VERO BEACH — Thousands of football fans from around Indian River County packed the Citrus Bowl Friday night to watch the annual Dollars for Scholars game between Vero Beach and Sebastian River.
Sebastian River was named the home team this year even though they were playing at Billy Livings Field. The Dollars for Scholars game is a fundraiser for scholarship money for Indian River County students and therefore the School District permanently moved the location of the game to the Citrus Bowl every year to accommodate the large crowds but would alternate the home team designation.
“It’s a little different to be considered the away team when you are playing on your home field,” Vero coach Lenny Jankowski said. “But no matter where we play or who we play we’re going to be the best team we can be.”
First year Sebastian River head coach Kevin Pettis probably didn’t feel as at home as he would have liked at the Citrus Bowl despite the district’s distinction.
Vero Beach was able to capitalize on Sebastian River’s mistakes and scored twice on the ground. Vero’s first score came at the 5:20 mark when Jason Pierre carried the ball in from two yards out.
Pierre who had suffered several nagging injuries over the past two years said he wanted to show everyone that he was back and healthy.
“I know I have had injuries in the past that have kept me off the field for periods of time,” Pierre said. “I wanted to use this game to prove myself to everyone who doubted me.”
Vero’s second score came on a Dalton Stokes 2-yard keeper with 1:27 left in the first quarter. Kicker Jason Rivas hit both extra points and Vero led after one quarter 14-0.
The second quarter belonged to Vero Beach and senior wide receiver Jimmy Williamson. Williamson caught three touchdowns in the quarter and the Vero Beach defense shut down a sputtering Sebastian River offense.
Williamson’s first touchdown pass was a 70-yard bomb from Dalton Stokes with 11:19 to play in the half. Vero’s defense forced Sebastian to punt and took over on the Sebastian 40-yard line.
Stokes and Williamson hooked up again on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 6:08 to go in the second quarter. Stokes and Williamson completed the hat trick on an 11-yard pass to the corner of the end zone with 53 seconds left in the half.
Vero kicker Jason Rivas was perfect on extra points and Vero led at halftime 35-0.
“We had very little film on Sebastian and their new system,” Jankowski said. “We had to prepare for every possible scenario and our kids executed very well. It wasn’t just one or two guys, it was a team effort.”
Neither Sebastian nor Vero was able to score in the third quarter with a running clock, but Sebastian did show some signs of life running the football.
A determined Sebastian River did get on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter after an impressive drive that began on their own 21-yard line.
On third and goal with 9:30 left in the game Sebastian running back Nicholas Cooper scored on a 7-yard run to for Sebastian’s first and only score of the game.
Just when the Sebastian faithful thought they had something to cheer for, Jason Pierre took the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for another Vero touchdown.
Jimmy Williamson fielded the kick then handed the ball off to Pierre on a reverse.
“I told the coach that I wanted the ball on the kickoff,” Pierre said. “I knew if I could get the ball I could take it all the way.”
Coach Jankowski said Pierre seemed confident about the return.
“If Jason said he wanted the ball then that’s the story we will stick with, but it wasn’t just one guy taking the ball up the field,” Jankowski said. “We had several guys making key blocks that set Jason up for the score.”
Vero Beach capped off the win when linebacker Dawanya Guilford picked off Sebastian quarterback Sloan Drummonds.
Vero Beach wins their first official game of the season by defeating Sebastian River 42-7.
“I thought we did a good job on all three phases of the game tonight,” Jankowski said. “It was also great to play in front of the fans here tonight and to help the Dollars for Scholars organization that does so much for our community.”
