Apopka (Fla.) at Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Apopka will be fighting for the reputation of Florida football in its trip to South Carolina.
Photo illustration by Marc Estrada
Apopka, the reigning 8A titlist, wants to avoid an outcome similar to the last time Byrnes hosted a defending Florida state champion. That was in 2008 when the Rebels laid a 38-12 beating on small-school power Pahokee. A similarly poor showing is not likely by Apopka. The Darters returns all but five starters from last season and senior
Zack Darlington returns at quarterback. Darlington, a 6-2, 205-pounder and son of head coach Rick Darlington, committed to Nebraska in the spring following a junior season with nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards.
It's back to the future for the Byrnes football program, which begins its second era with Bobby Bentley as head coach. In Bentley's previous tenure from 1995-2006, the Rebels went 107-52 and captured four state championships. Bentley then became head coach at Presbyterian College for two seasons before returning to Byrnes as offensive coordinator from 2009 through last year. Another Bentley – Bobby's son
Shuler Bentley – will retain his role as starting quarterback and "coach on the field" for the third season. The 6-1, 195-pound Old Dominion commit broke a state record with 59 passing touchdowns in 2012.
Mitch Stephens: Byrnes 28, Apopka 20
Kevin Askeland: Apopka 30, Byrnes 28
Jamie DeMoney: Apopka 37, Byrnes 31
Stephen Spiewak: Byrnes 28, Apopka 24
Leland Gordon: Apopka 31, Byrnes 29
Colin Ward-Henninger: Apopka 35, Byrnes 20
