Facing an undefeated University team in its Homecoming game a week after an emotional loss to Edgewater was an upset waiting to happen, but the Apopka Blue Darters overcame their own mistakes to hand the host Cougars their first loss of the season, 18-10, on Friday, October 10.

Apopka (5-1) rushed for 347 yards on 55 attempts, but lost five fumbles and committed nine penalties for 84 yards. In short, Apopka stopped itself more than the Cougars did.


University (5-1) countered with quarterback Kyle Israel’s passing and running, but the Apopka defense kept him in check for most of the evening, pressuring the senior with a heavy rush most of the game. Israel finished with 133 yards passing. He was 12-for-29 with a touchdown and an interception. He also added 30 yards rushing. As a team, the Cougars managed just 69 yards on 24 rushing attempts.


Apopka, as has been the case all year, got its yards from several runners with two of them passing the 100-yard mark. Fullback Quentin Taylor led the Blue Darters with 113 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. He was followed closely by Antwon Johnson, who gained 108 yards on eight attempts.


Jarrett Gallagher, who ran some out of the wingback slot as Jonathan Maxwell played quarterback at times during the game, had 73 yards on 11 carries. Ivory Lewis tallied what proved to be the winning touchdown for the Blue Darters on a 26-yard carry late in the third period. He ended the night with 56 yards on six rushes.


Apopka jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead, but saw it tied at 10-10 by halftime. The Darters claimed a 3-0 lead on Robert Beary’s first field goal, a 22-yarder before driving 96 yards for the first touchdown, a three-yard run by Taylor.
While it didn’t produce any points, Apopka’s most time-consuming drive ate up most of the fourth-quarter clock as the Darters nursed their 18-10 lead. The Blue Darters drove from their own 26 yard line to the University 21 before giving the ball back on downs. The Darters took 8:18 off the clock in the final period as the drive went 14 plays.


Apopka plays a critical District 6A-3 contest Friday, October 17, in the final home game of the season as they take on the Olympia Titans at Roger Williams Field. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

ApopkaTimes.com