No. 3 West Orange Warriors (4-1) at No. 2 Apopka Blue Darters (5-0)

When: Friday, 7:30pm

Where: Roger Williams Field, Apopka (555 Martin Street)

TV: BHSN (Channel 47 and HD 1147)

Coaches: West Orange – Bob Head (3rd, 24-4); Apopka – Rick Darlington (14th, 137-36)

About the matchup: For the fourth time in the last two years, West Orange and Apopka will go head-to-head in the Bright House Sports Network Game of the Week.   

Defending state champion Apopka enters this game as the No. 1 ranked team in Class 8A. The Blue Darters single wing offense is rolling up nearly 400 yards rushing per game with backs Demetri Burch, Deshawn Massey, Odunayo Seriki and Dekwon Wilson sharing the load. Burch (80 car, 572 yds, 5 TD) and Massey (51 car, 518 yds, 5 TD) are averaging more than 100 yards per game while Seriki (26 car, 483 yds, 7 TD) is just below that mark. An inexperienced offensive line is showing steady improvement and has two promising sophomore tackles in Will Barnes (6-4, 297) and Ed Montilus (6-4, 295). Apopka’s offense has completed seven passes and Burch threw the team’s first touchdown pass last week against Orlando University. Apopka’s defense is allowing 166.8 yards per game with a stout front four led by Gavin Johnson. Linebacker LaQuan Hicks is third on the team in tackles with 28 and has five blocked kicks (three extra points, two field goals).

West Orange topped Apopka in the regular season last year before getting demolished 42-0 in the second round of the playoffs. The Warriors are loaded with college prospects, most notably quarterback Woody Barrett, who is committed to Auburn. Barrett has thrown for 577 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 609 yards and eight touchdowns. His primary target in the passing game is three-star recruit Eddie McDoom, who has 466 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Towering lineman Stone Forsythe (6-7, 325), a Florida commit, anchors the offensive line. Winter Springs transfer Ben Bollinger is the Warriors leading tackler with 59 and three interceptions. An opportunistic West Orange defense has forced 11 turnovers in the first five games.

Three and out:

1. Friday night will mark the 11th meeting between Darlington and Head as head coaches. Darlington’s teams have won six of the 10 matchups while Head’s squads have prevailed in three of the last five.   

2. Apopka has made 15 consecutive playoff appearances while West Orange has only reached the postseason six times in program history.

3. Apopka’s three state championships put the Blue Darters in a tie with Cocoa and Merritt Island for the most state titles in Central Florida history.