From Staff Reports
The Apopka Blue Darters and Wekiva Mustangs got their seasons started tonight by hosting pre-season Kickoff Classic games. The Blue Darters opened with an impressive win, while Wekiva struggled.
The Blue Darters took advantage of a turnover by DeLand on its first drive and scored on its first play from scrimmage. Junior running back Ke'shawn Jones ran 13 yards for the touchdown, and after the extra point, the Blue Darters led 7-0. Later in the period, Apopka took a 14-0 lead when Nikai Martinez took a punt 34 yards for Apopka's second touchdown of the quarter. Senior placekicker Andrew Kennedy added a 33-yard field goal to give Apopka a 17-0 lead at the end of the quarter.
The Bulldogs could only answer with a 33-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the half. The two-point conversion failed and Apopka took a 17-6 lead into the locker room.
On its first drive of the second half, the Blue Darters extended the lead to 24-7 when Jones found a hole and ran 45 yards to the five-yard line. Senior quarterback Andrew McClain scored on the next play. McClain scored again at the end of the quarter to extend the Blue Darter lead to 31-6.
Apopka opens its regular season on the road on August 27th against (Orlando) Colonial High School. The Grenadiers finished the 2020 season 3-6. The Blue Darters play their first home game against the West Orange Vikings on September 3rd. West Orange upset Apopka 15-14 in overtime during the 2020 regular season, but the Blue Darters got its revenge against the Vikings 18-9 in the playoffs. Apopka opens district play against the Ocoee Knights on the road on September 17th. The Knights were 4-5 in 2020.
The Mustangs scored first in the opening period when James Brown rushed two yards for a touchdown. The extra point was blocked, and Wekiva took a 6-0 lead that held to the end of the first quarter.
But Miami Norland answered with 1:18 left in the second quarter when Deon Parker hit Joaquin Reed for an 8-yard touchdown. The extra point was good and the Vikings took a 7-6 lead into halftime.
Then in the third quarter, Parker found Caleb Jean on a 40-yard strike for a touchdown, and after the extra point, Miami Norland took a 14-6 lead. In the fourth quarter, Reid got his third touchdown pass when he hit Reid again for a 23-yard touchdown to lead 20-6 with 8:35 left in the game.
Wekiva opens its regular season on the road against the Orlando Olympia Bears on August 27th. The Bears finished the 2020 season with a 5-5 record. Their first home game is against the West Orange Vikings on September 10th. The Vikings finished 6-4 last season. On October 1st, the Mustangs begin their district schedule at home against the Ridge Community Bolts, who had a 6-5 record in 2020.
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