By Tyler Amaral
NEFJ Correspondent
NANTUCKET – Martha’s Vineyard made sure the two-hour-long ferry ride to Nantucket was worthwhile on Saturday.
The Vineyarders led for only three seconds all game, but they were the final three seconds of the game. Victor De Souza booted a 32-yard field goal to give Martha’s Vineyard the 24-21 win and the Island Cup. De Souza actually hit the field goal three times, but the first two were called off due to a Nantucket timeout and a Martha’s Vineyard penalty.
The game-winning drive was set up by Martha’s Vineyard’s do-it-all star Guilherme Oliveira. Oliveira intercepted a Nantucket pass at the Whaler 45-yard line with under a minute left in the game.
On the next play Oliveira (171 yards from scrimmage) ran for 24 yards. After a couple more plays inched the Vineyarders a little closer, head coach Tony Mottola called on the field goal unit. “The kid that kicked that last field goal, he just started kicking about two weeks ago” said Mottola. “For that kid to step into that moment…it was just all good stuff.”
The Vineyard trailed by 14 points twice. The Vineyarders tied the game up in the fourth quarter on a fourth down touchdown pass by Oliveira to wide receiver Wyatt Nicholson. The score came on a halfback pass. Oliveira also punched in the two-point attempt to knot the score at 21.
With just over six minutes left in the first quarter, Nantucket drew first blood when junior Jaiden McInnis blocked a Vineyard punt. Jay Nolasco jumped on the ball at the goal line for a Whaler touchdown.
Nantucket (3-5) quickly forced a Martha’s Vineyard punt and on their next offensive play, Arann Hanlon took a jet sweep handoff 69 yards for a touchdown. Jake Clarke hit extra points after both touchdowns.
With two minutes and 22 seconds left in the first half, Martha’s Vineyard was able to find the endzone. Quarterback Will Nicholson connected with Aiden Conley on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Caio Guimaraes hit the extra point.
Early in the third quarter, it seemed as though Nantucket would pull away for good. Sophomore defensive lineman James Dutra came up with a huge scoop and score for the Whaler defense. Clarke hit his third extra point and the home team was ahead 21-7.
Later in the third quarter Will Nicholson connected with Wyatt Nicholson on a 25-yard touchdown strike. The extra point was blocked by Nolasco.
The win marks the second straight in the series for Martha’s Vineyard. It also gives the Vineyarders the all-time series edge, 22 to 21. This was the 43rd playing of the Island Cup. The teams have played each other every year since 1978 with the exception or 2009, 2017 and 2020.
(The rivalry) is the reason why I came to this school” said Mottola. “I had the opportunity to come here a year ago last August. I’ve only been on the island for about 15 months at this point. But it was this rivalry that I wanted to be a part of. To be a part of it exceeds all expectations.”
In recent years, the schools have made the final Saturday in October an all day event as other teams from the schools compete against each other. Middle school football, field hockey and boys and girls soccer all played on Saturday leading up to the football game.
Martha’s Vineyard finishes the regular season at 5-3. Both the Vineyarders and Whalers entered the weekend ranked 21st in their respective divisions. Martha’s Vineyard is in Division 5. Nantucket is in Division 7.
