Island Cup To Be Played At Fenway Park On November 26

Fenway Park Events announced Wednesday evening that the Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard Island Cup football game will be played at Fenway Park on Tuesday, November 26 at 5 p.m.

"This is a pretty unique opportunity for these kids," Nantucket Athletic Director Travis Lombardi told the Current. "Obviously it's for the kids, but our town and our community as well. I know there are a lot of other rivalries that applied for this, but for us to be selected is a huge honor for both us and the Vineyard. We're really looking forward to it, and it's definitely going to be a little bit different. The atmosphere is not going to be as intimate. I get that, but just the whole experience and the environment and the atmosphere is going to be something that these kids in this community are going to remember for a very long time."

Tickets for the game are being sold here, and 25 percent of every ticket sold will go back to the school’s involved in the game.

After Nantucket beat Martha’s Vineyard 27-7 in the Oct. 31, 2021 Island Cup, the Vineyarders have rattled off wins in each of the past two games – beating Nantucket 14-13 in 2022 on the Vineyard and 24-21 in 2023 on Nantucket.

"I know there are going to be some people that might be a little upset by it, but I think that after everything is all said and done and we're there, and we win the Cup and we travel back to Nantucket with it after winning it at Fenway Park, it will be pretty cool for these kids," Lombardi said.

The game will not factor into either team's playoff algorithm since it is being played after the November 3 cutoff date, however that is not uncommon for rivalry games across the state that annually take place on Thanksgiving Day.

"This game here is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Whaler head coach Reese Everett, who is entering his first season leading the program, told the Current. "I truly believe this is a great occasion for both programs to play on a big stage and get the opportunity to compete. Nantucket football knows the task at hand come November 26th but we are humble and hungry going into this season. We will take each day one day at a time but going into this game, it will be absolutely nothing more than a business trip."

The Whalers first scrimmage is scheduled for Saturday, August 24 at 10:45 a.m. against North Reading at home. Their first regular season game will be Saturday, September 7 at home against Cardinal Spellman at 11 a.m.

"Cardinal Spellman is our first in season opponent, and we need to take them very seriously," Everett added.

According to Fenway Park Events, Fenway Park first hosted high school football shortly after its opening in 1912, when city rivals Boston Latin and English played their annual Thanksgiving Day game at the ballpark. Two days later, the ballpark hosted the 1912 high school football national championship game when Everett was defeated by Oak Park, IL.

The last high school football game to be played at Fenway Park during the 20^th centure was held in 1935, followed by an 80-year absence until its return in 2015.

The other matchups selected include Stoneham vs. Reading on November 26 at 7:30 p.m, Lawrence vs. Central Catholic on November 27 at 4:00 p.m., and Swampscott vs. Marblehead on November 27 at 6:30 p.m.