THOMASVILLE, Ga. (WTXL) - It's week two of the high school football season for teams in the state of Georgia. Thomas County Central and Thomasville had two different results in week one, but those results mean nothing this week as the two face off their renewed Rose City Rivalry.
Central and Thomasville have faced off 48 times for city bragging rights, with the record an even 24-24. Central has taken 15 of the last 17 match-ups however, and head coach Bill Shaver has lost to Thomasville just twice in his 23 years at Thomas County Central.
"This is going to be the first time, Central, if we win that we'll have the lead in the series," said Shaver. "When the series started, obviously Thomasville won a lot early. I guess the series has kind of swung back our way. There's a lot of those old Central folks that knew the whole time that they were behind that they have a chance to take the lead in that series."
The Bulldogs of Thomasville are looking to get back on track and take over the lead in the rivalry. Zach Grage is in his first year as head coach of the Bulldogs, and admitted he's excited about this one.
"We're all about what have you done for me lately and if you can sit there and say for the next 365 days that you're the city champion then that means everything," he said, adding that in Thomas County, you're either a city person, or a county person. "We were just talking to some seniors today, they haven't experienced this game since they were 9th graders. Some of them didn't even dress or didn't even participate, so this is their first time and last time trying to get a little shot at their buddies."
The Rose City Rivalry kicks off at 8:00 on Friday night at Thomasville High School.
