Blue Darters vs. Mustangs: Is the tenth time the charm?

Preview:

Apopka Blue Darters (6-0) vs. Wekiva Mustangs (4-2)

It has all the earmarks of a rivalry. Apopka and Wekiva High Schools - Two teams within a few miles of each other in the same city. Both teams competing in the same District8A-4. The players from both schools know each other from Pop Warner years, and there are two players that have transferred to the other school.

However the primary component of a good rivalry is a balance of wins and losses between the rivals, and an unknown outcome of the upcoming game.

That's where this would-be rivalry loses steam.

The Apopka Blue Darters have won every meeting with the Wekiva Mustangs. Nine straight dating back to 2007. Not only that, but the Blue Darters have won by huge margins. The closest game in the Apopka-Wekiva series was a 49-33 Blue Darter victory in 2011. However that was followed by victories in one-sided scores of 61-0, 80-26, 56-7, and 43-6 from 2012-2015.

But those kind of scores are not being anticipated tomorrow. Meeting #10 is expected to be a closer result.

While the Blue Darters (6-0, 1-0 in district play and ranked #1 in the state AP Poll of 8A schools) are just as much the juggernaut as they usually are, the Mustangs come into this game 4-2 and 1-0 in 8A District 4. It is perhaps the best team they have put on the field against Apopka.

Both teams are coming off district wins with Apopka beating West Orange 56-20 and Wekiva beating Evans 27-6.

Senior running back Jaylon Fair, who transferred to Wekiva after playing for Apopka his freshman year, leads the Mustangs on offense with 678 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in six games.

Senior quarterback Trey McGee has passed for 724 yards and has three touchdown passes. McGee’s best target is senior wideout Wesly Touze, who has caught 20 passes for 333 yards and three touchdown receptions.

Wekiva has been steady and impressive on offense, but Apopka has scored in record-breaking fashion.

Senior quarterback Demetri Burch and senior running back DeShawn Massey are a one two punch in the running game that has piled up yardage and touchdowns. Burch has 540 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, while Massey has 470 yards and five touchdowns.

Burch has also passed for 484 yards and nine touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Damaris August, who transferred from Wekiva to Apopka this season, is the Blue Darters’ leading pass catcher with 159 yards and four touchdown receptions.

The game starts at 7pm at the Baptiste Orthodontics Stadium on the campus of Wekiva High School.