If you were sitting in the stands at Pitbull Stadium this past December, you know that Central Florida high school football scores aren't just numbers on a board. They're basically heart attacks in 48-minute increments. Honestly, the 2025-2026 season ended in a way that feels like it was scripted by a Hollywood writer who’s a little too obsessed with late-game drama.
We saw Lake Mary pull off the unthinkable. We saw Jones come this close to a monumental upset. And we saw a few local powerhouses get a harsh reality check. If you’re looking for the final tallies and what they actually mean for our local teams, you've come to the right place.
The Hail Mary Heard ‘Round the State: Lake Mary 28, Vero Beach 27
Let’s talk about the game everyone is still texting about. The Class 7A state championship was a heavyweight bout that finished with a knockout punch nobody saw coming. Lake Mary, led by Notre Dame commit Noah Grubbs, was staring at a 27-22 deficit with basically no time left.
The Rams were 12-3 and playing a Vero Beach team that hadn't lost a single game all year. Jonathan Hillsman from Vero had just run all over the field, racking up 239 yards. It felt over. Then, Grubbs heaved a ball into the humid Miami air as the clock hit zero.
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Touchdown.
That final 28-27 score made Lake Mary the No. 1 ranked team in Central Florida. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement that the Orlando-area programs can hold their own against the coastal giants. Grubbs finished the night with 348 passing yards and three touchdowns, cementing his legacy before he heads off to South Bend.
Jones Falls Just Short (Again) in 33-28 Heartbreaker
If there’s one team that deserves a break, it’s the Jones Tigers. For the second year in a row, they found themselves in the Class 4A state title game against American Heritage Plantation. And for the second year in a row, they finished as the runner-up.
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The final score was 33-28.
Dereon Coleman, the Tigers' senior quarterback, basically put the entire city of Orlando on his back. He ran the ball 29 times for 137 yards and threw for another 163. He accounted for three total touchdowns. But American Heritage is a machine. Despite the loss, Jones proved they are firmly in the elite tier of Florida programs, finishing with a 12-3 record and the No. 4 spot in the regional rankings.
Regional Rounds: The Scores That Set the Stage
Before we got to the bright lights of Miami, the regional finals provided some of the most lopsided and shocking Central Florida hs football scores of the year.
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- Lake Mary 40, DeLand 31: This was the Class 7A, Region 1 final. DeLand finished 12-1, and honestly, they might have been a state title team in any other year. They just ran into the Grubbs buzzsaw.
- Lakeland 27, Edgewater 14: Edgewater was the top seed in Class 5A, Region 2. They were 12-0 heading into this one. But Lakeland is a "state power" for a reason. They smothered the Eagles' offense and ended what looked like a perfect season.
- Miami Northwestern 52, Bishop Moore 21: The Hornets had a fantastic 12-2 season, but the state semifinal was a different beast. Kenyon Alston had a solid game with 70 yards and a TD, but Northwestern's speed was just too much to handle.
- Armwood 42, South Lake 0: A tough way to go out for a South Lake team that surprised everyone by going 11-2. Armwood showed why they were one of the favorites, shutting down the Eagles completely.
Why These Scores Matter for the 2026 Rankings
The dust has settled on the 2025 season, but the implications for the 2026 recruiting cycle are already massive. You can't look at these scores without noticing the talent.
The First Academy (TFA) in Orlando is the team everyone is watching. They didn't even play in the FHSAA playoffs this year because of eligibility stuff, but they went 5-0 against Florida teams. They beat Venice. They beat Lakeland. Because they weren't in the bracket, their "scores" don't show up in the playoff results, but they finished the year ranked No. 3 in the region. With guys like Danny Odem and Devin Jackson returning, TFA is going to be the "boogeyman" of Central Florida next season.
How to Track Central Florida HS Football Scores in Real-Time
If you’re trying to keep up with these games next season, don't just rely on one source. The FHSAA official brackets are the "source of truth" for final scores, but they’re slow.
For live updates, most local fans use the SBLive App or MaxPreps. If you want the "insider" feel, following reporters like Jeff Gardenour on X (formerly Twitter) is a must. He’s usually the first one to post a score change when a game is in the fourth quarter and everything is descending into chaos.
Actionable Steps for the Off-Season
- Watch the Transfer Portal: High school football in Florida has basically become "College Light." Keep an eye on the Orlando Sentinel's recruiting feed to see which impact players are moving to programs like The First Academy or Edgewater.
- Spring Football Schedule: The "real" football starts in May. Mark your calendars for the spring jamborees; this is where you'll see if Lake Mary has found a successor to Grubbs.
- Check Re-Classification: The FHSAA often tweaks districts and classes. A team that was in 4A this year might jump to 5A next year, which completely changes who they have to beat to get to Miami.
The 2025 season showed that Central Florida is currently the epicenter of high-stakes finishes. Whether it’s a 28-27 Hail Mary or a 33-28 grind-fest, the scores tell a story of a region that is no longer playing second fiddle to Miami or Tampa.