A national spotlight from NBC Sports shined on Hull and its football game against Martha's Vine yard, but in the end Friday afternoon represented just an other game for these two schools that share a unique affinity with the ocean.
A home crowd of 1,000 -- a record in recent memory -- that was decked out in the blue and gold of the town's sports teams showed up at John W. Finlayson Field and witnessed the Pirates lose, 35-20, in a non-league game.
Hull senior captain Mike Bilodeau may have helped ensure his appearance during the halftime segment on a yet- to-be determined NBC Sunday Night Football game with touchdown runs covering 2 and 1 yard.
But not even the team's fourth loss in five games could deflate a historic day for the town.
"It was great to see support like that," said Bilodeau, who finished with 93 rushing yards on 22 carries and 12 re ceiving yards on three catches. "It shows the town is behind you. Basical ly every student in the school was here. People came from out of town. It was a big deal."
John Caparrotta's extra point after Bilodeau's first TD tied the game at 7-7 only 38 seconds into the second quar ter, but Hull could not slow down Vine yard's run game that set up three touch down passes of 30 yards or more from junior Mike McCarthy.
MV (5-0), which remained unbeaten through five games this year and faces Blue Hills in its first Mayflower League Division 1 game next Friday, pushed the halftime score to 21-7 on TD catches of 32 yards by Josh Paulson and 40 yards by Mike O'Donaghue. Paulson was the team's most effective runner with 92 yards on 13 rushes.
The third quarter started off promis ingly for Hull after forcing Vineyard to punt for the first time in the game. Hull's offensive line opened up wide lanes for runs of 9 and 20 yards by Bilodeau and of 18 and 12 yards by Ca parrotta before Bilodeau fumbled away a pitch at the MV 2.
"The offensive line was outstand ing," Hull coach Jake McGrath said of left tackle Chris Basler, left guard/cap tain Brendan McCarthy, center Dave Townsend, right guard/captain Alex Chase and right tackle/captain Jake Shea. "They didn't have any offsides or holding penalties and they opened up some big holes."
Paulson hauled in his second touch down, this time from 40 yards out on another play-action call, with 47 sec onds left in the third quarter. Zach Coutinho's fourth extra point put Vine yard ahead, 28-7.
Bilodeau made amends on the fol lowing possession, plunging in from 1 yard out. Quarterback Tyler Pari con nected with tight end Jake Bennett for 8 yards to put the ball on the 8. Two plays later, Bilodeau scored with 7:40 left. Caparrotta's second extra point got Hull to within 28-14.
After Paulson scored his fourth touchdown of the day, this time on a four-yard run, Hull drove 70 yards on 15 plays to score with two seconds left. Pari was 6-of-11 on the drive for 47 yards, including an 11-yard hookup with Triant Xypteras on fourth and 10 from the MV 34. The junior left-hander's final pass was a 12-yard score to Jay Gibbons in the left corner, leaving him at 11-of-23 passing for 95 yards. Caparrotta's extra point was blocked.
"I think the town had a good time," McGrath said. "I think it's good to highlight how hard the kids actually work."
Rick Seto may be reached at rseto@ledger.com.
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Hull High football team filmed for NBC spotby patriotledger3,346 views
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