MIAMI — 24 unanswered points over the final 5:23 of the second quarter turned a defensive battle into a runaway as top-seeded Venice High School (14-1) rolled to a 52-19 victory over No. 2 seeded Lake Mary High School (12-3) in the 2024 FHSAA Class 7A Football State Championship Game on South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami last Saturday.
The defenses dominated the first quarter and a half with the Indians holding a 7-0 lead on a touchdown run late in the first quarter and the Rams scoring on a 4-yard pass from Noah Grubbs to Chase Hinshaw with 5:23 left in the half. Unfortunately, standout placekicker Emilio Bacardi had a rare missed extra point try and the locals trailed 7-6.
But Venice, which had lost in the state final the past two years, came alive with a touchdown pass, a punt return, a field goal and a touchdown run following an interception to make the score 31-6 at halftime.
Lake Mary cut into the lead in the third period when an interception by Nolan McClanahan set-up a second Grubbs to Hinshaw touchdown, this one for 14 yards, that trimmed the deficit to 31-13.
But the Indians closed the third stanza with a pair of touchdowns and then added another score on the second play of the fourth quarter that turned on the running clock with 11:33 left in the game.
The Rams would end the game on a high note with Grubbs tossing his third touchdown pass, for 32-yards, to Tyree Weatherspoon.
Grubbs was only 18-for-42 passing for 241 yards and two interceptions to go along with the three TDs.
Hinshaw had a big day with right receptions for 154-yards and the two scores.
But Lake Mary also struggled on the ground without star Isaiah Thomas missing his second straight game with a knee injury, being held to 66-yards on 17 carries, led by Parker Perales with 43-yards on 10 attempts.
The Rams can still be proud of winning 12 games against a very difficult schedule and winning the Seminole Athletic Conference, Class 7A-District 3 and Class 7A-Region 1 (the first regional championship in school history) titles and advancing to their first State Semifinal and State Championship games.
Dr. Mickey Reynolds is the Principal at Lake Mary with Rick Weyers serving as the Athletic Director and Eric Swannie as the Head Trainer.
The team is led by 20-year Head Coach and alumnus Scott Perry, who was assisted by Adam Donnelly, Offensive Coordinator; Rob Mahler, Defensive Coordinator; Curtis Smith, Receivers Coach; Scottie Pierce, Running Backs Coach; Tyson Hinshaw, Quarterbacks Coach; John Rega, Offensive Line Coach; Justin Wright, Offensive Line Coach; Ryan Ruland, Kicking Coach; Barry Cofield, Defensive Line Coach; Mark Cardegnio, Linebackers Coach; Steve Laurence, Defensive Backs Coach; and Quan Boone, Defensive Backs Coach.
The roster is made up of Seniors _ Emilio Bacardi, Nolan Bajgier, Justin Battillo, Brad Billups, Tj Clayton, Carson Friedman, Jaylan Golden, Aiden Herzberg, Chase Hinshaw, Rodney Joyner, Tanner Jumpp, Jack Lorenz, Aireese Martin, Nolan McClanahan, Levi Monzon, Parker Perales, Cameron Presti, Luke Prieto, Calvin Roberts, Dominic Sorrentino, Jaysen Soto, Eli Straker, Isaiah Thomas, Tyree Weatherspoon, Jakob White, Dylan Wilson; Juniors _ Mason Arnott, Layden Canals, Richie Crouse III, Lavonn Crumpler, Chad Dannhaeuser, Terrance Dixon, Noah Grubbs, Asher Hudock, Gavin Isaacs, Anthony Karoul, Evan Mollerup, Chandler Monconduit, Connor Morris, Troy Pope, Cyrus Rodriguez, Patrick Ryan, Tyler Taub, Brian Williams Jr., Curtis Woods; Sophomores _ Tanner Gierum, Grady Isaacs, Gavin Kaminski, Koleson Manley, Sam Nelson, Ronald Parkinson, Jack Pinkston, Anthony Totin, Slade Wittstock; Freshmen _ Ty Archer, Trent Davis, Brycen Marbrey and Troy Turner.
Here is the box score:
Venice 52, Lake Mary 19
Lake Mary 0 6 7 6 _ 19
Venice 7 24 14 7 _ 52
First Quarter
VHS _ Gata Wilder 11 run (Brunno Reus kick).
Second Quarter
LM _ Chase Hinshaw 4 pass from Noah Grubbs (Kick failed).
VHS _ Malakai Corbett 37 pass from Jayce Nixon (Brunno Reus kick).
VHS _ Winston Watkins Jr. 60 punt return (Brunno Reus kick).
VHS _ Brunno Reus 39 FG.
VHS _ Gata Wilder 19 run (Brunno Reus kick).
Third Quarter
LM _ Chase Hinshaw 14 pass from Noah Grubbs (Emilio Bacardi kick).
VHS _ Gata Wilder 7 run (Brunno Reus kick).
VHS _ Winston Watkins Jr. 8 run (Brunno Reus kick).
Fourth Quarter
VHS _ Winston Watkins Jr. 22 run (Brunno Reus kick).
LM _ Tyree Weatherspoon 32 pass from Noah Grubbs (Pass failed).
Here are the FHSAA playoff scores for Seminole County schools:
FHSAA Playoffs
Regionals
Quarterfinals
Friday, November 15
Class 6A-Region 1
(3) Pace 49, (6) Oviedo 21.
Class 7A-Region 1
(1) Lake Mary 49, (8) DeLand 14.
(5) Spruce Creek 36, (4) Flagler Palm Coast 35.
(3) Orange City-University 31, (6) Winter Park 23.
(2) Seminole 38, (7) St. Johns-Creekside 28.
Semifinals
Friday, November 22
Class 7A-Region 1
(1) Lake Mary 52, (5) Spruce Creek 32.
(2) Seminole 24, (3) Orange City-University 20.
Finals
Friday, November 29
Class 7A-Region 1
(1) Lake Mary 42, (2) Seminole 3.
State Final 4
Class 7A
Semifinals
Friday, December 6
(1) Venice 33, (4) Miami-Columbus 27.
(3) Dr. Phillips vs. (2) Lake Mary 24, (3) Dr. Philips 13.
State Championship
At South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium, Miami
Saturday, December 14
(1) Venice 52, (2) Lake Mary 19.
