Central hasn't had much luck against Vero Beach recently, but that could start to change on Friday. After each having a week off, the two teams will shake off the rust and duke it out at 7:00 p.m. Both teams are still undefeated after four games, but that won't be the case come Friday.
Central is headed into the game after thoroughly thrashing Tradition Prep: they outscored them in every quarter. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that the Cobras blew the Pirates out of the water with a 50-6 final score. The Cobras might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three matchups by 35 points or more this season.
Duane Simon went supernova, picking up 96 receiving yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 56 yards and one score. He showed off some serious burst, turning on the afterburners on one carry for 56 yards.
Special teams also played a big role in the game for Central, adding 12 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Marquan Burgess, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Vero Beach never let their opponents score two weeks ago. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Centennial 37-0. The contest marked the Indians' most dominant win of the season so far.
Vero Beach's win came from a few key players Central will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Efrem White, who threw for 216 yards and three TDs while completing 73.9% of his passes. Austin Banzhaf was White's top target, picking up 68 receiving yards and a pair of scores.
Vero Beach didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Centennial to a completion percentage of just 41.7%. The team can thank Jamarion Hillsman for the heroic effort on defense: he. Given White's standout performance, it's clear Centennial's secondary just wasn't on the same level.
Vero Beach didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Micah Roberts and Traveon Townsend.
Vero Beach's victory bumped their record up to 4-0. As for Central, their win bumped their record up to an identical 4-0.
Central was taken down by Vero Beach 35-0 in their previous matchup back in September of 2024. Will the Cobras have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
