South Dade holds off Apopka for 8A title

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Kahlil Render threw five touchdowns passes to lead Homestead South Dade to a 41-28 victory over Apopka in the Florida class 8A state football championship game.
 
Render finished the game with 304 yards and added 99 yards rushing on 11 carries.
 
South Dade (14-1) stormed out to an early lead in the first quarter when C.J. Worton and Tyre' Brady hauled in touchdown passes to give the Buccaneers a 13-0 advantage.

» IMAGE GALLERY: Apopka falls to South Dade
 
Apopka (13-2) battled back in the second quarter and took a 14-13 lead when Christian Velasquez caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Cox. South Dade answered back before halftime when Render hooked up with Tarviant Williams on a 71-yard score that gave the Buccaneers a 20-14 lead going into the break.
 
Apopka, trailing 34-28 late in the fourth quarter, had a chance to close the gap when Ben Bascom intercepted Render at the goal line. But the Blue Darters struggled to move the ball and on fourth-and-22 J.J. Simmons attempted a hook-and-ladder but fumbled. Tyre Brady grabbed the ball and returned it 15 yards for a South Dade touchdown that put the game out of reach.
 
Worton, a Florida State commitment, had six catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns to lead South Dade while Simmons scored three touchdowns for Apopka.

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