Two-point conversion allowsWarriors to edge Blue Darters

When Matthew McDoom and Tyler Huff hook up in the West Orange passing game, it’s usually Huff firing the ball toMcDoom.

But the Warriors (3-1) turned the tables on highly ranked Apopka in high school football Friday night.

McDoom, a stellar wide receiver, took a handoff from Huff and then passed the ball back to Huff, his wide-open quarterback, in the back of the end zone for a two-point conversion that gave the underdog Warriors a 15-14 overtime victory in aMetro Conference game between longtime rivals.

For first-year West Orange coach Mike Granato, the victory was a meaningful one in more ways than one because he spent two years as an assistant coach for the Blue Darters a few years ago.

“Apopka is the standard bearer in this area and even the state,” Granato said. “We are trying to build our program.”

Granato said he decided to go for two in the first overtime because Apopka had blocked a late field-goal try.

“They have been all over our field goal and punts all night long,” he said.

West Orange (3-1) came in rankedNo. 15 in the Sentinel Super16 and scored its third consecutive victory.

Third-ranked Apopka dropped to 3-2. The Blue Darters were No. 1 in the Super 16 area rankings before losing 22-21 to Jones lastweek.

The teams battled to a 7-7 deadlock during regulation. West Orange scored on a 51-yard pass fromHuff to JackMain with 2:26 remaining in the second quarter.

The Blue Darters tied the game when a fumbled handoff exchange by West Orange trickled into the end zone and was recovered by Apopka defensive lineman Devin Barnes with 6:23 to go in the fourth quarter.

West Orange had other chances to score, but a fumble inside the 5-yard line and a blocked field goal kept theWarriors from winning in regulation.

In the overtime, Apopka’s offense woke up and scored in just two plays as Javen Robinson ran the ball in from three yards out. But the Warriors took only one play to score as McDoom scampered10 yards for the touchdown before tossing toHuff.

The Blue Darters were without quarterback and top groundgainer Jaquan Lowman, who injured his left shoulder on the final play of the third quarter in last week’s loss to Jones. Through four games, Lowman led Apopka with 465 yards of the BlueDarters’ 793 rushing yards.

West Orange held the Blue Darters to just 87 rushing yards and 8 through the air.

West Orange is 5-4 against Apopka in the past nine meetings in a series the Blue Darters once dominated. the game winner