East Pasco rivalry more than just a football game
By Kyle LoJacono
Fans who packed Bulldog Stadium Friday night were treated to the 53rd 9-Mile War, the annual football game between east Pasco County and Class 3A, District 7 rivals Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools.
The Pirates (4-0) took the contest 50-7, the third straight victory in the matchup against the Bulldogs (0-4), to extend their lead in the all-time series 36-17. While the annual meeting started as just a football game, the event has become much more than that.
“This is like true America right here,” said Zephyrhills principal Steve Van Gorden before the game. “You’ve got two small towns that love their communities. The players out there have fathers and grandfathers who played in this game and now they’re watching their kids and grandkids play tonight. Really it’s what’s good about our community.”
Van Gorden became Zephyrhills principal at the end of the 2008-09 school year and was taking in his first home 9-Mile War as the Bulldogs leader.
“Honestly I don’t think there is anywhere else in Pasco County where you could have this rivalry,” Van Gorden continued. “It’s been going on for generations. I mean the kids didn’t even want to leave school today after the pep rally because they were so excited about the game.”
Many of the players had connections with the other team. Bulldogs running back Jacolby O’Neal attended Pasco last year before making the move nine miles south this season. Pirates quarterback Jacob Guy went to Zephyrhills as a freshman.
“I played with probably more than half their team on (junior varsity) when I was here my freshman year,” Guy said. “The score doesn’t say it, but they stepped up big and it was a rough first half for us.”
One family is even split by the rivalry. Reggie Roberts became Zephyrhills coach in January and graduated from the school in 1990. His father Ricky Giles is a Pasco assistant and his younger half brother Trey Dudley-Giles is a wide receiver and defensive back for the Pirates.
Even the school’s principals have ties to the other city. Van Gorden got his first teaching position at Pasco High and Pasco Middle after being hired by 12-year Pirates principal Pat Reedy, who started out at Stewart Middle.
The two friends decided to make a wager on the game. The losing principal had to wear the opposing school’s colors and appear on the other’s morning show and give a recap of the game, which turned out to be Van Gorden.
“We did this last year and the bet was a Blizzard from Dairy Queen,” Reedy said before the game. “He still hasn’t paid that one off and I reminded him of that. He came up with this one so he has to pay it off.”
A confident Reedy reminded Van Gorden before the game that Pasco beat Zephyrhills 56-0 in the spring game this year. He said the Pirates ran out of gunpowder for the cannon they fire after scoring.
The game started close with the two squads trading touchdowns on their first drive. Zephyrhills had a chance to take the lead after cornerback Adrian Sanchez intercepted Guy on the Pirates second possession, but the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs. The Pirates then scored on their next three drives and stretched the lead to 36-7 at the half.
Guy finished 8-of-14 for 118 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Mike Clower caught touchdown grabs of 23 and 33 yards, while Dudley-Giles had scoring catches of 12 and 29 yards. Dudley-Giles also added a pair of interceptions.
“It makes me feel good to get two touchdowns and beat my own brother,” Dudley-Giles said. “I played in the game last year but didn’t score, so this is special to come here and get two touchdowns.”
Zephyrhills quarterback Chris Reaves went 12-of-29 passing for 139 yards and a 19-yard touchdown to running back Jamal Roberts. Reaves also had 91 yards rushing, but was sacked four times and was picked off three times by the Pirates defense.
Reggie pointed out that the game was tied when senior linebacker and tight end Frank “Duke” Morrison went out with a head injury. When he went down the Bulldogs had to use younger players in his place.
“No excuses,” Reggie said. “My guys want to win. You see them crying. Those tears, I told them that’s not being a baby. That’s something inside them that wants it. Those are the kids I want. How they feel going into that locker room right now is desire to play football. They battled and that’s what I want from them. That scoreboard doesn’t say anything about these young men.
“We’re going to keep learning, we’re going to keep getting better and we’re going to win some football games,” Reggie continued.
Pasco next travels to play Gulf Oct. 8, while Zephyrhills will take on Mitchell at home the same night.
