There’s several variations to describe how to serve revenge to an adversary. You can serve it cold on a plate, make it a part of a platter, or simply call it a cold dish. The East Lake Eagles would simply like to serve it to Countryside any way they can Friday Night. Doesn’t matter whether it’s cold, warm, hot, or whatever. What has been one of the best district rivalries in North Pinellas in the past decade is no more, but that hasn’t stopped the emotion or the significance of this contest.

Countryside has completely dominated East Lake winning 7 of the last 8 meetings including a 14-13 comeback victory over the Eagles en route to another district title and first undefeated season in school history. East Lake led at the half 13-0 before Countryside Head Coach Jared Davis decided to put the ball into the hands of RB’s Diomi Roberts and Terry Johnson who finished the game with a combined 34 carries for 187 yards. Most of which came in the 2nd Half. The Cougars finished the game with 316 total of offense to East Lake’s 163, yet many Eagles Fans left feeling they had truly blown a golden opportunity.

East Lake enters the game ranked much higher than Countryside this year mainly attributed to the buzz surrounding Junior QB Peter Dinovo, super sophomore Artavis Scott at WR, and one of the bigger OL’s in the entire Tampa Bay Area. Gone for Countryside are studs Alex Dixon (CB) and Terry Johnson (RB), although the Cougars still have the heart & soul of their Linebacker Corps in Adam Vinson who I liken as the Pinellas County version of Gaither’s Josh Scarberry.

Whatever it takes, both QB’s will have to increase their output if either team wants to establish control. University of Miami Commit Gray Crow will have to improve on his 7-15, 86 yards, 1TD, 2INT line, and Dinovo will most certainly have to do more than 3-15, 44 yards. Dinovo is on the short list for top 5 QB’s in all of Tampa Bay for the Class of 2013. The Eagles will look to silence the critics that were shouting from the mountaintops after nearly slipping on the banana peel against a resilient Clearwater Central Catholic team in OT 23-20. Countryside was business as usual against Boca Ciega 34-21.

Series Record: 

Countryside v East Lake

1989 14-3 East Lake
1990 16-7 Countryside
1991 34-0 Countryside
1992 9-3 East Lake
1993 26-19 East Lake
1994 21-13 East Lake
1995 24-6 East Lake
1996 13-8 Countryside
1997 26-0 East Lake
1998 36-0 East Lake
1999 28-22 East Lake 2OT
2000 35-23 East Lake
2001 69-20 East Lake
2002 37-34 East Lake 3OT
2003 42-33 Countryside
2004 48-14 Countryside
2005 21-19 Countryside
2006 15-13 Countryside
2007 21-13 East Lake
2008 38-3 Countryside
2009 35-21 Countryside
2010 14-13 Countryside

East Lake leads all-time series 12-10