Apopka High School
Oct 12, 2007
Blue Darters 30, Winter Park 6

By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff

From a 30-6 final, one might presume that it was another easy Apopka victory Friday, October 12, against the Winter Park Wildcats at Showalter Field in Winter Park.

However, until Apopka quarterback/wingback Jeremy Gallon scampered 35 yards for his third touchdown of the night to give Apopka a 23-0 lead with 7:03 left in the fourth period, the Blue Darters led by just two scores.

And, it was just a one-score bulge for the Blue Darters until Gallon’s 70-yard scramble turned into a touchdown with 4:29 left in the third period.

Apopka dominated, especially on defense, and put up some good offensive numbers, but the Winter Park defense kept it close until the second half. “It was an ugly game,” said Apopka coach Rick Darlington. “We were very sloppy.”

He did compliment the Apopka defense on a “good game” and said that Gallon did a “good job.” The junior was the difference in the game, rushing for 191 yards and 3 scores on 15 attempts. He was also nearly perfect as a passer, hitting 9-of-10 passes for 98 yards.

As any good runner or passer would do, Gallon was quick to compliment the blockers up front. “It starts with the O(ffensive) line,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the O-line, it wouldn’t happen.”

Winter Park’s defense, however, might be the first to say that Gallon had more than a little bit to do with his 191 yards rushing.
Gallon had two runs of 35 yards each and one of 70 yards. The first 35-yarder was on Apopka’s first drive of the game with the Blue Darters backed up, facing a third-and-8 from their own 8-yard line.

Gallon dropped back to pass, found no one open and took off. The big gain helped lead to Apopka’s first score when Gallon found a big hole on the right side of the offensive line and scored from the 2.

A two-point conversion pass from Gallon to Jon Beary gave the Blue Darters an 8-0 lead with 5:51 left in the first period.
Then, with Apopka still clinging to that 8-0 lead, Gallon once again put his best improvising skills to the test, scrambling for 70 yards for an Apopka touchdown, dodging would-be tacklers at every turn. Beary’s extra point kick gave the Blue Darters a little breathing room at 15-0 with 4:29 left in the third quarter.

But, it wasn’t until Gallon tightroped down the Apopka sideline on a 35-yard scoring run with 7:03 left in the fourth period that the Blue Darters could take a relaxing breath. When Gallon also ran in the two-point conversion, it gave the Darters a comfortable 23-0 lead.

Then, after the Apopka defense once again stopped the Winter Park offense, the Darters struck quickly. Getting the ball at the Winter Park 45 following a punt, Jeremy Rouse, bottled up all night, got free for a 22-yard run to the Wildcats’ 23. A 5-yard facemask penalty and a dead ball personal foul penalty on Winter Park moved the ball to the 8 and fullback Travelle Davis bulled over from the 1 three plays later. When Beary added the extra point, Apopka led, 30-0, with 4:01 left in the fourth.

With Apopka substituting freely, Winter Park eventually scored when quarterback Chris Chomic scrambled out of the pocket for a 43-yard run with 1:13 left in the game. A two-point conversion pass failed.

It was the only time that Winter Park managed to have a play for more than 13 yards. Tailback Zee Ware gained 13 yards on a draw play on Winter Park’s first series, but ended the night with just 34 yards rushing on 19 attempts. As a team, the Wildcats gained only 69 yards rushing on 32 attempts.

Chomic was 6-of-16 through the air for 46 yards. Apopka’s Derrick Clark had an interception. As a team, the Blue Darters rushed for 270 yards on 40 runs.