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Blue Darters, Mustangs advance to regional semifinals with big wins

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Apopka runs past Seminole; Wekiva tramples Lake Mary

The difference a year can make.

This time last season, it was black Friday when both the Apopka Blue Darters and the Wekiva Mustangs were shocked in the first round of the 2016 playoffs.

But in 2017, there were no surprises.

Apopka traveled to Sanford and rolled past the Seminoles 54-21, while Wekiva opened its playoff campaign with an impressive 51-0 victory over the Lake Mary Rams. With the wins, both teams advance to the regional semifinals next Friday.

Blue Darters roll past Seminoles 54-21

The Apopka Blue Darters used a balanced rushing attack that went over 400 yards and featured two 75-yard touchdown runs to roll the Seminoles 54-21. Jecoryan Davis Hamilton led the way with 203 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Three players (Davis-Hamilton, Cornelius Williams, and Akeem Brown) rushed for over 100 yards, and four different players scored touchdowns on the ground.

The Seminoles took the early lead when freshman quarterback Timmy McClain hit junior receiver Juri Sabb on a 50-yard touchdown pass with 6:48 left in the first quarter. The extra point was good and the Seminoles led 7-0.

The Blue Darters answered immediately when running back Cornelius William raced 75 yards through Seminole defenders and scored on an electrifying touchdown run. Titus Vandiver's extra point made it 7-7.

Then after a Seminole fumble, the Blue Darters Jalen Carter scored on a one-yard run to take the lead 14-7 after the extra point by Vandiver.

Midway through the second quarter, the Seminoles responded when McClain hit sophomore receiver Zion Jackson to tie the game at 14-14.

The Blue Darters again answered just before halftime with a seven-play drive that ended on an Akeem Brown touchdown run and took the lead 21-14 after the Vandiver kick.

In the third quarter, sophomore Jecoryan Davis-Hamilton scored on a 12-yard touchdown run to double the Blue Darter lead to 28-14 with 5:38 left in the third quarter, but the Seminoles marched the length of the field and scored on a 1-yard run to cut the lead to 28-21 with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter.

They would never get closer.

On the very next play, Apopka shocked the Seminoles when Davis-Hamilton went around left tackle and exploded for another 75-yard touchdown run to give Apopka a 34-21 lead after a missed extra point.

The Blue Darters blew the game open in the fourth quarter when Hamilton scored again, this time from 20 yards out, and Apopka took a 40-21 lead when the extra point was blocked.

Two defensive touchdowns rounded out the scoring for Apopka, and the win improved its record to 8-3. The win gives the Blue Darters a berth into the regional semifinals against undefeated and #1 ranked Winter Park (11-0) after the Wildcats defeated Spruce Creek 42-14 in its opening playoff game. Kickoff is at 7:30 at Winter Park.

Wekiva blanks Lake Mary 51-0

It was the Brandon Williams show, and it was no contest.

The Mustang quarterback ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for 148 yards and one touchdown pass as the Mustangs trampled the Rams 51-0.

Wekiva employed a strangling defense that didn't allow Lake Mary to get within 40 yards of the end zone in the first half, while the Mustangs scored touchdowns on its first four possessions.

Wekiva took its opening drive 26 yards in three plays when Williams fought through the Rams defense for a 3-yard touchdown run to give Wekiva a 7-0 lead with 10:25 remaining in the first quarter. Four minutes later, Wekiva went 57 yards on six plays and scored on a Williams 12-yard keeper to extend the Mustangs lead to 14-0. Then on its third possession, the Mustangs went 86 yards on nine plays and scored on Williams two-yard touchdown run following a 50-yard keeper. Wekiva took the lead 21-0.

Midway through the second quarter, Williams hit senior Miles Anderson on a 10-yard touchdown pass to extend its lead to 28-0.

Things didn't get better for the Rams in the second half as Wekiva's Jarvis Ware took the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 38-0.

The victory sets up a regional semifinal matchup next Friday against the Boone Braves, who beat Flagler Palm Coast 38-13. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM at Wekiva High School.

Apopka Blue Darters, Wekiva Mustangs

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