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News and notes from the 8A finale

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ORLANDO -- Apopka and Cypress Bay have given to us an early Christmas Present and quintessential ending to the 2012 season. The numbers are pretty amazing and do more than just provide material for message board chatter. The team and individual numbers compiled by the teams and individuals in this game do not require a single ounce of coach-speak; they simply confirm this was in fact one of the greatest individual and team performances in our state's history of championship games, so let's take a closer look.
The poor scoreboard at the Citrus Bowl needs an ice bath…
Apopka and Cypress Bay were on pace to set the all-time record for points scored in a championship game, but fell just short with 103pts placing them #3 on the list behind Trinity Catholic vs. University School's 56-55 thriller from two years ago. The second game on that list was in 1993 when Southridge defeated Southeast 69-36. The two teams put up 39 points in the second quarter by itself and combined for over a half a mile of yards (1,103) and featured players who amassed enough yards individually to place them ahead of several TEAMS overall yardage from the finals. The two teams also combined for more yards in penalties (234yds) than Northview (226), Lincoln (225) and Bolles (187) had for their entire offensive output.
There's no "I" in team, but there are multiple occurrences in the word, "RIDICULOUS"…
Think about this; Zack Darlington's 125 yards rushing would have outgained Bolles, Lincoln and University School's rushing output as a team. His 379 total yards rushing and passing would have placed him ahead of TEN other teams in total yardage.
Cypress Bay's Alex Montgomery and Matt Dayes combined yardage of 403 yards is good enough to place the duo just ahead of Darlington which would have secured them a Top 5 performance if they were their own team.
Put those stat lines together with QB Jaranta Lewis' 331 yards of offense and you get 734; that would be more yardage than Northview, Trenton and Bolles' entire team output combined during their games in the finals. Montgomery's one-handed Venus flytrap catches even garnered him the #3 spot on Sportscenter's Top 10.
What's this losing you speak of?
Apopka's last loss was on September 21st to Olympia. They started the season losing two of three to Dr. Phillips and the Titans by an average score of 37-19. Since that game vs. Olympia, the Blue Darters went on to win their final games (not including last night) by an average margin of 50-16.
"I don't know, I doubt they have my cell phone number." -Rick Darlington on whether or not he expects to hear from some of Apopka's notable alumni on the winning the title. It is Apopka's first title since 2001 when they defeated Miami Northwestern.
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