VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Fighting Indians hosted the Lake Minneola Hawks Friday night at the Citrus Bowl for the Homecoming game, handily beating the Hawks 52-35.
Carter Stanley quarterbacked Vero Beach to the victory and was voted as the 2014 homecoming king. Yesenia Schofield was selected by the student body as the 2014 queen.
Lake Minneola Coach Corey Brinson inadvertently was a part of the Vero Beach homecoming festivities. He graduated from VBHS in 1992.
The Student Government Association arranged for fireworks to go off before, during and after the game and Vero Beach running back MJ McGriff arranged for fireworks to go off on the opening kickoff.
McGriff initially mishandled the kickoff but regrouped to take it 90 yards for the electrifying score. Vero Beach attempted a two point conversion that failed and led 6-0.
The Hawks started their first drive on their own 35-yard line and with 8:05 to go scored on a 3-yard touchdown reception by Desmond Johnson. The Hawks converted their point after and led Vero 7-6.
Vero Beach stalled on their second drive and had to punt. Lake Minneola was also forced to punt on their second possession but the punt was blocked and recovered by Vero Beach linebacker Calvin Moment on the Hawks’ 21-yard line.
Vero Beach converted the turnover into points ran the ball in from five yards out with 1:35 to go in the first. Lake Minneola poorly punted to Vero again on their next possession. Vero was able to score once more at the end of the first quarter on a pass from Stanley to Vero Beach receiver Jerron Perry to take a 20-7 lead.
The Hawks regained the lead 21-20 with 7:21 to go in the first half on back to back rushing touchdowns by Desmond Johnson. Vero Beach countered the Hawks with two scores of their own. A 25-yard touchdown pass from Carter Stanley to MJ McGriff, the two point conversion attempt failed. Stanley found receiver Kejuan Bryant in the front of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. The point after by Aaron Kuh was good and Vero led 34 – 21 at the half.
At halftime, the 11 members of the 2014 Homecoming Court were introduced to the crowd as they were escorted across the field by their parents. Schofield and Stanley were crowned king and queen before thousands and posed for photos just before Stanley returned to the locker room for the start of the second half of football.
Hawks’ running back started off the second half with a 60-yard touchdown run that took less than 30 seconds and closed the gap 34-28.
Vero Beach kicker Adam Kuh tacked on three more points with a 38-yard field goal with 9:12 to go in the third. Lake Minneola battled back and cut the Vero lead to 37- 35 on a 25-yard Jesse Fisk touchdown pass. Vero Beach extended the lead once again when freshman Akeem Dixon took the ball in from two yards out. Dixon’s touchdown and Kuh’s extra point gave the Fighting Indians a 44- 35 lead going into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Lake Minneola fell short to the Vero Beach defense on a couple unsuccessful fourth and short situations. Vero Beach boosted the lead to 52 – 35 when Carter Stanley located receiver Chris Larson in the back corner of the end zone and successfully completed a two-point conversion pass to Dixon.
Vero Beach capped off a successful Homecoming week with a big win over a tough opponent and enters their Bye Week with a 3-0 record.
