There’s an old saying in sports: It’s not a rivalry until the other guy wins.
But the overflow crowd of 6,500 that jammed the Citrus Bowl for Friday night’s intra-county, north-against-south, red-versus-blue high school football showdown between Vero Beach and Sebastian River probably would disagree.
The coaches did – even after Vero Beach defeated Sebastian River 28-6 to win for the seventh time in seven meetings since the game began counting on both teams’ records.
“I know the saying,” Sebastian River coach Kevin Pettis said, “but I don’t think that’s the case anymore.”
Nor does Vero Beach coach Lenny Jankowski, who pointed to the teams’ undefeated records entering their must-see, regular-season finale and the abundance of talent on the field.
“It felt like a rivalry to me,” Jankowski said after his Fighting Indians improved to 9-0 with their 33rd consecutive regular-season victory, which capped the team’s third straight perfect regular season. “I’ll bet the players think it’s a rivalry. I know they were looking forward to playing this game.”
And, obviously, the fans of both teams were looking forward to being a part of what was, despite the lopsided score, a Rockwellian night in Indian River County.
Think about it: How often do you see more than 6,000 people in the same place at the same time in our community?
The bleachers on both sides of the stadium were filled to capacity – including the extra seating brought in for visiting fans and the scholarship-fund group gathered beyond the east end zone – and hundreds of people stood and watched from behind the fence surrounding Billy Livings Field.
As usual, the home stands were a sea of red. The Sebastian River side was a river of blue. And most of the visiting fans arrived early enough to welcome their team with a standing ovation.
“It changes everything, at least for our program,” said Sebastian River assistant principal Billy Wilson III, who starred for Vero Beach’s state semifinal team in 1980. “This is what we’ve been waiting for.
“Look at that crowd,” he added, pointing to the visitor’s stands.
“You’re not just seeing phenomenal school spirit from the students. You’re seeing the community support you need to take your program to the next level.
“It’s been building for a couple of years, and a night like this can go a long way toward getting there.”
For his part, Jankowski, who also serves as Vero Beach’s athletic director, seemed to welcome the neighborhood challenge. In fact, he urged his players before the game to enjoy the occasion.
With the huge crowd, the contrast in colors and the excitement in the stadium, the “Friday Night Lights”-type setting was similar to those found in Texas, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“What a great high school football environment,” Jankowski said. “The bands, the cheerleaders, the fans . . . I don’t know if it gets much better than this.
“The big winner tonight is the community,” Wilson said. “You can’t help but feel good about being here.”
And here’s something else to feel good about: Both teams won district championships and will play playoff games at home Friday night.
