Brown thrilled to be back

playoffs,” said Brown. “I thank God I’ve been able to play again.”

Apopka (10-1), ranked No. 5 in the Sentinel Super 16, travels to Sanford on Friday to face No. 1 Seminole (11-0) in a Class 8A region championship game.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Brown played on special teams when he returned to the Blue Darters lineup in the final week of the regular season against Wekiva on Nov. 1. He was fully added to the game plan a week later during a playoff win at home over Flagler Palm Coast.

It was while carrying the ball 17 times for 84 yards and a touchdown against FPC — and being tackled in a game for the first time since the preseason Kickoff Classic in August — that Brown finally felt he’d come full circle. He then rushed 13 times for 102 yards and scored a pair of two-point conversions last week in a 34-13 victory against previously unbeaten St. Johns Bartram Trail.

“It’s a blessing to have him back,” said first-year Apopka coach Jeff Rolson. “I’m just thankful for him that he’s got an opportunity to get some of his senior season on film and let people know that he’s healthy again.”

Brown led Apopka in rushing as a junior. He gained 1,220 yards and scored 18 touchdowns.

He spent much of this season cheering on his teammates while biding his time since leaving the hospital. Brown needed surgery a day after his hip was popped back into place when a bone chip was discovered.

“It was tough for me because I didn’t think I’d be able to finish my senior season,” he said. “And there were times my teammates really needed me when they were struggling, but they still got the job done.

“Apopka is always going to have good players, so I was happy to see that once I went down there was somebody in line to step up and do the job.”