Vero Beach, Florida is buzzing with excitement as the Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians football team has secured their spot in the state championship game for the first time in 44 years. This historic achievement follows a thrilling 45-44 double-overtime victory against Miami Palmetto in the Class 7A state semifinals on Friday, December 5. The monumental win has ignited a wave of community pride and a resurgence of memories from the program’s last state title appearance.
The decisive moment came in double overtime when sophomore defensive back Jamarion Hillsman executed a game-winning defensive stop on a two-point conversion attempt near the goal line. As the ball hit the turf, Billy Livings Field erupted, with players, coaches, and ecstatic spectators flooding the field in jubilation. This hard-fought battle from the Citrus Bowl has been hailed as an instant classic, marking a new chapter in Vero Beach football history.
Among the celebrants were members of the legendary 1981 championship team, who witnessed the current squad’s “grit” and determination. Duane Drisdom, a First-Team All-State safety from that revered 1981 team, perfectly captured the emotions of the moment. “You can’t describe it. It’s a feeling that outweighs everything,” Drisdom shared, reflecting on the profound joy of competing for a championship. Will Hill, another safety from the 1981 squad, echoed these sentiments, calling it “a great feeling to have. This is a lifetime memory for these young men.”
The 1981 team, affectionately known as ‘The Little Rascals,’ achieved their own state championship triumph with a 10-7 victory over Mosely, after defeating a Miami team (Killian) to reach the finals. Hill’s late turnover in that championship game secured their place in history before a crowd of 10,000. Mark Bellamy, a wide receiver from the ’81 team, sees a strong resemblance between the two generations of players. “These guys here, they got that grit. That’s how you win a championship. You got to have grit to win,” Bellamy stated, drawing a direct parallel to the spirit of the ‘Little Rascals.’ Tony Barber, a former running back from the 1981 team, offered valuable advice to the current players: “They just have to take it one play at a time. These guys have earned the right to be in this championship game. And I think no one is going to take it away from them.”
The Vero Beach High School Fighting Indians secured their first state championship berth in 44 years with a 45-44 double-overtime victory over Miami Palmetto, decided by a game-winning defensive stop by Jamarion Hillsman.
The top-seeded Vero Beach Fighting Indians (Class 7A) are now set to face No. 2 Lake Mary in the state championship game. The highly anticipated match will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami. The entire Vero Beach community, from longtime residents to the youngest fans, is eagerly anticipating this historic showdown, hopeful to witness the Fighting Indians bring home another state title to Indian River County.
