Martha's Vineyard needed a touchdown. Twenty-six seconds left on the clock. Archrival Nantucket up 26-21. First and goal, seven yards to reach the promised land of the Nantucket end zone. Vineyard quarterback Alec Tattersall walked toward the stands of Dan McCarthy Memorial Field, raising his arms over his head — get on your feet, Vineyard, on your feet. His teammates followed suit, arms lifted, encouraging, and the once-quiet crowd roared back to life.

In 1988, head football coach Donald Herman had just started coaching at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and was unfamiliar with the Island Cup, the annual rivalry football game between the Vineyard and Nantucket. The game was scheduled to be played on Nantucket that year, so he went over to “the other island” early with the junior varsity team, meeting up with the Nantucket coach.

“We’re building the foundation,” junior varsity head coach Mike Magaraci said in a Gazette interview. “And then junior and senior year, you build the house.”

On Monday, Mr. O’Donnell is out on the field with the four other varsity assistant coaches alongside Coach Herman, helping the team prepare for the Island Cup this weekend.

The varsity football team defeated the Nantucket Whalers 10-7 Saturday afternoon, ensuring that the Island Cup’s visit to Nantucket would be nothing more than a day trip. A large crowd gathered on Saturday night at the Steamship Authority to greet the returning victors, who hoisted the trophy above their heads.