By Staff Editor Jeffery Laux
The long-lasting rivalry between the Apopka Blue Darters and Wekiva Mustangs has been ignited once again by the appearance of Wekiva shirts on campus during the Blue and White day of Apopka’s homecoming week. Not long ago Wekiva High School was composed of Apopka High School kids, as it was created due to overpopulation in the area. However, once again that has happened, but now with the football programs. Around 5 Apopka football starters had transferred to Wekiva over the offseason, including Jarvis Ware, Cayvian Holmes, and Sean Robles. The reason for leaving? One player stated, “The coaching staff at Apopka didn’t promote me to recruiters as much as the Wekiva coaches would.” Darlington and staff have not said anything relating to these reports, but we question why players leave to go to a school that has only been to their own division playoff once in the last 10 years. “Is Wekiva even considered a rival due to the fact that they have not ever beat the Darters in any varsity football game ever?” said a football coach at Apopka.
Not only is the rivalry livid between football players, but there is tension shown throughout Apopka and Wekiva students. With the schools only being 7 miles away, the heat is burning under the pavement for students to erupt at one another through ways of social media, by smack talking or by spreading rough rumors about the school to others. One Wekiva student revealed their reason for the rivalry being ablaze, which is due to the fact the Apopka treats Wekiva like their “red-headed step brother.” The student believes that if Wekiva finally beats the Blue Darters, it would give the school bragging rights over their long-lost parent school.
I had the chance to chat with senior Saypadia DeSaussure, an elite track runner at Apopka High School, about why he wore Wekiva colors on Apopka’s beloved Blue & White Day. He had to say that “I’m not one to be totally against Apopka, but my best friend Cayvian goes there and starts for their football team, so why not root on for a person I’ve known my whole life?” Many teachers were displeased to see the students wearing another school’s shirt during homecoming spirit week and found it disrespectful that the students didn’t support their own school. “Maybe they can go display their true Wekiva colors at next week’s home game on the visitor stands against the Mustangs,” one teacher replied, as many others motioned for the same gesture.
The week of the rivalry game is very tense, as bets are placed and friendships are tested by being a Blue Darter or a Mustang. Unfortunately for AHS, history has been made. Wekiva stunned Apopka on Roger Williams Field with a first time ever 22-14 victory. Sloppy turnovers and questionable calls killed the Darters chance to conquer the revamped Mustang defense. Former Apopka Blue Darter Jarvis Ware, who is currently being recruited by Oregon, Massachusetts, and South Florida, proved his ultimate worth to both teams by dissecting the Apopka offense.
The story of the game was the multiple controversial calls that the referees made in the 4th quarter — a missed pass interference call and an illegal procedure call — that killed the Blue Darters on their final drive of the game.
But the story isn’t over. Wekiva and Apopka may meet again in the playoffs, and the rivalry lives on.
