The Fighting Indians are heading to the state championship! In what will instantly go down as one of the most thrilling games in the history of **Vero Beach High School** football, the Fighting Indians defeated Miami Palmetto 45-44 in double overtime on Friday night at a sold-out Citrus Bowl.
For the first time since 1998, Vero Beach hosted a state semifinal, and the team delivered a historic performance to keep their undefeated season alive. The victory propels the program to the **Class 7A state championship game**, where they will chase their first state title since 1981.
A Double Overtime Thriller
The game was a back-and-forth battle that required extra time to settle. After ending regulation tied at 38-38, both teams missed field goals in the first overtime period—Vero Beach plagued by a high snap and Palmetto missing wide right.
In the second overtime, the drama reached its peak. Vero Beach struck first when quarterback **Efrem “EJ” White** threw a screen pass to **Jonathan Hillsman**, who powered into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. The extra point gave Vero a 45-38 lead.
Miami Palmetto responded with a quarterback sneak on third down to bring the score to 45-44. Rather than play for a third overtime, Palmetto elected to go for a 2-point conversion to win the game. The Fighting Indians’ defense stood tall, stuffing the attempt to seal the victory and ignite a celebration on Billy Livings Field.
Game Recap: A Tale of Two Halves
The night began with uncertainty surrounding Vero Beach’s starting quarterback situation. With standout sophomore “Champ” Monds dressed but sidelined due to a shoulder injury, senior EJ White took command of the offense.
The first half was a seesaw affair. Palmetto struck first, but Vero Beach responded with two touchdown passes from White to **Latravious Woods**. A late field goal by senior **Riley Swanson** sent the teams into the locker room tied at 17-17.
“It’s one of those games. It’s what you would expect. We expected a dog fight.” — Head Coach Lenny Jankowski
Vero Beach appeared to pull away in the third quarter. Running back **Jonathan Hillsman** scored twice on the ground, and a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from White to **Jarvis Jacobs** gave the Indians a commanding 38-24 lead with just under 12 minutes remaining.
However, Miami Palmetto mounted a furious comeback, scoring 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. They tied the game at 38-38 with a quarterback sneak with just 31 seconds left in regulation, forcing the overtime period.
Key Performances
* Efrem “EJ” White: Filling in for the injured starter, White was spectacular. By the fourth quarter, he was 18-of-19 passing for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also making plays with his legs.
* Jonathan Hillsman: The running back was a workhorse, scoring two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter and the decisive receiving touchdown in double overtime.
* The Defense: Despite giving up a late lead, the unit forced crucial turnovers, including a fumble forced by **Jamarion Hillsman** and recovered by **Sebastian Polynice**, and ultimately made the game-winning stop on the 2-point conversion.
What’s Next: The State Championship
With a perfect 13-0 record, Vero Beach now advances to the ultimate stage.
* Event: Class 7A State Championship
* Date: Friday, December 13
* Location: Florida International University’s Pitbull Stadium, Miami
* Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
This victory is particularly sweet for the local community, which packed the Citrus Bowl to capacity. Fans had to navigate the “Horn Man” silence—as the FHSAA enforced a ban on the traditional air horns for the semifinal—but the noise from the crowd was undeniable as the Fighting Indians punched their ticket to Miami.
