Call it business as usual for the 2016 Vero Beach High football team with a 6-0 record through the end of September, extending the number of consecutive regular season victories to an even 30 dating back to 2013.
The 35-0 rout of St. Lucie West Centennial last Friday night at South County Stadium was the first district meeting to date. The four games remaining on the schedule are on tap for the Citrus Bowl starting with Homecoming tonight vs. Fort Lauderdale.
After a district encounter with Treasure Coast (3-2) followed by an open date, Vero closes the regular season with Fort Pierce Central (4-1) and Sebastian River (5-0). Treasure Coast entered the district sweepstakes last week by edging past Central.
“So far, so good,” head coach Lenny Jankowski said. “We’ve come out on top each and every week, but more importantly we have shown steady progress. That’s what you are after as a coach through the early part of the season. You are looking for improvement.
“We have improved in all three phases. We must continue to progress to maintain the level of success that we have had up to this point.”
VBHS stomped on Centennial during a 35-point first half, with quarterback Mike Dean putting on a show by tossing four touchdown passes and running in the fifth one himself. Dean’s favorite receiver Michael Smith hauled in three of the scores and Jeremiah Pearson got the fourth.
“Going into this thing we had lost nine offensive starters from last year, so that was the big area of concern,” Jankowski told us. “It starts with the offensive line. They have been the backbone of the offense and I know they typically don’t get the press or the ink that skilled positions do. But that’s where it all starts and it was an area of concern coming out of the spring.
“Both the players and coaches worked very hard to improve. It’s just been steady progress and I see those guys getting better day by day. They are working really hard as a group. We are about seven or eight deep in the rotation there. We’ve been able to establish some depth and it’s been huge for us to keep those guys fresh.”
In no specific order, the tackles listed on the two-deep depth chart are Hunter Riggins, Harrison Wood, Carlos Perez and Chris Walker. The guards are Alex Van Rens, Jarvis Jones, Daniel Lally and Billy Laziman. The centers are Austin Maxwell and Clayton Hardin. These guys are generally stat-free and it’s always a plus when they get some ink. They set the table.
“Anybody who has watched us play would categorize our offense as an up-tempo, spread offense, Jankowski said. “We use a wide variety of formations and looks to our advantage and to cause some problems for our opponents.
“Our backs run very hard and our receivers have been doing a great job. Jeremiah Pearson (4 TDs through six games) has been a good complement with Akeem Dixon (4 TDs) in our two back formations. The leader of the receiving corps is Mike Smith. He’s having a great senior season (14 TDs). Jacob Bell has been very steady at the other outside receiver position and he’s been doing big things for us. Our two sophomore wideouts, Javien Cuff and Demarcus Harris, are getting better and better.”
The numbers for senior QB Dean fall off the chart. Through six games he has completed 73 percent of his passes for 1,445 yards and 19 touchdowns against only two picks.
Whereas there might have been concern on the offensive side of the ball in the preseason, that was not necessarily the case on defense and special teams.
“Defensively we had some key players return,” Jankowski said. “Our defense starts with our linebackers. We’ve got three very good linebackers in Patrick Moody, Corvin Moment and Davion Cross. Corvin and Davion are three-year starters and that is tough to come by here. I think that speaks volumes for their talent.
“Patrick moved here last year and ended up starting at the tail end of the season. This year he has taken his game to much higher level. He leads the team in tackles (53 total, including 29 solo through five games) and he’s very active.
“So we’ve got leadership and experience there. The other two phases, the D line and secondary, are playing at a very high level. Our defensive coaches are as good as they come. They work very well together and do a great job with our players. I’m very proud of the way our defense is playing right now.”
That defense has pitched three shutouts. Adam Yurigan handles the punting and placekicking. He has converted a perfect 34 for 34 in extra points and, as Jankowski noted, “fortunately we haven’t had to punt a whole bunch.”
So far, so good.
