Darters fall in SC, but football didn`t matter for a while

The Apopka Chief
August 30, 2013, Page 1B
See the story at the bottom of the page about
the Wekiva High School
boys bowling team. The
squad will be looking to
win its district and qualify for the state tournament for the fourth year
in a row. For two of the
past three seasons, the
Mustangs have landed a
spot in the state semifinals before seeing their
season ended. Coach
David Kurtz is looking
for big things again.
Sports
Q. When does the Apopka Blue Darters girls volleyball team play its home opener?
A. Opening the regular season this week with two
victories in as many road matches, the Blue Darters
will play their first home match Tuesday, September 3, against the Ocoee Knights in a District 8A-3
and Metro Conference contest. The Blue Darters are
coached by Jamie Lillethorup.
Darters fall in SC, but football didn’t matter for a while
By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff
For more than three hours,
the Apopka-Byrnes football
game on national TV in Duncan, S.C., was as it should have
been – all about football.
But that changed in an instant.
Football held no importance as Apopka’s Zack Darlington, quarterback and son
of head coach Rick Darlington,
lay motionless on the sideline
after a big hit by Byrnes linebacker Aymel Lyles. He was
later diagnosed with a concussion, his second in two months.
As paramedics worked on
the quarterback, fans all over
the stadium and, no doubt, the
millions watching on ESPN,
forgot about the game and focused on their concern for the
younger Darlington.
He was given oxygen, but
Paramedics and others wheel Zack Darlington off the Byrnes field following his concussion.
His father and head coach, Rick Darlington (r) looks on as his son is carried off the field. A
couple of minutes later, the head coach left the Apopka sideline to be with his son.
never was administered any
life-saving procedures. After being stabilized, Darlington was taken off the field in
a stretcher to an adjacent field
where a helicopter landed a
few minutes later to take him to
Spartanburg Regional Medical
Center a few miles away.
Despite reports on ESPN
to the contrary, Rick Darlington stayed on the sideline only
momentarily, calling two more
plays for the Apopka offense
before leaving the sideline. He
and his wife, Shelly, along with
team chaplain Todd Lamphere,
were taken to the hospital by a
Duncan police officer.
After the injury, the game
continued, but there seemed
little interest in continuing, although the Blue Darters did
compete.
In the end, Apopka ran out
of time, but even then, the final
score of 51-36 in Byrnes’ favor
seemed of no consequence.
The concussion will keep
Darlington off the playing field
indefinitely, the family said in a
press release issued earlier this
week.
“For Zack to fully recover
from this latest injury will take
time. We do not have a timetable for his return, but we fully
trust in the medical care and
opinions of Dr. (James Michael) Ray and Dr. (Sam) Slobonouv. Zack saw them (Monday), underwent several tests,
and performed surprisingly
well. He has suffered no permanent damage and his physi-
cians expect a full recovery. It
will take time for Zack to heal
completely and not be susceptible to further concussions, and
we will make sure that he has
that time to recover and pursue
his dreams,” Rick Darlington
said in the press release.
“This is a difficult time
for Zack and our family. Many
tears have been shed and many
prayers said, not only for healing, but for wisdom and comfort. Zack has been our emotional and spiritual leader, both
on and off the field. Now God
has a new role for him, and although it is hard (for Zack) to
not be out there running the
Blue Darter offense, he has embraced his new role as a motivator, mentor, and coach as he
heals and gets ready for the future.
“As a father, I am so proud
See FOOTBALL Page 12B
Lang facing former team in
first game as Wekiva’s coach
By Neal Fisher
Apopka Chief Staff
Running back Jarvis Scott stretches for every inch as he is tackled Friday, August 23, during Wekiva’s 37-33 preseason victory over Leesburg.
Strong fourth quarter leads
to Wekiva preseason victory
By Neal Fisher
Apopka Chief Staff
After waiting nine months for the team to
finally take to the field under Kenard Lang and
anticipating the beginning of the new era, there
was an inherent different kind of satisfaction
which came with Wekiva defeating Leesburg
37-33 in the preseason Kickoff Classic. It was
apparent when the smiles and excitement of the
players were front and center as the final seconds of the game clock ticked off after the defense brought Leesburg’s final possession to an
end.
Highlighted by Deondre Fair powerfully hammering the opponent during a monster,
rushing performance of 192 yards on 26 carries, as well as quarterback Bart Bell and running back Jarvis Scott setting the stage for the
decisive plays, the Mustangs came from behind
during the fourth quarter to take the victory.
“The team kept fighting,” Lang said. “The
character really showed up. Despite giving up
the big play and the mistakes, it didn’t conSee STRONG Page 13B
Registration for youth lacrosse nearing end
Registration will end soon for Apopka-area
youth lacrosse players in grades 4 through 8.
Practices are being held each Tuesday and
Thursday 6-8 p.m. at the Northwest Recreation
Complex, 3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway, Apopka.
The first game of the fall season will be Sat-
urday, September 14, and games are played in
the Central Florida area, including several which
will be at the field in Apopka. Lacrosse equipment is required for each player.
To register or for more information, visit
www.apklax.com or call Laurie Holmes at 407889-2421.
What ultimately matters
and determines success or failure is winning and losing. The
Wekiva Mustangs football
team had waited nine months
for what ultimately matters
since Kenard Lang became its
head coach, and it was rewarded with a 37-33 preseason victory over the Leesburg Yellow
Jackets. Now, after putting up
a 13-0 difference during the
fourth period to earn the comefrom-behind victory, the Mustangs face the program – the
Jones Tigers – with which Lang
made his name as a head coach.
And while the preseason Kickoff Classic is an actual game
which ends with a winner and
loser, the regular season counts
in the record books.
Who: Jones Tigers
(0-0 overall; 0-0 Dist.
4A-5) at Wekiva Mustangs (0-0 overall; 0-0
Dist. 7A-4)
When: Today, Fri.,
Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Wekiva High’s
Mustang Field
Why: Metro Conference game
Cost: $6 at the gate
Jones faces Wekiva in the
regular-season opener today,
Friday, August 30, at Mustang
Field. Kickoff is scheduled for
7:30 p.m.
If the Kickoff Classic was
an accurate preview of the
2013 season, there will be a lot
of scoring on both sides, and,
with Wekiva’s up-and-down
play throughout the game, there
will be a lot of back-and-forth
on the scoreboard. Or the preseason contest could be a game
which means nothing toward
what to expect, as it is the only
frame of reference. Either way,
the game is important for a variety of reasons from the overall atmosphere of the program
and setting a tone to the specifics which come with playing an
individual game.
“I was happy for the team,
the players and the Mustang
community,” Lang said. “The
question now is how do we
handle some success. I told the
players the season is a book.
Last week’s game, the preseason, is the intro. Now we
are writing the chapters and the
game against Jones is the first
See FIRST Page 13B
Blue Darters hosts Oak Ridge
in home football opener
By John Peery
Apopka Chief Staff
After a weekend full of
emotion and concern over
starting quarterback Zack Darlington’s concussion injury
in South Carolina, the Apopka Blue Darters football team
faced the task of getting back to
the field to face the Oak Ridge
Pioneers.
The Blue Darters (0-1) will
host the Pioneers today, Friday,
August 30, at Roger Williams
Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30
p.m.
Not only did the Blue Darters have to get past the emotion
of the seriousness of Zack’s
injury, but they also face this
week the football side of replacing their starting quarterback who offers the team the
ability to run and pass the ball
with equal efficiency.
“We were fine yesterday,”
Apopka coach Rick Darlington
said Tuesday, August 27, about
the team’s practice on Monday.
“I heard a lot of guys saying
the right thing. We should have
See opener Page 13B
Who: Oak Ridge Pioneers (0-0 overall; 0-0
Dist. 7A-14) at Apopka
Blue Darters (0-1 overall; 0-0 Dist. 8A-4)
When: Today, Fri.,
Aug. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Apopka’s Roger Williams Field
Why: Metro Conference game
Cost: $6 at the gate
Radio: WBZW-1520AM,
www.1520thebiz.com
Wekiva bowlers looking for fourth straight trip to state tournament
By Neal Fisher
Apopka Chief Staff
After advancing to the state
championship tournament by virtue of earning a berth in the District
8 championship finals the past three
seasons and the postseason ending in
the state semifinals twice, the Wekiva
High boys bowling team considers itself to be in something of a rebuilding
mode. But the term rebuilding is quite
different for Wekiva than the vast majority of teams. It is building its 2013
team around three returners from last
season’s squad and the experience
they encompass.
“We have three seniors who have
competed in the state champion-
ship all three years they have been a
part of the team,” coach David Kurtz
said. “We aren’t as deep as far as the
number of bowlers or the talent being as deep with each bowler as we
have been the last few seasons. That
doesn’t mean we don’t have talent.
We still have the kind of talent to get
to the state championship tournament.
It’s just not as developed yet. But
what we have is immeasurable and
invaluable, and that is experience. As
a group and when the individual has
to stand on the lanes by himself, that
experience is what makes us a formidable team.
“It not only is what makes for
confidence in each of the bowlers and
what they do, but it is on display to
the rest of the team. It can be seen
in the interaction between the bowlers, both individually and the team as
a whole. This is a team which isn’t
afraid of anyone or any moment. That
doesn’t mean we will always do what
we need to do to win, but we won’t
tighten up and leave the lanes thinking we didn’t win because we made
mistakes when we couldn’t afford to.
When we are defeated, it will be because the other team beat us and was
better on that day, not because we lost.
Ray Rapaci, as well as twins
Austin and Justin Kleier, are the returners. They will be joined by Justin Illges and Nick Teague, who have
the capability of becoming the faces
of the program themselves, but for
now, are raw. Illges was on the team
last season as a freshman. Teague is a
freshman this season.
Like most programs which seem
to always be perennial contenders for
district championships and deep postseason runs, Illges and Teague continue the line of bowlers ready to replace the seniors from the previous
season without a significant drop in
quality.
“We are still good enough to win
the district and go to the semifinals of
the state championship tournament as
far as the skill-set we possess,” Kurtz
said. “We don’t have the depth we
have had. So, the question is whether we are realizing we are that good
enough and then translating it into
bowling well enough to do what it
takes to repeat what we have done. As
the season begins, we have the skillset and the game right now to contend
and be one of the teams that are a part
of the road to a championship.
“But we have to get better to repeat as district champion and advance deep into the state championship tournament again, to take that final step from just continuing to be a
formidable team to every opponent
having to bring its ‘A’ game and becoming a champion. That means upping our average. We have the components it takes to up our average to
where it needs to be. Whether or not
See BOWL Page 4B
The Apopka Chief, August 30, 2013, Page 12B
Wekiva High girls will have several new members of swim team
By Neal Fisher
Apopka Chief Staff
As the 2013 season begins, the
Wekiva girls swimming team is facing
the realities that since high school is
a four-year period, the same is true of
the logistical make-up of sports teams.
With the end of the 2012 season,
the team found itself in the position of
having to move on from its most successful era. But a new era does not
mean the team will be unable to match
some of its previous success.
“We have a lot of new swimmers,
as expected,” coach Jeff Sharpe said.
“At this point, we are looking for those
swimmers to fill the holes we have and
we will be a work in progress for some
time. However, so far, we are encouraged with what we have seen and with
the team’s improvement. The team is
working hard to improve, too. That is
important for a team like this. It requires a lot dedication and commitment to become a competitive swimmer and most (Wekiva swimmers) are
new or just above that stage.
“The team is aware the last two
seasons Wekiva has gone undefeated
in dual meets. They know it is going
to be very difficult and the odds are
against it to continue that streak, but
just having that attitude and such a
strong desire to do it goes a long way
towards remaining competitive.”
The Wekiva program had been
waiting for the 2012 season as the
team’s senior class was deep and experienced. Almost all of the 2012 seniors had been a part of the starting
line-up since their freshmen year and
it was reflected as Wekiva was the best
of the programs which does not have
a number of its athletes involved in
some type of off-season club action.
But the team did not become
completely devoid of being competitive with the graduation of the senior
class. Its two best swimmers from last
season return and both have the potential for improvement.
Anything less than advancing to
the regional meet will probably be
seen as disappointment for Madison
Dewey and Sarah Brown.
Last season, Dewey was posting times which were good enough
to qualify for the regional championship meet and that was with Wekiva
in a much deeper district than its current home of District 4A-3. Unfortunately, Dewey could not compete at
the district championship meet due to
a family commitment, which had been
scheduled several months before the
season began.
Brown fell one position short of
advancing to the regional championship meet in multiple events.
Swimmers earning first through
fourth position at the district advance
More pictures of Apopka High’s
football game in South Carolina
to the regional championship meets.
The same is true for advancing from
the regional to the state championship
meet.
Both swimmers are equally proficient and competitive in all four
strokes and all the distances.
The other swimmer the team is
counting on and expected to be a face
of this season’s team is Destani Heyer,
who is not only the team’s lone senior,
but its assistant captain.
“We (the coaches) are not sure
what events Madison and Sarah will
compete in during the postseason right
now,” Sharpe said. “It is too early to
make that decision and the development of the other swimmers will be
important in making it. But they have
been training all summer. They went
as far as having their training regiment consists of two-a-days. We have
no doubt they are good enough in each
stroke to advance to the regionals.
“The rest of the team and the new
swimmers are working hard and improving, but it might still be trial by
error for most of the season. There are
just too many variables and scenarios
to feel any kind of final decision can
be made for the entire season, even after the start.”
FHSAA rules allow swimmers
to compete in four events. Swimmers
can compete in either two individual events and two relays or three and
one, respectively.
The Wekiva boys team also have
three swimmers who the team will be
built around as well. They are all seniors, but they are still gaining experience as this is only their second year
of competitive action.
“This is a complete rebuilding
season for the boys team,” Sharpe
said. “A lot of the swimmers graduated last season. As a result, firstly, we
are a small team. We probably won’t
have enough swimmers to fill all the
lanes for all the races. Our seniors
have some experience, but only two
years. That is a big difference from
the norm. Hopefully, they will step up.
The focus this season will be individual improvement throughout the season
more than winning or losing, both as a
team and individually. “
Michael
Mansfield,
Chris
Hawkins, and Kelvin Maldanado are
the seniors on the team.
Another big logistical change
this season is the restructuring of the
Class 4A districts as all of the Seminole County programs were placed in
the same district.
Apopka is now a member of District 3. Winter Park is the beast of the
newly restructured district. However,
Winter Park is the only program in
District 4A-3 considered a perennial
state power. In the old District 4A-2,
there were at least four programs con-
sidered perennial state powers. With
that difference, the effect for Wekiva
is the district field is wide open after
the favorite.
Longtime district-mates, Apopka,
Ocoee and West Orange are also moving to the new district with Wekiva.
The other members of the district
are Colonial, Timber Creek, and University
This season’s schedule reflects
the quality of the program for 2013.
All the teams are about the same level
and there are no teams which catch the
eye.
Apopka is expected to be the biggest challenge. What has become the
other traditional rivals will also face
Wekiva. They are Ocoee and Edgewater.
The other programs they will face
during 2013 are Freedom, East River,
Cypress Creek, and Colonial.
The team will also participate in
the Lake Brantley Invitational, albeit
with only selected swimmers.
It has been two seasons since
Wekiva has faced a seven-meet schedule. With the inexperience on both
teams, the coaches decided to schedule one more meet to gain that extra
experience.
The District 4A-3 and Metro
Conference championship meets are
slated for October 16 and November
2, respectively.
Wekiva gaining experience on girls bowling squad
By Neal Fisher
Apopka Chief Staff
With the start of the new season, the
Wekiva High girls bowling team continues
to move forward as it has some pieces to
put in place.
The roster has a good mix of classes.
Returning to the team are senior Chelsea Hale, junior Marissa Roberts, and
sophomore April Baker. Roberts is the
leader and face of the girls program. Hale
improved vastly since her first varsity
game. Baker gives the team some experi-
enced depth.
“This is the first year we have a team
which can field a complete line-up at the
beginning of the season,” coach David
Kurtz said.
“It is very important towards moving the program forward. Now we also
have some athleticism and the raw talent
is good. After the last couple of years, we
have gotten something of a better reputation. Of course, it isn’t like the boys team,
but it is moving forward and we aren’t seen
as an automatic W.”
A freshman, two juniors and a senior
have joined the Wekiva team this year.
They are Brooke Verrechio (freshman), Alexis Richardson (junior), Nicole
Houben (junior) and Christian Williams
(senior).
“We have a good place to start from
with such a raw team,” Kurtz said. “With
some work and effort and by consistently practicing, we might be good enough
to continue to move the reputation further
forward than we have. If we surprise a few
opponents, we can do that. With a couple
of things lining up the right way, we have
that potential.”
Final registration for girls softball is set for Sept. 3
Apopka wide receiver Jacob Wittrock eyes a Byrnes defender The final registration date
for Apopka Babe Ruth girls
as he tries to shake the tackle of another.
fast-pitch softball is set for
Tuesday, September 3. The age
groups range from 8 to 18.
The sign-up will be from
5:30-7 p.m. at the Apopka Athletic Complex at 797 Wells St.,
behind Apopka High School.
The cost is $100 per player and $90 for those who have
spring season uniform.
For more information, call
407-494-6167 or email apopkababeruth@thefuturerebels.
com.
Football: Blue Darters rallied from 24-point deficit
Continued from page 1B
Apopka defenders gang tackle a Byrnes runner during the
nationally televised game.
Apopka’s Ray Ray Smith tries to shed a tackler during a firstquarter run.
Prior to the game televised on ESPN, Apopka coach Rick
Darlington speaks with Byrnes coach Bobby Bentley.
of him for the love he has for
his teammates, the toughness
and resilience he has shown in
battling and adversity, and his
steadfast belief that God’s plan
for him is an amazing one, even
though it is normal to question
that in a tough time like this.
Zack’s health and future are
our top priority, and although
we’d all love to have him leading us on the field, it is far more
important that he moves on to
college and, with God’s grace,
in time, becomes the leader of
his own family and whatever
group God uses him to lead.”
Prior to the injury, it was a
game of momentum swings.
Apopka had the first
plunge, taking the opening
drive of the game 75 yards
for a score and a 7-0 lead. The
teams then traded touchdowns,
leaving the Blue Darters with
a 20-12 lead with 6:28 left in
the second period. But, just as
quickly, the momentum moved
firmly into Byrnes’ favor after a 91-yard kickoff return for
a touchdown after Apopka’s
score.
The Rebels scored two
more times before halftime
to take a 34-20 lead after two
quarters.
Apopka’s first touchdown
came on the ninth play of the
opening drive when Darlington found a wide-open Daquon
Isom on a wheel route out of
the backfield. Isom caught Darlington’s pass in stride and easily made it into the end zone
without being touched. Tyler
L’Heureux’s extra point gave
the Blue Darters a 7-0 lead with
7:21 left in the first period.
Byrnes’ vaunted passing
game began to work and quarterback Shuler Bentley threw
the first of six touchdown passes when he hit Greg McHam on
a 19-yard pass. A mishandled
snap left Apopka leading 7-6
with 2:31 remaining in the first
period.
Some missed tackles led
to Byrnes’ second score of the
game. Bentley hit Shaedon
Meadors on a short pass that
he turned into a 54-yard touchdown. Another 2-point conversion try failed, but Byrnes led
12-7 with 10 minutes left in the
second period.
Three plays later, Apopka
grabbed the momentum back
on a play that made ESPN’s
Top 10 Plays of the Day.
Darlington dropped back
to pass, but his father had
pulled one of the oldest plays
out of the playbook as the Darters pulled off the Statue of Liberty play. Darlington handed
off behind his back with his
left (non-throwing) hand to
wide receiver Ray Ray Smith,
who ran from the right side
of the Apopka formation toward the left. Smith took Darlington’s handoff and, with the
help of several blocks, including a crushing one by Chandler
Cox, scampered 72 yards for an
Apopka touchdown with 8:22
left in the second quarter. A
2-point conversion try left the
Blue Darters with a 13-12 lead.
Apopka’s defense forced
a three-and-out on Byrnes next
possession to continue the momentum. The Blue Darters
took only three plays to travel 65 yards for another touchdown when Isom, who scored
three touchdowns in the game,
followed some perfect blocks
for a 43-yard scoring run with
6:28 left in the second period. L’Heureux added the extra point to give the Blue Darters a 20-12 lead. However, on
the ensuing kickoff return for a
touchdown, the Rebels grabbed
the momentum back and eventually took a 34-20 halftime
lead.
After Lyrics Klugh’s kick-
off return for a score, Bentley
and Meadors hooked up for
touchdown passes of 10 yards
and 3 yards.
Byrnes extended the lead
to 37-20 after the first possession of the third period when
Holden Owens added a 23-yard
field goal just 1:42 into the second half.
Then, the Rebels jumped
up by 24 and seemingly secured the victory when Bentley
hit McHam on a 20-yard pass
play with just 47 seconds remaining in the third.
But, just as Byrnes had
done, Apopka snatched back
the momentum when Isom
took the ensuing kickoff 94
yards for a touchdown. He also
ran in the 2-point conversion to
narrow the score to 44-28 just
15 seconds later.
On the first play following Apopka’s kickoff, Robert
Thomas intercepted a Bentley pass and returned it to the
Apopka 45. The Blue Darters
took advantage when Darlington found tight end James Crider on an 11-yard pass play at
the edge of the end zone. The
pass had to be put in just one
spot and it was, as Crider was
covered and the junior tight
end had to make sure he had
possession and keep a foot inbounds, which he did. Cox ran
in the 2-point conversion and
what had been a 24-point Byrnes bulge had been trimmed to
a one-score game at 44-36.
Apopka’s defense continued the momentum, forcing a
Byrnes punt. But, after a Cox
run of 14 yards on first down
gave the Blue Darters the ball
on their own 35-yard line, Darlington rolled out to the right,
couldn’t find a receiver and
tucked the ball. He was hit just
before going out of bounds and
the tone of the game changed
immediately as he fell to the
ground and was motionless.
From there, Byrnes eventually scored another touchdown after a fake punt by the
Blue Darters failed, but especially for Apopka fans, the
score didn’t matter. They just
wanted good news about Zack
Darlington, which they eventually got.
“I am proud of our guys as
far as their fight and their not
laying down and quitting during adversity – both football
adversity and Zack’s situation,”
Rick Darlington said back in
Apopka.
Apopka Byrnes
First downs
17
18
Rushes-yards 49-291
22-79
Passing yards
137
288
Com-Att-Int
11-20-0 22-40-1
Fumbles-lost
0-0
1-1
Penalties-yards 8-60
11-72
Apopka
Byrnes
7 13 8 8 – 36
6 28 10 7 – 51
Ap-Isom 22 pass from Darlington (L’Heureux kick), 7:21 1st; BMcHam 19 pass from S. Bentley
(run failed), 2:31 1st; B-Meadors 54
pass from S. Bentley (pass failed),
10:00 2nd; Ap-R.R. Smith 72 run
(run failed), 8:22 2nd; Ap-Isom 43
run (L’Heureux kick), 6:28 2nd; BKlugh 91 kickoff return (pass failed),
6:11 2nd; B-Meadors 10 pass from
S. Bentley (McHam pass from S.
Bentley), 3:14 2nd; B-Meadors 3
pass from S. Bentley (Richardson
pass from S. Bentley), :49 2nd; BOwens 23 FG, 10:18 3rd; B-McHam
20 pass from S. Bentley (Owens
kick), :47 3rd; Ap-Isom 94 kickoff return (Isom run), :32 3rd; Ap-Crider
11 pass from Darlington (Isom run),
10:13 4th; B-Meadors 24 pass from
S. Bentley (Owens kick), 2:29 4th.
Individual statistics
Rushing: Apopka-Isom 18-141,
1TD; R.R. Smith 6-85, 1TD; Cox 1457; Darlington 8-12; Thomas 1-0;
Simmons 2-(-4). Byrnes-Hill 18-72;
S. Bentley 1-6; Bowens 2-4; J. Bentley 1-(-3).
Passing: Apopka-Darlington 10-190, 104, 2TD; Cox 1-1-0, 33. ByrnesS. Bentley 22-40-1, 288, 6TD.
Receiving: Apopka-Isom 3-61, 1TD;
R.R. Smith 4-42; Wittrock 2-22;
Crider 1-11, 1TD; Simmons 1-1.
A-8,000