Apopka High School
Nov 16, 2007
Blue Darters 30, Timber Creek 22

By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff

The Apopka Blue Darters were playing their best football of the season heading into the playoffs.

But, after a week off to end the regular season, the first playoff game was less than stellar for the Darters, yet, the team found a way to win and advance, defeating the Timber Creek Wolves, 30-22, Friday, November 16, in a Class 6A, Region 1 quarterfinal game at Roger Williams Field.

“We really did not play well at all,” said Apopka coach Rick Darlington. “We know we were lucky to get out here with a win. Overall, it may have been our worst performance.” Apopka (10-1) scored all of its points in a second-quarter outburst, but had trouble moving the ball and holding on to the ball for the other three periods.

Defensively, the Blue Darters gave up 443 total yards. However, it was the three yards that the Darters didn’t give up that made the difference in the game.

With Apopka clinging to its 30-22 lead, the Wolves (7-4) were inside the Apopka 5-yard line with a first down. But, a 1-yard quarterback sneak and three incomplete passes later, the Darters had snuffed out the Wolves’ chances and secured the victory.

While the Apopka defense had its troubles keeping the Wolves under wraps all game, the final four downs were a defensive stand any coach would point to.

Timber Creek had a first and goal at the Apopka 4 with about a minute left in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Tyler Marincov was held to a 1-yard gain on first down. On second down, with many expecting another running play, the Wolves tried a pass to the tight end, but with defensive back Adarrius James coming clean on a blitz, Marincov was forced to put his pass up early and tossed in out of the back of the end zone. Even if his pass had been on the mark, it might have been intercepted because Joe Dennis was stuck to the Timber Creek tight end like glue.

Then, on third down, Apopka had apparently given Timber Creek new life when a flag came out for defensive pass interference. But, Apopka’s shortest player, defensive back Cedric Reese, after stretching his 5-foot-5 frame high off the ground, had tipped Marincov’s pass, nullifying the penalty.

On fourth down, Reese was in coverage when a flare pass from Marincov went over the receiver’s head, setting off a celebration on the Apopka sideline and stands.

The Wolves stunned a shaky Apopka team early by building a 10-0 lead in the first period on a 27-yard field goal by Aaron Keller and then on a quick out pass from Marincov to Travis Thomas, who scooted 55 yards for a touchdown.

That came with 1:17 left in the first period and it wouldn’t take long for Apopka to take a lead. The first score came on a fourth-and-1 play from the Timber Creek 43 when Travelle Davis broke a couple of tackles, then found nothing but green space to the end zone. Jon Beary’s extra point kick narrowed Timber Creek’s lead to 10-7 with 11:06 left in the second period.

The Wolves struck back, however, building the lead to 16-7 when Rahfee McClee ran in from the 1 to end a 51-yard drive. The extra point was blocked with 7:56 left in the second period.

Apopka continued its big-play scoring fest when Jeremy Rouse went untouched 48 yards four plays after the Wolves scored. A big play in the quick drive was when Marcus West recovered a Jeremy Gallon fumble. At least two Timber Creek players missed great opportunities to recover the loose ball.

Beary kicked the extra point and Apopka climbed to within 16-14 with 5:43 left in the second. Two plays later, Apopka had the ball back when Caleb Nelson grabbed a ball that bounced off a receiver’s shoulder pads. Then, two more plays later, the Darters had the lead when Gallon threw a perfect strike to Carmeiras Stewart on a short post pattern and he outran the defender to the end zone for the 62-yard touchdown play.

Rouse ran in the two-point conversion to give the Darters a 22-16 lead with 4:13 left in the second period.

Apopka’s defense forced a punt on Timber Creek’s next possession and the Darters again struck in just two plays when Gallon tossed a swing pass to Rouse, who had a highlight-reel of a run for a 69-yard Apopka score. The senior running back made several Timber Creek defenders miss, igniting the Apopka sideline.

Gallon scored the two-point conversion to give Apopka a 30-16 lead with 1:41 left in the second period.

The teams battled back and forth in the second half with neither team seriously threatening to score until Timber Creek ended an 80-yard drive with a 50-yard touchdown run by McClee. The extra point, however, was no good and the Wolves trailed, 30-22, with 8:11 left in the fourth period.

That’s the way the game ended, but not before the late-game heroics by the Apopka defense.