VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Fighting Indians began their game against Ft. Pierce Westwood on an inspirational note Friday night at the Citrus Bowl. Vero Beach high School in conjunction with the American Heart Association honored six year old Ethan Hendon with a “Red Out” themed game. Students, faculty and fans could purchase red shirts to show their support for Ethan and his family’s effort to inform the community about heart disease.
Ethan who has survived fifteen heart related operations, participated in the team’s warm up drills and led the Fighting Indians onto the field during their opening introductions. Ethan’s mother Cassandra Hendon was overwhelmed by the support of the community.
“This is an incredible thing for Ethan to be able to run around with the football players before the game,” Hendon said. “So many people are wearing the t shirts to show their support. It’s really great.”
The Fighting Indians who are ranked 9th in the most recent AP poll, were excited to return to the cheers of the home crowd at Billy Livings Field and the crowd didn’t have to wait long before they had something to cheer about. Vero Beach quarterback Dalton Stokes connected on a 20 yard pass to junior receiver Javonte Bagley for Vero’s first score of the game with 7:29 to go.
Then backup quarterback Ryan Hiser threw a 23 yard pass to Vero receiver Jamario Lambert for Vero’s second score of the first quarter with 1:34 to go and a 14-0 lead. Vero coach Lenny Jankowski said the offensive line did a great job.
“Our offensive line did very well protecting Dalton from Westwood’s pass rush,” Jankowski said. “Connor Moore returned to the lineup tonight for us and the line just did a great job.”
Vero scored three times on Westwood in the second quarter. With 10:26 to go in the second junior utility player Will Dawkins gave Vero a 21 -0 lead on a four yard touchdown run out of Vero’s Thundercat formation. Dawkins had a hand in Vero’s second score of the quarter after catching a 64 yard pass from Stokes. T
hat set up junior Jason Pierre’s 9 yard run to pay dirt. The Fighting Indians defense held the Panthers once again and forced them into a punting situation with 2:34 to go before the half. Receiver Jamario Lambert fielded the punt and took it 89 yards for the touchdown and Vero’s 35-0 halftime lead. Lambert was excited about his first punt return for a touchdown.
“I caught the ball started running and all I could see was grass in front of me,” Lambert said. “It didn’t feel like I was going that fast. It felt like slow motion.”
In the third quarter Vero defensive end Josh Ealy intercepted a Panther pass with 7:04 left in the quarter. It was Ealy’s first interception of the season. “I give all the thanks to God and my teammates,” Ealy said. Several people have been talking to me about playing better pass coverage. Tonight I listened and did it right.”
Neither the Panthers nor Fighting Indians scored in the third.
VERO BEACH — Vero Beach scored twice more in the fourth quarter on a 30 yard touchdown pass from Ryan Hiser to Will Dawkins with 6:52 to go in the fourth and a 12 yard touchdown run by junior running back Roosevelt Spruill. Spruill’s touchdown with 3:40 left in the game put Vero up 49-0.
Vero’s aggressive defense was the story once again this week shutting out Westwood for their third win of the season. “Our defense did a great job again tonight,” Coach Jankowski said. We had guys flying around the ball and team tackling. When our defense plays well our team plays well.” Vero’s defense allows opponents an average of five points per game.
Vero Beach will try to improve their record to 4-0 when they host West Boca next week at the Citrus Bowl.
