Copyright The Boston Globe
“Coming from a background at a bigger school, I was striving to get kids that aren’t interested to come out and try football,” said the second-year coach, who works in the hospitality industry on the island. “We have athletes on Nantucket, we just have to build a culture where kids are accountable and want to reach new heights, not just wear the jersey and get a varsity letter. Now that we’re winning even more kids are talking about playing next year. As a small school, it’s important to keep those numbers up.” Nantucket (7-0, 4-0 Cape & Islands) is built around many of the star players who helped the Whalers win their first lacrosse state title last spring. Leading the way is star tailback and safety Arann Hanlon, the Jenkinson brothers (Canton and Jeremy), and the Yates brothers (Nick and Ben), who anchor the line along with senior captain Andrew Lavin. No Nantucket lineman weighs more than 200 pounds, and two are less than 160, per Everett. But where they lack bulk, the Whalers make up for it with technique and agility, springing a successful shotgun wing-T offense. “It starts with conditioning,” Everett said. “We have to be faster in certain situations. When it comes to blocking, we have to get there and hold our feet firm. We have to make sure we’re a step ahead. It’s never going to be easy for those guys, but they push through it.” Sophomore quarterback Burke Lombardi can also sling it when the Whalers shift to a spread attack. Juniors David Guillen-Tavares and Eli MacIver mix in with Hanlon for carries and catches out of the backfield, and sophomore Joao Silva is a speedster on the outside. The Jenkinson brothers help set the table offensively and lead the defense at linebacker. Jeremy came up with his third pick-6 of the season and added another interception in Saturday’s 34-14 win over Sandwich. Canton has a pair of interceptions and opened the year with a fumble recovery for a touchdown in a 49-0 win at Cardinal Spellman. On Friday night, the program held it’s third homecoming bonfire outside Vito Capizzo Stadium, complete with a pig roast from a local restaurant. Elementary school kids played football inside the stadium in a family-friendly event, as the buzz continues to build around Nantucket football. While the Whalers entered the weekend ranked eighth in the MIAA Division 6 power rankings due to a lower opponent rating, they should be a tough out in the playoffs. However, its annual clash with Martha’s Vineyard (2-5) — the acclaimed Island Cup scheduled for Saturday — will be cancelled due to forfeit. The Vineyarders are citing a lack of numbers due to injury and off-field infractions, leaving MV with fewer than 20 players to suit up against their rival. “Winning [the Island Cup] last year at Fenway [Park] was a huge part of why more kids are buying into the program,” Everett said. “Regardless of the records, they want to play in that game and represent the island. Hopefully we can still make it a JV game or something. This is one of the longest rivalries in Massachusetts and we can’t let that slip away.” ▪ The final week of the regular season is here, with the MIAA cutoff Saturday. State tournament seedings and pairings for all eight divisions will be released Sunday, Nov. 2 and playoff games can begin as early as Thursday, Nov. 6. ▪ Revere topped Malden, 40-36, thanks in part to a big effort from Anthony Pelatere, who missed the previous five games (injury). The sophomore tallied 101 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns, and set up the winning score with a highlight 45-yard catch. Defensive tackle Silvio Neto batted and intercepted a pass to seal the GBL win. “The kids played tough,” said Revere coach Lou Cicatelli. “They scratched and clawed for four quarters in a win we needed badly.” At 2-5, the Patriots have a chance to qualify for the Division 3 playoffs. ▪ In a wild game featuring more than 1,000 yards of total offense, Masconomet senior Jack Fabiano broke the program’s single-game rushing record with 338 yards and became the program’s career touchdown leader with five more scores to lead a late comeback for a 45-42 win over visiting Marblehead, earning the school’s first Northeastern title . . . West Bridgewater clinched the South Coast Gold title with a 40-6 win at Bourne . . . By handling Carver, 53-14, Randolph won the South Shore Tobin outright for the program’s first league title . . . Blue Hills stunned previously unbeaten Tri-County, 14-7, to earn the Mayflower Large crown . . . Bedford won the Dual County Thorpe for the first time . . . . Tewksbury clinched the MVC 2 title and Methuen topped Haverhill to become MVC 1 champions. Thursday, Hanover at No. 14 Scituate, (6 p.m.) — Leading a large Thursday slate to accommodate Friday Halloween plans, this matchup will determine the Patriot Fisher champion with Hanover (5-2, 4-0) looking to sweep the league and Scituate (6-1, 3-1) angling to share the title. Thursday, Bridgewater-Raynham at No. 8 Barnstable, (7 p.m.) — The Red Hawks were rolling before suffering their first loss to Rhode Island power La Salle, and will look to get back on track against a B-R team that has won four straight. Friday, No. 11 Foxborough at No. 16 North Attleborough, (6 p.m.) — Another week, another huge Hockomock Davenport clash for North Attleborough (5-2, 3-1), which needs a win to keep pace with Foxborough (6-1, 3-0) and Mansfield (5-2, 3-0). Friday, No. 5 Natick at No. 18 Milton, (7 p.m.) — Natick can pound the rock or go spread, and Milton has one of the most prolific passing attacks in the state, so this Bay State crossover showdown is appointment viewing. Saturday, No. 3 Catholic Memorial at No. 1 St. John’s Prep, (1 p.m.) — While they no longer play in the same state tournament division, these Catholic Conference rivals always treat their matchups like a Super Bowl.
