VERO BEACH — An unrelenting downpour did not dampen the homecoming festivities at the Citrus Bowl Friday night as Kendall Hedgecock and Jeremy Bell were crowned as the 2011 Homecoming queen and king and the Fighting Indians beat out Wellington’s Wolverines 35-14.
Vero Beach Coach Lenny Jankowski who was recently named the school’s Athletic Director said his players were anxious to take the field.
“No one was more disappointed last week than our players,” Jankowski said. “Our guys couldn’t wait to take the field and make things right.”
Vero Beach took the field under a barrage of fireworks and cheers from the 12th Man prior to Friday night’s matchup.
Wellington won the toss and deferred to Vero Beach who started game off with an unsuccessful reverse on the opening kickoff and an even less successful first offensive series.
The Wolverines on the other hand took advantage of their offensive opportunities and scored first on a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cole Smallridge to receiver Tyler Vanaeore with 5:56 to go in the first.
In the second quarter, Vero Beach receiver Rakeem Marcell made a crucial catch and was upended by two Eagle defenders as he hauled in a pass from Nick Madden that set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Dentist Hall with 4:35 to go.
On the Eagles’ next possession Vero defensive end Dwayne Hoilett sacked the Wellington quarterback for a 10-yard loss that forced them to punt from inside their own 5-yard line.
Vero took over at the Eagles’ 30-yard line and with 1:50 to go running back Dentist Hall ran in from 10 yards out for his second touchdown of the second quarter and a 14-7 halftime lead.
Forty-five seconds into the third quarter sophomore defensive back Will Dawkins intercepted an Eagles’ screen pass for a 20-yard touchdown that gave Vero a 21-7 advantage.
Dawkins said he knew the screen pass was coming.
“The coaches told us about the set that Wellington uses for their screen passes. I identified the receivers set up and knew the screen pass was coming.” Dawkins said. “Pick and score.”
Fifteen seconds later Wellington’s return man, D’ Andre Peppers, took the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown that narrowed the score to 21-14.
The Vero offense answered back with 7:30 to go in the third when quarterback Nick Madden found Receiver Charlie Miller in the left corner of the end zone for a twelve yard touchdown catch and Miller’s eighth touchdown of the season. The third quarter ended with Vero on top 28-14.
During the fourth quarter Vero added another score during a 5-play 55-yard drive culminating with another Madden to Miller touchdown and an eventual 35-14 win.
” We aren’t going to get any style points for this game but a win is a win and we needed this one,” Jankowski said. “We shouldn’t have let them run back that kickoff for a touchdown in the third quarter but those are the things we need to work on before next week.”
The Fighting Indians travel to Treasure Coast next Friday to play for second place in the district.