High Scoring Venice Wins 4th Title

MIAMI – For the past two years, Venice High and head coach John Peacock had to watch Lakeland receive their medals as state football champions. On Saturday, it was the Indians’ turn.

After averaging 46 points a game this season, this team won their fourth state championship as they once again got over 50 points for the ninth time, beating Lake Mary 52-19, taking home the 7A state title at Pitbull Stadium on the campus of Florida International University.

“To win this game was really important to the players, coaches and our fans,” Peacock said. “The past two years were frustrating, and this was a great way to cap off an outstanding season.

The Indians (14-1) struck first when Gata Wilder went 11 yards for a 7-0 lead with 2:10 left in the first quarter.

The Rams (13-3) broke through with a score at the 5:23 mark of the second quarter on a four-yard pass from 2026 Notre Dame commit Noah Grubbs Noah Grubbs 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Lake Mary | 2026 State FL to Chase Hinshaw. The point after failed and it was 7-6.

Venice started to put it into high gear the rest of the way in the second quarter.

When Winston Watkins Winston Watkins 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Venice | 2025 State FL returned a punt 60 yards with 2:31 left, the Indians went out ahead 21-6, and extended it to 24-6 at the 1:25 mark on a 39-yard field goal by Brunno Rues.

Venice capped off the first half by scoring, extending the lead to 31-6 on a 19-yard run by Gata with :25 left.

The Rams came out in the second half and scored when Hinshaw took a Grubbs pass from 14 yards out. The point after was no good and it was 31-13 at the 8:47 mark.

The high scoring Indians added another touchdown with 6:28 left in the third quarter when Wilder ran it in from the seven and a 38-13 advantage.

Venice pushed the lead to 45-13 with 1:15 left in the third quarter on an eight-yard run by Watkins.

The game was put on ice with 11:33 remaining in the game when Watkins scored for the third time on a 22-yard run.

The Rams ended the scoring with 6:13 remaining when Grubbs found senior Tyree Weatherspoon Tyree Weatherspoon 6'5" | 195 lbs | WR Lake Mary | 2025 FL from 32 yards out.

“This was something we worked very hard for all season,” Watkins explained. “This was all about this team from the start of the season right through to today.”

CHECKING THE NUMBERS

Venice ended with 24 first downs and Lake Mary had 16.

Venice finished with 316 yards on the ground and the Rams had 66.

Lake Mary had the passing advantage, 241-172.

Individually, Grubbs was 18 out of 42 for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Jayce Nixon Jayce Nixon 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Venice | 2025 FL was 18 of 31 for 172 yards and one score.

Hinshaw finished with eight catches for 154 yards and two scores. Venice was led by Watkins Jr. with nine catches for 76 yards and Ryan Matulevich Ryan Matulevich 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Venice | 2025 FL finished with four catches for 54 yards.

Parker Perales Parker Perales 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR Lake Mary | 2025 FL had 49 yards rushing for Lake Mary. Wilder finished with 178 yards and Dorien Irving-Jones finished with 96 yards.

Defensively for Lake Mary, Jaylan Golden (9 tackles), Brad Billups and Nolan McClanahan (8 tackles) and Jack Lorenz Jack Lorenz 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Lake Mary | 2025 FL (seven).

Venice was led by Landon Marsters Landon Marsters 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Venice Highschool | 2025 FL (six tackles), and Ben Zarkiewicz and Layne Kisovic Layne Kisovic 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Venice | 2026 FL (4 tackles).

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