The varsity football team defeated the Nantucket Whalers 10-7 Saturday afternoon, ensuring that the Island Cup’s visit to Nantucket would be nothing more than a day trip. A large crowd gathered on Saturday night at the Steamship Authority to greet the returning victors, who hoisted the trophy above their heads.

The Whalers got things started early in the game with a 70-yard run on their very first play, but a Michael Montanile interception not long after put the ball back in Vineyard hands. The team steadily moved the ball downfield in a 13-minute, 99-yard drive that stretched into the second quarter and ended in a rushing touchdown from senior Tyler Araujo. Sophomore Joe Turney followed it up with a two-point conversion to put Martha’s Vineyard ahead 8-0.

The Vineyard added two more points in the fourth on a safety.

Nantucket quarterback Taylor Hughes ran in the lone Whaler touchdown in the fourth. Whaler Sam Earle kicked in the extra point.

Turnovers returned the ball to Nantucket late in the fourth, but senior Ryan Fisher intercepted a Hughes pass with 27 seconds left in the game to seal the Vineyard win.

An interception sealed the win for the Vineyard junior varsity team as well, with sophomore Adonis Camby nabbing a Nantucket throw with 1:35 left on the clock. The JV team won 15-8, giving head coach Phil Hughes his ninth straight JV Island Cup.

The Vineyard junior high team fell 32-10 to the Whalers.