VERO BEACH — The Indians trailed Ft. Pierce Central 10-3 with 1:37 to go in the first quarter Friday night. After several lighting delays the game was stopped and moved to Monday night at the Citrus Bowl.
Vero Beach High was content to take their lackluster Friday night offense and put together an offense Monday night that had several stars.
“We got off to a pretty poor start last Friday,” Vero Coach Lenny Jankowski said. “Last Friday night there were awful conditions but we have a mature group and a lot of leadership and that was the difference tonight.”
The remainder of the first quarter started with Fort Pierce Central on the Vero Beach nine yard line. The Cobras punched it in at the beginning of the second quarter and led Vero Beach 17-3. Vero Beach capped off an eighty-five yard drive with a Spencer Chenoweth touchdown run with 5:28 to go in the first half. The Cobras answered on their next possession and a 24-10 lead. Vero Beach quarterback Carter Stanley completed a touchdown pass to receiver M.J. McGriff with 1:23 to go and the first half finished with the Cobras in front 24-17.
Fort Pierce Central received the second half kickoff. Both teams exchanged punts on the next four offensive series. On the Cobras’ third offensive possession of the third quarter the Vero Beach defense came up with a big stop on fourth down. Vero Beach defensive end Tyler Horstman said the defense is a tight unit.
“We are a band of brothers and when we need to we get stuff done.” Horstman said. “It was a little stressful but we came back strong and got our minds right. We love each other.” Vero Beach took over first and ten on their own 37yard line.
Carter Stanley started the fourth quarter and finished the drive with a three yard touchdown run that tied the game up at 24. The Vero Beach defense came up with another big stop when the Cobras went for it again on fourth down. Vero Beach took over on their 33 yard line and Carter Stanley took over the offense. Stanley completed two crucial third down passes to keep the drive going and ran through the Cobras’ defense eventually scoring the winning touchdown.
“Coach J saw something – he saw the right thing and we probably ran it six times in a row,” Stanley said. “We just weren’t hitting it right. Whether it was me missing the hole or a missed blocking assignment but the last time it was perfect and I was excited when I got in the end zone.”
Vero Beach captures their first district victory of the season with the 31-24 win over the Cobras.
