On 4th-down-and-10 with 39 seconds left in Friday night’s football state semifinal, host Lake Mary was clinging to a 31-26 lead and knew a crucial play was coming.
Convert, and they not only win to go back to the Class 7A championship game but do it by beating Venice, the team that embarrassed the Rams with a 52-19 title-game victory a year ago.
A failed conversion might not have been the end of the line, but it might have spelled the end of a season. It would have left enough time for Venice’s offense to go for a game-winning touchdown. The Indians had been able to move quickly downfield at times throughout the night.
Rams quarterback Noah Grubbs took the snap, looked one way, pump-faked and then found running back O’Shea Faison wide open. Faison secured the pass and went to the Venice 11 before he was brought down, effectively securing the victory in a tense final minute.
Coach Scott Perry’s first thought after that clutch pass play: “We’re going back to Miami!”
Grubbs actually was thinking about getting one more final play.
“I was trying to tell him to get out of bounds,” said the Rams’ record-setting senior quarterback who is bound for Notre Dame. “It always feels great to end the game kneeling the ball, so I wanted to have that opportunity.”
Luckily, he did.
Grubbs, who owns all of Seminole County’s passing records, was as close to perfect as he could have been, throwing for 308 yards and two touchdowns to receiver Barrett Schulz. He also ran for a score. And when his team needed him most, Grubbs delivered and shut down any remaining doubters that might still be there.
“All the naysayers that were there Week 1 through 4 telling us we wouldn’t be here at this time, we proved them wrong,” said Grubbs. “It feels great to get back [to the championship game].”
Lake Mary lost two of its first four games this season but now carries a six-game winning streak into the final in Miami. The Rams will play No. 1-ranked Vero Beach (14-0), which won its semifinal 45-44 over Miami Palmetto (11-3) in a double-overtime thriller. The Indians stopped a two-point conversion attempt by the Panthers to survive.
High School Football live updates from Jones, Lake Mary home playoffs
Schulz had another big night for Lake Mary with 134 receiving yards, including his two TDs and a one-handed catch at the 1-yard line that set up running back Gavin Isaacs for a rushing touchdown in the first half.
The Venice offense was explosive as advertised, at times giving the Lake Mary defense fits, but the key difference between the two teams was in the turnover battle. Lake Mary forced a fumble on Venice’s first possession and forced a key turnover on downs in the third quarter. The Rams did not turn the ball over and converted on two key fourth downs, including the clinching pass.
The championship game is set for 7:30 next Saturday night at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University.
Perry said his team will need to replicate its performance against Venice in order to beat Vero and bring home the championship trophy.
“All three phases have to be clicking. We can’t make mistakes, can’t turn the ball over, and make sure we play good sound, fundamental football for four quarters,” said Perry. “Let’s go have fun with it.”
High school football scoreboard: schedule, updates for FHSAA 15 playoff games
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at bcollings@orlandosentinel.com.
