Bright House Sports Network’s preseason countdown of the Top 20 football teams in Central Florida continues today with No. 3.
No. 3 Apopka Blue Darters
Head Coach: Rick Darlington
2013 Record: 13-2 (lost to South Dade 41-28 in 8A championship game)
Key Returners: OL Martez Ivey, ATH Chandler Cox, RB/DB J.J. Simmons, LB Jonny Robinson, LB Billy Caughell, CB Ben Bascom
Key Losses: RB Robert Thomas, OL Sam Janetzke, FB Christian Velasquez, DL Anthony Ellis, DL Eric Jackson, S Rakeem Smith, LB Shyeem Covington
Kickoff Classic: vs. Lyman, 7:30 (Aug. 22)
Team Outlook: The Blue Darters have reached the state championship game in back-to-back seasons, winning the title in 2012 and falling to South Dade last season. Apopka set a state record last year with 752 points, an average of 50.1 per game. Thomas, who is now playing at Ferris State, set a Metro Conference rushing record with 2,371 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Cox, an Auburn commit, threw for 1,267 yards and rushed for 1,114 and accounted for 24 scores. Despite the presence of Ivey, who is one of the nation’s top recruits, the offensive line has work to do with the graduation of four starters. The defensive line, traditionally a strength, will also have four new starters. Apopka will host 5A state champion Plantation American Heritage in one of the state’s most anticipated regular season matchups on October 17