ORLANDO – In the final game of the FHSAA football championship weekend, the defending class 8A champion Blue Darters of Apopka played the South Dade Buccaneers. Both teams boasted a 13-1 record coming into the game.
The headline coming into the game was the Darter offense and the opportunity to break a state record in season points. At the onset of play replacement quarterback Chandler Cox donned hurt teammate’s Zack Darlington’s #6 jersey. South Dade on the other hand was just trying to capture their first state title in their first try ever.
Photo By Joshua Wilson
By the end of the night even though Apopka did break the scoring record; the Buccaneers went on to dethroned the defending champs 41 to 28.
For the first time in the season, playoffs included, the Blue Darter offense failed to register any points in the first quarter. But the South Dade offense clicked right away. On the second play from scrimmage quarterback Khalil Render found C.J. Worton on a slant. With a few blocks Worton ran 67 yards into the end zone.
Then with a little over six minute left on the clock South Dade started their second drive. But that end in 18 seconds when Render first raced 59 yards then threw a strike to Tyre’ Brady. Brady took that pass 24 yards in for the second score in the opening quarter.
But on a crucial drive the Apopka defense came alive and forced the Buccaneers to punt. Upon which they drove the field and scored when running back J.J. Simmons took a handoff three yards around the left side to score. That was immediately followed by a drop back pass from Chandler Cox to Christian Velasquez that went 74 yards and for a Blue Darter score.
South Dade took little time answering only using three plays to score. Render found Tarviant Williams for a 71 yard passing touchdown. Williams was aided by Worton who escorted his teammate with blocking downfield into the end zone.
Both teams faltered in the last six minutes of the second quarter and didn’t score. Cox closed the half with a pass that was intercepted.
At the half South Dade led 20-14.
Fresh out of half once again the quick offense of South Dade was put on display. After only gaining 17 yards on three plays CJ Worton changed that with a long catch and run for touchdown. This was his second score of the night.
Then after a switch of possessions Apopka drove the length of the field in 10 plays taking 4:16 off the clock. The drive was ended with a tough Simmons run up the gut of the Buccaneer defense for touchdown. But the drive was answered when South Dade drove the field themselves.
In their longest drive of the game, 10 plays, they scored on fourth down. Once again coming to the aid of his quarterback Cj Worton caught a quarter ending 10 yard pass in the end zone. Worton finished his night with six grabs for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
“We weren’t favored in this game but we knew we had a chance. As much as a big night it was for me it was even bigger for the team as a whole. First every school title,” said South Dade wideout C.J. Worton.
Dade took a 13 point lead into the final quarter of the game.
Photo By Joshua Wilson
But that lead did not last long as Apopka stormed back with a drive of their own that ended in a touchdown. Simmons caught a 7 yard pass on fourth down to cut into the Buccaneer lead.
South Dade looked to close the game when they received the ball as they drove the length of the field in a little over five minutes. But Apopka’s defense bent but did not break. Ben Bascom intercepted Render in the end zone with 2:29 left to give his high scoring offense another chance.
Backed up after a penalty Chandler Cox started a 97 yard march down field to win the 8A championship. But the drive never really materialized due to a slew of penalties. On a fourth down conversion attempt, Apopka tried to do a hook-and-ladder and failed resulting in a fumble.
Tyre’ Brady recovered the fumbled ball and returned it for a touchdown to close out the Buccaneer victory.
“It was a tough game tonight. We had our shots to pull even and even go ahead. Credit to Nate on the other side for having his team ready,” stated Rick Darlington, head coach of Apopka.
This marked the first ever championship in school history for the South Dade Buccaneers.
