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THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH JEREMY BELL Senior wide receiver 2010 stats: Point guard for basket- ball team. Did not play football. Coach Lenny Jankowski: “He’s a guy that can do a lot with the ball in his hands. He is becoming more and more comfortable with our sport. He’s finding out he can be special in this sport too. He’s a joy to coach and a really good player.” CHARLIE MILLER Senior wide receiver 2010 stats: Point guard for basket- ball team. Did not play football. Coach Lenny Jankowski: ”He is a little bigger and stronger than Jeremy. He is a dynamic athlete and I saw his competitiveness and the way he takes over a game. He is just as likely to dominate at his receiver position as he is at his guard position in basketball.” COLE RIPPLE Junior linebacker 2010 stats: 34 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and one sack in 9 games for a defense that allowed 15.2 points per game last season. Coach Lenny Jankowski: “I’ve been impressed with him and his improvements to his game through the summer and camp. I’m expecting big things from him this year.” FRIDAY NIGHT MOMENT 2006 THE COMEBACK What happened: Trailing 28-7 in the third quarter, the Indians rallied for a 45-42, four- overtime win over Palm Beach Lakes to clinch a playoff spot. Why it mattered: The Indians had been 0-93 in games in which they trailed by 20 points or more. Key player: Patmon Ross was the lead blocker on three rushing touchdowns, blocked a field goal in the third overtime and recovered a fumble in the fourth OT to end the game. He said it: “I’m just overwhelmed. We defined the name ‘Fighting Indians tonight,’ ” Ross said afterward. STRENGTHS Offensive tackles Connor Moore and Lance Roache return to anchor the line and make room for the speedy Dentist Hall and multiple receiving weapons in Jankowski’s offensive sets. Senior center Joe Hawkins will be the heart of the line. On the defensive side, junior Sean Paul returns at the cornerback position where he will work with the newcomer Dravious Wright and seniors Charles Ivory and E.J. Pryor. Transfer Nick Madden may have the early QB edge, but will continue to compete with Pryor — who passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the spring game — for snaps at quarterback. WEAKNESSES Along with a new coach, the team will have to replace 16 starters from last year’s talented squad. Depth is a concern at the linebacker position and the team loses 144 tackles from a year ago with the graduation of Dion Holmes. Cole Ripple and senior Lemetrius Bennefield have the most experience at the linebacker position, while Robert Dixson moves out to the edge to play defensive end. Uncertainty at these positions could lead to early mistakes for Jankowski’s team before a stable lineup materializes. Offensively, replacing Jerome Hunter’s 707 yards and 10 scores should fall in the hands of the featured back, Hall. KEY GAME OCT. 14: SEBASTIAN RIVER This season, the Fighting Indians make a rare trip away from the Citrus Bowl to Sebastian to battle the Sharks in a rivalry game one week before they begin District 7-6A play against St. Lucie West Centennial on Oct. 21. The county rivalry matchup — which has drawn huge crowds in recent years — features two teams with new signal callers. The game also comes after a tough matchup with Fort Pierce Central, a district champion team in 2010 that is loaded again this season. Vero Beach defeated Sebastian River 28-10 in the first regular- season meeting between the Indian River County rivals. PREDICTION 7-3, 1-1 DISTRICT 8-8A An inexperienced lineup will be just that to begin the season, but should benefit from five home games in September to start the season. With new quarterbacks and rapid play calling, it could take time for the offense to limit mistakes. But look for this Fighting Indians team to finish the year strong and make it out of District 7-6A as either the champion or runner-up. SCHEDULE SEPTMEBER 2 Port St. Lucie 7:30 9 Martin County 7:30 16 FP Westwood 7:30 23 West Boca Raton 7:30 30 FP Central 7:30 OCTOBER 14 at Sebastian River 7 21 SLW Centennial 7:30 28 Wellington 7:30 NOVEMBER 4 at Treasure Coast 7 11 Santaluces 7 DEPTH CHART OFFENSE Pos Name No Cl Ht Wt QB Nick Madden 15 Sr. 5-10 195 RB Dentist Hall 21 Sr. 5-9 185 RB Nate Pryor 2 Jr. 5-9 170 WR Charlie Miller 1 Sr. 5-11 180 WR Rakeem Marcelle 80 Sr. 5-11 175 WR Jeremy Bell 9 Sr. 5-10 170 OT Connor Moore 51 Jr. 6-1 255 OG Jacob Mingear 59 Sr. 6-0 205 C Joe Hawkins 55 Sr. 6-1 275 OT Lance Roache 82 Sr. 6-3 245 OG Martin Quistan 79 Sr. 6-1 255 K Karson Dietrich 3 Jr. 6-0 155 DEFENSE Pos Name No Cl Ht Wt DE Dwayne Hoilett 8 Sr. 6-3 215 DT Travis Espich 64 Sr. 6-0 285 DT Manny Guadalupe 77 So. 6-1 270 DE Robert Dixson 45 Sr. 6-0 220 LB Cole Ripple 32 Jr. 6-0 205 LB Lemtrius Bennefield 35 Sr. 6-1 215 LB Josh Gallo 38 Jr. 5-10 195 DB Sean Paul 5 Jr. 5-11 175 DB Charles Ivory 6 Sr. 6-1 170 DB Dravious Wright 4 Jr. 5-10 180 DB E.J. Pryor 16 Sr. 5-9 175 P E.J. Pryor 16 Sr. 5-9 175 RESERVES K.J. Marshall (10, Sr., WR), Forrest Gains (11, Sr., WR), Zach Morby (12, Jr., WR), Darius Rando- plph (13, Sr., WR),), Rashard Oliver (17, Sr., WR), Jayden Richardson (18, Jr., WR), Adam Neira (19, Jr., WR), Jason Pierre (20, So., RB), Jamie Giampietro (25, Jr., DB), Chris Gonzalez (26, Jr., DB), Austin Fecher (27, Jr., DB), Matt Flanagan (28, Jr., WR), James Mason (31, Jr., LB), Jonathan Gallo (34, So., LB), Aramis Casiano (41, Jr., DB), Marcus Moore (42, Jr., DB), Peter Candarini (48, Jr., DB), Corbet Maize (50, Jr., DL), Luke Oliver (52, Jr., OL), Matt Susi (53, Sr., OL), Davis Rivas (54, Sr., LB), Jonathan Nombre (56, Jr., DL), Ivory Kizzy (57, Jr., DL), Josh Fersch (64, Sr., OL), Alex Menendez (65, Jr., OL), Chris Aquino (67, So., OL), John Kent (68, Sr., OL), James Grossman (70, Jr., OL), Darron Fish (72, Jr., DL), Scott Bacon (75, Jr., OL), Zach Hollers (76, Sr., OG), Ricky Taylor (81, Sr., WR), Josh Sanderson (83, Jr., WR), Larry Warren (85, Sr., WR), Derek Lilliquist (89, Sr., DL), Josh Early (90, Jr., TE), Brian Topp (94, Jr., TE), Kahlil Davis (96, Jr., DL), Terron Peterson (99, Sr., RB) COACHING STAFF Coach: Lenny Jankowski (first year) Record: 0-0 with Vero Beach, 72-45 overall 2010: 6-4, 3-1 District 7 6A Assistant coaches: Mike Watkins (offensive coordinator/ running backs), Joe Marx (quarterbacks), Marc Harris (wide receivers), Lenny Kendall (offensive line), Pete Deluke (offensive line), Robert Leslie (defensive coordinator/safeties), Bryan Rahal (cornerbacks), Bryan Crystoforski (linebackers), Teddy Floyd (defensive tackles), Pete Macdonald (defensive ends). STADIUM BILLY LIVINGS FIELD AT THE CITRUS BOWL (5,500) Playing surface: Grass Address: 1707 16th Street, Vero Beach Directions: Take U.S. 1 to 17th Street and head west. Stay on 17th Street, which becomes 16th Street. Cross the railroad tracks. The stadium is on the right. Parking is available on the left and right. Main office: 772-564-5400 On the Web: www. indianriverschools.org/VBHS By Alex Butler Special to Treasure Coast Newspapers VERO BEACH — What Vero Beach lacks in experience, it will try to compensate for with natural talent this fall. In February, coach Lenny Jankowski arrived at Vero Beach after five seasons at Defuniak Springs-Walton High School looking to bring a new style of play to the Cit- rus Bowl. Jankowski, known for his offensive innovations, quickly found talent walking the high school halls. After losing 10 starters on de- fense and nine on offense, many slots needed to be filled during spring practice and summer conditioning. “You don’t want your best athletes roaming the halls,” Jankowski said. “You want them out there participating and do- ing things the right way on and off the field. “(The new additions) are high character kids.” The Fighting Indians went 6-4 in 2010 under former coach Gary Coggin. And after sea- sons of pounding the ball on the ground out of the Wing-T, Vero Beach will open it up with a spread offense Friday. The new offensive scheme will see new faces in the start- ing lineup, along with quicker- paced play. “The thing that’s been the biggest difference is that a guy that was the No. 3 wide receiver last year, was a third-string re- ceiver,” Jankowski said. “In our base offensive formation, we are going to be four-wide, so your third-best receiver is one of your starters. “That’s been the thing that has really gotten the attention of the players. The skill play- ers — or receiver types — are getting on the field and are a lot more involved in the offensive scheme. Good, bad or indiffer- ent, that’s the way it is.” During the 2010 season, Vero Beach passed for just 666 yards, while rushing the ball for 1,437 yards. Vero Beach quarterbacks completed just 50 passes in 90 attempts. In its spring game alone — under Jankowksi — Vero Beach passed 22 times for 306 yards en route to 45 points. With so many holes to fill, competition beckons at ev- ery spot on the depth chart, Jankowski said. One familiar face, however, will be Dentist Hall in the back- field. The senior rushed for 205 yards and two scores in 2010. John Carroll High School transfer Nick Madden is slated to start at quarterback, but con- tinues to compete with fellow senior E.J. Pryor at the spot. Basketball players Char- lie Miller and Jeremy Bell — both seniors — will line up at receiver in their first seasons on the football team. Junior Dravious Wright also is buying into the sport and Jankowski’s movement, and will start in the defensive backfield at corner- back. “These are kids that since they came out, they don’t miss a day or a workout and are the first ones there and the last ones to leave,” Jankowski said of the three newcomers. “Not only are they out there, but they are excited to be out there and I think that makes a big differ- ence. “I approached all three kids and explained to them what we are trying to do. I said we would love to have them. It was per- fect timing because nobody is ahead of anybody else because it’s all new to everybody. All three kids took me up on it and I couldn’t be more pleased.” New style of play VERO BEACH FIGHTING INDIANS SAM WOLFE/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Dentist Hall (right) runs the ball during Vero Beach’s scrimmage Aug. 19 as Dwayne Hoilett (left) gives chase. Jankowski hopes natural talent, different offensive scheme take Vero Beach to the top 4A » Thursday, September 1, 2011 » SCRIPPS TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS » IG ALL THE NEWS, ALL THE CONVENIENCE. Our new iPad e-edition lets you take your news with you wherever you are. Download our e-edition the iPad App Store – FREE for a limited time! Our new iPad e Our new iP O u r n e w i P a d e news w n e w s w Do D App St
