ST. LUCIE COUNTY — It was win or go home for the Vero Beach Fighting Indians as they traveled from the confines of Indian River County to St. Lucie County for their first true away game of the season against Treasure Coast at South County Regional Stadium Friday night – and they did, 35-24.
The Indians clinched a playoff spot as the District 8-8A runners-up.
It was senior night for the Titans who had dashed Vero’s hopes of heading deep into the playoffs last year with a lopsided 20-3 win. This year, Vero Beach and first year head Coach Lenny Jankowski hoped to return the favor.
“Treasure Coast has a very talented football team and their quarterback is one of the best,” Jankowski said. “Both teams wanted to win this game and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”
Vero’s first series was assisted by a roughing the punter penalty when a Titan defensive player ran into Vero punter EJ Pryor on fourth down.
That gave Vero Beach new life and a new set of downs that resulted in a Jason Pierre 5-yard touchdown run with 7:28 to play in the first quarter.
On the Titan’s first series a Vero defensive player ran into the Titan punter on fourth down that eventually resulted in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Titan quarterback Travares Copeland to receiver Shadrach Alexander that tied the game at 7 with 2:46 left in the first quarter.
Vero’s Nate Pryor mishandled the ensuing kickoff and Treasure Coast recovered in Fighting Indians territory. Titans’ kicker Justin Walker was able to convert on a 31-yard field goal to finish off the first quarter with a 10-7 lead.
With 7:10 to go in the second quarter the Fighting Indians uncharacteristically fumbled again and the Titans recovered the ball inside the Vero 10-yard line and, one play later, the Titans’ Shadrach Alexander ran the ball into the end zone for a comfortable 17-7 lead.
With 43 seconds left before halftime the Fighting Indians faithful encouraged their team to go for it on a fourth and two that Madden picked up with ease.
Madden then hooked up with Nate Pryor on a 6-yard touchdown pass and Vero Beach entered the locker room trailing Treasure Coast 17-14.
Vero Beach and Treasure Coast traded touchdowns in the third quarter.
With 9:39 left in the third Vero quarterback Nick Madden found Rakeem Marcelle on a 14-yard touchdown pass and a 21-17 lead. Treasure Coast bounced back with 4:54 to go in the third when quarterback Travares Copeland ran it into the end zone on a quarterback keeper and moved ahead of Vero Beach 24-21.
By the fourth quarter, there had been several lead changes and plenty of points on the board but neither team was ready to give in.
Nate Pryor recorded his second touchdown of the game with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Madden with 10:18 to go in the game.
Vero was on top 28-24 but needed a stop or a score to win the game. Sophomore Will Dawkins delivered on the defensive side of the ball for Vero Beach when he made an incredible one-handed interception with 9:40 to go.
“I heard players yelling ‘ball, ball’ and when I turned I couldn’t see anything because of the glare on my face shield from the lights,” Dawkins said. “I just went up and got it.”
Dawkins’ interception led to a Nick Madden quarterback sneak that sealed the fate of the Titans and gave Vero the 35-24 victory and a shot at the playoffs.
“I think everyone on both sides got their dime’s worth tonight,” Coach Jankowski said. “We had some turnovers early in the game but eventually settled down and played great in front of our fans on the road.”
Vero Beach will host Santaluces Thursday night at the Citrus Bowl.