN, Baby!" Two more!

Watching the wire, the question most asked is: can we host a playoff game? It's a neutral site to be announced, and we also overheard the D3 Super Bowls are at Stonehill College this year, not Foxboro. MV will now play the winner of the Boston North Conference. South Boston's record is almost a mirror of 9-1 MV (and with common opponents B-P 20-14 and Charlestown last night 34-0 wins), winning last eight, but if East Boston beats them on Turkey Day, it's up to past history on tie-breakers. In the other semi are: Cape Ann - Newburyport (won last five for 5-0 league record, lost first five to have weird 5-5 overall) got by Georgetown 27-26 to seal that league (8-1, only loss to 'Porters); Boston North - ; in the Commonwealth Large, Haverhill's Whittier (7-2, 3-0) has locked that up there. So there ya go, toss the coin and get ready.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offense - Mike McCarthy
Defense - Erik Dolliver
Coaches - Nick Gross
Special Teams - Will deBettencourt

Game 11: VINEYARDERS roll again to grab 6th straight Island CUp
By Russ Charpentier
rcharpentier@capecodonline.com

Cape Cod Times has nice Photo Gallery of the game on their page here.

November 23, 2008 NANTUCKET – With football fortunes flowing in opposite directions, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High and Nantucket High clashed for the 62nd time and left no surprises in the frigid cold yesterday. The Vineyarders, with coach Donald Herman saying he treated the game almost as a scrimmage, routed Nantucket 43-22, ensuring the Whalers their first winless season since 1964 (0-4-2), Vito Capizzo’s first year as head coach.

Mayflower Large champion Martha’s Vineyard finishes the regular season 10-1. Up next for MV is the Eastern Massachusetts Division 3 playoffs opener against South Boston on Tuesday, Dec. 2. Taunton High is the tentative site for that game.

Nantucket heads into the winter following a discouraging 0-10 campaign, dressing only 19 players for its biggest game of the season. “We’ll have to see,” Capizzo said regarding whether the Island Cup tradition will continue. While the Whalers still hold a 35-24-3 edge in the once hotly contested rivalry, MV has taken the Cup six consecutive years and nine of the last 10. After scoring 47 and 48 points, respectively, against Nantucket the past two years, the Vineyard put up 43 points yesterday and led 37-6 at the half before pulling most of its first team.

By the time players returned for the second half, most of the crowd had escaped the bone-chilling cold and wind. It was a contest for a short while, even after MV’s Nick Gross returned the opening kickoff 76 yards for a score and fullback Erik Dolliver ran in the 2-point conversion. “I put in all the seniors on that kickoff – a lot hadn’t played on kick coverage – and they took it right through us,” Capizzo said. Nantucket marched right back, going 69 yards in only five plays. Senior quarterback Chris Welch found senior wideout Josh Butler on a 15-yard slant for a touchdown. But the 2-point conversion failed, and the emotion, at first slowly then more quickly, faded from the Whalers. “They came out very emotional in the first quarter, which we anticipated,” Herman said. “It took us a couple (of) series to get settled in, but we did.” The Vineyard punted on the possession after Nantucket’s score, a 9-yard effort into the wind. But the Whalers couldn’t take advantage, turning the ball over on downs at the MV 34. Ballgame.

Senior quarterback Mike McCarthy (5-for-8, 94 yards, three TDs; five rushes, 37 yards, all in the first half) led MV on a 66-yard scoring drive, capped by Matt Costello’s 3-yard jaunt on a pitchout with 12 seconds left in the first quarter. The second quarter got even worse for Nantucket, as the versatile McCarthy threw for his three scores. First, he hooked up with Gross on an 11-yard scoring pass. MV scored on the next possession, a wide-receiver screen that Randall Jette took 16 yards. Finally, one play after Nantucket lost a fumble at its 45, McCarthy unleased a perfect bomb that senior Doug Asselin caught for a 37-6 lead. Martha’s Vineyard scored on its first third-quarter possession with a Josh Baker 8-yard run to make it 43-6.

Nantucket showed some life in the fourth quarter. Welch (12-for-26, 177 yards) threw scoring passes to Butler and Troy Sullivan to make the final score fairly respectable. “I was proud of them for that,” Capizzo said. “They didn’t quit all year and they didn’t quit today.”

That may not be enough to continue the Island Cup. Herman hopes that’s not the case. “As long as they’re able to field a varsity team, I think we’ll try to continue,” Herman said. “Why wouldn’t he?” Capizzo said as he walked toward his school.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:
Offense - Nick Gross
Defense - Blair Rancich
Coaches - Doug Asselin
Special Teams - Cody Chandler

Game 12: VINEYARDERS swarm Monument/S. Boston, head to the Super Bowl

TAUNTON, Dec. 2 – Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School powered its way to its eighth Super Bowl appearance and first since 2003, laying waste to Monument (South Boston) 42-14 in the Eastern Massachusetts Division 3A high school football playoffs last night at Taunton High School.

The Vineyarders, champions of Mayflower Large, carry an 11-1 record into Saturday’s Super Bowl at Bentley University against Amesbury, a 34-0 winner over Whittier last night. The Boston North champion Knights finish 10-2.

Once again it was quarterback Mike McCarthy leading the way for MV, engineering the option to near perfection. McCarthy, a 1,000-yard rusher during the regular season, ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 95 yards and another score – a 36-yard pass to Randall Jette in the second quarter that made it 14-0. He had a 6-yard TD run to begin the scoring, a 9-yard TD run in the second quarter and a 4-yard score in the third.

“Our option game was really working,” McCarthy said. “We mixed it up, pass and run. They started coming up on the run and we threw it deep on the pass. They dropped back, and we ran underneath.” The senior had to share the podium with a lot of purple-clad Vineyarders last night.

Top billing arguably went to a defensive unit that contained – as much as is possible – the hard-running South Boston troika of quarterback Derick Willis and backs Akeem George and Daquan Hill. Willis gained 89 yards (though he ran for probably three times that going side to side looking for open space) and Hill had 91 yards.

The MV defense held the Knights to 187 yards on the ground in a magnificent effort. Pat Hart had a couple of sacks, and Cody Brewer, Matt Costello and Nick Gross were also dominating.

“You saw their running ability. They are tough kids,” MV coach Donald Herman said of the Knights. “I’m glad we don’t have to face them again. I can’t say enough about how our team came out. We were ready to play physical. We know we have one more to go and it will be our toughest yet.”

The 2008 Vineyarders became the first team in school history to score more than 400 points, last night’s 42 pushing them to 418. The previous high was in 1997, when MV scored 396 points in 12 games.

That means while McCarthy may be the main cog, there are a lot of other weapons. “If they want to stop the option, we can throw the ball,” Herman said. “It’s a very multiple-oriented option.”

Brewer gained 80 yards on 11 carries, including a 10-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Gross added 53 yards on six carries, and Costello scored on a 17-yard fourth-quarter touchdown and caught three McCarthy passes for 59 yards.

South Boston made a game of it when George hauled in a 9-yard scoring pass after a wild scramble by Willis. Willis ran in the 2-point conversion, and it was 14-8 with 3:47 to go in the half. MV answered with a 75-yard, 12-play march, McCarthy running option right for the final 9 yards with just 39 seconds left in the half. The quarterback gained 50 of those yards with his own runs, and another 14 on a pass to Costello.

That made it 20-8 at the half, and the Vineyarders built their lead from there. Brewer’s 10-yard score capped a 67-yard drive with 2:03 left in the third. The Knights fumbled away the ensuing kickoff, and McCarthy scored from 4 yards out with 41 seconds remaining in the third, putting MV up 35-8.

After Costello’s 17-yard run early in the fourth, the Knights went on a 76-yard, 12-play drive of their own with Hill scoring from the 3. Willis gained 53 of his yards on the march.

Now it’s on to Bentley for MV – and a crack at improving on their 5-2 Super Bowl record.

Game 13: Sharp Amesbury squad takes advantage of Vineyard miscues to claim D3A crown
December 07, 2008

WALTHAM – The Vineyard found there was only one thing that could stop their power offense: turnovers. Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School turned the ball over on its first three possessions and a sharp Amesbury team turned those mistakes into 21 unanswered points and never looked back in a 40-19 victory over the Vineyarders in the Eastern Massachusetts Division 3A Super Bowl at Bentley University.

“I think we’ve had two fumbles all season,” said MV coach Donald Herman. "To turn the ball over our first three possessions today. ... When it rains, it pours - it was a thunderstorm today.”

Actually, it was a clear, calm, beautiful day for football. But it was only the Amesbury side that got to enjoy it, with the Cape Ann Small champion Indians taking home a Super Bowl trophy in their first Bowl appearance to cap a 12-1 season. MV, which won the Mayflower Large in its final season in the league, finishes 11-2 overall and falls to 5-3 in eight Super Bowl appearances.

“I think we were overlooked a little bit and we came and showed what we could do,” Indians coach Thomas Connors said. “We were very opportunistic all year. Whenever we got a big turnover, we turned it into points.”

Herman said nothing he saw gave an indication his team would play the way it did yesterday. MV senior quarterback Mike McCarthy suffered through what must have been the worst day of his career. He lost a fumble on the first offensive play of the game. He threw an interception to finish off MV’s second drive. And he lost another fumble to end MV’s third possession of the quarter.

The defense couldn’t bail him out. Amesbury was an offensive force all day, led by quarterback Jared Flannigan. The swift 5-6, 155-pound senior ran for 149 yards on 11 carries, threw for two scores and ran for two more. Speedy running back Kevin Johnston gained 70 yards on 12 carries and two TDs for the Indians.

“You turn the ball over, you have to stop them,” Herman said. “You can’t just give them six points. We didn’t stop them. It was our worst game of the season. They did what they wanted to do. We didn’t tackle, even when we were in position we didn’t do a good job of tackling.”

Flannigan found fullback Jesse Burrell for a 15-yard scoring pass after McCarthy’s first fumble. After a leaping interception by linebacker Stephen Serwon set the Indians up at the MV 40, Johnston swept left, broke a tackle and rambled in from 13 yards out for a 14-0 lead.

MV’s next possession was another turnover. Johnston capped off that 57-yard drive with a 1-yard score.

The Vineyarders finally showed some life in responding to that punch. They went on a 58-yard, 10-play drive that ended with a brilliant Nick Gross reception in the left corner of the end zone – an over-the-shoulder catch as he fell and was hounded by a defender.

Brooks Billingham’s extra point made it 21-7 and there was a stirring on the MV sideline, but not for long. It took Amesbury only six plays to counter, with a Flannigan 4-yard bootleg and William Medvitz’s fourth extra point making it 28-7. MV fumbled again on the ensuing kickoff, and three plays later a scrambling Flannigan found Ryan Dragon for a 26-yard score and a 34-7 lead with 40 seconds left in the half.

“You never want to play like that in your last high school football game,” Herman said. “It leaves a bad taste.” It only got worse. Flannigan scored on the first play of the second half, a 61-yard run on a rollout right on which he wove his way through some ineffectual tackling for a 40-7 lead.

MV scored twice more in the fourth quarter, a 13-yard TD pass from McCarthy to Gross, and a McCarthy 1-yard run with 38 seconds left. All that did was make the score a more respectable 40-19. McCarthy finished with 13 rushes for 73 yards. He threw for 151 yards, going 10-for-22 passing with two TDs and an interception.

“You have to look at what we accomplished this year,” Herman said. “We went 11-2, won Mayflower Large outright. We made it to the Super Bowl for first time in five years. I’m still proud of the way these guys conducted themselves like champions all season. They deserved to be here. It’s a shame we couldn’t have played a lot better.”