For the first time in six years, the Island Cup is staying on the Vineyard. In a battle of wills, the Vineyarders outlasted Nantucket 14-13, holding their rivals scoreless in the second half.

The ultimate inter-Island rivalry is rekindled this week, as the Martha's Vineyard Regional High School prepares to host Nantucket in a slate of fall sports contests culminating Saturday in a battle for the coveted Island Cup.

On a windy Halloween day on Nantucket, the Whalers cruised to a 27-7 victory against the Vineyarders in the historic Island Cup rivalry.

The Island Cup game has been rescheduled to Sunday at 2 p.m. on Nantucket. The fan boat leaves the Vineyard on Oct. 31 at 7 a.m. Field hockey and boys and girls soccer also play at Nantucket that day.

The Island Cup football game between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket has been canceled due to exposure to Covid-19.

In the 40th Island Cup matchup, a tough Nantucket team proved too much for the Vineyarders. The Whalers wasted no time in jumping out to a 28-0 lead.

This year’s Island Cup features a young crop of vigorous Vineyarders eager to recapture the cup versus a Nantucket team riding high off back-to-back lopsided wins.

The Vineyard team narrowly avoided a shutout in the closing minutes of the Island Cup. Final score: Nantucket 48, Vineyard 7.

Nantucket struck early and often as it leads the Vineyard 29-0 at halftime.

The start of the Island Cup is just minutes away as the Vineyard and Nanucket face off for football bragging rights. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m under very sunny skies.