When a team makes it close to the top but comes up short, what do they do?

They get back to work to make it happen a second time.

The Cedartown Bulldogs find themselves in this unenviable position as the 2023 season is set to begin with a pre-season ranking of second in the state after an epic run in the 2022 season. The difference: many of the players on last season’s squad who drove the Bulldogs to the mountaintop have now graduated and moved onto bigger and better things. The opportunities for guys like Drew Ledbetter under center and already UGA-committed junior Tae Harris in the driver’s seat of the offense this year means that Cedartown has merely reloaded, and aren’t stuck rebuilding.

Determining whether that will be the case in 2023 starts with the single scrimmage for the Bulldogs, this year at home as the Cass Colonels come to town to play. The Bulldogs struggled to find their rhythm in last year’s contest in the first half, but the young guys showed their stuff in the second to pick up momentum heading into the season opener.

Which this year against Rockmart is at home for the Bulldogs.

Cedartown in 2022 ended a Rockmart streak of wins with a victory at The Rock, and look to start a new streak when August 18 arrives next month. The Bulldogs will be facing off against a senior group who will be ready to play: JD Davis under center, a core group of runners who all have opportunities for touches, and a Jackets defense seasoned by year after year of playoff appearances.

This might be one of the toughest outings for Cedartown this year, but the rivalry game to open the year isn’t just the only harsh test the Bulldogs have.

They’ll hit the road for a trip to Callaway and Sequoyah on Aug. 25 and Sept. 1, but two games back-to-back after are two more huge tests for 2023: Calhoun on Sept. 8, and Dalton on Sept. 22. The Calhoun Yellow Jackets took a loss to Cedartown for the first time in YEARS as the Bulldogs ran through the regular season and all the way to the title game undefeated. Calhoun after this game took some hard knocks, and for a team used to being one of a handful of premiere squads in Northwest Georgia, this rematch has a chance to turn into an instant classic.

Dalton too will be tough. Cedartown and Rockmart both took victories over the Catamounts last year, but this year the Bulldogs have to travel up I-75 for a visit to their turf. The Dog and Cat fight this year could get interesting, but I still have my prediction going toward the Bulldogs (for the moment.)

Region play starts on Sept. 29 against Central Carroll, and the Bulldogs are looking for their fourth 7-4A title in a row this year. They’ve got Heritage-Catoosa for Homecoming on October 6, take a break before hosting Sonoraville on Oct. 20, a trip to Southeast Whitfield this year, and then host Northwest Whitfield for Senior Night on November 3 to end the regular season.

The Bulldogs take bye weeks on Sept. 15 and Oct. 13 this year. Since the Bulldogs played an intrasquad scrimmage back in April, they only get a single scrimmage for the fall.

Here’s a shareable version of the schedule for you to enjoy: