VERO BEACH – In the preseason, Efrem “E.J.” White was practicing at other positions than quarterback, because the Vero Beach High football team had star quarterback Champ Monds returning for his sophomore season.
But when White was playing quarterback before the season began, his passing did not look right to head coach Lenny Jankowski.
“He looked funky throwing the ball,” the veteran coach said. “And I was thinking, ‘Gosh it doesn’t even look like he’s played quarterback.’”
It did not take long before White was the Vero Beach quarterback, since Monds was injured during the first half of the Week 1 game against Eau Gallie.
Since then, White has taken regular snaps at quarterback, both in practice and the games.
And it shows.
White completed his first nine passes to five different receivers in the first quarter, and Vero Beach jumped out to a big lead and coasted to a 42-13 victory over Booker T. Washington out of Miami on Friday night at Billy Livings Field at the Citrus Bowl.
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“Prior to this situation, he was just a gadget kind of quarterback,” Jankowski said. “Now, that he’s been practicing every day, he’s got a nice, tight release. The ball is jumping out of his hand. It’s spinning really nice.”
White opened the game with a 14-yard pass to running back Jonathan Hillsman, who opened the scoring with a 47-yard run two plays later and 58 seconds into the game.
Completing five passes on the next possession, White hooked up with Latravious Woods on a 3-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter.
White hit Woods for 15 yards and Jarvis Jacobs for 6 before Woods rumbled 17 yards for a score with 48 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 21-0.
“Coming into this game, we were thinking about what’s easy: We took what they gave us,” White said.
After going 2-for-4 for 38 yards and a late touchdown last week against Fort Pierce Central, White was 12-for-14 for 137 yards in the first half against the Tornadoes (1-6).
“Some opportunities came about tonight,” Jankowski said. “As a group, as a team we were able to get it rolling.”
White also displayed his athleticism (the Florida State University commit is accurately listed as an athlete on the roster) in the second half. Caught behind the line of scrimmage, White eluded three Booker T. Washington defenders and ran for a 38-yard touchdown, although he probably covered 60 yards with his scrambling.
“E.J. is incredible,” Jankowski said. “He’s doing a great job in leading the team and doing what we need him to do.”
White rushed for 68 yards, improving his team-high season total to 494 and nine touchdowns on the ground.
His 12-for-15 effort passing gave him 65 completions in 88 attempts for 934 yards in 2025.
“I’ve worked on it every day as much as I can,” White said of throwing. “I just tried to get better with my eyes and accuracy throwing the ball. From the beginning, I got way better than when I started.”
“It’s night and day since he’s been practicing,” Jankowski said. “His comfortability. Besides all that, his mechanics of throwing have greatly improved.”
What has helped White as a passer is his ability to play receiver and relate with the receivers on the team.
“It helps a lot. I think just like them,” White said. “We are on the same page most of the time. What they’re thinking, I’m thinking too. It makes it a little easier.
“It helps a lot. I know one-on-one balls, I can beat this guy, I can outrun this guy. When they’re playing this, you can pepper out the ball.”
The interaction thrills Jankowski.
“What’s really neat is watching him talk to the receivers. Because of his knowledge of playing receiver: when they are going to come open, to stay on schedule in the passing game. It’s been a neat thing for me to sit back and watch,” he said. “You’re really onto something when they take ownership and to watch these guys work through it and communicate. Those qualities he has at receiver has helped him.”
White knows his time behind center likely will come to an end when Monds returns from his injury. For now, he is trying to be the best version of himself at quarterback.
“I trust my ability and know what I can do with the ball at quarterback,” he said. “When they give me a chance to show, I’ll take that opportunity.”
Vero Beach takeaways
1. In a game delayed 35 minutes at the start because Booker T. Washington’s buses were caught in traffic because of an accident on the Florida Turnpike, White also had two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter from 21 and 11 yards out, giving him three rushing and one passing for the evening. In all, 10 receivers caught passes for Vero Beach, led by Jacobs’ four receptions for 63 yards.
2. The Tornadoes scored once against the first-team Vero Beach defense. They had a 14-play, 56-yard drive in the second quarter to cut the deficit to 28-7. The Tornadoes also scored on the final play of the game. Defensively, Vero Beach received sacks from Maqarie Philip, Jaravie Lockhart, Jaydon Haywood and Ryan Hendrickson in the first half. Bobby Burbic, Lance Stone and Xavier Stuckey notched tackles for a loss in the first half. Jonathan Edden had two tackles for a loss in the fourth quarter.
3. In improving its record to 6-0, Vero Beach plays host to Rockledge High on Friday on its Homecoming Night. Vero Beach was ranked second in the state in the Florida High School Athletic Association rankings for the second straight week. Vero Beach has two straight wins over Booker T. Washington, including last year’s 24-21 decision. The Tornadoes began this season 0-5, scoring 34 points in their first five games before exploding for 50 last week in a win over Miami Springs. Booker T. Washington posted a 28-9 record during the past three seasons, winning at least nine games each year.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Efrem White’s four touchdowns springs unbeaten Vero Beach past Miami Booker T. Washington
Reporting by Dennis Maffezzoli / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
