It’s that time for arguably the most important game of the season for the Yellow Jackets, the Blake-Middleton game. This rivalry game attracts alumni from both schools and people from all over the city of Tampa. To review the beginning of this burning feud, English teacher Mr. Ceallaigh gives us a history lesson on the two schools.

He began by asking me a question. “You know Blake wasnt always here?” I said yes, remembering that the school used to be on Stewart Middle School’s campus. “Right! And Middleton and Blake used to be on opposite sides of the rivers. Now you know how hoods beef. Well Blake’s hood had a beef with Middleton. and the people weren’t mixing too well. Kind of like the Bloods and the Crips. But this all started with football beef. These games are really how they would get back at each other. Now regardless of all the violence that went on between the two it was also a healthy rivalry. Both teams weren’t always at the level that they’re on right now (Blake 3-2, Middleton 3-2). We’re both that way cause we’re magnet schools. So Middleton’s a bunch of engineers, and we’re a bunch of actors and musicians. Not football quality. So the pool is a lot more limited. Now the talent we have is good but it’s not as good as if we had a full traditional class to pick from. Back then it wasn’t that way because back then they were both full schools cause there wasn’t a magnet program. And so the talent was there, the wins were there, and it really was a struggle to win each against other. So with the rivalry, it wasn’t just neighborhoood beef, but there was also the football team.”