SIDELINE SCENE: Bollinger's breakout season sparks Warriors defense

APOPKA — Ben Bollinger wasn’t a member of the West Orange football team a season ago when, after beating Apopka for the first time in years during the regular season, it was dismembered by the Blue Darters when it mattered most  — a 42-0 loss in the state playoffs.

Bollinger, who transferred to West Orange after playing for Winter Springs, wasn’t around for the infamous night now etched in so many of the Warriors’ memories.

But he still understands its significance.

As the team was preparing for its game on Oct. 2 at Apopka, Bollinger said he came to understand just how much that loss a season ago has haunted his teammates since then. It was an understanding he put to good use as he was all over the field during the Warriors’ 28-3 thumping of the Blue Darters — recording 11 tackles and helping to ignite the defense’s best performance to date.

“As soon as I came here, just a brotherhood sparked between me and every kid on this football team and that feeling of them losing to Apopka last year rubbed off on me,” Bollinger said. “Because of them, I could never have them feel that again.”

Even the biggest supporter of West Orange likely did not predict that the Warriors would hold the Blue Darters, who had been averaging 40 points per game, to just one field goal. Head coach Bob Head acknowledged afterward that it was his team’s best defensive performance in recent memory and praised Bollinger for being a big part of it.

“He dominated,” Head said of his senior safety. “Ben was the heart and soul of our defense tonight. The perimeter play from him — tackling those kids from Apopka in space is not easy. I’m really excited about the way he played.”

For Bollinger, undoubtedly a rising star for the Warriors’ defense, understanding that loss is even more important now after the victory. While West Orange’s players celebrated on Friday after the surprisingly dominant win, they all seem to understand the fleeting nature the celebration must take. There’s a good chance they could run into the Blue Darters again in this year’s regional semifinals, and the last thing anyone in Winter Garden wants is for history to repeat itself.

Bollinger’s name has become a familiar one for public-address announcers at Warrior games — he seems to be involved in nearly every tackle for West Orange. Although recruiting hasn’t picked up just yet, one can only expect that such a performance for a team ranked among the best in the state will not go on without some increased interest from Division I suitors.

Explaining his knack for tracking down ball carriers, Bollinger smiles and credits good genes.

“It’s a little bit of blood,” the standout safety said. “Football is in my blood, and I’ve kind of just got a nose for the ball.”