Sports
Ending on a high note
The Vineyard varsity football team finished its season Saturday with a 41-8 thumping of Brighton, at Daniel McCarthy Field.
Josh Baker pounces on a loose ball. Photos by Ralph Stewart
It had been a season like none other including a forfeit win versus Charlestown when the Townies were unable to field a full team and a game with Cape Cod Tech that was cancelled due to an epidemic of flu. The Nantucket game was called off by Nantucket due, they said, to lack of funds to pay for the rental of a ferry to carry the team and its supporters to and from the Vineyard. It was the first year of membership in the Eastern Athletic Conference, a step up from the Mayflower large where M.V. was always the team to beat. In the EAC, Bishop Feehan reigns.
In the Javee game, Jason Cournoyer elevates to snag an Alec Tattersall pass.
The defeat of Brighton, substituting for Nantucket, gave the Islanders a 7-3 record, better than "not bad."
The game was dedicated to injured cheerleader Amanda Gonzalves.
The Vineyarders began the contest in excellent field position when Lamar Moreis returned the opening kick to the M.V. 41-yard line. But a Tyler Araujo run netted nothing, Quarterback Randall Jette was sacked. Then Jette's pass to Moreis was dropped. Andres Silva's punt made it to the Brighton 49.
Six Bengal plays gained 35 yards moving the ball to the M.V. 15. At that point the Vineyard defense stiffened and pushed the line of scrimmage back 12 yards.
MV wasted little time. Runs by Jette and Josh Baker put the ball on the Bengal five. A motion penalty moved it back to the 10, from where Moreis dashed into the end zone.
Dhonathen Lemos's kick added the extra point: 7-0.
On the next set of downs, Mark Nickowal recovered a Brighton fumble on the Bengals' 40. Three plays later Jette carried across the goal line and Lemos's toe made it 14-0, the score at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter a centering pass sailed over the head of Brighton punter Ludvin Escobar and M.V. took over on the 11-yard line. Tyler Araujo's scoring rush was cancelled by a blocking infraction, but on the next play Jette found Delmont Araujo in the end zone. Lemos was good again and it was 21-0. That was the score at the half.
The second half began with the Bengals in possession on their 25-yard line. Three rushes gained only five yards and Escobar was called upon to punt again. It was a short kick to the MV 43 where Moreis signaled a fair catch. On the first M.V. offensive play of the second half, Jette ran 57 yards to score. Lemos, Mr. Automatic, made it 28-0.
Brighton tried, unsuccessfully, to test the Vineyard secondary and ultimately punted to the M.V. 18. Jette carried to the 40, Tyler Araujo to the Brighton 18, Jette to the six, Moreis to the 2, and Baker's plunge made it 34-0. D.J. Kaeka kicked the extra point: 35-0.
Clearly, the game was in the win column and Coach Herman substituted freely. With Cole Bilodeau doing most of the heavy lifting, the Islanders moved from their 30 (where Jette had covered a Bengal fumble) to the Brighton 2. The Bengals held and began an eight-play, 98-yard drive of their own culminating in a score by Olumide Olukoga, one of the smallest players on the field and one of the fastest. He had previously scored on two long distance runs late in the game for the Bengals J.V.
Kevin DePina ran for a two-point conversion.
The following punt was returned 88 yards for the Vineyard's final TD by Lamar Moreis. Kaeka's extra point kick was blocked.
The game ended with the ball in Brighton's hands at midfield. The final score was 41-8.
The Brighton players were houseguests of the Vineyard team members Friday night, reminding some of the early years of the MV - Nantucket rivalry.
It was homecoming and senior recognition day. Playing their final game in purple and white were Lamar Moreis, Mark Nickowal, Willy Reich, Marcus Hopkins, Josh Baker, Thomas Tilton-Heylin, Micah Agnoli, Devin Balboni, Kevin O'Donnell, D.J. Kaeka, Will deBettencourt and Andres Silva.
Jayvee joy
Before the varsity game he M.V. Junior Varsity defeated the visiting Bengals, 40-12.
David Andrews put the Vineyard on the board in the first quarter on a short run. Michael Montanile added a two-point conversion.
In the second period a 30-yard pass play from Alec Tattersall to David Andrews made it 14-0. Chris Parsons's plunge from the one was good for six more, 20-0.
Brighton's Olumide Olukoga returned the ensuing kick 65 yards to put six Bengal points on the board. Later in the period Olukoga ran 85 yards for another TD and it was 20-12 at the half.
The second half was all Vineyard. Andrews scored again. Ramon Espino made it 32-12 and a Tattersall to Denver Maciel pass added two more. The last touchdown, following a Nick Costello interception, was by Nick Gilberto.
Paul Hammond executes a bicycle kick for the Under 40 squad. Neal Sullivan goes for the block.
Soccer: 40 Plus or Minus
The over-40 (years old) Vineyard Football Club and under forty Vineyard Football Assn. soccer teams met for a friendly tussle at Tisbury's Veterans War Memorial Park, Sunday, and enjoyed a spirited morning of exercise.
Not enough under 40s showed up for a complete team so a couple of over 40s played with the younger team, one of whom was former MVRHS soccer coach Bob Hammond who enjoyed playing on the same team as his three sons, Jared, Paul, and Nicolas.
No one seemed to be keeping close track of the score or scorers, but the under 40s VFA won the game, 7-5.
There might be room for some disagreement about the score, but everyone was clearly pleased with the condition of the newly refurbished field.
The two teams had enough fun to schedule a second game this Sunday at 9 am.
Ennis Foster on a big gainer for the champion Cowboys.
Flags lowered
The Boys & Girls Club flag football teams played their championship deciding games, Sunday. In the outfield of Nunes Field.
In the Pee Wee Division of 4th to 6th graders, the unbeaten Cowboys rode the Colts, 21-14, to finish the season with a perfect 7-0.
In the Pee Wee Consolation games, the Patriots avenged a previous loss to the Seahawks, 38-12 and the Jets ran away from the Bears, 33-14.
The Mite Division of third and fourth graders finished their season on Saturday. There were four teams in the league:
Rockets, Eagles, Spartans, and Bulldogs. Players made huge strides of improvement and should hit the ground running next year as rookies in the Pee Wee League.
All players, coaches, cheerleaders, and families were treated to a tailgate party by friends at Tea Lane Caterers.
Sharp Shooters
The annual M.V. Rod and Gun Club Shotgun Shoot blasts off at 10 am, Sunday, and winds up at 4 pm.
Always a popular event attracting many shooters and interested spectators, the shoot is highly competitive.
The Egg Shoot at 50 yards commands a lot of attention. The Standing Deer Shoot is another popular event for both open and scoped sights. Prizes will be awarded in both categories. The Over The Shoulder Trap Event is won by the shooter with the best of five shots. These last two events will determine the club's 2008 Top Gun Champion.
A small entry fee will be charged to competitors.
Not a few hunters use the annual Shoot as an opportunity to calibrate their shotguns just before the opening of the deer season.
Spectators are welcome.
Prizes include scallops from Coop and hams from Cronig's Markets. Refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Youth Hockey update
In M.V. Youth Hockey action, Saturday, the Squirt B team bowed to Hetland's Squirts at Hetland, 4-1. Tristan Araujo scored for the Islanders assisted by J.J. Mendez. Goalie Zach Fullin was lauded by his coach for a "strong game."
Sunday, at Tabor Academy, the M.V. Squirt B squad outplayed Wareham, 6-2. Josh Forend had a hat trick. Other M.V. goals were by Jackson Mahaffey, Jonas Lukowitz, and Colin Buckley. Assisting were Forend and Buckley.
Zach Fullin tended the net well, shielded by Kyle Hatt.
In their first home game of the season Friday evening, the M.V. Neponset Valley League Junior High team hosted Norwood in an outstanding, good spirited game following which both teams enjoyed pizza.
One observer commented: "This team Is really amazing. Great skills, teamwork, and awesome coaching makes them a must see. Come watch them play this Sunday at 10:45 am versus Nauset Jr. High."
Saturday, at the M.V. Arena, the MVYH Neponset Valley League Jr. High team shut out Norwood Jr. High, 7-0.
Also at the Arena, the MVYH PeeWee B team dropped the SWS PeeWees, 4-1 in the first of a double-header. In the nightcap, the M.V. PeeWees won, 1-0.
A 2:10 pm, the MVYH HRL team played to a scoreless tie with another MVYH HRL squad.
At Foxboro, the MVYH Neponset Valley League Midgets lost a squeaker to the Franklin-White Midget B's, 1-0.
This Sunday at the M.V. Arena, the M.V. Neponset Valley League Mites are home to the Wareham Mite B team at 10:40 am.
On the road
The M.V. sixth grade girls travel basketball team competed in the Kim Craft Invitational girls only tournament at Falmouth Academy last weekend.
The Islanders first game was with Bourne, won by the Vineyarders, 36-17. Island play was paced by the strong games of Mya Houston, Emily Turney, and Erin Hill. The second game was with a strong and deep squad from Burlington. Olivia Smith was a spark for M.V. both on offence and defense.
Sunday, again at Falmouth Academy, the Islanders topped Barnstable by the unlikely score of 27-3, led by Mya Houston, Whitney Schroeder, Erin Hill, and Shannon Morris.
Later the Islanders faced a deep and tall Falmouth five. Morris and Hill did yeomen work keeping the taller opponents off the glass. Mya Houston and Kasey McAndrews led the offense.
The team: Mya Houston, Erin Hill, Shannon Morris, Kaitland Marshard, Kat Roberts, Meghan Sawyer, Kasey McAndrews, Olivia Smith, Isabel Quinones, Emily Turney, and Whitney Schroeder.
The girls are coached by Maureen Hill and Joe Houston.
RCBL
The RCBL, formerly the Recreational Center Basketball League, now the Recreational Community Basketball League, opens its fall-winter season on Monday at the Boys & Girls Club. The Suns take on the Heat at 6:15 pm and the Lakers and Bulls go at it in the nightcap at 8 pm.
Youth basketball
Registration for the MV Boys & Girls Club 5th and 6th grade boys & girls youth basketball teams is open Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 6 pm at the B&G Club.
Players already registered are asked to come with a parent for a brief preseason meeting starting at 6:30 pm. Those not yet registered may do so prior to the meeting. Registration forms are available online at www.mvbgclub.org/ basketball.
The season tip-off has been pushed back to the week of December 7.
Call Peter Lambos at the B&G with questions: 627-3303.
Megan among the best
Megan Dreyer, the lead girls cross-country runner at MVRHS, ran the Northfield 5K course, a ski area, in the state finals, Saturday. Megan finished 38th of 147 finalists.
Congratulations. Winter sports
Fall sports at the high school have run their course. Tryouts for boys and girls basketball and hockey teams, the winter games, will be held on Monday, Nov. 30.
Samantha is second
Twelve-year-old Samantha Potter of East Chop made it to the finals of the girls 14 and under Rhode Island Championships last weekend, defeating the second-seeded player in the semifinal round, 6-2, 6-3, then losing to the top seed, 7-5, 6-3.
How to go, Samantha!
B&G fundraiser
Casino Night at the Edgartown Yacht Club, Friday, November 20, from 7:30 to midnight, is a fund raiser for the MV Boys & Girls Club, featuring classic casino gaming, a light harvest supper of chili, butternut squash, soup, salad, cornbread, and dessert, accompanied by jazz with Wes Nagy at the piano.
Entry fee is $10.
