The Martha’s Vineyard High School Vineyarders (5-4) celebrated retiring head coach Don Herman’s last home game with a convincing 20-0 victory over Wareham High School Friday night at Dan McCarthy Field in Oak Bluffs.
Senior running backs did all the scoring. Ben Clark scored two rushing TDs, Jacob Cardoza one and Austin Chandler scored a rushing point after. Jacob Cardoza and Austin Chandler led the attack with 70 yards each on the ground.
Senior quarterback Tucker McNeeley completed seven of 13 passes for 79 yards in the game which was dominated by a Vineyarder defense that included two Cardoza interceptions. Senior Andy DiMattia and junior Lucas Debettencourt led with 10 tackles, followed by senior Justin Donahue with eight stops.
The Vineyarders took a 14-0 lead into the halftime locker room and added Ben Clark’s’ second TD in the third quarter to complete the scoring.
The win puts the Vineyarders in line for a 7-4 season, pending the outcome of Friday night’s away game against Norwell High School (4-4) and the Nov. 21 Island Cup game against the high-flying Nantucket Whalers (8-1) who play Mayflower League powerhouse Bishop Connolly on Friday night.
“Great defensive effort Friday night. Other than our own two miscues [offense fumble and a penalty], the defense kept Wareham from crossing midfield the entire game,” Mr. Herman said.