Florida high school football: George Roberts powers Treasure Coast over Vero Beach
PORT ST. LUCIE — With Treasure Coast looking to pick up a first down and try to run out the clock, George Roberts was looking to pass.
It’s a good thing he listened to his coaches instead.
Roberts scored on a 37-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to help the Titans put away rival Vero Beach 21-12 in a Region 3-4S semifinal at South County Stadium on Friday night.
The win is Treasure Coast’s first in three postseason meetings with Vero Beach. The final score was identical to the score when the Titans beat Vero Beach in the District 12-4S championship game in Week 10.
“This feels really good to beat them twice in a row,” said Roberts, who scored two touchdowns. “The pass wasn’t there, so I just took off. I just heard all the coaches yelling and I was like, ‘I’m just going to run.’
“This feels good (to be in the regional championship). I’ve never been here before.”
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Roberts opened the scoring late in the first quarter with a 5-yard run and Demari Scott also scored for the Titans (9-2) late in the second quarter.
On Roberts game-sealing touchdown, he rolled out to his right and was looking for a receiver to get open. With Vero Beach dropping most of its defenders into coverage, Roberts had plenty of space to run. He easily picked up the first down, then weaved his way down the left sideline to get into the end zone.
“Typical Vero Beach-Treasure Coast game,” Titans coach Irvin Jones said. “At one point in time, I didn’t think either one of the teams wanted to win the game, but luckily we were blessed enough to pull it on through.
“George had that big (touchdown) at the end. I thought he was just going to go down, but he kept running. Thank God he kept running.”
Vero Beach (9-3) got a rushing touchdown from Octavion Osby in the first quarter and another from quarterback Tyler Aronson in the third quarter.
After Roberts opened the scoring, Vero Beach trailed for the remainder of the game. The extra point attempt after Osby’s touchdown missed and Vero Beach’s two-point conversion attempt to tie the game in the third quarter was incomplete.
Vero Beach appeared to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. After a long fumble return to the Treasure Coast 15-yard line, Osby scored on the run but the officials called a block in the back – a call that incensed Vero Beach’s coaching staff.
On the following play, Aronson lofted a pass into the end zone and two Treasure Coast defenders made contact with the Vero Beach receiver but no call was made.
Vero Beach ended up attempting a 46-yard field goal, which was blocked. Roberts scored on the next Titans drive.
“It’s just disappointing,” Vero Beach coach Lenny Jankowski said. “It’s disappointing that a game like this ends like this.
"I’m disgusted. It shouldn’t come down that. It’s taking nothing away from them. You know I have the utmost respect for that team. Credit to them. They have a good team. Coach Jones always does a good job. It’s just unfortunate.”
The game was officiated by the Treasure Coast Officials Association, which came as a surprise to coaches and administration from both schools as most playoff games are officiated by out-of-area crews.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: George Roberts leads Treasure Coast football over Vero Beach
