2014 seems like ages ago for Apopka High School—it was the last year the program hoisted its a state football trophy.

On that roster and in the wake of the team’s state championship run were two sophomores –Demetri Burch and David Britzius, planning their own blue print to clinch another trophy.

“When I was a sophomore I was just a player that followed behind a Tez and Chandler,” Burch said. “I played my role and did what I could to win games. Now I am a senior I have to step into the bigger role and lead.”

This past season the Blue Darters fell short of reaching the state finals.

“We’re very hungry and we aren’t going to stop and aren’t going to be satisfied with until we get back to the state championship,” Britzius said of the shortcomings.

Rival West Orange knocked them out in the region semifinal in November.

“Well I knew we didn’t throw it well, that’s no secret,” Head Coach Rick Darlington said.

“We went 10-2, who wouldn’t love to be 10-2, but we felt like ‘oh man’ because we had been to three straight finals in a row. Obviously, lost to a really talented West Orange team twice, which we don’t usually lose twice to the same team and we did and that was tough to swallow.”

Both of those losses last season came after middle linebacker David Britzius broke his ankle at practice in week five—he’d miss the rest of the season.

“It was really hard, because I had always been out on the football field, had to learn to lead from the sideline,” Britzius said.

Now Britzius is back, and quarterback Demetri Burch is much more comfortable running the offense—which promises more spread flavor this year.

The two now are ready to lead and carry on the Blue Darter winning tradition.

“Last year we had our times where we were lackadaisical and relaxed whereas this year we are completely hungry and we want to be known as the best defense in Apopka History,” Britzius added.

Britzius and Burch are just two of a complete unit that’s working to earn the right to win. Just like the groups before them in 2001, 2012 and 2014.

“It’s hard to explain the feeling when you come out [on Friday nights at Apopka],” Burch said. “You just see all the fans you know that you aren’t just playing for yourself—playing for something way bigger than you and that’s what it is about here.”

The Blue Darters will open its 2016 regular season hosting Ocoee on August 26th.