LAKE MARY, Fla. – Lake Mary High School celebrated its first-ever state football championship Wednesday night, less than a week after clinching the title with a dramatic last-second victory.
Hundreds of supporters packed the school’s football field as the community honored the Rams’ historic season, which culminated in Saturday’s championship win secured by an improbable Hail Mary pass.
“Tonight, we aren’t just standing on a football field, we’re standing on the home of the football state champions!” an announcer declared to thunderous applause.
The celebration featured the key players from the game-changing Hail Mary play that tied the game in its final seconds.
“The Hail Mary was a crazy experience,” said running back Oshea Faison. “Not only did Noah get the ball down the field, but for Barrett to catch it and TJ to be really smart to come up behind him and take the ball and get in the end zone - it’s great.”
Head coach Scott Perry attributed the team’s success to their focused approach throughout the season.
“This team didn’t chase the trophy. They chased the next Friday night,” Perry told the crowd. “When you take care of the moment you’re in, when you trust the guys next to you like these guys did, when you give everything you have for your brothers, those moments turn into memories. Those moments turn into wins, and those wins turn into championships.”
The evening featured performances by the school band and cheerleaders leading crowd chants. In a particularly poignant moment, the crowd listened to the radio broadcast of the championship-winning play, erupting in cheers as if experiencing the historic moment anew.
The celebration concluded with the team gathering for one final huddle, cementing their legacy as the school’s first state championship football team.