The Cedartown Bulldogs ran a gauntlet in 2023 of teams seeking revenge after their 2022 run to the state title. The tour of teams who they previously beat came to a close as North Oconee toppled the Dawgs in a 35-9 finish.

The Bulldogs finished their season 8-4 with the Friday night loss to the Titans, who remain undefeated and head into a quarterfinal matchup against defending Class 4A champions the Benedictine Cadets. Cedartown fell to Benedictine in the title game in a last play goal line stand.

Cedartown found themselves stymied by the Titans, with quarterback Drew Ledbetter putting up under .500 numbers on passing. He went 9 for 20 for 166 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions and lost 13 yards on offense on 8 carries.

The team only put up an anemic 65 yards of offense on the ground, and 231 yards in total on the night. Ledbetter connected with Demarcus Gardner for the only touchdown of the night.

With the season-ending loss in the second round of the playoffs, Cedartown now moves back into the weight room and skills workouts heading into the spring offseason practices in 2024. Their 8-4 season included a second place in region play (the only loss to Central Carroll, still in the playoffs and undefeated) and they got a win back after Callaway had to forfeit a game earlier in the season due to ineligible players involved.

Another victory over Rockmart 13-12 (dealing them one of two losses on the season) and the opportunities to see younger guys who will be the future of the team later in the season gives good reason to be excited for the Bulldogs return in 2024.

Especially as they start a schedule with a new region alignment for 7-4A bringing back some longtime foes and new challengers. The GHSA’s reclassification committee have Cedartown playing in a region that combines former 7-5A schools with some current foes, and others that dropped down. Allatoona, Cartersville, Cass, Dalton, Hiram and Woodland-Cartersville all dropped down in classification to makeup essentially their former region (minus Allatoona, who dropped from 6A to 4A) with Cedartown and Southeast Whitfield remaining in place for an 8-team region.

That should leave Cedartown with three open non-region games on the schedule for the coming season.

Check back for updates on Cedartown’s 2024 schedule when it becomes available.