VERO BEACH — The Vero Beach Fighting Indians took the lead midway through the fourth quarter and held on to defeat the St. Petersburg Green Devils in round one of the district 8A playoffs at the Citrus Bowl Friday night.
Vero’s 10-0 record didn’t mean a thing Friday night. It was all or nothing for the Fighting Indians who prepared all week for the powerful St. Petersburg wing T offense. Vero Beach forced the Green Devils to punt on their first offensive series and took over first and 10 on their own 26-yard line.
Vero Beach receiver M.J. McGriff capped off the Fighting Indians initial drive with a 3-yard touchdown at the 7:43 mark. The Green Devils answered back and tied the score at 7-7 on a 15-yard touchdown run at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter St. Petersburg recovered a bad snap from center to Vero quarterback Carter Stanley. Vero Beach defensive back Anthony Pearson picked off a Green Devil pass inside the Vero 10-yard line. Vero Beach drove the length of the field but turned the ball over in the end zone and the Green Devils recovered the ball for a touchback.
St Pete couldn’t capitalize on the Vero turnover and the half ended with both teams tied at seven.
Both teams exploded on the scoreboard in the third quarter. Vero Beach received the second half kickoff but Carter Stanley was intercepted by the Green Devils who took possession on the Vero Beach 40-yard line.
St. Pete used the turnover to score their first touchdown of the second half and take a 14-7 lead. Vero Beach punted on their next offensive possession and St. Pete had the ball first and 10 from their own 18-yard line.
Vero Beach defensive back Antonio Jones Davis intercepted the Green Devils’ quarterback to set up an Akeem Dixon 5-yard touchdown run with 7:23 to play in the third quarter.
St. Pete scored twice in the final two minutes of the third quarter seemingly putting the game out of reach for the home team. The Green Devils put together a 6-minute 74-yard touchdown drive that gave them a 21-14 lead with 1:23 to play in the third.
Then the Green Devil defense intercepted a Carter Stanley tipped ball and took it 30-plus yards for their second score in 15 seconds.
The momentum had definitely shifted to favor St. Pete but M.J. Mc Griff turned the tide on a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that brought Vero Beach within a touchdown, 28-21.
The fourth quarter belonged to Vero Beach and their defense shutting down the St. Petersburg running game and stopping the Green Devils on critical 4th down and short.
Vero Beach tied the game up with 10:03 to go in the game when Carter Stanley carried it in from five yards out.
The Green Devils had a crucial turnover that was recovered by Vero linebacker Scott Tavlin with 7:40 to play. Vero Beach took advantage of the turnover and scored the go ahead touchdown on a Stanley four yard touchdown that gave Vero the win and pushed them into the second round of the playoffs.
Vero Beach will travel west to play Manatee Friday night.
