VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Fighting Indians Tricked the St. Lucie West Centennial Eagles 35-0 and treated themselves to the District 8-8A title Friday night at South County Stadium.
Both teams went head to head with their quarterbacks doing most of the work offensively with keepers and options but neither team could strike pay dirt in the first quarter. Centennial attempted a 26 yard field goal on their opening drive with 6:20 left but missed. Both teams later exchanged back to back fumbles with just under 2:30 to play in the first quarter.
Vero Beach was forced to punt the ball away on their first possession of the second quarter but the Eagles mishandled the kick and Vero recovered on the Eagles’ thirty yard line. The fumble recovery eventually led to a one yard Carter Stanley plunge that gave Vero their first points of the game and a 7-0 lead with 9:12 to play in the half. Centennial punted on their next possession and the Fighting Indians scored for the second time in the quarter when Vero receiver Chris Larson went over the top of an Eagle defender to haul in a 19 yard touchdown pass from Stanley with 3:27 to go in the half. Both teams exchanged punts after stalled offensive drives and Vero took the 14-0 lead into the locker room at the half.
In the third quarter Centennial made a crucial mistake when they mishandled the snap on a punt deep in their own territory. Vero Beach recovered the fumble on the Eagles’ nine yard line and scored on a one yard Stanley run with 6:02 to play in the third. The Fighting Indians led 21-0 at the end of three and could see the district title within reach.
Vero Beach started the fourth quarter first and ten on the Centennial eighteen yard line. Vero running back M.J. McGriff scored from nine yards out to give Vero Beach a solid 28-0 lead with 11:23 to play in the game. On the next offensive series for the Eagles quarterback Javid Ellis was picked off by Vero defensive back Antonio Jones Davis who took the ball 30 yards for the score and a 35-0 Vero Beach lead with 11:01 remaining in the game.
With the win Vero Beach improves their record to 9-0 on the season for the first time since 2002. Vero Beach will also have home field advantage for game one of the District Playoffs. Vero will host Santaluces next Friday at the Citrus Bowl for their final regular season game and their shot for an undefeated season.