ORLANDO — In Friday’s Class 2A State Championship game, Victory Christian Storm (12-1) earned its first state title by defeating Indian Rocks Christian Golden Eagles (12-1), 54-16.

The Golden Eagles senior Damian King opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 52-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 IRC lead but the Storm answered back with senior quarterback Caleb Lewis throwing 3 touchdown passes in the 2nd quarter including a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Brice Ford with 5 seconds left in the half to go up 19-9. Lewis would hook up with Ford for 2 more touchdown passes in third quarter and senior defensive back Jethro Francois added a 20-Yard Interception Return touchdown for a 40-9 lead heading into the final quarter.

Lewis finished the day 23-for-28 for 384 yards and six touchdown passes, Ford had 7 catches for 110 yards and 3 touchdown catches (had an interception on defense too), senior wide receiver Alvin Harper Jr had 8 catches for 124 yards and 1 touchdown catch, and senior E’Andre Smith had 7 catches for 143 yards and two touchdown catches.

The Storm defense limited the Golden Eagles to 164 total yards (40 rushes for 147 yards, 11 passes for 17 yards), had 3 interceptions, forced 7 fumbles recovering 2, had 3 sacks, and 9 tackle-for-losses (TFLs).

Victory got strong defensive play from senior linebacker Jaylyn McKinney with multiple sacks and TFLs, Francois who had a TFL to go along with his Pick-6, and junior defensive lineman Gerald Poleon who had 4 TFLs. Senior Cecil Cherry also added a 46-yard kickoff return touchdown on an attempted on-side kick.

Indian Rocks’ senior Jacquan Fuller had a fourth quarter defensive touchdown when he intercepted a Lewis pitch and ran untouched into the end zone and he had 1.5 TFLs and a pass breakup. Senior defensive end Christian Frost had a sack and TFL and senior defensive lineman Fisher Jones had 2 TFLs.

Victory Christian outgained Indian Rocks, 416-164. The Storm were state runners-up last year losing to Champagnat Catholic 14-7 in the 2A State Title game.

Pinellas County is now 0-for-10 in state title games.

Attendance: 1,782