FIT CHAMPIONSHIP: Defensive slugfest hands Dunnellon FIT 1A-3A Championship over North Miami Beach

MIDDLETON, Fla. – Despite going 4-6 in the regular season, Dunnellon found a winning formula in November. That formula clinched the 2025 Florida Invitation Tournament Classes 1A-3A Championship trophy with a 13-7 victory over North Miami Beach.

Here are three takeaways from the game:

Defensive slugfest led the way

Both the Chargers and Tigers came in with a defensive mindset that kept the game in check throughout. The punter statistics tell the story, with North Miami Beach (6-7) totaling 199 yards on five punts while Dunnellon (8-6) had 141 yards on four punts.

The biggest difference in the game came when Kameron Wheeler intercepted a pass with 6:55 left in the third quarter, clamping down any momentum the Chargers had gained. That’s not to mention the Tigers’ fumbling on the first play of the game with no adverse consequences for Dunnellon.

The defensive statistics showed North Miami Beach with 47 tackles, countering Dunnellon’s rushing attack, while the Tigers racked up 30 tackles. Josh Labissiere led the Chargers with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble, while Kaiden Robinson-Vickers led the Tigers with four tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Offenses did all the scoring in the first half

The offenses weren’t the stars despite Dunnellon totaling 256 yards compared to the Chargers’ 107 yards.

Dunnellon started the scoring when quarterback Dylan Curry broke through several tackles to find pay dirt from 23 yards out with 3:09 left in the first quarter, putting the Tigers up 7-0.

North Miami Beach countered in the second quarter with its best drive of the game — a six-play, 53-yard drive that resulted in a John Gray 28-yard touchdown that tied the game at 7-7 with 7:06 left in the first half.

Curry, who finished with 82 yards rushing on 13 carries and went 3-of-9 passing for 64 yards, found the biggest play of the game when he connected with Tony Tanner for a 54-yard touchdown pass that capped a seven-play, 70-yard drive with 1:13 left before halftime.

Tanner finished with the 54-yard touchdown reception while contributing 51 yards rushing on 17 carries.

First hardware from the FHSAA since 1979

The victory marked the first championship trophy at the state level for Dunnellon’s football program since 1979, when the Tigers won the second of their Class 2A state championship trophies under Richard Kennedy. It also marked the conclusion of a tough but thrilling finish to the season for first-year head coach JB Bynum, who is also an alum of the Tigers. It was Dunnellon’s best finish deep into the November postseason since 2020, when the Tigers reached the Class 5A state semifinals under Price Harris, the current head coach at Madison County.

Scoring Summary

FIRST QUARTER

3:09 – D: Dylan Curry 23 run (Jayliana Lopez-Neumann kick)

SECOND QUARTER

7:06 – NMB: John Gray 28 run (Rodrigo Franco kick)

1:13 – D: Tony Tanner 54 pass from Curry (kick blocked)

Stat Summary