Two of the states oldest rivalries are located in the Heartland region and that brings an extra level of excitement for high school football fans.
While some of the teams in these rivalries would like to forget the series record, there is nothing better than getting the chance each season to face your rival that sometimes can make or break your playoff hopes.
Corey Davis, shows us some of the top rivalries today in the Heartland region.
Lakeland vs. Kathleen
Series: Lakeland leads, 36-12
Quick Notes: Kathleen stunned Lakeland 24-3 last season to not only win the District 7A-5 title, but more importantly stop a 19 consecutive game losing streak to its arch-rival. The last time Kathleen knocked off Lakeland, future NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis was roaming the sideline in the early 1990s. Now Kathleen will attempt to win back-to-back games over its rival for the first time since 1975-1976.
All-Time Results
2013 — Kathleen 24, Lakeland 3
2012 — Lakeland 28, Kathleen 27
2011 — Lakeland 31, Kathleen 21
2010 — Lakeland 47, Kathleen 13
2009 — Lakeland 28, Kathleen 21
2008 — Lakeland 30, Kathleen 0
2007 – Lakeland 21, Kathleen 17
2006 — Lakeland 26, Kathleen 24
2005 — Lakeland 42, Kathleen 14
2004 — Lakeland 19, Kathleen 17
2003 — Game canceled
2002 — Lakeland 39, Kathleen 21
2001 — Lakeland 47, Kathleen 7
2000 — Lakeland 49, Kathleen 29
1999 — Lakeland 42, Kathleen 6
1998 — Lakeland 41, Kathleen 0
1997 — Lakeland 48, Kathleen 6
1996 — Lakeland 36, Kathleen 16
1995 — Lakeland 27, Kathleen 17
1994 — Lakeland 42, Kathleen 14
1993 — Lakeland 35, Kathleen 7
1992 — Kathleen 36, Lakeland 14
1991 — Lakeland 21, Kathleen 7
1990 — Lakeland 42, Kathleen 14
1989 — Lakeland 30, Kathleen 18
1988 — Kathleen 36, Lakeland 35
1987 — Lakeland 24, Kathleen 21
1986 — Lakeland 62, Kathleen 7
1985 — Lakeland 28, Kathleen 7
1984 — Lakeland 17, Kathleen 7 *
1983 — Lakeland 12, Kathleen 0
1982 — Lakeland 17, Kathleen 12
1981 — Kathleen 25, Lakeland 7
1980 — Lakeland 25, Kathleen 8
1979 — Lakeland 30, Kathleen 0
1978 — Lakeland 9, Kathleen 6
1977 — Lakeland 9, Kathleen 7
1976 — Kathleen 19, Kathleen 6
1975 — Kathleen 21, Lakeland 14
1974 — Lakeland 14, Kathleen 13
1973 — Kathleen 27, Lakeland 19
1972 — Kathleen 19, Lakeland 0
1971 — Kathleen 21, Lakeland 7
1970 — Kathleen 44, Lakeland 0
1969 — Kathleen 13, Lakeland 8
1968 — Lakeland 26, Kathleen 13
1967 — Lakeland 27, Kathleen 6
1966 — No game played
1965 — Lakeland 28, Kathleen 7
1964 — Lakeland 38, Kathleen 0 *
*Lakeland later forfeited due to ineligible player
Hardee vs. DeSoto County
Series: Hardee leads 58-30-5
Quick Notes: The states oldest continuously played rivalry has played for the Walter F Buck Carlton Trophy, since 1965. The trophy was temporarily retired in 1972 after three consecutive DeSoto County wins, a stipulation of the original trophy presenter; but brought back in 1982. Hardee, which holds a 28 game lead in the series, has won five in a row in the series and 18 out of 21 since 1993.
All-Time Results
2013-Hardee 26, DeSoto 7
2012-Hardee 21, DeSoto 13
2011-Hardee 42, DeSoto 6
2010-Hardee 14, DeSoto 12
2009-Hardee 28, DeSoto 6
2008-DeSoto 21, Hardee 20
2007-DeSoto 17, Hardee 0
2006-Hardee 10, DeSoto 7
2005-Hardee 16, DeSoto 12
2004-Hardee 19, DeSoto 7
2003-Hardee 50, DeSoto 0
2002-Hardee 40, DeSoto 21
2001-Hardee 56, DeSoto 21
2000-Hardee 41, DeSoto 0
1999-Hardee 54, DeSoto 6
1998-DeSoto 20, Hardee 14
1997-Hardee 47, DeSoto 28
1996-Hardee 42, DeSoto 20
1995-Hardee 60, DeSoto 0
1994-Hardee 14, DeSoto 0
1993-Hardee 14, DeSoto 6
1992-DeSoto 16, Hardee 12
1991-DeSoto 35, Hardee 15
1990-DeSoto 14, Hardee 7
1989-DeSoto 34, Hardee 28
1988-DeSoto 21, Hardee 7
1987-DeSoto 28, Hardee 24
1986-Hardee 20, DeSoto 0
1985-Desoto 21, Hardee 17
1984-Hardee 14, DeSoto 7
1983-Hardee 21, DeSoto 7
1982-Hardee 14, DeSoto 0
1981-Hardee 40, DeSoto 6
1980-Hardee 21 DeSoto 14
1979-Hardee 14, DeSoto 6
1978-Hardee 6, DeSoto 0
1977-Hardee 15, DeSoto 6
1976-Hardee 21, DeSoto 7
1975-Hardee 27, DeSoto 7
1974-Tie 13-13
1973-DeSoto 40, Hardee 0
1972-DeSoto 47, Hardee 7
1971-DeSoto 40, Hardee 13
1970-DeSoto 14, Hardee 0
1969-Hardee 40, DeSoto 20
1968-Hardee 20, DeSoto 13
1967-Tie 27-27
1966-DeSoto 26, Hardee 7
1965-Hardee 41, DeSoto 0
1964-Tie 14-14
1963-DeSoto 20, Hardee 6
1962-DeSoto 13, Hardee 6
1961-Hardee 33, DeSoto 20
1960-Hardee 40, DeSoto 14
1959-Hardee 35, DeSoto 13
1958-Hardee 40, DeSoto 0
1957-DeSoto 7, Hardee 6
1956-Hardee 19 DeSoto 0
1955-Hardee 15, DeSoto 0
1954-DeSoto 27, Hardee 0
1953-Hardee 53, DeSoto 0
1952-Hardee 19, DeSoto 7
1951-Hardee 27, DeSoto 19
1950-Hardee 20, DeSoto 19
1949-DeSoto 6, Hardee 0
1948-DeSoto 33, Hardee 8
1947-DeSoto 25, Hardee 14
1946-Hardee 20, DeSoto 0
1945-DeSoto 19, Hardee 18
1944-Tie 7-7
1943-DeSoto 6, Hardee 0
1942-DeSoto 7, Hardee 0
1941-Hardee 18, Desoto 6
1940-DeSoto 13, Hardee 0
1939-Hardee 18, DeSoto 7
1938-Tie 0-0
1937-Hardee 6, DeSoto 0
1936-Hardee 13, DeSoto 0
1935-Hardee 20, DeSoto 0
1934-Hardee 13, DeSoto 0
1933-Hardee 40, DeSoto 0
1932-Hardee 18, DeSoto 0
1931-Hardee 13, DeSoto 6
1930-Hardee 13, DeSoto 12
1929-Desoto 12, DeSoto 6
1928-Desoto 18, DeSoto 0
1927-Hardee 7, DeSoto 0
1926-Hardee 20, DeSoto 0
1925-Hardee 10, DeSoto 3
1924-DeSoto 20, Hardee 0
1924-Hardee 20, DeSoto 0
1923-DeSoto 14, Hardee 0
1923-DeSoto 9, Hardee 6
Avon Park vs. Sebring
Series: Sebring leads 51-40-1
Quick Notes: The states third oldest rivalry has seen its share of up and downs. Hard to believe this but from 1926 to 1967 Avon Park once dominated the Highlands County rivalry. Since then its been all Sebring, who has won eight in a row and 19 out of last 24 in the series.
All-Time Results
2013: Sebring 44, Avon Park 14
2012: Sebring 36, Avon Park 0
2011: Sebring 45, Avon Park 0
2010: Sebring 34, Avon Park 0
2009: Sebring 30, Avon Park 6
2008: Sebring 14, Avon Park 13
2007: Sebring 36, Avon Park 14
2006: Sebring 37, Avon Park 6
2005: Avon Park 30, Sebring 20
2004: Sebring 35, Avon Park 29
2003: Sebring 10, Avon Park 9
2002: Sebring 7, Avon Park 3
2001: Avon Park 34, Sebring 20
2000: Avon Park 36, Sebring 0
1999: Sebring 21, Avon Park 7
1998: Sebring 18, Avon Park 9
1997: Sebring 15, Avon Park 12
1996: Sebring 20, Avon Park 6
1995: Sebring 34, Avon Park 0
1994: Sebring 22, Avon Park 12
1993: Avon Park 20, Sebring 7
1992: Avon Park 35, Sebring 7
1991: Sebring 7, Avon Park 0
1990: Sebring 15, Avon Park 6
1989: Avon Park 19, Sebring 17
1988: Avon Park 49, Sebring 7
1987: Avon Park 42, Sebring 0
1986: Avon Park 37, Sebring 0
1985: Sebring 16, Avon Park 0
1984: Sebring 14, Avon Park 12
1983: Avon Park 21, Sebring 6
1982: Avon Park 20, Sebring 18
1981: Sebring 19, Avon Park 0
1980: Avon Park 46, Sebring 0
1979: Avon Park 28, Sebring 7
1978: Sebring 28, Avon Park 14
1977: Sebring 12, Avon Park 7
1976: Sebring 28, Avon Park 0
1975: Sebring 40, Avon Park 12
1974: Sebring 25, Avon Park 7
1973: Avon Park 19, Sebring 3
1972: Sebring 3, Avon Park 0
1971: Sebring 21, Avon Park 13
1970: Avon Park 33, Sebring 8
1969: Avon Park 37, Sebring 22
1968: Sebring 17, Avon Park 12
1967: Sebring 33, Avon Park 12
1966: Avon Park 47, Sebring 7
1965: Avon Park 20, Sebring 7
1964: Avon Park 19, Sebring 6
1963: Sebring 13, Avon Park 7
1962: Sebring 13, Avon Park 0
1961: Sebring 19, Sebring 14
1960: Avon Park 21, Sebring 14
1959: Sebring 20, Avon Park 9
1958: Avon Park 14, Sebring 13
1957: Avon Park 12, Sebring 6
1956: Avon Park 32, Sebring 0
1955: Avon Park 46, Sebring 7
1954: Avon Park 28, Sebring 14
1953: Avon Park 33, Sebring 19
1952: Sebring 20, Avon Park 13
1951: Sebring 24, Avon Park 0
1950: Sebring 12, Avon Park 6
1949: Avon Park 27, Sebring 12
1948: Avon Park 25, Sebring 0
1947: Sebring 7, Avon Park 0
1946: Sebring 25, Avon Park 13
1945: Sebring 7, Avon Park 6
1945: Avon Park 7, Sebring 6
1944: Sebring 20, Avon Park 13
1944: Sebring 20, Avon Park 12
1943: Avon Park 9, Sebring 7
1943: Avon Park 7, Sebring 0
1942: Avon Park 19, Sebring 0
1942: Avon Park 14, Sebring 13
1941: Avon Park 7, Sebring 6
1940: Sebring 13, Avon Park 0
1939: Avon Park 6, Sebring 0
1938: Avon Park 18, Sebring 0
1937: Sebring 12, Avon Park 0
1936: Tie 0-0
1935: Sebring 30, Avon Park 7
1934: No game played
1933: Sebring 6, Avon Park 0
1932: Sebring 18, Avon Park 0
1931: Sebring 14, Avon Park 0
1930: Sebring 13, Avon Park 0
1929: Avon Park 20, Sebring 7
1928: Sebring 7, Avon Park 0
1927: Avon Park 67, Sebring 0
1927: Avon Park 20, Sebring 0
1926: Avon Park def. Sebring
Bartow vs. Lake Wales
Series: Began in 1970, Lake Wales leads 23-21
Quick Notes: Bartow dominated the rivalry early in the annual showdown, but Lake Wales has had the upper hand lately. The Highlanders have won eight in a row and 14 out of the last 16 in the series.
All-Time Results
2013 Lake Wales 55, Bartow 20
2012 Lake Wales 45, Bartow 15
2011 Lake Wales 41, Bartow 0
2010 Lake Wales 37, Bartow 7
2009 Lake Wales 14, Bartow 10
2008 Lake Wales 30, Bartow 10
2007 Lake Wales 14, Bartow 10
2006 Lake Wales 17, Bartow 14
2005 Bartow 23, Lake Wales 7
2004 Bartow 17, Lake Wales 7
2003 Lake Wales 17, Bartow 0
2002 Lake Wales 21, Bartow 14
2001 Lake Wales 10, Bartow 7
2000 Lake Wales 8, Bartow 3
1999 Lake Wales 14, Bartow 7
1998 Lake Wales over Bartow
1997 Bartow 45, Lake Wales 6
1996 Bartow over Lake Wales
1996 Bartow 13, Lake Wales 7 (Playoffs)
Winter Haven vs . Auburndale
Series: Began 90 years ago
Quick Notes: The rivalry between nearyby county rivals dates over 90 years. Winter Haven has won five in a row recently and 7 of the last 10 in the series.
Since 2004
2013: Winter Haven 42, Auburndale 9
2012: Winter Haven 22, Auburndale 3
2011: Winter Haven 34, Auburndale 17
2010: Winter Haven 54, Auburndale 0
2009: Winter Haven 37, Auburndale 0
2008: Auburndale 7, Winter Haven 6
2007: Auburndale 19, Winter Haven 17
2006: Winter Haven 28, Auburndale 0
2005: Winter Haven 21, Auburndale 7
2004: Auburndale 45, Winter Haven 3
Honorable Mention
Fort Meade/Frostproof
Ridge Community/Haines City
Lakeland/Lake Gibson
Kathleen/Lake Gibson
Bartow/Fort Meade
Lake Wales/Haines City
Winter Haven/Lake Region
Bartow/Mulberry
Fort Meade/Mulberry
Lake Wales/Ridge Community
