Apopka has the pedigree. West Orange is filling holes left by departed transfers. Ocoee always has surprises. The Class 7A, District 5 playoff chase looks to be wide open as those three teams, along with Ocala Westport, settle into their new district.

Westport is a new opponent to the three Orlando teams, a result of the Florida State High School Athletic Association realignment during the offseason. The Wolfpack were 6-4 and they return senior quarterback Brittin Stevens.

Apopka beat West Orange and Ocoee a year ago and has made the playoffs 23 years in a row (2000-23), including three state championships and state final appearances from 2021-22 under current coach Jeff Rolson.

The Darters have the advantage of returning starting quarterback Tyson Davis, who was thrown into the fire as a sophomore and led the Blue Darters to 8-4. But his team has some holes to fill in the backfield after losing their top two running backs to graduation.

Apopka mostly runs the ball but does have capable seniors in tight end Elijah Frazier and receiver Noah Morgan. Davis, who threw just 93 passes, is the leading returning rusher (344 yards). Rolson will look for junior running backs Jayden Safford and Damar’eon Cawthon to get rolling. Offensive linemen junior Delhart Courtney IV, senior Emanuel Denis and junior Nya Makonnen will help.

Defense is crucial for the Darters. It has a couple of standouts front in 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior end Kingston Shaw and 5-10, 250-pound senior tackle Trevon Williams in the middle. Shaw is the No. 6-ranked prospect in the Sentinel’s 2026 Central Florida Super60.

The defensive backs are solid with seniors Donovan Muldrow and Myles Fieldings.

West Orange is hunting for some playmakers to step up for coach Geno Thompson. Junior athlete Larry Miles is now at Jones, junior defensive back Devin Jackson is at The First Academy and senior receiver/defensive back Artavius Riley is at Tavares.

The defense has standout senior corner and Notre Dame commit Ivan Taylor, the son of former NFL star Ike Taylor who won two Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has a knack for the football and rangy cover skills. He is the No. 6-ranked prospect in the Super60.

Taylor is joined by senior cornerback Donovan Lanier, juniors Devonte Anderson and Chakai Scott and senior linebackers Bryson Furrey, Logan Hartman and Dashon Lemons. Incoming freshman linebacker Matheus Kaminski-Corderio (6-3, 205) is a player to watch.

Offense is the big question mark. Can sophomore quarterback Brian Dillard lead the way, or will it be freshman AJ Chung? The Warriors have a nice outside target in senior receiver Ryne Brown (6-3, 193). The running backs will be junior Nehemiah Burgess and sophomore Jayden Ammons.

The Warriors have a legitimate kicking threat in senior Ryan Bondurant.

At Ocoee resides the Tackling Machine. Junior Michael McClenton averaged 20 stops a game last year with 202 total and wants more. The other three top Knights tacklers graduated. Transfer defensive backs Dariyon Gordon (West Orange) and Ky’Mani Fils-Amie (Lake Minneola) will help.

Offensively, Ocoee has talented senior athlete in Joshua Guerrier, sophomore receiver Marvin Brown and transfer senior running back Jamarian Robinson (West Oaks). But the Knights need a quarterback. Coach Buck Gurley’s senior son, Sheddrick, will battle Onrique Archie for the job.

Apopka Blue Darters

Coach: Jeff Rolson (5th year, 51-17; Florida career 94-44)

2023: 8-4, 4M region semifinal

Ocoee Knights

Coach: Sheddrick “Buck” Gurley (2nd year, 4-6; career 33-20 career)

2023: 4-6, missed 4M playoffs

West Orange Warriors

Coach: Geno Thompson (3rd year, 10-12)

2023: 3-7, missed 4M playoffs