Two non-district road games early in the season against a perennial powerhouse and a state runner-up in 2016 highlight the Apopka Blue Darter 2017 football schedule.
Apopka will travel down I-4 to take on the Lakeland Dreadnaughts on September 8th. Last season Lakeland finished 8-3 with a trip to the state playoffs. They are an astounding 152-18 in their last 170 games, including a 97-6 mark at home. The following week (September 15th) the Blue Darters return to Orange County to take on the Dr. Phillips Panthers. Last season DP had a 12-3 record, including an impressive runner-up finish in the 8A state playoffs. Apopka rallied at home to defeat the Panthers 15-14 in 2016. The non-district schedule also has a home contest against Miami Norland on September 1st, and a trip to Jacksonville to face Mandarin High School on October 6th.
District play begins on September 29th against Orlando Evans, and concludes with crosstown rival Wekiva High School on October 27th. Last season Apopka rallied late in the fourth quarter to defeat the Mustangs 38-31 to win District 8A-4.
In 2016 the Blue Darters ran off nine straight wins before losing to Timber Creek 40-39 in the playoffs. They finished the season 9-1 and 3-0 in district play.
In the 2017 spring exhibition game, the Blue Darters blew open a 22-22 tie with 16 unanswered points as rising sophomoreJecoryan Davis-Hamilton rushed for 383 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries and Apopka defeated Orange City University 38-22.
The Blue Darters pre-season game is against Mainland High School (in Daytona Beach) at Roger Williams Field on the Apopka High School campus. Kickoff is at 7 PM on August 18th.
2017 Schedule
* — indicates District 8A-4 contest
Week 1 — Fri. Aug. 25 — @ Ocoee
Week 2 — Fri. Sep. 1 — Miami Norland
Week 3 — Fri. Sep. 8 — @ Lakeland
Week 4 — Fri. Sep. 15 — @ Dr. Phillips
Week 5 — Fri. Sep. 22 — Boone
Week 6 — Fri. Sep. 29 — @ Evans*
Week 7 — Fri. Oct. 6 — @ Mandarin
Week 8 — Fri. Oct. 13 — West Orange*
Week 9 — Fri. Oct. 20 — BYE WEEK
Week 10 — Fri. Oct. 27 — Wekiva*
Week 11 — Fri. Nov. 3 — @ Oak Ridge
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here