VERO BEACH – The Lake Nona High defensive ends came into the regional semifinal round game with high acclaim and some lofty statistics.
University of Miami commit Deanthony Lafayette entered with 17 ½ sacks and 35 quarterback hurries. Georgia State commit Khalid Felix came in with 11 ½ sacks and 40 quarterback hurries.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“They had two big-time, Division 1 commits,” Vero Beach High coach Lenny Jankowski said.. “We obviously had some concerns for them.”
While Lafayette and Felix were relatively quiet, it was the Vero Beach defense that made most of the noise.
Vero Beach limited the Lions to one touchdown before the final play of the game and rolled to a 56-14 victory over fifth-seeded Lake Nona in the Class 7A-Region 3 semifinals Friday at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bowl.
Top-seeded Vero Beach (12-0) will be home Friday for the regional final Friday against seventh-seed Orlando Dr. Phillips. The Panthers (9-3) came from behind to knock off Fort Pierce Central, 22-21, at Lawnwood Stadium.
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A game-changing play Friday occurred early in the second quarter with Vero Beach holding a 7-0 lead.
Lake Nona (8-4) drove the ball to the Vero Beach 4-yard line and faced 4th-and-goal. Senior defensive lineman Bobby Burbic came off the end and stopped wide receiver Jordan Stokes for a loss of three yards.
“That fourth down stop was very big,” Jankowski said. “We got a turnover on downs and we were able to do something with it.”
Vero then went 93 yards in five plays with a 58-yard pass from Champ Monds to Efrem “E.J.” White down the right sideline to open the offensive series.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“That was a big turning point in the game,” Burbic said of his stop. “It sealed the deal for us. It gave us momentum to finish the game.”
Burbic also recovered a fumble following a sack by senior defensive end Maleki Reed, who also had a monster game, to set up a score late in the second quarter when Vero Beach broke the game open.
“We saw their film,” Burbic said. “We had a good scheme to defend them and work against them.”
Vero Beach did not change its defensive scheme for the Lions, who like to maintain possession of the ball. It just worked extra hard in preparing for Lake Nona.
Vero Beach's Marcus Melbourne (12) makes a touchdown during a high school football game against Lake Nona, Nov. 21, 2025, at the Citrus Bowl.“Same old business we normally do, but we prepared extra this time,” Burbic said. “Just relentless pressure. We work every week on our drills, always 100% from the get-go.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Awesome defensive effort. It was all-in-all a team effort.”
Jankowski echoed the “team effort” part.
“Our defensive coaches, week in and week out, do a great job with the preparation,” the veteran coach said. “Our players go out and really play hard. It’s best said that it’s just team defense. It’s not a matter of this guy or that guy. It’s just a matter of playing good team defense, and they’re getting better and better each week.
“We’ve got good team speed. Guys fly around the ball. We’re tackling better each week. Just proud of the way we played for the duration.”
Lake Nona’s lone touchdown in the first three quarters came after a drive was extended by a 9-yard first down. But Vero Beach overcame it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“No doubt. We knew they were capable of playing hog the ball and eating some clock,” Jankowski said. “We were able to get off the field. They can hog it and eat it, but the object of the game is to get the ball over the goal line. We were able to keep them from scoring.”
Vero Beach takeaways
1. Vero Beach lost Monds with another injury, but White, as he did all regular season, came through. Vero Beach broke the game open with three touchdowns in the final 61 seconds of the second quarter. White threw a 55-yard scoring pass to Marcus Melbourne. After Reed’s sack and Burbic’s recovery, offensive lineman Champ Smith went over from 2 yards out. Getting a 39-yard punt return from Traveon Townsend to the Lake Nona 9-yard line with 3 seconds left, White connected with Woods on the final play of the half to make it 35-7 at the break. White completed his first seven passes and went 10-for-13 for 104 yards and three passing touchdowns, including a 4-yarder to Austin Banzhaf on the first play of the fourth quarter. White also carried five times for 56 yards and caught a pass for 58 yards. “He’s a stud,” Jankowski said of White. “It’s nice to have E.J. in reserve doing what he does.”
2. Monds went 3-for-3 for 97 yards and a touchdown, but appeared to be injured on his second run of the game, a 6-yarder in the second quarter. His arm was in a sling and there was ice on his left shoulder after the game. “Champ was having a heck of a game,” Jankowski said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll get Champ back next week.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement3. Vero Beach’s special teams got into the scoring act with Melbourne scoring his third touchdown of the game on a 43-yard return in the fourth quarter. Melbourne also hauled in a 23-yard pass from Monds to open the scoring, along with his 55-yard reception from White.
4. Vero Beach is 0-3 against Dr. Phillips, including a 21-14 road loss that ended its season a year ago in the regional final. The other two losses came in 2016 and 2018.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach football routs Lake Nona, loses Champ Monds to injury
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