Lake Mary's Noah Grubbs, Coach Scott Perry Win State Honors

Noah Grubbs capped a standout senior year by being named the Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Football Player of the Year while Lake Mary coach Scott Perry took home Coach of the Year honors in the statewide awards announced Jan. 5, 2026. Grubbs finished the season with more than 3,200 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes, and his leadership helped Lake Mary capture the 2025 Class 7A state championship in a game decided by a last‑second Hail Mary and dramatic final scoring sequence.

Grubbs has signed with Notre Dame and is scheduled to begin there in mid‑January, a move that underscores how high school success can translate into major college opportunities. The awards were determined by a statewide panel and included disclosed voting totals, reflecting input from coaches, media and other evaluators across Florida.

For Seminole County, the recognitions are both a point of community pride and a prompt to examine local systems that support student athletes. Lake Mary’s program benefits from experienced coaching, strong community engagement and resources that help sustain elite performance. Those advantages contributed to the season’s statistical milestones and to moments that captured regional attention.

At the same time, the spotlight on Lake Mary raises equity and public health questions relevant to school leaders and county policymakers. Access to athletic trainers, comprehensive concussion protocols, mental health counseling and college‑placement advising varies across districts and schools. Ensuring that student athletes across Seminole County have timely access to sports medicine and guidance can prevent injury, support recovery and broaden pathways to college for students who may not attend flagship programs.

The awards also reinforce the social value of high school sports in Seminole County communities, including economic and volunteer support tied to games and practices, and the role athletics play in social cohesion and youth development. Local health officials and education administrators face choices about investing in preventive health services, expanding sports‑safety training for coaches and prioritizing equitable funding so smaller or less resourced schools can offer safe, competitive programs.

As Lake Mary begins a new chapter with Grubbs headed to Notre Dame and Perry recognized for program leadership, the broader community will weigh how to translate this success into more equitable opportunities and stronger health protections for all Seminole County student athletes. The season’s accomplishments are a milestone for the school and a reminder that athletic excellence depends on both talent and the systems that protect and promote young people’s well‑being.