After high school football game shootings, no plans to move game times

Jon Santucci | Treasure Coast Newspapers

Show Caption Hide Caption PrepZone on the Road: Port St. Lucie High School Sports reporters Jon Santucci and Dennis Jacob sat down with Jaguar's head coach Chris Dent and players Donald Rutledge and Montavious Yearby Tuesday, Aug. 28 2018, during PrepZone on the Road at Port St. Lucie High School.

Area athletic directors say there are no plans to move up the start of high school football games after shootings around the state the past two weeks.

“We are working with our school resource officers to make sure our plan we have in place is sound,” Martin County athletic director Mark Cowles said. “There’s been no discussion about moving times or anything like that.”

Two adults were wounded in a shooting in the parking lot at Palm Beach Central High School on Aug. 17. This past Friday, a Jacksonville man and two teenagers were wounded in a shooting after a game between Raines and Lee high school in Jacksonville.

Both Palm Beach and Duval counties moved rivalries and other games expected to draw big crowds to Thursday and Saturday or earlier start times on Friday nights.

Fort Pierce Central and Fort Pierce Westwood already play the annual Showdown on Saturday at 10 a.m. after a stadium-clearing incident in the Lawnwood Stadium stands in 2016.

More: Jon Santucci: Showdown 37 ruined — Fort Pierce deserves better

During that game, several fans jumped onto Westwood’s sidelines in a panic, prompting Westwood players to get caught up in the commotion and leave the stadium. Central players, including the defense which was on the field, laid face down on the ground before heading to the locker room. Five people were arrested and three were injured as a result of the incident.

St. Lucie County athletic director Pete Crepso said he’s not aware of any plans to move any other game times as a precautionary measure.

St. Lucie County did update its security protocols after the shooting at Palm Beach Central, including:

Having addition law enforcement officers at each game and in the parking lots

Not allowing backpacks or tote bags into the stadiums (purses and handbags are allowed, but subject to search)

No re-entry into the game at any time and no entry after the third quarter

Stadiums are cleared promptly after each game

“We’re trying to take every step and the other counties are doing the same thing,” Crespo said. “We’re trying to make it a safe environment so everyone can enjoy the game.”

Vero Beach athletic director Lenny Jankowski said he already planned to have additional security at the Citrus Bowl this season, but is concerned about the recent violence across the state.

“There’s always been a little bit of riffraff that attends games, but (violence) has always been off limits,” Jankowski said. “It’s an unwritten rule that this isn’t where you bring all that mess and now … I don’t know. It’s a shame. It really is.”

Stone in the spotlight

During his freshman year at Port St. Lucie, Tyler Stone wrote down some of his athletic goals. He wanted to be a four-year starter at shortstop (he already has a baseball scholarship offer from Florida International) and become the starting quarterback on the football team.

Tyler Stone talks about what being named starting QB at PSL means to him Port St. Lucie High School will play Fort Pierce Westwood on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018.

He can check the second one off the list Friday when the sophomore makes his first varsity start Friday against defending District 15-5A champion Fort Pierce Westwood.

“I’m not (worried),” Port St. Lucie coach Chris Dent said. “He’s got ice in his veins right now. I don’t think anything’s going to faze him because he stepped right in (last week against Lake Placid).

“Nothing really phases him. He has good composure. He’s very competitive. He always wants to do things right. If he does it wrong, he asks. He wants it done right, which is what I like about him.”

Stone was 10 of 17 for 170 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions after coming in against Lake Placid in Week 1. Of the incompletions, two were passes dropped in the end zone in the closing seconds and two were spiked balls during the final drive to stop the clock.

Zaccheo no longer a secret

Jensen Beach coaches told anyone who would listen that junior safety Liam Zaccheo was a star ready for a breakout season. It took all of one game for him to validate their claims.

Jensen Beach DB Liam Zaccheo talks about rivalry with South Fork Jensen Beach High School's football team will play South Fork on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018.

Zaccheo recorded 19 tackles against South Fork last week, which was tied with John Carroll Catholic inside linebacker Nate Gonrnitsky for the most on the Treasure Coast in Week 1. Even South Fork coach Mike Lavelle – unprompted – praised Zaccheo for his performance.

“Zaccheo is one of the best defenders I have coached against in some time,” Lavelle said in a text message. “Kid can flat out line up. Reminded me of (former Martin County star and current Middle Tennessee State linebacker) Cody Smith (or former Vero Beach and Notre Dame All-American safety) Zeke Motta, just not as big.”

Quick slants

• Vero Beach appears to have found an offensive line its comfortable with. Left tackle Elisha Bacon, left guard Billy Laziman, center Trevor Goodrich, left guard John Moran and right tackle Clayton Brown played every snap against Venice last week and will start against Wellington on Friday.

• The Nation Christian Academy junior quarterback Will Mitchell had a misleading stat line in the Eagles loss to Victory Christian last week. Mitchell was 8 of 23 for 141 yards and an interception. Why is it misleading? Nation coach Doug Moreau said his wide receiver had eight “flagrant drops.”

• Sebastian River defensive back Jadakis Hendrieth currently is a backup, but is making it hard for Sharks coaches to keep him on the bench. Hendrieth had seven tackles, broke up two passes and also recovered a blocked kick against Martin County last week.

• After primarily playing wide receiver last fall, Martin County’s Trevor Parent continues to make strides at defensive back. The senior had 10 tackles, an interception and broke up two passes in the season opener. Tigers coach Rod Harris said Parent is doing a better job of trusting his keys.

• Fort Pierce Central coach Jeff Cameron said he was pleased with the improvement of linebackers Josh Mimms and James Durante. The duo did a better job of playing downhill and filling their gaps in the season opening win against Lyman than they did in the Kickoff Classic loss to Holy Trinity.