VERO BEACH – In a challenging matchup against one of the top teams in the nation, Vero Beach High School's football team fell to St. Frances Academy, 38-6, on Friday, September 4, at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bowl. The game marked a significant moment for freshman quarterback Makai White, who was thrust into the starting role with little notice after the team's regular starter, Wonderful "Champ" Monds IV, was sidelined due to a shoulder injury.
White, who had only one practice with the first team before the game, faced the daunting task of leading the offense against St. Frances Academy, ranked No. 2 nationally. Despite the odds stacked against him, White showed resilience and determination. "I was shocked," White admitted regarding his unexpected start. "But I knew it was coming. God always has a plan for us."
Vero Beach's head coach, Lenny Jankowski, expressed pride in White's performance, acknowledging the difficult circumstances. Monds, who was unable to dress for the game, had been a key player for Vero Beach, helping the team reach the state championship last season. With Monds out, White's inexperience was evident as he completed 6 of 15 passes for just 30 yards and rushed for 4 yards.
The game started with Vero Beach winning the coin toss and opting to receive the ball. However, the offense struggled to gain momentum, and after a brief lightning delay, White's first completed pass was for a loss of two yards. The Panthers quickly capitalized on a White interception, scoring their first touchdown with a 15-yard pass from Justin Merriman to Samir Edwards in the second quarter.
What followed was a flurry of scoring from St. Frances Academy, which found the end zone three times in just over a minute, taking a commanding 31-0 lead by halftime. The Vero Beach defense initially held its ground, matching the Panthers' intensity for the first quarter and forcing a couple of turnovers. However, the relentless pace and skill of St. Frances proved too much to handle.
As the second half commenced, St. Frances continued to dominate, scoring again to initiate a running clock with just under five minutes left in the third quarter. Vero Beach managed to score a late touchdown, with Jermonty Kimbrough rushing for a 1-yard touchdown as time expired, providing a small consolation in an otherwise tough outing.
Despite the heavy defeat, Jankowski remained optimistic, noting the experience gained from facing such a formidable opponent. He remarked, "There’s a lot to be learned from something like this. It’s not a fun way to learn it. If it’s handled the right way, there’s some valuable experience that happened." Vero Beach finished the game with a total of 102 yards of offense, while St. Frances amassed 284 yards, showcasing the disparity in performance.
Looking ahead, Vero Beach (2-1) will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next game against St. Lucie West Centennial High in a Class 6A-District 8 matchup. Jankowski emphasized the importance of bouncing back and getting healthy, as the team faces a tight schedule with little time to reflect on the loss. "We don’t have a lot of time to feel bad for ourselves. We’ve got a district game next week," he stated.
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