Clubbers persevere over Vineyard with 6-0 win
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT SPORTS EDITOR
With a gritty and determined effort, the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club junior high team scored a late fourth quarter touchdown and cemented the victory with a pass interception to win Saturday's preliminary game at Martha's Vineyard, 6-0.

Zac Gurley nabs the fourth quarter interception to help secure Nantucket's win at Martha's Vineyard. MICHAEL GALVIN/ The Independent

After both teams toughed it out for three quarters, Nantucket's Cody Perry broke the deadlock with a brilliant rushing display. Starting from his own 46-yard line, Perry ate up the field for the score. First, he ran 35 yards to the Vineyard 9. From there, Perry ran the ball three times, scoring from the one yard line for all the points Nantucket would need.

On the Vineyard's ensuing offensive series, Zac Gurley intercepted a second down pass to seal the win. Gurley's interception came after Jamie Topham made a nice tackle on the kickoff return and Alex Rezendes followed that up with a first down quarterback sack.

The touchdown was the capper to a

well-played game. The Clubbers

showed their strength early, stopping the Vineyard on fourth and one at the 13-yard line during the home team's first offensive series. A Vineyard drive at the end of the first half was also stopped, as the Nantucket defense bore down.

Grady Murtaugh had an excellent day for Nantucket with several key tackles. Andrew Benson also kicked a needed 40-yard punt to pin the Vineyard away from the goal line.

Perry, meanwhile, delivered with a superb running performance, especially in the second half when he rushed for over 100 yards.

Nantucket closes out the season with a 6-2 record.

"We have kids who play with lots of heart," head coach Steve Murphy said afterwards. "We had a great season because of the dedication of the team and coaches Mike Connolly, Freddie Tilton and Paul

Boucher." I