A rivarly -- a bitter, ugly, hateful, nasty, dirty, obnoxious, oncouth, steaming rivalry -- was born on the football field Friday night between Souderton and Downingtown East.

Well, apparently the rivalry is a year old. Souderton just didn't know it.

After the Indians desimated Downingtown East, 42-14, in the opening round of the 2006 district playoffs, there was some trash talk -- between players and between fans. Souderton didn't give it much thought, but the Cougars stewed over the humiliation.

So, this year, when District One surprised everybody with its seedings and had Souderton matched up against Downingtown East in the first round again, the Cougars jumped all over it.

The Cougars coaching staff harassed Souderton coach Ed Gallagher on his answering machine, claiming he was violating an "unwritten rule" by not exchanging game film -- and threatening to report him to District One. Gallagher, meanwhile, had only just found out about the seedings himself and hadn't had a chance to give Downingtown game film yet.

"How are you going to report someone for violating an 'unwritten rule' anyway?" Gallagher wondered.

On Friday night, the Cougars didn't want to just beat Souderton on the Indians' home field, they wanted to rub it in. There was viscousness in Downingtown's postgame celebrations -- pointing and posturing and more trash talk.

If the Indians didn't feel a sense of rivalry with Downingtown East in the past, they do now.

-C.D.