Go Vineyard!

Tomorrow at 1 pm, the football team, the Vineyarders, will face the Nantucket High School Whalers for the annual “Island Cup” game.

This much storied rivalry goes back 33 years and was chosen last year by the Great American Rivalry Series as one of the top 50 rivalries.

According to MVRHS athletic director, Mark McCarthy, “We’ve got very evenly matched teams.” Nantucket has had a great season and are currently 9 - 1. The Vineyarders come into the game at 4 - 6. However, the teams play in different leagues and this is the only game the teams play against each other during the season. The Whalers are a part of the Mayflower Small league and the Vineyarders are part of the Eastern Athletic Conference.

“We haven’t played a common opponent, so the records don't really matter,” said McCarthy. “We play much larger schools all year then they do.”

According to McCarthy, Nantucket “has a really good team this year. They’re 9 and 1; they’ve learned how to win.” Still, the Vineyarders are going into the game on a good note having won the last two games. “We’ve got a great team. It’s going to be a close game. It's going to be a good game.”

This annual game is also one of the few times people from one sister island visit the other. This year, Nantucket is the home team, so if you're looking for ways to get to the game, there are two ways you can get from Island to Island:

Get on the fan boat tomorrow at 7 am. The teams and fans and boat directly to Nantucket from Vineyard Haven. Buses will meet the fan boat and take players and fans to the field. The price for the fan boat is $30 for adults; students and seniors are $20, but everyone pays full price for tickets on day of travel. The return boat will leave Nantucket after the game, some time around 4:30pm.

If you can’t make the fan boat, will be providing special flights throughout the day tomorrow. At press time, there were still seats available on six of the 11 flights. Fare is $75 roundtrip.

Finally, if you can’t make it at all, the game will be broadcast live on WMVY Radio.

Details: Nantucket hosts Martha’s Vineyard in the 33rd Annual Island Cup at 1 pm at Nantucket High School. The Junior Varsity game starts at 10 am in the game field and the junior high game starts at 10 am in the Boys Club Field.