VERO BEACH – In a word, the Vero Beach High football special teams were spectacular.
Beginning with a tackle on the opening kickoff, Vero Beach dominated the third phase of the game all evening.
Traveon Townsend returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown and the special teams set up the offense on numerous occasions in Vero Beach’s 49-23 victory over Orlando Dr. Phillips in the Region 3-7A final Friday night at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bowl.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVero Beach is projected to play at home home for the Class 7A state semifinals on Friday against Miami Palmetto, a 65-41 winner over Goleman. Venice will play at Lake Mary, which upset No. 1 overall seed DeLand, 40-31, in the other semifinal.
Despite missing sophomore quarterback Champ Monds with a left shoulder injury, Efrem “E.J.” White stepped in behind center and accounted for four rushing touchdowns.
But it was the special teams that set the tone from the opening kickoff.
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AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJordan Crutchfield leveled Panthers’ returner Torrey Scott after just a 4-yard gain on the opening kickoff, leaving Dr. Phillips at its 6-yard line.
“Special teams was great,” Crutchfield said.
Crutchfield had returns of 36, 39 and 54, while Marcus Melbourne had a 52-yard return.
“Special teams was great,” Townsend said. “It means a lot because we have to set the tone for the defense and it starts off on the kickoff.”
Vero Beach (13-0) led 35-7 late in the second quarter when the offense failed to score on its sixth possession.
After the defense held the Panthers and forced a punt, Townsend fielded a ball at his own 37 and raced downfield for a touchdown that put Vero Beach up 42-7 with 16 seconds left in the first half, which essentially started a running clock for the entire second half.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“I just see the ball in the air and trust my team to block for me and I just run straight to the house,” Townsend said.
Townsend has eight or nine punt returns for scores this season, but many were nullified because of penalties. This was the third one that counted.
“We come out and execute,” Crutchfield said. “We see ourselves. We don’t see anybody in our way. We come out here and execute and dominate.
“You see on Friday nights, we score on special teams. It’s a playoff game and a big-time play.”
Vero Beach coach Lenny Jankowski spends plenty of time in practice during the week on special teams.
Vero Beach’s Traveon Townsend (6) hops over Dr. Phillips’ Zhytrez Ervin (3) in a high school football Region 3-7A Final on Nov. 28, 2025, in Vero Beach.“We talk about it every week: It’s a three-phase game,” Jankowski said. “We felt like we could get an advantage with our special teams play. We worked really hard on it during the week and have been all season.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Those return guys, both Traveon and Marcus, energizes us. You can feel the energy when those guys get the ball in their hands, big time.”
The success on special teams has evolved throughout the season.
“It took blood, sweat and tears,” Crutchfield said. “People only see the Friday. They don’t see us Monday through Thursday. That’s when Coach tells us we have to play Vero Beach football. And that’s what we do Friday nights.”
“Those guys have each and every week picked up on understanding how important and critical it is whether it be in direct points or flipping the field,” Jankowski said. “It’s a big part of our game plan each and every week.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPlaying on the home field turf also helps, especially with the speed not only the returners but the entire Vero Beach team possesses.
“It means a lot. This is our home field,” Crutchfield said. “We can’t let anybody come in here and take over. So we have to come here and dominate on all aspects on all levels of the game.”
“I don’t think there was an empty seat in the house,” Jankowski said. “Home field advantage is big. We love playing in this place. We love representing the community. We’ve got a great community here and they get behind us. It really is a football family and extends when you get to this point. You see how big the crowd is and what that means and the energy it gives our guys. It’s what Friday nights are all about.”
Vero Beach takeaways
1. Monds, who was injured last week during a running play, practiced at points during the week, but literally was a game-time decision. “12:30,” Jankowski said when asked when he made the call.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement2. White went 8-for-14 in the first half for 77 yards and completed all four of his passes in the third quarter – all to Melbourne (5 catches, 58 yards) to end 12-for-18 for 106 yards. All of White’s scoring plays came on the ground with runs of 19, 1, 1 and 12 yards. “I’m glad he’s on our team. He’s just a stud,” Jankowski said. “No matter what he’s asked to do, he just does it and doesn’t bat an eye. He’s a stud.”
3. Senior running back Jonathan Hillsman accounted for the other two touchdowns by the offense, rushing for touchdowns of 3 and 54 yards, his ninth and tenth of the season. Hillsman finished with 127 yards on 10 carries and caught three passes for 35 yards. It was the eighth straight game Vero Beach scored 42 or more points.
4. Vero Beach trailed 7-0 as Dr. Phillips (9-4) scored on its first play from scrimmage. After a 3-yard penalty for delay of game, quarterback Camren West went 97 yards around left end on a run-pass option. Vero Beach allowed 38 yards the rest of the half. The Panthers, who had beaten Vero Beach in the past three meetings including last season, scored its final 16 points on the final play of the third quarter and the final play of the game.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach football's spectacular special teams fuel region title
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