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A high school football rivalry in the state of Massachusetts has been cancelled. Martha’s Vineyard Regional has ended its season amid safety concerns.
The school does not have enough players to successfully field a team. A recent string of suspensions forced the program’s hand.
Vineyard and Nantucket play annually in the Island Cup. They will not meet in 2025.
The two sides were scheduled to face off on the last week of the regular season. Unforeseen roster issues have impacted that finale.
A popular high school football rivalry has been cancelled.
According to the Vineyard Gazette, the Vineyarders entered the year with just under 40 players. That number is down significantly with October coming to an end.
The Vineyard team, which is 2-4 on the season, started in September with 36 players on the roster. A couple players dropped off, seven had season-ending injuries and six in the past week were dismissed from the team due to disciplinary reasons.
Seven players have suffered season-ending injuries. Another half-dozen was suspended last week.
At times, the program has had less than 20 players available for practice. Team members are being asked to play on both sides of the ball weekly.
Head coach Tony Mottola commented on the situation ahead of the Island Cup.
“Each week we have been trying to put it together,” he said in an interview. “Their bodies are getting worn down… It kind of all came to a head and became a safety issue… We were teetering on someone getting significantly hurt.”
Players have been asked to play every snap. It’s taken a toll.
The Vineyarders have lost four straight games all by double digits. In the team’s most recent contest, Mottola asked officials to keep a running clock in the second half to speed up the game.
With losses and injuries piling up, the coach is not taking a chance against Nantucket.
Nantucket has not lost.
The Whalers were looking to cap an undefeated regular season with a win over rival Martha’s Vineyard. They will close out the year without a loss. It will not be due to an on-field decision.
Nantucket is a perfect 7-0. It’s been dominant during that run, outscoring its opponents by nearly 30 points a game.
The forfeiture also impacts the community. A rivalry parade has been cancelled days before the annual celebration.
Given Vineyard’s roster issues, the rivalry matchup wasn’t likely to be close. As it stands, the Whalers will get an extra week of rest before attempting a championship run in the playoffs. The Vineyarders’ season will come to an end.