TARPON SPRINGS — Hundreds of Fighting Indians faithful boarded charter buses and crammed into cars to show their support for Vero Beach as they navigated the three-plus hours across the state for their re-match with the East Lake Eagles. The Indians, however, lost 29-7.
Last season East Lake bounced Vero Beach out of the Regional quarterfinal. Many people felt that the three hour drive may have had a negative impact on Vero’s performance.
This year, Vero Coach Lenny Jankowski loaded up the team and bused them over to East Lake the night before.
“We let the guys enjoy Thanksgiving with their families first,” Jankowski said. “Then we loaded ‘em up and tried to get them over here the night before.”
Vero Beach received the opening kickoff and went three and out. East Lake took over and attempted a 49-yard field goal that failed. On their first play of the second series Vero quarterback Dalton Stokes hit wide receiver Will Dawkins for a 79-yard touchdown with 2:32 left in the first quarter. Kicker Karson Dietrich nailed the point after and Vero was off and running 7-0.
The Vero Beach defense did its job and forced East Lake to punt on the next series. Vero took over on their 15-yard line. With 9:41 to go in the second quarter Stokes was sacked and fumbled the ball into his own end zone.
East Lake’s George Campbell fell on the loose ball for a defensive score. East Lake missed the point after and Vero led 7-6.
Eagles’ kicker Daniel La Camera was successful from 35 yards out with 30 seconds to go that put East Lake up 9-7.
Vero Beach started their next series from their 20-yard line. Stokes connected to Vero receiver Jamario Lambert who appeared to be down after he caught the ball but the officials ruled that East Lake had stripped him of the ball before he went down.
The Eagles converted that turnover into a La Camera 35-yard field goal and went in leading Vero at the half 15- 7.
“Turnovers are critical in a game like this,” Jankowski said. “I felt like we were playing some good football out there but all the turnovers kept our defense on the field and we need our offense on the field to score.”
In the third quarter, Vero Beach and East Lake exchanged punts. Then Vero mounted a promising drive that started on their own 36-yard line. The Indians had moved the ball all the way down to the Eagles’ 6-yard line and brought in their power formation, which included defensive back Dravious Wright in the backfield.
Stokes handed the ball off to Wright but he dropped it and East Lake picked it up and returned it 90 yards for the score with 1:51 to go in the third.
The Eagles converted the extra point and led Vero 22-7.
In the fourth quarter, Vero’s luck went from bad to worse. At the 8:53 mark Vero went for it on fourth and goal from the East Lake 6. Stokes threw an incomplete pass and the Eagles took over on downs.
The Eagles were forced to punt with 5:52 left in the game.
Vero returner Jamario Lambert muffed the kick and East Lake recovered on Vero’s 26. East Lake scored with 3:25 left to put the game away 29-7 and knock Vero out of the playoffs.
“Losing is never easy. Elimination losses are that much tougher,” Jankowski said. “There’s nothing anyone could say to our guys to take the sting away. I’m proud of all of their accomplishments. They did a lot of great things this year and won a lot of games. I’m proud of our guys and I’m proud of what they have done this year.”