After a sloppy preseason loss last week, the Apopka Blue Darters scored 50 first-half points Friday in a 62-7 season-opening victory over the Ocoee Knights.
The host Blue Darters (1-0) had three touchdown passes and six rushing scores to overwhelm the 0-1 Knights.
Quarterback Demetri Burch led the Blue Darters with 88 yards rushing and 2 scores on just five carries. He also tossed two touchdown passes. Cornelius Williams gained 79 yards on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns on four carries for Apopka.
The Blue Darters’ defense held Ocoee to 27 yards rushing and allowed just one long play, a 65-yard pass that set up the Knights’ only score.
“It was just a better night,” Apopka coach Rick Darlington said. Last week, Apopka had four turnovers and looked sloppy in a 28-21 preseason loss to Lake City Columbia. “I liked seeing all the dudes touch the ball.”
Eight Blue Darters rushed for 300 yards while Burch and Sean Robles combined for 139 yards and three scores through the air. Robles led Apopka hit Birthel Bridges on a 50-yard scoring strike on the Darters’ first possession of the second half.
Darlington’s freshman son, Jackson, got in the scoring column on a 13-yard pass from Burch, who also hit Damaris August on a 9-yarder late in the second period to give the Darters a 50-7 halftime lead.
