Apopka High School
Nov 23, 2007
Blue Darters 36, Edgewater 7

By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff

It was déjà vu all over again.

In 2001, the Apopka Blue Darters lost to the Orlando Edgewater Eagles by a touchdown in the regular season, then pounded the Eagles by 38 in the playoffs on their way to the Class 6A state championship.

This year, the Eagles outscored the Darters, 40-32, midway through the season. But, the Darters got more than just a little revenge in the playoffs on Friday, November 23, defeating the Eagles, 36-7, before about 4,000 fans at Roger Williams Field.

While the star of the game for Apopka was junior quarterback Jeremy Gallon, who rushed for 257 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass, it was definitely a team victory for the Darters.

“I thought we played really hard,” said Apopka head coach Rick Darlington, who raised his record at Apopka High to 57-15 in six seasons. “We had so many guys who played so great.”

Darlington certainly praised Gallon for his efforts and production, but he also pointed out fellow running back Travelle Davis, who helped Gallon gain those yards. “He is such a great blocker; he blocked so well.”

The star himself was also quick to compliment others. “I just feel great, but it wouldn’t have happened without my O(ffensive) line and the other guys,” Gallon said. “We just outplayed them and were able to come out with the win.”

In the first meeting Apopka and Edgewater had this season, the first quarter saw three Apopka touchdowns and one Edgewater score. This time, the first quarter went scoreless, but Apopka grabbed a 7-0 lead just three plays into the second period when Gallon broke at least two tackles and scampered 54 yards for a touchdown. Jon Beary added the extra point with 11:12 left in the second period.

But, just like the regular-season game between these two juggernauts, the Eagles (9-3) bounced back to tie the game via a long pass play.

Edgewater senior quarterback James Morgan threw a pinpoint pass to junior Quincy McDuffie, who tipped the ball to himself, secured it, then got his balance back to score on a 45-yard play. Apopka’s Derrick L. Clark was there in coverage, but McDuffie made a great play to grab the ball.

The Eagles would threaten to score again, but could not punch it in for the rest of the game. Bruising fullback Jeremiah Schwartz got his yards behind his huge offensive line, rushing for 165 yards on 24 carries, but twice when he broke out into the open, he was chased down by none other than Apopka’s Gallon, who also played defensive back.

Morgan, Edgewater’s quarterback, started the game on fire, completing six of his first seven passes, including the touchdown to McDuffie, but he completed just one of his final 15 attempts, while Apopka picked off three of those final 14 passes, including a 90-yarder returned for an Apopka touchdown by linebacker Danny White.

After Edgewater’s touchdown tied the game, Apopka quickly broke the 7-7 tie just four plays later as Jeremy Rouse dashed 24 yards for a score, breaking a couple of tackles along the way. The Darters took a 15-7 lead when Rouse scored the 2-point conversion with 6:21 left in the second period.

On its next possession, Edgewater was pushed back after a crucial holding call and a short punt gave the Blue Darters a first down at the Edgewater 35. Darlington went for the throat and the Darters paid him handsomely as Caleb Nelson, in at quarterback, hit a wide-open Gallon out of the backfield for the 35-yard touchdown.

The extra point was no good, but Apopka took a 21-7 lead with 4:56 left in the second period. Apopka thought it had scored on a pass interception by Rouse on the final play of the first half, but a holding call on the return wiped out the score.

Edgewater drove the second half kickoff down to the Apopka 14, but a 32-yard field goal went wide left and Apopka responded quickly, driving inside the Edgewater 10 before settling for a 26-yard field goal by Beary with 6:12 left in the third quarter to up the lead to 24-7.

With Apopka threatening to break the game open, the Eagles drove to the Apopka 2. However, on first down, a false start pushed the Eagles back to the 7 and on the next play, Apopka defensive back Adarrius James nearly sacked Morgan, who threw a desperation pass right into the belly of Apopka linebacker White, who went 90 yards untouched for the score.

The extra point was no good, but Apopka had a 30-7 lead with 3:24 left in the third period. Apopka’s final score of the game came on a 97-yard drive following an interception of a Morgan pass by Clark. Gallon picked up his second rushing touchdown of the game on a 41-yard run with 2:52 remaining.