In Hillsborough County:

Freedom at Wharton, The Marquel Bowl. Why? Yes this is a neighborhood rivalry, but this game is all about Freedom head coach Marquel Blackwell. Entering his second year with the Patriots, he needs this win the get the Freedom faithful off his back. Freedom supporters showed their displeasure with the team’s 1-9 record last year by constantly commenting on message boards and blogs about how the team went to the playoffs in 2006, even personal stuff about Blackwell. The players seem comfortable in Blackwell’s system this year and a win over Wharton will show his program is moving in a different direction.

In Pasco County:

Pasco at Land O’Lakes, The Champions Bowl. Why? The contest between the Gators and Pirates will be a matchup between the lone district winners from last season in Pasco County, (LOL won Class 4A-District 8 while Pasco won Class 3A-District 8).

The two juggernauts of the county face off in the season opener.

-- Eddie Daniels

In Pinellas County:

East Lake at Largo, The ex-Countryside Quarterback Bowl. Why? Countryside coach John Davis has developed a reputation of being a quarterback guru. It’s deserved. His last three starting quarterbacks each obtained Division-I football scholarships (Jay Davis, North Carolina State; Harrison Beck, Nebraska/North Carolina State; and L.D. Crow, Stanford).
Davis’ rep is so great that Crow, who was enrolled at Berkeley Prep, transferred so he could be tutored by Davis.
Davis is a victim of his own success. Just about every Pinellas County parent who thinks his son is the next Jim Kelly or John Elway enrolls into Countryside hoping Davis will work his magic on the prospect.
Problem is, there can only be one starting quarterback. Currently there are two, and potentially three, starting quarterbacks in Pinellas County who left Countryside because they couldn’t crack the starting lineup.
Two of those will be in uniform in this bowl: Largo quarterback Ryan Eppes and East Lake’s Blake Robles.
Robles, who started for East Lake last year, transferred to Countryside this spring and participated in spring practice with the Cougars. But when his father found out Robles wouldn’t start, he attempted to transfer to Pinellas Park. When that wasn’t possible, Robles went back to East Lake just before classes resumed last month.
Roble is not expected to start for East Lake Friday, said Eagles coach Bob Hudson.

-- Lee Diekemper

Note: The bowl game idea is all in good fun. If you can come up with better names or other games that should be bowl games of the week, let us know.