Cedartown seeks ways to win in new region

Cedartown Bulldog fans will soon be starting off a new season, looking to make their mark in what will likely be a crowded 5-AAAA after a move up in class and out of the region with Rockmart.

In the move up, the Bulldogs also have some stiff competition to face on the region level, with traditional foes and some new names on the schedule for the season as Cedartown head coach Scott Hendrix works to build a team to match anyone on the gridiron.

Back under center for the 2016 season is Trevon Wofford, who started in his sophomore year in the position and has since made improvements, according to Hendrix.

“He’s a lot more comfortable in our offense, he’s a lot more comfortable in the pocket with the pressure around,” Henxrix said. “He’s grown as a player and matured as a person overall.”

In pre-season prac- tices ahead of the first scrimmage held last Friday night against Model at home, and ahead of this opening week game across the border in Alabama, Hendrix said the team is doing well in their development.

“We’re getting our guys to fit into their positions,” he said. “We had a good offseason working out and getting more comfortable with what we do.”

Among the roster Hendrix has to work with this year, he has thus far pointed to Tony Mathis in the dual threat role of running back and linebacker, and defensive tackle Cruz Rodriguez to look toward for their leadership roles on the team.

It won’t be easy for the Bulldogs to make their mark on the 5AAAA region they have moved into to start the 2016 football season. The region includes Cartersville, Central Carroll, Chapel Hill, LaGrange, Sandy Creek and Troup County.

Hendrix said the Bulldogs have faced many of these teams before traditionally, and as recent as last year in the case of Central Carroll, but some will also pose real tests coming up.

“It’s a good region, we look forward to it and we’ll see how good we can compete in it,” he said.

The real excitement for Bulldogs fans will likely come at the start of the season this year, as both Cedartown and Rockmart will be playing in back- to- back games against Piedmont and Cherokee County, Ala., teams in the first of what Hendrix hopes will be a new friendly rivalry with Polk County’s neighbors across the state line.

The Bulldogs will be taking on Piedmont High School in the first of two games to be played on Friday night, with Rockmart and Cherokee County to play each other as well.

Rockmart will be taking the field first in the double header on the gridiron, located at Piedmont High School.

The price of admission is $10 for both games.

Then Cedartown will be traveling again, this time to face off in the Battle of Polk County as Rockmart plays host.

The Bulldogs will play in that game on Aug. 26, followed by a trip to Gilmer County and hosting Pepperell for the first regular season home game.

Cedartown won’t start region play until after a Sept. 16 off week with their opener against Cartersville at home.

The Bulldogs are coming off a 2-9 season with the only wins coming at the expense of Haralson County and Rockmart in 2015.

Despite only having two wins on the season, it was enough to get Cedartown into the playoffs and a oneand-out against Oconee County, who went on to fall in the second round themelsves to Cedar Grove.