FORT LAUDERDALE -- The last day of the FHSAA State Championships will kick off with a bang with Florida's largest team classification State Finalists ready to clash at Fort Lauderdale's beautiful DRV PNK Stadium. The Class 8A State Championship between the Apopka Blue Darters (12-2) and west coast powerhouse Venice Indians (13-1) will be held Saturday afternoon December 18, with kickoff at 1PM Eastern.

A LOOK AT THE CLASS 8A STATE FINAL'S TEAMS

Apopka
Apopka, Florida
Orlando Metro Area



TEAM RECORD: 12-2


BIG WINS:
LOSSES: Only 2 losses come to Central Florida powerhouse Edgewater and Polk County powerhouse Lakeland

HEAD COACH: JEFF ROLSON

High School Alma Mater: Farmer (IL)
Alma Mater: Eastern Illinois (1989)

KEY PLAYERS:
#7 Keyondray Jones (JR): 184 carries, 1207 yds rushing, 12 TD
#21 DB Nikai Martinez
#1 QB Andrew McClain (SR): 54-92, 716 yds, 8TD, 4INT, 196yds rushing, 3 rush TD

APOPKA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY (3)

5 STATE FINAL APPEARANCES, 3 STATE TITLES:
2019 8A State Runner-Up
2014 8A STATE CHAMPION
2013 8A State Runner-Up
2012 8A STATE CHAMPION
2001 6A STATE CHAMPION

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Venice Indians Team Hub
Venice, Florida
Suncoast Area

TEAM RECORD: 13-1


BIG WINS: Miami Northwestern* (preseason), Edgewater, Cocoa, West Orange, Miami Columbus
LOSSES: Only loss is to Back-to-Back Defending Class 4A State Champs Cardinal Gibbons

HEAD COACH: JOHN PEACOCK

High School Alma Mater: Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (1992)
Alma Mater: Georgia Southern (1998)

KEY PLAYERS
#1 - WR Jayshon Platt: 55 rec, 962 yds, 11TD
#15 - QB Ryan Browne (SR): 157-269, 281 yds, 27TD, 6INT
#13 - RB Dam'arion Escort (SR): 209 carries, 1508 yds, 21 TD
ATH Omari Hayes
OL Michael Raney
LB Logan Ballard
DE Damon Wilson
CB Elliot Washington
DT Trenton Kintigh

VENICE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY (2)

2 STATE FINAL APPEARANCES, 2 STATE TITLES:
2017 4A STATE CHAMPION
2000 4A STATE CHAMPION

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BY THE NUMBERS

SCORING DIFFERENTIALS

Official 2021 State Championship Game Page on Florida Gridiron

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MORE RELATED LINKS

2021 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
2021 Class 8A Playoff Brackets
2021 FHSAA Class 8A Final RPI Rankings

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VIDEOS OF THE 2021 CLASS 8A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

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