Week 11: Fort Pierce Westwood's big win clinches playoff spot, Vero Beach rolls 31-10

Fort Pierce Westwood 26, Boca Raton 7

The only way Fort Pierce Westwood could guarantee they would have a spot in the state playoffs was to go out and earn it on the field in their regular-season finale.

That was exactly what the Panthers did as senior Todd Jackson delivered three rushing touchdowns, including a 73-yard burst to lead Fort Pierce Westwood to a convincing 26-7 victory over Boca Raton at Lawnwood Stadium.

Entering Friday holding the eighth spot in the Region 3-3S rankings, Seabreeze at ninth won their game Thursday night to apply a little pressure on the Panthers.

Fort Pierce Westwood's stars stole the show as senior Braylon Vincent reeled in an interception late in the opening quarter and classmate John Williams III recovered a fumble in the second quarter that set up the game's first points.

Jackson took a sweep off to the left 19 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter that would stand as the only points of the half with the Panthers leading 7-0.

Jackson, who over the course of the season has rotated in at quarterback primarily as a running threat alongside starter EJ Weathers, hit a big pass play to Traveon Townsend for 50 yards midway through the third quarter.

Jackson would pay off the drive with a plunge into the end zone from four yards out to extend the lead.

Vincent snuffed out a Boca Raton drive, intercepting a pass in the end zone on fourth down and three plays later, Jackson scooted through a gaping hole in the Bobcat sequence and went 73 yards to the end zone to make it 20-0.

"When Todd puts it all together, there's not much he can't do, he can change a game himself," Kokell said. "We call him the mini fridge, because he's so quick and solid and strong, he's strong and fast."

After Boca Raton's Amir Holstick returned a fumble 70 yards early in the fourth quarter to give the Bobcats some life down 20-7, the Panthers successfully recovered an onside kick and would put the game away.

Weathers, who had struggled most of the night throwing the ball, hit senior Jaylyn Monds, who committed to Eastern Michigan on Wednesday, for a 27-yard touchdown strike that showed to Kokell a lot about the sophomore's mentality to bounce back.

"For EJ to say, okay tonight it was Todd's show but then in the fourth quarter, come seal the game with a deep ball to Jaylyn," Kokell said. "He could have pouted and folded and he showed resiliency.

The victory for the Panthers in what could be the final home game for its senior class meant a lot to the seniors who endured an 0-9 record in 2021.

Kokell took over the program last year and after a 4-1 start, Fort Pierce Westwood dropped its final four games to finish .500.

Showing glimpses of what they can achieve during the regular season but without a marquee victory, a win over Boca Raton, the District 4M-11 champions will be a huge momentum for whoever the Panthers get in the postseason with the FHSAA releasing the state brackets at 10 a.m. Sunday.

"The way we're built, could we lose any game, sure," Kokell said. "But could we win any game? When Traveon does the stuff he did tonight, Todd, Jaylyn, Braylon's doing well. When you see the way they all celebrate for each other like they did tonight, when they celebrate for each other, it's awesome."

Vero Beach 31, Columbia 10

Octavion Osby ran for three touchdowns, including a spectacular 28-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Vero Beach wrapped up the regular season with an 8-2 record.

Vero Beach converted a fourth-and-2 from Columbia's 12-yard line that set up an 8-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Aronson to Isaiah Roberts that gave Vero a 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter.

Vero safety Elijah Anderson recorded interceptions on back-to-back Columbia drives late in the first quarter and Osby scored from a yard out late in the quarter to make it 14-0.

A 29-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half by Braydon Marson sent Vero Beach into the half with a 17-3 lead.

Osby scored on an 11-yard run midway through the third quarter but saved his best run for last in the fourth quarter.

Taking a handoff up the middle, the senior ran off to his left and shook multiple Columbia tacklers on a 28-yard scamper into the end zone.

For the night, Vero Beach ran for 241 yards on the ground offensively led by Osby's 103.

Centennial 13, Port St. Lucie 6

Elijah Thompson's two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter sealed the win to help the Eagles avoid a winless 2023.

Thompson gave Centennial a 7-6 lead with a touchdown run on a quarterback sneak and added a long touchdown run later in the quarter to secure the victory.

Clayton Yearby scored on a touchdown run that gave the Jaguars (1-9) a 6-0 lead in the opening quarter.

Jupiter 34, South Fork 24

Luke Douglas threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Warriors to a home victory.

Jannaro Sumpter accounted for all three touchdowns on the night for the Bulldogs (4-6) scoring from 40 yards, 41 yards and 52 yards for South Fork, who cut a 24-0 deficit down to 24-16 in the third quarter.

Sumpter finished the night with 194 rushing yards and Omar Mejia added 115 rushing yards for the Bulldog offense and defensively, Jonas Barros made 10 tackles, John Coleman had eight tackles, two that went for a loss and Santiago Millan-Copete made seven tackles and had a sack for South Fork.

Sebring 31, Fort Pierce Central 7

Anthony Lammatina threw a touchdown pass to Chandler Perceval in the second quarter for the Cobras, who finished the season with a 2-8 record.

Master's Academy 54, Sarasota Christian 20

Caleb Cotton threw three touchdown passes and added another on the ground to lead the Patriots (10-0) onward in 8-man SSAA postseason play.

Edison Blunt had two touchdown catches, Dalton Tedder also had a touchdown reception and Christian Marques scored a touchdown on the ground and had an interception on defense.

Aiden Vitale had an interception return for a touchdown and Wyatt Williams returned a fumble for a score on defense for the Patriots.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Jackson's big night propels Fort Pierce Westwood to the postseason