They trounced their opponents in spring jamborees. They went on the road in pre-season kickoff classics and returned home victorious. But tonight things get real.
Dress rehearsal is over.
The Apopka Blue Darters and Wekiva Mustangs begin their regular season tonight with high hopes and expectations.
Heading into their openers, both Apopka schools are in the Associated Press pre-season top 10 poll for Class-8A schools in Florida. Wekiva is ranked first, while Apopka is ranked fifth in the poll.
The Blue Darters are coming off an 8-4 season, including a playoff victory over Seminole High School on the road in Sanford. Many schools would be celebrating such a season, but Apopka's expectations after winning three state championships far exceed that modest amount of success. Being ranked 5th in a pre-season poll only confirms their statewide reputation.
The Mustangs, on the other hand, enjoyed their best season in school history, finishing 2017 with a 12-2 record, which included a 10-game winning streak, a District 8A-4 title, a victory over Apopka and a trip to the state semifinals – all firsts for Wekiva. However, their expectations are also more in alignment with their #1 ranking.
The regular season begins tonight when Apopka hosts the Ocoee Knights and Wekiva is at home against the Jones Tigers.
The Blue Darters throttled Ocoee last season 44-7 and 62-7 in 2016. Ocoee is coming off a disappointing 1-9 record in 2017.
The Mustangs take on a much stronger opponent in Jones. The Tigers are coming off a 10-2 record in 2017 which also sent them to the postseason state playoffs.
Both games start at 7 PM. Tickets are $6.
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