There’s no crying in football. We beat ‘em on the Vineyard. We beat ’em on Nantucket. We almost beat ’em in Boston.

This year’s Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket clash took place in the magical setting of Fenway Park. A couple of thousand fans from both Islands enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience watching our athletes play on the hallowed field once graced by Ted Williams, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski.

And like many of the games in the past, it came down to the very end. This time it was Nantucket, prevailing 22-14, knotting the Island Cup series 22-22. The overtime thriller added another chapter to the historic rivalry.

On the long bus ride back to the 9:45 p.m. boat, I rediscovered my happiest Vineyard football memories.

In 1992, down 12-0 with 4:46 to go quarterback Jason Dyer throws touchdown passes to Albie Robinson and Keith Devine, and Aaron Belanger’s down field tackle saves game. Vineyard wins 14-12.

In 2004, EJ Sylvia kicks field goal with seconds left to give Vineyard 24-21 lead. The game is seemingly over when Nantucket kickoff returner gets knocked down. Game over. Vineyard fans storm the field, but the referees never blew the whistle. Victory is only preserved when the Nantucket kickoff returner ran into the Vineyard water boy, Brenden Maseda, slowing him down just enough for Jimmy Bishop to make game saving tackle.

In 2011 on Nantucket, the incredible 17-minute Vineyard drive for the win 10-7.

In 2012, with the Vineyard trailing with 4:41 to go, quarterback Alec Tattersall tosses touchdown passes to Kenny Watkins and Joe Turney and Vineyard nipped Nantucket at the wire 27-26.

Just last year on Nantucket, the Vineyard, down 21-7, rallied to the tie the game 21-21. Victor Desouza then calmly kicked a field goal. We cheered a 24-21 Vineyard victory. But wait. The Vineyard was offsides and incurred a five-yard penalty. Desouza calmly kicks the next field goal. Vineyard wins 24-21. But no, the Vineyard was offsides again and incurred another five-yard penalty. Third try by Desouza and the kick is good again, with no penalties this time. The Vineyard finally wins, 24-21.

The rivalry dates back to 1953, the first year of Martha’s Vineyard football. The inaugural game lit up the rivalry fires. Nantucket won that first game, 33-20, and the Vineyard struggled to beat Nantucket for the next 10 long years. But in 1963 the Vineyarders finally conquered the Whalers — not once, but twice that season, harpooning the Whalers 24-0 at home and 2-0 on Nantucket.

The Vineyard enjoyed a short successful run after that, but then the Whalers flexed their gridiron muscle, winning six years in a row until 1972 when the Vineyarders, led by Ronnie Brown, Jeff Clements and Richie Madeiras, upset the previously unbeaten Whalers 26-6.

In 1978, Vineyard Coach John Bacheller introduced the official Island Cup. Nantucket won the inaugural game. The Vineyard won the 1979 game, but Nantucket held the Cup until 1985 when Coach Bob Tankard’s team finally snapped the streak.

Nantucket then held sway until Donald Herman took over as the new coach. He proceeded for most years to outfox Nantucket Coach Vito Capizzo as the Vineyard dominated the Whalers during a nine-year span.

But no matter the record, one fact remains constant. The winner always claims a successful season.

Former players spoke to me about what the Nantucket game meant to them.

Michael Gibson, (class of 1978): “For the past 47 years I have shared what it means to beat Nantucket. I was from the class of 1978, and we beat Nantucket 14-12 at home. I have run 10 marathons but nothing was better than beating Nantucket.”

Mark McCarthy (class of 1980 and currently Martha’s Vineyard Athletic High School athletic director): “It was the game I always looked forward to. There was always a great atmosphere.”

Scott Morgan, (class of 1980): “To me it was more fun to play on Nantucket. The rivalry was so intense, it was fun to see it from their side.”

Richie Packish, (class of 1985): “I played against them in baseball and basketball. I hit the trifecta with football. The rivalry was great.”

Albie Robinson, (class of 1992): “Ultimate hatred and ultimate respect at the same time. I would have liked to beat them 50-0 but the way we tore their hearts out in ’92 was amazing.”

Greg Belcher, (class of 1994): “Fight, win, but mostly respect.”

Aaron Belanger, (class of 1994): “The Nantucket game was the ultimate goal. Nothing else mattered.”

Ryan Ruley, (class of 1998): “Representing those that came before and leading from the front for those who come behind you. Pride in who we are and where we are. All the while, respecting Nantucket, because they live by the same creed. Vineyard pride!”

Jarrett Campbell, (class of 2000): “Game meant everything. It was our identity.”

Ed Casey, (class of 2000): “It means so much because you want to be the better island. Bragging rights are being able to hoist that cup in front of them.”

Michael Rebello, (class of 2002): “I remember wanting to play Vineyard football because of the Nantucket game, watching our community treat the players like superstars, there’s nothing like it.”

Ryan Rossi, (class of 2006): “It was the one game we prepared for all season. Every rep at practice and every down and every game was just preparation to beat Nantucket.”

Theodore DeBettencourt, (class of 2008): “The greatest feeling I ever had was hoisting the Island Cup into the air and just knowing our Island was just a little bit better than theirs.”

Kevin O’Donnell (class of 2010): “Winning the Island Cup was the pinnacle of our season, with bragging rights and the trophy to show for it.”

David Zebulun Macias, (class of 2015), “Island Cup is the privilege of having a championship game every year.”

Zach Smith, (class of 2021): “Nothing else in the season mattered.”

And lastly from Coach Donald Herman: “The Nantucket game is the culmination of that week, that practice, that year. It is the culmination of all the work, the blood, tears and commitment made by all the coaches and players. Overcoming adversity, being disciplined, being unselfish and accountable to someone other than you. This one game, the Island Cup, brings all of these to the forefront.”

Let the Whalers enjoy their moment. Next year a new chapter will be written. And for everyone who has ever followed Martha’s Vineyard, you will understand the following Vineyard football traditon, “Say Goodnight Norm.”

Ken Goldberg has been covering Vineyard sports since 1977.