Apopka High School
October 27, 2006
Blue Darters 23, West Orange 7

By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff

Looking at rushing and passing numbers, it would appear that the Apopka Blue Darters just overwhelmed their rivals, the West Orange Warriors. But, despite outgaining the Warriors 409 yards to 91, the Blue Darters had to use two third-quarter touchdowns to secure a lackluster 23-7 victory on Friday, October 27, at Raymond Screws Memorial Field in Winter Garden.

The victory moved Apopka to 8-1 overall and kept the Darters perfect in District 6A-4 play with a 5-0 record. West Orange dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in district action.
“It was the worst game on the offensive line that we’ve played all year,” said Apopka head coach Rick Darlington. “We had a lot of mistakes.” The three factors in the game that kept the Blue Darters from gaining control early were “missing blocks, turnovers, and not finishing drives,” Darlington said.

Apopka had come into the game with just four turnovers all season, none of them interceptions. Against West Orange, however, the Blue Darters suffered four fumbles and two interceptions. The second interception, off a tipped pass, was returned 47 yards for West Orange’s only points of the game.

“We had a great turnover ratio and now we’ve blown that out of the water,” Darlington said. In addition, the Blue Darters had the ball inside the West Orange 10-yard line three times and came away with no points. Two of the times came in the first quarter.

Apopka jumped out on top when Robert Beary took the opening kickoff back 90 yards for an Apopka touchdown. He was never touched on the return as the middle of the West Orange kickoff coverage team parted as he ran up the middle. Beary was aided by a Jeremy Gallon block on the West Orange kicker.

After Beary caught his breath, he added the extra point to give the Blue Darters a 7-0 lead just 16 seconds into the game. West Orange gained just one yard on its initial series, as the Apopka defense continued its mastery of opposing offenses. The Darters gave up just 18 net rushing yards and 73 yards passing to the Warriors.

Apopka, using its spread offense, then quickly moved the ball to the West Orange 5 before stalling and giving the ball up on downs at the West Orange 1. The Blue Darters did get two points out of the next West Orange series when the Warriors were forced to punt from their own end zone. A low snap forced the West Orange punter to his knee in the end zone in an effort to field the ball, giving the Blue Darters a safety and a 9-0 lead with 6:26 left in the first period.

Apopka’s next possession ended in another red zone failure although the drive was one of beauty before the Darters got into scoring range. Starting on their own 19, the Darters quickly drove to the West Orange 12-yard line as Andy Summerlin completed three straight passes to Gallon, Derrick A. Clark, and Derrick Rouse for a total of 64 yards. But, an end-around to Clark went awry and West Orange recovered a fumble.

Nursing the 9-0 lead, Apopka was near midfield late in the second period, trying to add to its lead, but a pass by Summerlin was tipped by a rusher and caught in midair by Dale Jones, who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown with 49.3 seconds left in the first half to cut Apopka’s lead to 9-7.

Apopka went back to its double-wing offense in the second half and after the Apopka defense forced a quick three-and-out for the Warriors in their first possession of the third period, the Apopka offense found its groove. The Blue Darters drove 54 yards in six plays as fullback Travelle Davis scored from the 2. Beary’s extra point gave the Darters a 16-7 lead with 7:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Once again, the Apopka defense stopped West Orange, this time with an interception by Cedric Hicks, who returned it to the West Orange 45-yard line.

Seven plays later, Rouse scored from the 3 and Beary’s extra point gave the Darters a 23-7 lead with 3:33 left in the third period. Apopka drove one more time to the West Orange 10 during the fourth period, but a fumble ended the drive.

Davis led all rushers with 129 yards and one TD on 16 attempts. It was the second straight 100-yard game for Davis. Gallon nearly hit the century mark, rushing for 95 yards on 11 carries.