Some good news for football fans: there’s only a few hours remaining before the Cedartown Bulldogs and the Rockmart Yellow Jackets take the field in the 2020 edition of the Battle of Polk County, determining who holds the local “championship crown” and bragging rights for the year.

The 0-1 Jackets are set to host the Bulldogs who are playing in their season opener tonight for the 2020 season with a kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. If you didn’t purchase tickets ahead of time, I’d suspect that by now you aren’t getting into the limited capacity game but tune into WZOT or WGAA for live radio updates from the game.

Rockmart fell to Rome in their season opener at Barron Stadium on the road in a 28-21 loss that for a few bad plays could have gone the Jackets’ way. They’ll be looking to get back one into the winner’s column and stay within the Top 10 this week of Class AAA football rankings, along with a win in the rivalry matchup that would make three-in-a-row for Rockmart.

Cedartown is starting fresh on the night with new head coach Jamie Abrams getting a chance to lead the Bulldogs for the first time after an off-season hire that saw him come into a program also having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldogs should have started the season last week against Carrollton, but virus exposure and cases on the team set them behind a week.

Want to hear from the coaches? Here’s comments from Abrams and Rockmart Head Coach Biff Parson.

Here’s a brief rundown of where the Bulldogs and Jackets stand heading into tonight’s game:

Jackets looking to continue a streak

Rockmart historically might be behind the win/loss column against Cedartown, but the past few years have proven that the Jackets are back and hungry for more wins over their cross-county rivals.

The past three years have seen the team go 2-1, turning around a seven-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.

If they are able to continue their progress, it will be with a lot of talent on the roster for the season. Rockmart has Quarterback Javin Whatley back under center getting a lot of offensive touches on the ball, but they’ve also got a great dual-threat in freshman Quarterback JD Davis to also carry or throw the ball (though he needs to keep it out of double-coverage tonight if he hopes to find success in the air.)

Rockmart’s running game is no slouch as well. Expect Keyshaun McCullough to continue getting touches this evening after running the ball for the Jackets against Rome for a good portion of the first and second half, along with a few sophomores on the roster who have been with Rockmart Middle School teams of the past and have opportunity to get in the game as well.

The Jackets Special Teams might need some help after last week’s field goal that turned into a touchdown thanks to the quick feet and thinking from Whatley, but expect the kicking game to be much smoother this week with some opportunity to get time in ahead of the game.

Cedartown looks to reset the clock

The Bulldogs over the past two years have seen struggles, but they are by no means down and out. If anyone is going to change the equation completely, it is going to be players like C.J. Washington and Jayden Johnson, but who have already committed to Division I SEC Schools (Washington going to Georgia after he graduates in 2022, and Johnson is heading to South Carolina next year.)

Don’t rule out senior leaders who can make a big impact on the game on both sides of the ball. Corben Cuzzort at middle linebacker is likely going to be the key to stopping the Jackets run game. Expect Micah Arbuthnot at Free Safety to help stop the passing game, but also make big catches on the night as well.

Also expect the unexpected. Changes under center bringing Jackson Bussey or Reece Tanner on the field are just as likely for the Bulldogs as the Jackets switching out for JD Davis.

The unknowns? Cedartown’s emotions. It is the first game of a new season already that has been complicated by COVID-19, and against their rival. Expect the Bulldogs sideline to be warned to back up at least once tonight.

Make sure to check back after tonight’s game for video highlights and more on Polk.Today.