Craftsmen in control, 22-0
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT SPORTS EDITOR
The Nantucket defense played gallantly, and the passing game continued to be a viable threat, but penalties and interceptions did the Whalers in as they fell Friday night to Bristol-Plymouth, 22-0.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Although Zatrick Pinkney (64) and Jordan Ferreira (24) are in hot pursuit, B-P's Tim Rose score's the game's first touchdown.

As the saying goes, the game was closer than the final score indicates as Nantucket threatened but just couldn't mount a sustained drive against the Craftsmen. Injuries to key players also didn't help against the much larger visitors as Erik Hughes, Delroy Lawrence, Curren Huyser and Matt Fry were unavailable for action. Unlike last year, when B-P stung the Whalers to the tune of 46-0, this shutout wasn't decided until the fourth quarter.

"I don't know what they're feeding these kids, but that's the biggest team we've faced in a long, long time," coach Vito Capizzo said.

The Whalers had to try to come from behind in this one, as B-P scored on its first possession, racking up five first downs on a drive downfield that culiminated in a 13- yard touchdown run off a counter play. The conversion pass was good, and B-P led early, 8-0.

After exchanging possessions, Nantucket got the ball back on a fumble recovery by Blair Jannelle early in the second quarter. B-P, however, returned the favor with a fumble recovery of its own, but the ensuing drive downfield was thwarted by a knocked down pass by the Whaler defense in the end zone. As would be the case all night, however, the Whalers' offense just couldn't find paydirt and B-P got the ball back with time running out in the half. Although Bristol-Plymouth had been content to pretty much run the ball to that point, a second down reverse pass was good for 45 yards and the Craftsmen had the ball on the Nantucket 2 as the clock wound down. With just five seconds left in the half, B-P ran it in for its second touchdown and made the conversion run good as well for the 16-0 score.

The second half began with Nantucket getting good field position, compliments of a Craftsmen personal foul that gave the Whalers the ball on the visitors' 44 yard line. Nantucket controlled the ball for half the period but, after picking up a first down on an 8-yard pass play to Josh Butler, turned the ball over on its next set of downs. B-P was again stymied by the Whalers' defense, but the fourth down punt to Nantucket resulted in a turnover as the quarter ended.

Working from its own 25 yard line, B-P held onto the football until, facing a third down and 20 from its 36 yard line, it again went to the air for a 28- yard pass play to the Nantucket 10 yard line.

The heat of the night then flared up, as Nantucket was called for a defensive offsides, but the Craftsmen were tagged with two personal fouls on the play (on two different players). The ball was taken halfway to the goal on the Nantucket penalty, but carried 30 yards the other way on B-P's dual unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, forcing the visitors to face a second and goal from the Nantucket 33-yardline.

Nantucket's last chance to halve the score went for naught when the Whalers took possession on downs, only to have a first down pass intercepted and run back 26 yards for the final B-P touchdown and the final, 22- 0, tally.

Whaler quarterback Chris Welch had another good night, passing for 86 yards, primarily to Jordan Ferreira, who picked up 41 yards on seven catches, including a nice grab and move to stay inbounds on the drive to start the second half.

Tomas Smaliorius had another great game as a two-way player, with several key tackles. The senior continues to be one of the most versatile, and talented, players on the field. "He's an athlete; he cares; he has commitment," coach Capizzo notes. Other good defensive efforts were put in by David Loveberry, Jamison Viera and Zatrick Pinkney, amid a total defensive effort.

It was the last game on Nantucket for Bristol-Plymouth coach Bill Moan, who is retiring after this season. The veteran coach and his teams have been involved in many memorable battles with the Whalers over the years, including a few nailbiters for both sides. He was gracious in his praise for the Nantucket program.

"I've been coming here for 34 years, and I am going to miss coming to Nantucket," he said. "I think back to all the teams we've played, and Nantucket has had some great teams over the years. Kudos to Vito for all that he's done with such a small student body. Nantucket's a small school and he made a football dynasty out of it. Our wins here have been so hard

earned - and appreciated." I