Any time two high school rivals get together one thing is guaranteed – a big crowd will be on hand to witness the action.

That is especially true for the Battle of Polk County when the Cedartown Bulldogs and Rockmart Yellow Jackets meet up.

“We are expecting another big crowd,” Cedartown High School Principal Hal David said. “We took a big crowd to Rockmart last year and they had a lot of folks there as well and we are hoping for the same in return this year.”

Tickets are on sale all week at Brown’s Pharmacy and at Cedartown High School. Anyone who purchases a ticket early will get it for $6. Tickets are $7 at the gate.

“This is an exciting game,” David said. “It’s for the Polk County championship. I think both schools and communities get up for this game. I know our students are real excited about it.”

The gates open at 6:30 p.m. and kick-off is at 7:30 p.m. at Cedartown Memorial Stadium on Doc Ayers Field.

Last year, a line of cars formed down Hwy. 113 in front of Rockmart High School as an overflowing crowd tried to get into the game. Such a large crowd showed for the rivalry game that a lot of people had to stand around the track without a seat.

David also made note that Cedartown will be having a pep rally Friday during school to excite the student body even more.

“We started a tradition last year were the band leads the students into the gym,” David said. “We plan on doing that again this year. We are looking forward to that.”

David also pointed out that Dr. Hand and his marketing class have been selling t-shirts and hand towels for the game.

“We did a red raid the rock t-shirt sale last year and it was successful,” David said. “So Dr. Hand and his students decided to do a whiteout theme for this years game. So far it looks like they are selling a lot.”

David said that legendary Cedartown Head Coach Doc Ayers will be honored at halftime of the rivalry game.

“We are going to honor him at the beginning of halftime,” David said. “He won our only state championship in 1963 and a bunch of his former players are coming back to see him. We also are going to unveil his name on the Fieldhouse. One side already says Cedartown Memorial Stadium but we are going to put up the name Doc Ayers Field on the other side.”

This year, a girls field house is being built below the current field house at the foot of the football stadium. Due to that, parking is now limited. According to Cedartown Touchdown Club volunteer Randy Prewett, the booster club is asking all Cedartown fans to enter the parking lot near the school off the Hwy. 27 bypass and park near the school. All Rockmart fans are encouraged to enter off Hwy. 278 and park below the stadium, near the visitor’s entrance gate.

“We will use the parking lot around Westside Elementary School as an overflow parking area for both teams as needed,” Prewett stated. “Parking will be $3 per car.”