Football team rolls over Diman, 68-12
BY STEVE SHEPPARD
In a tuneup for this weekend's season finale against you know who, the Whalers ran over, around and through visiting Diman High School Saturday for their sixth win of the year and fourth in a row. Nantucket was a heavy favorite in this contest against the first-year entrant in the Mayflower small division, and it was over before you could say John O'Mara three times fast. The senior running back scored three touchdowns in the first period, and tied a school record with five touchdowns overall, to again lead the Whalers' offensive effort. The final score, 68-12, represented Nantucket's highest point total since it beat Old Colony, 73-0, back in 1978.

Senior fullback John O'Mara leaps for the score. O'Mara tied the Nantucket school scoring record with five touchdowns against the visiting Diman Bengals.

Coach Vito Capizzo tried as many combinations as he could to keep the score reasonable, but with only 19 players dressed there wasn't much juggling he could do. "There was no way we were trying to run up

the score," he said afterwards. "That's not our style." He was also mindful of the visitors' effort. "I have to give them credit," he said of the Diman Bengals, who have yet to win a game. "They didn't quit." Indeed, the most noise generated through much of the second half came from the Diman bench, whose players encouraged their teammates to hang in until the end.

With quarterback Geddes Paulsen resting because of a concussion suffered in last week's victory over Tri-County, Nantucket employed three different quarterbacks, rotating sophomores Joe Bopp and Chris Welch on alternate offensive series before Brian Reis also saw action behind center. Wide receiver Andriques Farmer was given ample opportunity to try his skills as kicker as the Whalers refrained from conversion attempts after

scoring their first touchdown

with the exception of a late in the game conversion toss from Josh Holdgate to Delroy Lawrence). Farmer was good on 6 of 8 point after attempts, and twice finished off his own scoring runs - one a 65 yarder - with successful PATs.

For the record, the touchdown parade included: O'Mara (9 yards); O'Mara (2 yards); O'Mara (4 yards); Josh Holdgate (16 yards); O'Mara (57 yards); Farmer (4 yards); O'Mara (20 yards); Mark Dwyer (50 yards); Farmer (65 yards); Welch (1 yard).

The Whalers are now 6-4 overall, with a 4-1 record in the Mayflower Small Division. The team has won 5 of its last 6 games, a marked improvement over last year's 1-9 record. No matter what happens this weekend, Nantucket is assured of its first winning season since 2003.

Between the lines: Diman is fielding its first varsity team. The Fall River school played a junior varsity schedule last year. The Bengals have a chance to end the year on a high note, however; they play another winless team, Greater New Bedford, Thanksgiving Day. Alas, New Bedford plays in Division 2A, quite a step up . . . . If you're wondering why more junior varsity players didn't suit up, it's because the team had just played the day before . . . . Diman scored on runs of 25 yards and a 70 yard kickoff return. . . . O'Mara's 5 TDs tied the record originally set by Bill Medeiros and matched several years ago by Alex Richardson. . . West Bridgewater clinched the Mayflower Small crown and a playoff berth with Saturday's 14-12 win over Tri-County.

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