In a stinging reminder of the recent Florida 7A state championship heartbreak, Lake Mary High School quarterback and Notre Dame signee **Noah Grubbs** has been named the Florida High School Football Player of the Year by *Rivals*. The accolade was secured largely by his performance in the dramatic title game victory over **Vero Beach High School**.
While the Fighting Indians held a commanding position late in the championship matchup, Grubbs orchestrated a comeback that has now earned him statewide recognition. According to *Rivals* national high school sports reporter Andy Villamarzo, Grubbs’ ability to rally his team against the Vero Beach defense was the deciding factor in the award selection.
The Lake Mary senior quarterback led his team back from a 27-11 deficit in the third quarter of the state title game and finished with 333 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, Grubbs finished completing 233 of 401 passes for 3,235 yards and 40 touchdowns.
The championship game ended in stunning fashion for Vero Beach fans and players alike. With only seconds remaining and Vero Beach holding a 27-21 lead, Grubbs launched a final “Hail Mary” pass. The ball was tipped by a Vero Beach defender but was subsequently caught by Lake Mary’s Barrett Schultz and lateraled to teammate Tavarius Brundidge, who scored the game-winning touchdown to seal the title.
Villamarzo noted that despite a season of “ups and downs,” Grubbs was the essential element keeping the Rams competitive. As the lone Power Four conference recruit on his squad, Grubbs’ statistics and his poise during the chaotic final seconds against Vero Beach cemented his status as the state’s top player for the season.
