Vero Beach football beats Miami Palmetto in OT to reach state final
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Bienvenidos a Miami, Vero Beach football.
The Fighting Indians defeated Miami Palmetto 45-44 in double overtime in a Class 7A state semifinal game on Billy Livings Fields at the Citrus Bowl on Friday, Dec. 5.
Vero Beach stopped the Panthers on a decisive 2-point conversion attempt as sophomore defensive back Jamarion Hillsman made a huge hit to break up the Palmetto pass.
“Crazy, crazy game. All different things can happen but at the end of the day we had one more than they did and that’s all that counts,” Vero Beach football head coach Lenny Jankowski said in the postgame broadcast. “What a game, what a crowd, what a community. I can’t imagine there’s been a better Friday night here.”
Vero Beach (14-0) will play Lake Mary (11-3) in the Class 7A state championship game at Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium in Miami on Saturday, Dec. 13. The Rams defeated Venice 31-26 on Friday in Class 7A’s other state semifinal.
The Fighting Indians will appear in the program’s first state championship game since 1981.
Seniors Efrem “EJ” White and Jonathan Hillsman combined for six touchdowns to fuel another high-octane offensive performance from the Fighting Indians.
White was nearly perfect in his passing performance, completing 21 of 23 passes for four touchdowns. He connected with sophomore wide receiver Latravious Woods for a pair of touchdowns in the first half and found senior wideout Jarvis Jones for a score on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Hillsman chipped in a pair of rushing scores in the third quarter and scored the Fighting Indians’ only touchdown in overtime on a 10-yard swing pass from White.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at ejwallace@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach football beats Miami Palmetto in OT to reach state final
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