The Island Cup is a treasure shared by two Islands. Though tarnished, occasionally dropped and frequently squeezed, its sig­nificance has only increased. For 25 years the cup continues to be photographed, celebrated and cov­eted by athletes. And tomorrow, when Nantucket meets Martha’s Vineyard on the football gridiron, the cup is up for grabs again.

The Regional High School football season, which this year has not been the happiest of times, ended on a cheerful note Saturday, when the Vineyarders trounced the Nantucket team 28-0 on its own field. Defeat at the hands of the rival Islanders would have been the final disgrace for the Vineyard team, which has been plagued through most of the season by ties and defeats. But as it turned out, everything over there on that semi-blessed isle suddenly came up roses.

The piercing wail of fire sirens and the exuberant cheering of Regional High supporters greeted each plane-load of the victorious Purple and White football team at the Martha's Vineyard Airport Saturday evening following their first win in seven years over a Nantucket eleven.

The Vineyarders should have known better. No one eats whale meat anymore, and they couldn't change that Saturday on Nantucket.

More than 500 Vineyard fans chanted: "What do we eat? - Whale meat," as the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School football team lost to its Whaler rivals, 14-0.

Almost everyone on the Island knew it even before the final seconds ticked off the clock. If they didn't, they knew it before the Nantucket fans sailed for home at 4 p.m. The Vineyarders beat the Whalers in the final football game of the season. It was a good contest – and it was a sweet victory.

It is easier to be philosophical when the winners are celebrating across the Sound with the Island Trophy, but there were good signs in the Vineyard's performance against Nantucket on Saturday.

The 38-14 Whalers victory at Memorial Field on Nantucket assured them' a slot in the Division 5 superbowl and a 10-0 season. Yes, they are fast and big and the defensive line was relentless, but Martha's Vineyard is one of only two teams to score more than 8 points against them all year.

You don't have to be a fan of high school football to understand the rare chemistry that can transform a team and a sporting event.

The Vineyarders not only beat arch rival Nantucket 14-6 on Saturday for the Mayflower league championship and their first play-off berth ever, but they managed to produce two big plays and hold the line against an intimidating opponent with a spirit that doesn't come along very often.