Eagles nab victory on final-play TD Video
MJ Butler dove into the end zone as time ran out Thursday night to give Edgewater an improbable 46-42 high-school football victory against Apopka.
After falling behind with 33 seconds remaining, Edgewater put together the winning drive behind quarterback Cortez Pembleton. With nine seconds left, Pembleton scrambled in the middle of the field and saw Butler get loose in the middle of the secondary. He hit Butler at the 10-yard line, and he raced toward the end zone, diving the final 2 yards to complete the 45-yard scoring play.
Edgewater (6-2), ranked 12th in the Super 16, won its fifth consecutive game with UF coach Will Muschamp in attendance. No. 8 Apopka (5-4) lost its second in a row.
Apopka defeated Edgewater 70-0 last year.
“Like I just told the kids, this shows how far we have come in the last year,” Edgewater coach Rich Bedesem said. “This is a huge win, but we have to get back to work next week for our biggest game of the season. We play South Lake next week for the district.”
The game featured five touchdowns in the first quarter, which ended with Edgewater leading 19-14.
Apopka’s Chandler Cox scored on the game’s first offensive play, breaking free up the middle for a 95-yard touchdown gallop. Cox finished with 228 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
As exciting as the start was, it was nothing compared to the finish.
The Blue Darters appeared to have clinched the victory with 33 seconds left when Demetri Burch hit Ray Ray Smith on a 13-yard slant pattern for the touchdown, putting Apopka up 42-40.
“This is a huge win for us,” said Edgewater receiver Brandon McLaughlin, who had touchdown receptions of 35 and 10 yards.”A l l summer, we have talked about how we want to get better, and this game shows it.”
Pembleton threw for four touchdowns.