Photo Credit: Pinellas County Schools
It has been exciting to be a fan or parent of a player for the Pinellas Park High School Patriots football team. The last two years, under the great coaching of Max Smith and his excellent assistants, have led to consecutive playoff appearances. Coach Smith has had some of his assistants move on and become head coaches at other high schools. Interviewing him, he said that he was very proud that he could have his assistants become head coaches. He feels the same about his players, hoping that they can play at the next level in college. This upcoming year, he has a new offensive coordinator and many young players. Most of the experienced players have graduated or moved on to college football.
After seeing the result of the spring game against the Boca Ciega Pirates, they have some growth to do. We all know that Coach Smith will have his team ready for the start of the season, which happens on August 15th, two weeks from tomorrow, so we are right around the corner from high school football starting up. The season starts on the road against the Riverview Sharks. The Sharks had a tough season last year, going 2-8 and 1-2 in their district. The Patriots are at home against the Largo Packers, who have been a thorn in the side of Pinellas Park for the last few years. The Packers beat the Patriots by three points last year in Week 1. To end the month of August, they hit the road to take on the East Lake Eagles, who went 3-7 last year.
The Patriots have four games in September. It starts with a road game versus the Bayshore Bruins, who had a bad year, winning one game and losing nine last year. Next up is the fellow team in Pinellas County, the Lakewood Spartans. The Spartans finished with a 6-6 record last season. Next up will be the Spartans’ neighbors in Saint Petersburg in the Gibbs Gladiators, who also only won one game in 2024. The Patriots have had an easy time with Gibbs the last few years. To round out the month, they have a district game versus the Manatee Hurricanes, who beat the Patriots twice last year. The second one came in the playoffs, which ended the season for Pinellas Park.
Both the games versus the Gladiators and Hurricanes will be at home. The final two road games come after the home games and start the month of October. First up is the Tarpon Springs Spongers, who went 6-5 and lost to the Patriots last year. The last road game was against the Braden River Pirates. Pinellas Park dominated the Pirates last year, winning 49-13. The season concludes with two home games against the team many consider a rival in the Northeast Vikings. When the Patriots played the Vikings at their house three years ago. The Patriots end the season on Halloween night against the Osceola Warriors. The Warriors went 5-5 a year ago. This year, there will be a different team this year, but it will be an exciting Pinellas Park Patriots football season.
How will the Pinellas Park Patriots do in 2025? Leave a comment below.
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For more, follow me on social media on Facebook: Bradley Walker, on X: bradwalker3083, and my two weekly sports podcasts, The P&W Sports Report and The Walker Report.
Author Profile

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Director of Operations for NGSC Sports
Covers USF Athletics in Football, Baseball, Lacrosse, and Softball.
Also covered both major and minor league baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays and Clearwater Threshers.
He also covers college football bowl and conference championship games.
It might seem like just covers team sports he also covers both the PGA & LIV Tours and writes and announces for the Pinellas Park High School Patriots in football and basketball.
He also has two sports podcasts in the P&W Sports Report and The Walker Report.
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