Sports Roundup: Football Wins Home Opener To Begin 2026 Season
David Creed •
This Whaler Sports Roundup includes an update on the football team following a victory at home to kick off their regular season, as well as check-ins on each of the Whaler sports teams who made the trip to Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday.
Whalers Ride Defense To Home Victory Over East Bridgewater
The Whaler football team began their season on a strong note by beating the East Bridgewater Vikings 16-8 Saturday afternoon at Vito Capizzo Stadium.
The Whalers offense showed some rust but showed some positive signs in their short passing game with senior quarterback Eli MacIver getting rid of the ball quickly and making strong reads, but it was the defense that shined from beginning to end and earned the praise of Nantucket head coach Fernando Jones.
"I knew our defense would be tough all year, it's just smoothing out things on offense, figuring out where our strong points, our improvement points are on that side," Jones said. "But what I saw today on defense was just phenomenal. Like that is phenomenal. The team was resilient. Guys were going down left and right, but they leaned on each other. They showed a lot of trust as a team and as young men. I'm very proud of the effort that that was shown today.”
Senior running back David Guillen-Tavares scored both Whaler touchdowns and led a physical running game that wore down the Vikings as the game went on. On defense, the linebackers swarmed to the East Bridgewater ball carrier snap after snap led by senior captain Keegan Bedell and junior Justin Torres – who nearly broke a kick return to the house in the first half.
The game was sealed by Kyden Whitfield, who tracked a pass from midfield, quickly made his way to the Whaler sideline and leaped up to make a one-handed snag in front of his team in the game’s final moments to seal the victory.
“Kyden is near and dear to me," Jones said. “He's great. He's great. You know, he's got his improvement points, but whenever he decides to show up, this is the sort of thing, this is the sort of production that he can provide."
Whitfield’s catch made the rounds on social media, and even cracked Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays Saturday morning – slotting in at number three. Many were in awe of the play, so what was Jones reaction?
"I was like, 'Let's get back on the field, kneel it, and get it done!" Jones said laughing.
Nantucket will attempt to improve to 2-0 when they travel to play Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational/Technical High School on Saturday, September 19th at 1 p.m. You can view more photos from Saturday’s game here.
In other Whaler sports news on the road...
Boys Soccer Beats Martha’s Vineyard
It has been an encouraging and successful start for the Nantucket boys soccer team this fall. After beating Falmouth 4-2 on the road Thursday, the Whalers traveled to Martha’s Vineyard to play the Vineyarders, who always field a strong team each fall.
The game was tied 1-1 late, until Aldo Lemus played the part of hero and scored on a direct free kick with about three minutes to go in the game. He has now scored in both of Nantucket’s games this season.
Brannigan said Lemus’s shot was from about 30 yards out and sailed over the Vineyard keeper’s outstretched arm.
“That sent (us) into a frenzy celebrating what eventually became the game winner,” Brannigan said.
Junior Stoyan Popov scored the first goal of the game at the 16th minute of the first half. It was off a corner, taken by Lemus, and the Whalers won the first ball, followed by the next bounce which was sent in the direction of Popov by sophomore Raakin Brannigan.
“(Popov) reached for the ball with his left foot and snuck a low roller past the keeper,” Brannigan said. “Vineyard scored their only goal of the game in the first half. Parker Furtado made six saves on the day and Alec Anguelov helped make the midfield tick.”
The Whalers will attempt to improve to 3-0 when they travel to Norwell on Monday, September 14th to play the Clippers at 3:30 p.m.
Cross Country Competes Against Martha’s Vineyard
The Whaler cross country team traveled to the Vineyard for a meet with the Vineyarders on Saturday. The boys lost 23-38 while the girls were no contest.
Whaler head coach Matthew Phipps said both teams were below five runners, but Brian Kimball won the boys race with a time of 17:55 while Grace Hanlon was the runner-up in the girls race with a time of 21:54.
Nantucket has not had a home meet yet, but that will change on Tuesday, September 22nd when they compete in their next meet against the Nauset Warriors at 4:30 p.m. This meet will take place at the Gardner Farm path, and the Current will have a photo gallery in our September 23rd newsletter of the runners that day.
Field Hockey Ties Martha’s Vineyard
The Whaler field hockey team tied Martha’s Vineyard 0-0 and has begun their season with a 0-1-1 record while scoring just one goal. They will attempt to get their offense going and earn their first victory against the Barnstable Red Hawks at home on Monday, September 14th at 3:15 p.m.
Chatti Scores First Goal In Loss To Martha’s Vineyard
The Nantucket girls soccer team traveled to the Vineyard on Saturday and lost 3-1, however freshman Caroline Chatti scored her first career varsity goal in the defeat off an assist from junior captain Harper LeBrecht.
The Whalers are now 0-2 this season and will try to win their first game of the season on Wednesday, September 16th on the road against the Nauset Warriors at 4 p.m.
SCHEDULE AHEAD:
Monday, September 14th:
The field hockey team will be at home playing the Barnstable Red Hawks at 3:15 p.m.
The volleyball team will be at home playing St. John Paul II High School at 4 p.m.
The boys soccer team will be on the road playing Norwell High School at 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 15th:
The golf team will be on the road playing the Rising Tide Herons at 4 p.m.
For more photos, information, and updates related to Nantucket High School Sports, follow our Nantucket Current Sports Instagram Page here.