Illness forces MV to scrap October 30 game against Cape Tech
(Oct. 31, 2009 - Cape Cod Times) Saturday's high school football game between Martha's Vineyard and Cape Tech/Harwich scheduled for Cape Tech was canceled because of a flu outbreak at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School.

Included among them were some confirmed as H1N1, or swine flu. MV coach Donald Herman said Tuesday night he had been unable to practice this week because more than 20 percent of his 44-member team had been absent from school, which is school policy. MV canceled the game yesterday morning, Cape Tech athletic director Don Farley said. The Vineyard had alerted Cape Tech on Monday to what was happening.

“We understand completely,” said Farley. “They didn't want to risk any more exposure.” It was a nonleague game, so it was not that crucial to the season. Cape Tech/Harwich, which leads the Mayflower Large with a 4-0 record, 4-1 overall, plays two important league games in the next two weeks in its quest for a league championship and Div. 4 playoff berth.

The cancellation continues a rough 2009 season for MV, which so far has included the cancellation of its annual Island Cup game with Nantucket and having to accept a forfeit win when Charlestown couldn't field enough eligible players.

“We are trying to reduce the risk of infection amongst ourselves and other schools in the hopes this can run its course in a short period of time,” said MV's Herman. “We'll start getting kids back who were sick in the next couple of days and hope to limit any more infection.”

The Vineyard, which moved from the Div. 4 Mayflower Large (unwillingly) to the tougher Div. 3 Eastern Athletic Conference this fall, is 4-3 overall and 1-2 in the EAC. In between was an off-isle principal-led stifle from a planned move to the D3 South Coast Conference, which had been approved by SCC athletic directors. The South Coast may have been a better match as it contains closer opponents Wareham, Old Rochester, and Bourne. As it stands, MV is happy to have been invited to join the very competitive EAC.

MV 21, Seekonk 14
SEEKONK — All the scoring came in the first half, and it was Tyler Araujo's second TD of the game that gave Martha's Vineyard the win. Araujo ran it in from 2 yards out in the second quarter as MV overcame a 14-7 deficit. the Vineyarders started six sophomores against the Warriors.

MV (4-3) struck first on a 24-yard run by Tyler with Dhonathen Lemos tacking on the extra point. The Warriors (4-3) answered when Jake Lyman scored on a 3-yard run. Colby Sawyer made the extra point. Seekonk then took the lead on a 24-yard run by Joe Teixeira with Sawyer adding the extra point.

Randall Jette answered for MV, scoring on a 12-yard run before Araujo's second score.

Both defenses held in the second half with neither team recording a score.

Brian Montambault had 13 tackles, sophmore Ryan Fisher had his first interception and sophmore Michael Montanile started at tackle for the first time and MV ran for 257 yards.

Somerset 20, MV 0
SOMERSET – Martha’s Vineyard Vineyard was held to 79 yards in total offense and fumbled away its only scoring threat in a 20-0 Eastern Athletic Conference football loss to Somerset.

Somerset took control of the game after a scoreless first quarter with 14 points in the second quarter, and added a final touchdown in the fourth. The Vineyard (3-3, 1-2 EAC) fumbled on the Somerset 15 and also turned the ball over on an interception.

The Blue Raiders (5-1, 2-0 EAC) took the lead with 5:57 left before intermission after a 14-play, 77-yard march that ended with quarterback Adam Ledoux’s one-yard touchdown run. They made it 12-0 with eight seconds left on an 8-yard reception by Seth Demello. Jason Spear added the 2-point conversion. Demello rushed for 90 yards and scored twice.

“They were a better football team – a bigger, faster football team. Plain and simple,” Vineyard coach Donald Herman said.

PLAYER AWARDS
Defense - DJ Kaeka
Coaches - Michael Montanile
Special Teams - Conor Smith

Bishop Feehan 35, Martha's Vineyard 7
OAK BLUFFS, October 9 – The Vineyarders ran into a quality opponent Friday night at McCarthy Field. Bishop Feehan controlled the ball on the ground, churning up big chunks and marching down the field to hand Martha's Vineyard a 35-7 Eastern Athletic Conference defeat last night.

The Vineyard (3-2, 1-1 EAC) scored their only touchdown in the second quarter when Lamar Moreis hauled in a 51-yard pass from Randall Jette to tie it at 7. But Feehan quickly regained control, taking a 14-7 halftime lead and outscoring the Vineyard 21-0 in the second half.

Kevin Boland scored on runs of 5 and 2 yards for Feehan (3-1, 1-0) while Zack Schwieger punched it in from 3 and 1 to lead the winners.

The Vineyard was held to 178 yards of total offense, and only 61 on the ground.

MV 39, St. Mary's 22
OAK BLUFFS – Randall Jette rushed for 247 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Vineyarders over the previously unbeaten Rams, played in monsoon conditions at McCarthy Field Saturday October 3rd.

Jette scored on a 1-yard run in the first quarter, and Dhonathen Lemos followed with a successful kick to put MV (3-1) up early. St. Mary's (3-1) countered when Nick Day caught a 25-yard pass from Cam Muldey and Todd Collier rumbled in for a successful 2-point conversion to make it 8-7.

The Vineyarders answered with a 54-yard run and a 2-point rush before the first quarter was over. Jette and Lamar Moreis teamed up for a 16-yard pass in the second quarter, and kicker Lemos made the extra point and tacked on a 25-yard field goal for a 25-8 halftime lead.

Tyler Araujo scored on a 9-yard run in the third quarter followed by another Lemos PAT.

St. Mary's came back with two unanswered TDs after separate fumbles before Jette put it away with a decisive 78-yard scoring run.

MV 22, Coyle-Cassidy 20, Thrilling OT Victory
OAK BLUFFS — The Vineyarders' defense stuffed the Warriors on a 2-point conversion attempt in overtime to preserve the lead on the way to their first-ever Eastern Athletic Conference win.

Martha's Vineyard (2-1, 1-0 EAC) opened the scoring in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Tyler Araujo, but the point-after attempt was no good. Later in the second, Coyle-Cassidy (1-2, 0-1) made it 7-6 on a 1-yard run by Jack Birmingham with Chris Preston tacking on the extra point. The Warriors added to their lead when quarterback Ryan Feeney completed a 40-yard pass to Kyle Cachopa.

In a thrilling comeback drive in the 4th after stopping the warriors cold, Vineyard quarterback Randall Jette completed a precise 27-yard touchdown pass to Josh Baker for 6, then Jette ran in the 2-point conversion to tie it at 14.

In overtime, the Vineyarders struck first on a 3-yard rush by Araujo, and Jette took it himself on the try and rushed wide right and in for the 2-point conversion to make it 22-14. The Warriors answered when Feeney connected with Jay Doherty on a 23-yard touchdown pass, but the rushing conversion to the right by Jack Birmingham was stuffed at the goal line. His attempt to reach the ball over the line was fumbled and recovered by another Warrior. However, the officials ruled the forward fumble illegal and MV prevailed.

Jette finished 10-for-11 for 85 yards and a touchdown and Araujo had 128 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Andres Silva made 12 tackles and Thomas Tilton-Heylin added 11 tackles for MV.

On the conversion attempt, C-C's Birmingham was tackled at the 2, fumbled forward to the goalline, where it was recovered by another Warrior. Ruling: a) PATs are considered a 4th down play, therefore the runner in possesion of the ball is the only player who can advance a fumble he previously possessed; b) fumbling forward intentionally is illegal.

COACHES AWARDS:
Offensive player - Tyler Araujo
Defensive player - Thomas Tilton-Heylin
Coaches - Devin Balboni
Special Teams - Dhonathan Lemos

Charlestown forfeited last week's game, not having enough qualified players.

OAK BLUFFS — Randall Jette threw for a touchdown pass and returned an extra point for a two-point conversion, but Martha's Vineyard fell to Old Rochester Regional.

Myles Hubert ran for three touchdowns for the Bulldogs (1-0), scoring on two runs of five yards and finally a 35-yard run to cap scoring.

Jette, a junior in his first game at quarterback, hooked up with Lamar Moreis on a 25-yard pass in the third quarter. Jette's pass pulled the Vineyard ahead 15-14 before Hubert's 35-yard scamper.

The Vineyard got strong play from junior Brian Montambault, sophomore Delmont Araujo and sophomore Tyler Araujo, who ran in a two-yard score to give MV an early 6-0 lead.

Jette, who finished with 91 yards on 15 carries, stunned the Bulldogs and the crowd by returning a blocked extra point by Old Rochester 97 yards for a two-point conversion.

The Vineyarders (0-1) head to Charlestown next Friday.

COACHES PLAYER AWARDS
Defense - Delmont Araujo
Coaches - James Bagnall
Special Teams - Thomas Tilton-Heylin