New opponents and a coaching debut highlight Blue Darters and Mustangs 2021 football schedules

By Nathaniel Marerro, Interning Correspondent with The Apopka Voice

The schedules for the Apopka Blue Darters and Wekiva Mustangs football teams are officially set for this fall. Both teams will meet in the final week of the regular season on November 5, 2021. Wekiva beat Apopka 14-7 in 2020.

Apopka Blue Darters

8-4 last season

Kickoff Classic: Deland 8/20

Week 1: @Colonial 8/27**

Week 2: West Orange 9/3*

Week 3: @Dr. Phillips 9/10**

Week 4: @Ocoee 9/17*

Week 5: Edgewater 9/24**

Week 6: @Evans 10/1*

Week 7: @Lakeland 10/8

Week 8: West Port 10/15*

Week 9: Bye

Week 10: Lake Brantley 10/29*

Week 11: Wekiva 11/5**

*Denotes district game

**Denotes metro game

The biggest additions to Apopka’s schedule are Edgewater and Lakeland. Edgewater went 8-3 last season and lost 31-21 to state powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas in the 7A state championship game. Lakeland has consistently been one of the best teams in the state and most recently won the 7A state championship in 2018. West Port (Ocala), who went 5-3 last season, was added to Apopka’s district this season.

Wekiva Mustangs

6-4 last season

Week 1: @Olympia 8/27 **

Week 2: @Ocoee 9/3 **

Week 3: West Orange 9/10 **

Week 4: Bye

Week 5: @Lake Nona 9/24 **

Week 6: Ridge Community 10/1*

Week 7: Evans 10/8 **

Week 8: @Edgewater 10/15*

Week 9: East Ridge 10/22*

Week 10: @Winter Haven 10/29*

Week 11: @Apopka 11/5 **

The season opener at Olympia will be the first game for the Mustangs with Jeremiah Rodriguez-Schwartz as their head coach. Wekiva’s football program is on administrative probation through June of 2022, which is defined by the Florida High School Athletic Association as a “school or person is reprimanded, fined and served notice that it is in a period of warning for a minimum of one calendar year.” The Mustangs were placed on administrative probation due to players running onto the field from their sideline and throwing punches, which led to a postgame altercation with Mitchell High School after their 7A regional playoff matchup. Mitchell won 24-18.