Cougars, Eagles Renew Rivalry

One of the best rivalries in recent years for Pinellas County football has sprouted up, almost by accident.

Countryside and East Lake are 11 miles apart, both on McMullen-Booth /East Lake Road, but football-wise, they are within walking distance of each other.

The teams for years were in the same district and played some of the best games in recent seasons, including last year's thriller when Countryside rallied in the final minutes to fend off an upset at home to the Eagles.

In the offseason, the FHSAA, the governing body of high school sports in the state, decided to rearrange football districts and separated Countryside and East Lake.

Though both Countryside coach Jared Davis and East Lake coach Bob Hudson didn't care for that, both knew they had zero influence on the decision and there was little they could do to reverse it.

"We still wanted to play them," Davis said after he learned about the new district the Cougars were to compete in.

Often, it is local high school football coaches who make up their schedules, with the aid of the school's athletic director.

So Davis contacted Hudson, who was as adamant that the two schools should continue to play as Davis was, perhaps more so.

"It's a good rivalry," Hudson said. "The schools are so close. It's like both teams play well and extra hard against each other. Both of us have talent. That is what high school football is all about. You only get to play 10 (regular season) games. Let's make them exciting and have some fun ones."

This is a strong early-season test for both teams. Countryside, while it lost some talent to graduation that enabled the Cougars to post consecutive undefeated seasons, still has some weapons that were key elements of the past two years, including quarterback , running back and linebacker Adam Vinson.

But last week East Lake proved to pass a monster test at home against a talented Clearwater Central Catholic squad.

After CCC took a 20-17 lead on a touchdown late in the game, Eagles quarterback Pete DiNovo engineered a two-minute offense and willed his team's way into field goal position. There, Sebastian Gonzalez booted a 32-yard field goal to tie the game which the Eagles won in overtime.

Davis saw the tape of that game and came away impressed if not concerned.

"They have a lot of ways they can hurt you," Davis said.

If you go:

What: Countryside at East Lake

Where: 1300 Silver Spring Drive, Tarpon Springs, 35688

When: 7:30 p.m.