VERO BEACH — Vero Beach High School seniors representing the marching band, ROTC, cheer team, and football team, were escorted by their parents and recognized prior to Vero’s matchup against the Santaluces Chiefs Thursday night at the Citrus Bowl.
The Fighting Indians won the toss and elected to receive the kickoff but that was the only thing that went Vero’s way in the first quarter.
“We are happy to be going to the playoffs but winning this game is the only thing on our mind tonight,” Vero Coach Lenny Jankowski stated.
Vero’s offense stalled on their opening drive and the 2-7 Chiefs took full advantage eventually scoring first on a 15-yard run by Fredlet Dort with 6:40 to go in the first quarter.
Defensive lineman Dwayne Hoilett blocked the extra point and the Chiefs had a 6-0 lead.
Vero was equally ineffective on its second drive of the first quarter and was forced to punt. The punt pinned Santaluces on their own 5-yard line. The Chiefs put together a 95-yard drive for their second score of the game, a 1-yard run by Carl Young with 1:23 to go in the first quarter.
Santaluces started the second quarter with a 13-0 lead but those would be the only points the Chiefs would put on the board.
“They kept tryin’ us and we kept shuttin’ them down,” Vero Beach defensive back Sean Paul Garthner said.
Vero Beach put together a solid drive in the second quarter that culminated in a 10-yard Nick Madden touchdown pass underneath to Nate Pryor with 10:35 left in the first half.
At the 9:58 mark Vero Beach linebacker Cole Ripple stripped the ball from the hands of a Santaluces receiver. Vero’s Dwayne Hoilett scooped up the ball and took it to the Chief’s 10-yard line setting up Vero’s next score a 7-yard pass from Madden to Jeremy Bell.
Vero Beach would take a one point lead into the locker room.
Vero Beach returned from the locker room after halftime and dominated the third quarter. Vero defensive back Will Dawkins picked off a Chiefs pass that was tipped by linebacker Cole Ripple and took it in for the score with 8:54 to go.
Fighting Indians Defensive back Charles Ivory notched his second interception of the quarter that set up a 40-yard touchdown pass from Madden to Charlie Miller with 5:55 left in the third and a 28-13 lead.
Vero didn’t stop there.
With 1:42 to go Madden connected on another touchdown pass, this time to receiver Rakeem Marcelle. The Fighting Indians intercepted three passes and scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to cement the 35-13 win.
Senior quarterback Nick Madden also set the Vero Beach High School record for passing yards during the regular season.
“People told me that I was close to breaking the record, but I didn’t think much about it,” Madden said. “I just wanted my team to play well and get the W.”
Vero Beach finishes the season at 9-1 and heads to the playoffs next week to face Eastlake High School.
“The support that we have received from the community, the fans, and our sponsors has been unbelievable,” Coach Jankowski said of his first season as Vero’s coach. “This is what high school football is all about.”
