Lake Mary Stuns Vero Beach, 28-27, on Hail Mary Pass, Lateral on Final Play of Game to Win 7A Title

Rams trailed 27-19 but pick up safety and game-winning touchdown in final 12 seconds to win their first ever championship

Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs (13) threw a Hail Mary pass that was tipped to wide receiver Barrett Schulz, who then lateraled to Tavarius Brundidge, who ran the final 4 yards into the end zone on the game's final play to help the Rams shock Vero Beach, 28-27, for the Class 7A state title on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. / Avocan Schild

In a game of big plays, it was the last one on the final play that mattered the most.

In a finish for the ages, Lake Mary quarterback Noah Grubbs threw a Hail Mary pass that was tipped by a Vero Beach defender into the hands of wide receiver Barrett Schulz, who then handed the ball to Tavarius Brundidge Jr., who ran the final 4 yards into the end zone for a 42-yard score and lift the Rams to a stunning 28-27 upset of previously unbeaten Vero Beach in the Class 7A state title game on Saturday night at FIU's Pitbull Stadium in Miami.

The wild ending sent the Lake Mary sidelines into pandemonium and left Vero Beach players sitting on the field in disbelief. The Indians (14-1) used big play after big play to stay ahead of the Rams (12-3) most of the night but allowed nine points in the final 12 seconds to fritter the game away.

Vero Beach looked to have the game wrapped up when Jordan Crutchfield intercepted Grubbs for the third time with 1:12 to play and the Indians ahead 27-19. But with the rain coming down hard, the Indians elected to do three kneel downs and then Efrem White ran backwards 19 yards out of the end zone for a safety with 12 seconds left.

On the ensuing free kick by Vero Beach, Lake Mary's Jahvon Robinson returned it 23 yards to the Vero Beach 42-yard line to give the Rams a decent chance of a throw into the end zone for a score. Grubbs, Schulz and Brundidge then came through.

Lake Mary won its first state championship after losing to Venice in this same spot a year ago. Vero Beach was making its second finals appearance, having won it in 1981.

The Rams took an early 3-0 lead on a 32-yard field by Lucas Parker with 7 minutes left in the first quarter. But then Vero Beach took just one play to take the lead when Champ Monds threw a pass to White, who completed an 80-yard catch-and-run for a TD. The Indians led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

Vero Beach then stretched its lead to 21-3 with two big-play scores in the second quarter: a 79-yard TD pass from White to Marcus Melbourne and a 50-yard pass from Monds to Xavier Stinson.

The Indians blew a chance to blow the game open after getting the second-half kickoff and then punting. Later in the third quarter, Grubbs hit Schulz for a 35-yard TD and then ran in the 2-point conversion to cut Vero Beach's lead to 10 points, 21-11.

Vero Beach then took advantage of a 69-yard run by Jonathan Hillsman to move into position for its next score: a 1-yard TD run by White. The Indians led 27-11 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.

Lake Mary came right back in the fourth quarter, getting a 7-yard TD pass from Grubbs to Gavin Isaacs with 11:14 left. The Rams then used a double pass on the 2-point conversion to close within eight points, 27-19, making it a one-score game.

Later in the quarter, Vero Beach put together a 10-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Riley Swanson missing a 39-yard field goal with 3:23 remaining. Lake Mary then drove to the Vero Beach 48-yard line before Crutchfield intercepted Grubbs with 1:12 left.

The back-and-forth dramatics then ended with Vero Beach taking a safety and Lake Mary completing the game-winning score with no time left.

Statistically for Lake Mary, Grubbs completed 25 of 48 passes for 333 yards and three TDs with three interceptions; O'Shea Faison rushed 11 times for 51 yards; Schulz caught seven passes for 129 yards and one TD; Isaacs caught four passes for 57 yards and one TD; and Brundidge caught three passes for 50 yards and one score.

Vero Beach got a superb performance from Jonathan Hillsman, who rushed 19 times for 238 yards. The Indians' Efrem White caught three passes for 101 yards and one TD and rushed for another score; and Melbourne and Stinson each caught one TD pass.

Vero Beach outgained Lake Mary, 481-431. However, the Rams converted 7 of 14 third-down plays, while the Indians were 3-of-10. Vero Beach also hurt itself with 18 penalties for 124 yards.

Pre-game Notes

Defending Class 7A state runner-up Lake Mary seeks its first state championship. The Rams have recorded some big wins in the postseason, beating DeLand and defending state champ Venice. Vero Beach is making its second state championship appearance, having won the 1981title.

Vero Beach is wearing all black uniforms with red helmets. Lake Mary is wearing white jerseys, red pants, silver helmets.

Pick 'Em

Play High School On SI's Pick 'Em and tell us who you think will win!

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Teams	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	F
Lake Mary	3	0	8	17	28
Vero Beach	7	14	6	0	27

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Lake Mary vs. Vero Beach: Live Updates of Class 7A State Championship Game

(Refresh this post throughout the game for living scoring updates and analysis.)

First Quarter

Vero Beach kicks off to Lake Mary.

Rams start at 19-yard line.

Big run by sophomore Tavarius Brundidge Jr. for 1st down.

LM star QB Noah Grubbs runs for 1st down around right end on design run. Penalty facemask after.

Encroachment penalty on VB 5 years. LM at 27 yard line.

INC pass by Grubbs

Gavin Isaac bulls forward for 1

Noah Grubbs to Terrance Dixon 9-yard pass 1st down

No gain by O'Shea Faison then false start on LM.

Faison stopped by VB's Lance Stone after short gain.

Noah Grubbs INC pass

5-yard penalty on VB sets up 32-yard FG by Lucas Parker with 7:00 left. Rams lead VB, 3-0.

VB strikes with 80-yard catch-and-run from Champ Monds to Efrem White! Indians take the lead, 7-3, with 6:50 left. White is FSU signee.

Noah Grubbs 8-yard pass, then 1st down pass to Terrance Dixon.

O'Shea Faison short run.

Grubbs pass to Barrett Shulz but short of 1st down. Grubbs stopped on QB sneak.

Lake Mary's Oakley Foster picks up 1st down on fake punt.

Grubbs runs for 1st down, then is picked off by Jordan Crutchfield.

Vero Beach goes 3 and out. Forced to punt.

LM at its own 45 after short punt.

5-yard penalty on LM, then short run by O'Shea Faison.

Another short run by Faison and then penalty on LM.

Long pass from Noah Grubbs to Terrance Dixon, who nearly catches ball in end zone. INC pass. Rams forced to punt.

Block in the back penalty pushed VB back to its 5-yard line.

Vero Beach senior RB Jonathan Hillsman rips off 17-yard run and then a 53-yarder behInd monster blocking on the right side.

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Vero Beach 7, Lake Mary 3

Second Quarter

Indians at LM 25-yard line. INC pass

Lake Mary's Patrick Ryan stuffs Jonathan Hillsman on short run.

INC PASS forces 4th down

Timeout by VB 11:12 left in 1H

VB stopped by LM. Turnover on downs.

Pass interference penalty on VB. First down for LM at VB 45-yard line

Big pass from Noah Grubbs to Tavarius Brundidge for Jr. 28 yards.

Grubbs intercepted in end zone by Jordan Crutchfield. 2nd pick for FSU signee.

Vero Beach's Efrem White pass to Marcus Melbourne, who completes 79-yard catch-and-run for touchdown! PAT good with 8:48 left. VB 14, Lake Mary 3.

O'Shea Faison running and catching well well, drives LM to Vero Beach 20-yard line!

INC PASS by Noah Grubbs

4th-and-6 for LM at Vero 20-yard line.

Noah Grubbs just misses star receiver Barrett Schulz over the middle. Turnover on downs.

Jonathan Hillsman running hard for VB.

Vero gets 1st down on run by Efrem White.

Vero QB Champ Monds throws perfect pass to Xavier Stinson, who completes spectacular 50-yard catch-and-run for a TD! PAT good. VB now leads 21-3 with 3:00 left.

Deadball foul on VB. Unsportsmanlike penalty. LM at its 35-yard line.

LM now in catch-up mode on offense.

Noah Grubbs 6-yard pass to Barrett Schulz, short of 1st down. Rams then get a 5-yard penalty.

Lake Mary punts

Vero Beach gets to midfield. Time runs out.

END OF FIRST HALF: Vero Beach 21, Lake Mary 3

Lake Mary kicks off to Vero Beach

Vero drives to its 32-yard line.

Vero Beach bad snap on 3rd and 4, Efrem White stuffed by Lake Mary's Oakley Foster! Indians forced to punt.

Penalty on VB. Indians have to re-punt.

Another penalty on VB. Punting again, kick is blocked but another penalty on Vero!

9 penalties total for Vero now.

Short punt for Vero Beach sets up Lake Mary at VB 47-yard line.

Noah Grubbs another INC pass

Lake Mary long pass is incomplete. Rams punt.

VB at its 20-yard line.

Jonathan Hillsman picks up 1st down. Indians at their 31.

Another penalty on VB. Indians in double digits in penalties.

Big 17-yard pass from Champ Monds to Jonathan Hillsman.

Water break. 5:49 left in 3Q. Vero leads 21-3. Indians have had four plays of 50 yards or more in the game!

Vero Beach QB Champ Monds passes to Jonathan Hillsman, who then fumbles and teammate Efrem White recovers. Timeout now 4:42 left in 3Q.

Lake Mary defense hammers Hillsman on pass catch. Forces punt.

Lake Mary at its 34-yard line. Noah Grubbs throws incomplete pass under pressure.

Grubbs passes to Barrett Schulz, short of 1st down.

Grubbs throws to O'Shea Faison, who makes 1st down on forward progress.

Gavin Isaacs catches pass and takes Rams across midfield.

Two plays later, Isaacs rumbles forward for 1st down.

TOUCHDOWN! Lake Mary throws perfect 35-yard TD pass to Barrett Schulz with 2:00 left. Rams score 1st touchdown! Multiple penalties on VB on PAT. Lake Mary 2-pt run is good by Noah Grubbs! Vero Beach leads 21-11.

Rain coming down now at FIU's Pitbull Stadium in Miami.

Jonathan Hillsman huge 69-yard run down, escaping multiple defenders and then races down the right sideline to Lake Mary 12-yard line

Vero's Champ Monds 11-yard pass to Austin Banzhaf over the middle to Lake Mary 1-yard line. Efrem White then scoots in the end zone on the next play for TD! Vero Beach misses PAT, leads Lake Mary 27-11, with 1:23 left in 3Q.

Lake Mary gets monster KO return by Jahvon Robinson to the VB 47-yard line!

Lake Mary RB Gavin Isaacs big catch-and-run down to VB 7-yard line!

END OF THIRD QUARTER: Vero Beach 27, Lake Mary 11

Fourth Quarter

Lake Mary's Gavin Isaacs 7-yard TD catch from Noah Grubbs! Rams pull off trick play on 2-pt play with Grubbs throwing to Barrett Schulz, who then throws complete pass for conversion! Vero Beach leads Lake Mary 27-19 with 11:14 left.

Lake Mary defense stops Efrem White short of 1st down. Indians forced to punt!

Rams get 1st down to its 46-yard line. Gavin Isaacs 5-yard run.

Lake Mary's Barrett Schulz hauls in 18-yard pass from Noah Grubbs for 1st down at 36-yard line. Grubbs then sacked on 3rd down by Vero's Quinton Dames.

Lake Mary OL Gavin Kaminski injures left leg and is carried off the field with less than 7 minutes left.

Rams punt.

Water break 5:50 left

Vero drives to Lake Mary 19-yard line with rain pouring down.

3rd and 12 from 21 yard line. Incomplete pass

Vero Beach's Riley Swanson's 39-yard FG attempt bangs off left upright, no good with 3:23 left.

Lake Mary drives near midfield but then Noah Grubbs is picked off by Jordan Crutchfield for 3rd time.

Vero Beach with 4th down at its 19-yard line with 22 seconds left.

Indians choose to run out of back end zone for safety. Vero leads 27-21 with 12 seconds left.

Jahvon Robinson takes kick and returns to VB 42-yard line.

TOUCHDOWN! Lake Mary's Noah Grubbs throws Hail Mary pass that is tipped by Vero Beach defender into Barrett Schulz's hands at 4-yard line and he hands off ball to Tavarius Brundidge, who carries the ball the final 4 yards into the end zone on the final play of the game! Lucas Parker then make the PAT and the Rams shock Vero Beach, 28-27!

FINAL: Lake Mary 28, Vero Beach 27

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Players to Watch:

LAKE MARY

Noah Grubbs, Sr., QB -- Notre Dame signee; 2,902 yard passing, 37 TDs, interceptions; 131 yards rushing, seven TDs.

Barrett Schulz, Sr., WR -- FIU signee; 74 catches for 1,193 yards, 16 TDs.

Gavin Isaacs, Sr., RB -- 694 yards rushing, six TDs; 2024 wrestling medalist.

O'Shea Faison, Sr., RB -- Colgate signee; 670 yards rushing, five TDs.

Patrick Ryan, Sr., MLB -- 108 tackles, including 38 solo and four for loss.

Eli Chivington, Jr., DE -- 43 tackles, including 14 solo and six for loss, and four sacks.

Vero Beach

Efrem White, Sr., ATH -- FSU wide receiver signee took over as starting QB when Champ Monds went down to injury; 2,502 yards passing, 31 TDs, eight interceptions; 144 carries for 978 yards rushing, 21 TDs.

Xavier Stinson, Sr., WR/DB -- Iowa signee; 41 catches for 645 yards, six TDs.

Maqarie Philip, Sr., LB -- 90 tackles, including 40 solo and 6.5 for loss.

Maleki Reed, Sr., DE -- 55 tackles, including 23 solo and 17 for loss, and six sacks; offer from Chowan University

Micah Roberts, Soph., WR/DB -- 38 tackles, including 13 solo, and three interceptions.

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