FORT PIERCE — The Vero Beach Fighting Indians and the Fort Pierce Central Cobras met at Lawnwood Stadium in Fort Pierce Friday night for the battle of the undefeated. The Cobras and Fighting Indians were 4-0 coming into Friday night’s District 8A matchup.
Football fans up and down the Treasure Coast had this game circled on their schedules and did not want to miss the revived rivalry game between two of the best teams in the area. Vero Beach won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff but struggled offensively. Vero was forced to punt on every possession of the first quarter.
Fort Pierce Central scored first on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Cobra quarterback Sam Vaughn to running back Alquawn Vickers. Central’s point after attempt was blocked by Vero defensive end Pat Bethel and the Cobra’s led Vero 6 – 0 with 4:32 to go in the first quarter. Vero’s offensive woes continued when the Cobra’s defense picked off Vero Beach quarterback Dalton Stokes with 2:51 left in the first.
Cobra running back Alquawn Vickers scored again on a 1-yard run with 9:08 to go in the second quarter and Fort Pierce converted the extra point and led Vero 13 – 7. Vero kicker Jason Rivas attempted but missed a 36 yard field goal at the 5:20 mark but came up short. Fort Pierce went in for their second score of the quarter on a 1 yard quarterback keeper by Sam Vaughn with 1:52 to go in the half. Vero Beach blocked another Cobra point after and Fort Pierce led 19 – 0.
Vero Beach was able to put together a successful drive just before halftime. Vero running back Roosevelt Spruill caught a pass from Dalton Stokes in the red zone but fumbled the ball forward. Fortunately Vero receiver Javonte Bagley fell on the ball at the Cobra seven yard line. That sparked a seven yard strike in the right corner of the end zone to Vero receiver Jimmy Williamson for Vero’s first score of the game. Williamson returned to the field Friday night after sitting out last week due to a foot injury. Rivas was true on the point after and Vero trailed the Cobra’s at halftime 19-7.
Vero kicked off to the Cobras to start the second half and forced Fort Pierce Central to punt on their first possession of the second half. Vero cut the Cobra lead to five when they took over on their own 45 yard line and put together a 55-yard drive consisting of screen passes and successful runs that resulted in a Jason Pierre six yard touchdown with 8:10 left in the third quarter.
Fort Pierce Central answered back after an ingenious fake punt that drew Vero Beach offside for an important fourth down conversion. Cobra quarterback hooked up with Vickers again on a 5 yard touchdown pass with 2:36 to go in the third. A direct snap to Vickers on the 2 point conversion was successful and Central led 27-14 going into the fourth quarter.
Vero Beach running back Spencer Chenoweth scored with less than a minute to go that brought Vero within six points of the Cobras. Rivas attempted an onside kick after the score but the ball trickled out of bounds and Fort Pierce Central was able to run the clock down to the two second mark. Vero had time for one play to score but Stokes’ pass bounced of the fingertips of the intended receiver. Fort Pierce Central improves to 5-0 on the season by defeating Vero Beach 27-21. Vero Beach falls to 4-1 on the season and 0-1 in District 8A.
Vero Beach will host East Lee High School next week for their Homecoming game at the Citrus Friday.
