By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff

November 4, 2005 Blue Darters at Madison County

They were 200 miles from home and the local powerhouse football team had just gone ahead 21-0 late in the second quarter and was smelling blood. There was less than three minutes remaining in the first half when the Apopka Blue Darters fell behind by three touchdowns to Class 2A state powerhouse Madison County on Friday, November 4.

With all the issues the team had faced this season, the Blue Darters faced a mental and emotional fork in the road. They could give up and just let Madison County have a huge Homecoming game victory or they could renew their efforts and fight back, getting ready for the Class 6A playoffs against a strong team.

They chose the latter, driving 67 yards in just 2:29, scoring with 28.8 seconds left in the first half when quarterback Cedric Bryant launched a perfect 22-yard touchdown pass to Derrick A. Clark. With Robert Beary adding the extra point, it sent a message that the Darters were there to compete. While they would eventually lose 38-21 to Madison County, the state's No. 1 Class 2A team, the Blue Darters positioned themselves for the Class 6A postseason.

"I'm proud of our kids; they never quit," said Apopka interim head coach Ty Parker right after the game. He then pointed to his players as they gathered in a group on the field after shaking hands with Madison County's players. "That team right there is growing," Parker said about the Darters. But, he also gave plenty of credit to the Cowboys, who looked much more like a Class 6A team in terms of size, speed, and quickness. "That may be the best offense we see all year," Parker said about the Cowboys. "Our hats are off to Madison County. They've got a machine there."

However, Apopka played one of its best games of the season on offense, scoring 21 points and rushing for 216 yards against a strong defense. "I think we got them a little nervous," Parker said about Madison County. "I think the (Apopka) kids gave a great effort."
The most nervous time for the Cowboys was with 7:31 left in the fourth period when Apopka's Derrick Rouse raced 48 yards for an Apopka touchdown on an end-around to pull the Darters to within 31-21.

But, to their credit, the home-standing Cowboys immediately responded with a 9-play, 67-yard scoring drive to slam the door shut on the Darters. Apopka's game-opening drive had its own successes until it stalled at the Madison County 29-yard line. Beary's 45-yard field goal attempt was long enough, but just wide left. The Cowboys then used a 48-yard run by Desmond Gee to set up a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Bob Brown, the first of two scores by him, with 3:49 left in the first period.

Apopka's next two possessions totaled just five offensive plays and produced very little as the Darters gained just 8 yards on those plays and lost a fumble on one of them. Madison County, meanwhile, was continuing its offensive onslaught, scoring two more times to grab a 21-0 lead.
But, it was after that third Madison County touchdown that the Darters scored on the Bryant-to-Clark pass and the game remained competitive.
The Cowboys' first possession of the second half netted just two yards in three plays and produced the only Madison County punt of the night.
The Blue Darters gained 20 yards in their first two plays, but a fumble on theithird play ended with the Cowboys on top and in possession at the Apopka 40.

Eight plays later, the Cowboys regained their three-touchdown bulge when quarterback Fred Johnson was tackled at the Apopka 1 on third-and-goal, but the ball popped out as he hit the ground and it was recovered in the end zone by Madison County's T.J. Thomas. Although it appeared that the ball didn't pop out until Johnson hit the ground, it was ruled a fumble and a touchdown by the official.
Once again facing the 21-point deficit, the Blue Darters again responded, this time with their most impressive drive of the game.
Apopka traveled 67 yards in 3:28 and scored on a Nico Stanley 4-yard run in which he plowed over a defender who reportedly broke his arm on the play.

Beary added the extra point to pull Apopka to within 28-14 with 2:16 left in the third period.
A good Madison County return and an Apopka penalty gave the Cowboys the ball on the Apopka 35 after the ensuing kickoff and the Cowboys drove 22 yards before the Darters held and forced a 30-yard field goal by Leo Bellera. The kick with 9:20 left in the game was controversial, however, as Apopka players and coaches thought it was wide right. Either way, it was close.

With the 31-14 lead, the Cowboys seemed on their way to a sure victory, but that's when Rouse scampered 48 yards on the end-around to score and make Madison County "nervous" as Parker said.