Sports
By Don Lyons - November 16, 2006
The Craftsmen found it hard to find a hole in the Vineyard defensive wall. Photos by Ralph Stewart
A game with an attitude
In the last football game before The Game, the MVRHS varsity football team defeated the Bristol Plymouth Craftsmen, 20-6, on the Dan McCarthy Field, Friday.
It wasn't always pretty. Obviously there was bad blood between the teams. If it wasn't bad at the kickoff, it developed soon after. The Vineyard was penalized 45 yards for three personal fouls during the scoreless first quarter alone.
Early in the second period Andrew Larsen covered a Craftsmen fumble on the BP 25-yard line. Moments later, quarterback Mike McCarthy ran unmolested into the end zone and the Vineyard led, 6-0. The attempt to post an extra point failed when the centering pass sailed over the head of kicker Zach Coutinho.
At the half the score was 6-0.
Leanne Jackson soars into the arms of her teammates.
Josh Paulson took the second half kickoff 76 yards to the BP seven-yard line. From there, Tyler Hathaway followed blockers into the end zone. Coutinho's kick was good and the score was 13-0.
A blocked punt by Jeff Osborne was snagged by Bastille Lucier who rumbled to the BP 15. From there, Josh Paulson scored the purple's final TD.
Coutinho's kick was good and MV led, 20-0 after three quarters.
Unsportsmanlike conduct reigned in the fourth quarter as yellow flags rained on the turf and play was halted more than once as officials huddled in an attempt to sort out which team would be penalized for how many infractions.
In between penalties, the Craftsmen managed to put six points on the board and the game ended, without the traditional team handshakes, 20-6.
The scheduled junior varsity game was canceled by Bristol Plymouth for no apparent reason.
This Saturday the Vineyarders tackle Nantucket there in The Game for possession of the Island Cup. The high-scoring Whalers are coming off a 68-12 rout of Diman Vocational.
The special SSA boat to Nantucket leaves at 7 am and returns after the varsity game. Tickets are $20 for seniors and students, $30 for others. All tickets on the day of sailing are $30.
