In a highly anticipated matchup between two unbeaten teams, Wellington High School delivered a commanding performance against Fort Pierce Westwood Academy, winning 26-0 on September 3 at Calvin R. Triplett Field at Lawnwood Stadium. This victory not only solidified Wellington's strong start to the season, improving their record to 3-0, but also highlighted areas for Westwood to address as they fell to 2-1.
The game began with a focus on physicality, as much of the post-game discussion revolved around the importance of strength training. Westwood's head coach LaDaris Vann emphasized the need for his players to continue developing their physical capabilities, noting that building strength is a long-term process that cannot be rushed. "You can’t do it in a year. You can’t do it in two years. You need to continue to stack the weight days," Vann remarked, reflecting on the challenges his team faced against a more seasoned opponent.
For the first portion of the game, Westwood's defense held strong, with senior Jakeim Ellison making a significant impact by recording two interceptions. However, the tide turned when Wellington's offense capitalized on a short punt that placed them on the Westwood 29-yard line. Sophomore running back Jay’lan Tyler quickly put the Wolverines on the scoreboard with a 29-yard touchdown run, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Wellington maintained their momentum, and as the first half drew to a close, junior kicker Evan Holowecky extended their lead with a 41-yard field goal, giving the Wolverines a 10-0 advantage at halftime. Coach Vann noted that his team’s slow starts have been a recurring issue, stating, "If we start slow, it’s going to catch up with us. It caught up with us tonight." This proved to be the case as Wellington continued to build on their lead in the second half.
In the fourth quarter, Holowecky added another field goal, this time from 25 yards, before the game took a dramatic turn for Westwood. Junior Rhys Lewis returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown, and moments later, Westwood fumbled the ensuing kickoff, allowing junior Elijah Thomas to score from two yards out. In just 19 seconds, Wellington had scored two touchdowns, pushing their lead to an insurmountable 26-0.
Westwood's offense struggled throughout the game, managing only 10 yards rushing and failing to find the end zone. After a strong start to the season, where they scored 61 points in their first two games, the Panthers were unable to replicate that success against a formidable Wellington defense. Vann lamented the missed assignments and poor blocking that plagued his team, stating, "It’s hard when you play and the defense comes in on negative field position. We gave the ball away. We played on our side of the field, and the defense can’t win like that."
Looking ahead, Westwood faces a challenging schedule as they embark on a four-game road trip, starting with a visit to Palm Bay Heritage High. Coach Vann expressed hope that the change of scenery might refocus his team, saying, "It might get the focus back on the situation at hand." Meanwhile, Wellington's strong performance marked their first shutout since 2024, as they look to build on this momentum and aim for a winning season after a disappointing 3-7 record last year.
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