MIAMI — Vero Beach's season couldn't have ended in a more heartbreaking fashion, but the performance of Efrem White and Jordan Crutchfield in the Class 7A state championship game should give Florida State football fans plenty to be excited about.
White, an athlete, and Crutchfield, a safety both signed with Florida Stateduring the early signing period on Dec. 3.
White scored three touchdowns in Vero Beach's 28-27 stunning loss against Lake Mary.
He opened the game with an 80-yard touchdown catch on Vero Beach's first offensive play of the game. In the second quarter, White threw a 79-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Melbourne to give Vero Beach a 14-3 lead.
White capped his night with a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
He finished the night with three catches for 101 yards, four carried for minus-1 yard (that includes an intentional 19-yard loss on a safety late in the fourth quarter) and the 79-yard touchdown pass.
White, who almost certainly will be a finalist for Florida Dairy Farmers Player of the Year in Class 7A, finishes the season with 2,581 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes, 977 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, and seven catches for 188 yards and a touchdown.
Crutchfield was equally outstanding against Lake Mary, intercepting Lake Mary star quarterback Noah Grubbs three times. Coming into the state championship game, Grubbs had not been intercepted in four postseason games.
Crutchfield had a pair of interceptions in the first half, both picks coming in the red zone.
Crutchfield appeared to seal the game with his third interception late in the fourth quarter but a series of questionable coaching decisions and a miracle on the final play of the game allowed Lake Mary to steal the title.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU football recruiting: EJ White, Jordan Crutchfield star in Class 7A