TARPON SPRINGS — Hundreds of Fighting Indians faithful made the three and a half hour journey to Tarpon Springs to support Vero Beach in the first round of the Region 2 8-A quarterfinal Friday night. It was a long ride home after the Indians fell 41-22 to East Lake.
East Lake started off the first quarter with two quick scores. The first, an 80-yard catch and run by receiver Artavis Scott at the 6:22 mark and the other a 6-yard pass over the middle to tight end Stephen Buric with under three minutes to go.
Vero Beach answered back with 8:26 to go in the second quarter when quarterback Nick Madden found Jeremy Bell in the end zone for 6.
Vero Beach’s attempt at the extra point failed and the Indians trailed the Eagles 14-6. After a Dravious Wright interception and return into Eagles territory the Fighting Indians scored again when running back EJ Pryor took it from 6 yards out with 3:50 to go in the first half.
Vero Beach could not convert the 2-point conversion and trailed the Eagles 14-12.
On the interception return, Wright injured his hip. He remained sidelined for the entire second half. With 1:13 to go in the first half the Eagles scored again on a 28-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tyler Carbonelli and that put the Eagles up 21-12.
With one second to go in the first half Vero Beach called upon junior kicker Carson Dietrich who made a 40-yard field goal that made it a one score game 21-15.
Vero Coach Lenny Jankowski spoke about the injury to Dravious Wright.
“We had a lot of injuries tonight to some key players. When Dravious went out after the interception other guys had to step up.”
Vero Beach surged ahead of East Lake with 7:43 to go in the third quarter when running back Dentist Hall trotted in from four yards out to give Vero their first lead of the game 22-21.
The Eagles were able to match Vero’s score with 2:04 to go in the third quarter on a 25-yard touchdown run by Tyler Lane.
Vero Beach stopped the Eagles’ two point attempt but trailed 27-22.
East Lake scored twice and held Vero Beach scoreless in the fourth quarter to capture the 41-22 victory and a chance to play again in round two of the 8A Regional Playoffs.
Coach Jankowski said that he wished his team was moving on to the second round.
“When you lose a game that’s disappointing,” he said. “But when you lose a game and know that’s the end of your season there are no words to describe the disappointment you feel. There is no better community in the state, I just wish we could have given them more.”
Vero Beach finishes the 2011 season with a record of 9-2.