Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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60 MARCH 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER T o prove just how improbable it was that Lake Mary (Fla.) High won the 2025 Florida 7A state championship, consider this: The Rams had just one player on its roster with a Power Four conference offer, but won the title in the state's high- est classification. And, of course, Florida is inarguably a top-three state for high school football in the country. And that lone top recruit was Lake Mary (Fla.) High quarterback Noah Grubbs, a Notre Dame class of 2026 signee. "There's a reason that for the last two seasons, we scheduled the most dif- ficult teams we could find," said Lake Mary offensive coordinator Adam Don- nelly, who coached Grubbs for all four years. "We played a top-five schedule in the state of Florida. It helps you identify your weaknesses. If you want to be the best, you have to schedule the best." For example, Lake Mary was down 29-7 at halftime against perennial Sunshine State powerhouse Miami Norland in the opening game of the year, and Grubbs' 4-touchdown performance led the Rams to a come-from-behind 30-29 triumph. That experience gave Lake Mary a level of comfort to win a comeback contest in the state championship game. As the 7A state champions, Lake Mary finished as MaxPreps' No. 1 team in the classification. In the final four match- ups of the playoffs, Lake Mary knocked off the teams ranked Nos. 2-5. "You couldn't make a harder road than we had, and during the playoffs, Noah went 98 of 154 for 1,403 yards with 17 touchdowns and 3 intercep- tions," Donnelly added. "He absolutely lit it up in the most important time of the year. You want your quarterback to play like that in the biggest games against the best competition." The Massey Ratings correctly pre- dicted Lake Mary to win its first two games of the playoffs against Hagerty and Spruce Creek. But against the top- seeded team in the state, Lake Mary was predicted to lose against Deland. Grubbs' squad was predicted to fall in the next round against Venice, the team they were blown out against in the 2024 state title game. And — you guessed it — Lake Mary was picked to lose in the championship game against Vero Beach. But against the odds — with just the one Power Four recruit — Lake Mary won it all. "It was a really special run," Donnelly said, which is putting it lightly. HAIL MARY WINS TITLE In the championship game, Grubbs got the ball back at Vero Beach's 43-yard line after a punt with 12 seconds left in the contest. Making matters more difficult, the game was being played in a downpour. Grubbs evaded pressure, rolled to his right and tossed it downfield. Vero Beach had four players making a play on the ball, while Lake Mary ended up having three behind the tip point. Lake Mary receiver Barrett Schulz was found himself in per- fect position to make a play on the ball. He caught the tipped ball at the 5-yard line, launched his body forward but was met by four Vero Beach defenders. He tried to churn ahead, but Tavarius Brundidge Jr. had the wherewithal to run to Schulz, grab the ball and run it in for a touchdown. Lake Mary won 28-27, capturing its first state title in program history. "I can't explain how crazy the feel- ing was," Donnelly said. "It's one of the most improbable things I've ever seen in my life." An ending that Hollywood couldn't write came with a ton of national atten- tion. The three Lake Mary players who touched the ball on the Hail Mary were interviewed on ESPN's SportsCenter. The clip of the game-winner went ab- solutely viral on social media. It didn't take very long for Grubbs to get brought down to earth after one of the greatest moments of his life. "On his way to the parking lot, his brother told him he wasn't the MVP and threw 3 interceptions," Noah's father, Ephraim Grubbs, said with a laugh. LIFE AFTER LAKE MARY Blue & Gold Illustrated made several trips to the Sunshine State to see Grubbs over the past two years, and whether it was an on-the-record interview or just a casual conversation, Grubbs always spoke with seasoned "quarterback talk." I might say something such as, "Noah, you don't have to give the quar- terback 101 correct answer. We're just two guys having a conversation." But after covering him for a while, I came to learn that's just who he is. That's how he's wired. A kid who can be goofy and fun at times? Sure. Of course. But he's as focused and goal-oriented as they come. "He's always had that even-keeled temperament," the elder Grubbs said. "He never wavers from that." Grubbs enrolled at Notre Dame in January, and after he moved out, his parents tidied up his room. "We found study notebooks on teams and players with their tendencies, all in his handwriting," Ephraim said. "He just prepared and prepared." It should come as no surprise that Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli was drawn to Grubbs considering that Guidugli's temperament and mindset are virtually the same as his new pupil's. "They're also both super-competi- tive," Grubbs' father added. "Noah's competitiveness is driven by his analyti- cal mindset and is always calculating his next action. Gino is very much like that. "The amount of time Gino has spent with Noah since he committed has been seamless. I've been blown away by the attention Coach Gino, Coach [Mike] How Noah Grubbs Delivered Lake Mary's Storybook Season Grubbs led Lake Mary (Fla.) High to victory in the 7A Florida state championship in 2025, despite being an underdog in the Rams' last three playoff games. PHOTO BY MIKE SINGER