Progress over results: Martha's Vineyard football improves to 3-3, defeating Monomoy 28-20
In a back-and-forth game on Friday the Martha's Vineyard Vineyarders outlasted the Monomoy Sharks 28-20 on the road.
It was a game that required grit, and resilience from both sides, as the two teams traded blows throughout the four quarters.
It was a game that featured a little bit of everything. There was a blocked punt, turnovers from both sides, two second half lead changes, and plenty of well played football in between.
Ultimately, it was the Vineyarders who came out on top, and improved to 3-3 on the season.
Progress Over Results
Getting back to .500 is usually a good thing, but in the eyes of Martha's Vineyard head coach Tony Mottola, the record is secondary compared to the eye test of his team making progress this season.
His focus is on how the Vineyarders compete when the lights come on. His team has had some great games, and some clunkers, but Mottola said this week he saw a different level of focus in practice. He called the week, "the best" that his team has had this season, and after the game said he could see how that translated.
"We challenged them all week and we'll continue to challenge them," he said. "We did a lot more competitions within practice. We did a lot more one-on-ones, and (were) a little bit more physical during practice."
Practice doesn't always mean perfect, but Mottola was happy with how his team performed. The Vineyarders led for the entire first half, but surrendered the lead in the third quarter. It was in that moment, that the compete level was going to show, and Mottola said he could see it playing out live.
"We were at a turning point there in the third, (and) fourth quarter where it could've gone either way," he said. "I felt like our kids just found a way... It was like they smelled blood in the water, they were just going."
What ultimately led to the Vineyarders pulling out the win, was the execution of the offense, and it all started with the Vineyarders offensive line.
"Our offensive line moved their defensive line, and started moving the line of scrimmage for us, and we were able to run the ball," Mottola said.
The line fueled the running game, and running back Guilherme Oliveira was the beneficiary. His two fourth quarter touchdowns flipped the score from 20-14 Monomoy, to 28-20 Martha's Vineyard. Oliveira also gave credit to the boys in the trenches for helping him get loose.
"My line really tapped in," Oliveira said. "The first half we did fantastic, but in the second half we really tapped in."
Oliveira was also someone who felt his team had the best week in practice so far this season. He added that he and his teammates need to maintain that energy for the rest of their season, in order to take the next step.
"This week in practice has been probably the best week in practice we've had this whole year in terms of resilience, (and) of effort," he said. "Continuing to build, continuing to maintain motivation... if we just keep going with that confidence, then we will succeed."
Family affair
Three of the four touchdowns the Vineyarders scored came on the ground, two for Oliveira, and one for Kaio DaCosta.
The other touchdown, which was Martha's Vineyard second of the night, that may have been the coolest moment.
In the second quarter, sophomore quarterback William Nicholson dropped back and fired deep for a 25-yard touchdown pass. On the receiving end? His older brother, senior wide receiver Wyatt Nicholson.
"The nine (go route) was open, and I just looked off that safety and just threw it, and he (Wyatt) made a good play." William Nicholson said.
It was the second time the pair have connected for a score, but Wyatt said this was the first that mattered. It played a crucial part in the Vineyarders' win, and Wyatt Nicholson said he's seen dramatic improvement in his younger brother.
"I've seen a lot of growth," Wyatt Nicholson said. "I trust him out there, I knew he'd hit me."
The family ties don't end there though. There's another Nicholson in the Martha's Vineyard fold. William and Wyatt's father, Caleb Nicholson, is an assistant coach for the Vineyarders.
Caleb Nicholson is also an alum of Martha's Vineyard himself, and said he's loving getting to both coach and watch his sons play.
"It's always been my dream," Nicholson said about watching his sons suit up for the Vineyarders. "I played high school football here on the Vineyard way back in the 90s. (Now), having two boys here, and being part of the program, as a father, (there's) nothing better."
Chase Yarletts is growing, Monomoy is still searching
From the Monomoy perspective, the loss was another narrow defeat, in a game in which they had opportunities.
Quarterback Chase Yarletts is now over halfway through his debut campaign as the Sharks signal caller, and head coach Rob Sliney says he's made wholesale improvements since the start of the season.
"He's progressing amazingly," Sliney said. "I put him in the pressure spot, and he's been doing great for us."
Yarletts intially didn't even want to play quarterback. Sliney pointed out after the game that Yarletts is a natural athlete, and didn't want his playmaking ability to be limited.
"He was mad at me at first, because he knew quarterback meant no more defense," Sliney said.
He's now making plays with his arm and his legs, and in the loss Friday night, had a rushing touchdown, and several clutch plays to keep Monomoy's offense on the field.
Still, Yarletts was being hard on himself, especially at the end after his pass fell incomplete, and gave the ball back to Martha's Vineyard with a minute and a half left in the game. It was then that Sliney made sure to put an arm around the junior quarterback
"A lot of it is just keeping his head straight," Sliney said. "He walked off after that last series and he was looking at me and goes, 'I just lost us that game.' I gave him a hug and I told, 'listen man, you didn't lose anything... don't you worry about it'"
It's the balance that comes with coaching developing players. At times coaches play the role of coach, other times, its confidant and motivator. Sliney said his focus is more on the latter, as he tries to help Yarletts recognize his abilities.
"Anything I can do to make that kid feel more confident, I'm going to do. I'm going to say what I need to say, but I also don't lie to him." Sliney said. "We have a good report that way. He knows I'm not going to blow smoke at him, and that's a big thing for him, that trust factor."
The team as whole is still searching for some consistency. After the game Sliney highlighted how unforced errors ultimately swung the game in Martha's Vineyard's favor, and said going forward he wants to see more focus from his team.
It's in part because on a team with limited numbers, players can never be sure whether they're going to come into a game.
Take eighth grader Max Furman. He probably didn't expect to be thrown into the deep end, but Sliney's hand was forced.
"I had an eighth grader start the whole game tonight, at linebacker," Sliney said. "I threw him into the fire and he's great. He's going to be a player for years to come which is awesome.
It's the proverbial, "next man up," mentality that Sliney says is huge for this year's team. As they go down the home stretch of the season, Sliney wants his team to be prepared.
"Next guy up has to be ready to go," Sliney said. "That's something that we definitely tell all these young guys. You have to pay attention, you have to know what's going on (because) you're the next guy."
The loss drops the Sharks record to 2-4. Next up is a road contest against Nantucket. Martha's Vineyard's next game is at home against St. John Paul II.
André Simms covers high school sports for the Times. Contact him at asimms@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @that1guyandre.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Vineyarders football beats Monomoy
