Noah Grubbs Ends High School Career with Legendary Hail Mary Finish, Delivers Lake Mary First State Title
If you’re Notre Dame, you’ve got to be feeling pretty good about the quarterback you just signed. Noah Grubbs, the 4-star signal-caller out of Lake Mary (FL), didn’t just end his high school career with a win-he ended it with a moment that’ll be talked about in Florida prep football circles for decades.
Grubbs and his Lake Mary Rams were chasing history in the Florida Class 7A State Championship game, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Their opponent, Vero Beach, came in riding a 14-0 record and was eyeing its first state title since 1981.
At halftime, the Fighting Indians looked well on their way, holding a commanding 21-3 lead. And even after a Rams rally, Vero Beach still seemed in control late, up 27-19 with under two minutes to play.
Then came the interception. Grubbs, trying to lead a late charge, was picked off by Vero Beach’s Jordan Crutchfield-a play that should’ve sealed it.
But instead of running out the clock, Vero Beach ran backwards, literally, and into a safety. That gave Lake Mary two crucial points and a sliver of life, down 27-21.
What happened next? That’s the stuff of legends.
After a squib kick gave Lake Mary one last shot, Grubbs lined up for what was essentially a prayer. One play.
One chance. A 43-yard heave into a sea of defenders.
The ball was tipped in the air, and for a split second, it looked like the miracle might fall short-until wide receiver Barrett Schulz came down with it near the 2-yard line.
But Schulz wasn’t done. He had the awareness, in the chaos of the moment, to lateral the ball to teammate Tavarius Brundidge Jr., who took it across the goal line as time expired.
Tie game. Then came the extra point, and just like that, Lake Mary had its first-ever state championship.
It was a finish straight out of a movie script. A walk-off Hail Mary-lateral combo to win a title?
You don’t draw that up. You just hope to be ready when the moment comes-and Grubbs, Schulz, and Brundidge Jr. were.
For Grubbs, it’s the perfect punctuation mark on a high school career that already had plenty of big moments. But this one?
This was the signature play. The kind of moment that turns a talented quarterback into a legend in his hometown-and gives Notre Dame fans one more reason to be excited about the future in South Bend.
Because when the lights were brightest and the clock hit zero, Noah Grubbs didn’t just throw a pass. He delivered a championship.