THOMASVILLE — The numbers aren’t in Thomasville’s favor.

The Bulldogs’ attitude is, though.

Despite playing a Class AAAA powerhouse in a series winless drought that lasts eight years, the Class AA Bulldogs are excited about playing a top-notch program heading into the season opener Friday against Thomas County Central.

“Their mindset is they want to play the best that they can play,” Thomasville defensive coordinator Lamar Landing said. “AA, AAAA, AAA, it really doesn’t matter to them, A. They want to see the best they can play. They feel like they deserve to play the best competition. They’re going to prepare themselves to play the best competition.”

The Bulldogs are coming off a successful season. Thomasville went undefeated in Region 1-AA and ended the season 10-3, advancing to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1993.

It has struggled in recent years against Central, however. Thomasville has recorded only one win since the epic state title game in 1993. Only once during Central’s current six-game winning streak has Thomasville kept the game in single digits. Even then, in 2002, the Bulldogs held a 28-0 halftime lead before losing 29-28.

Despite the Bulldogs’ lack of success recently, Central coach Bill Shaver is very wary of the talent the Bulldogs will have on the field Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. But as he puts it, the Yellow Jackets are in a no-win situation Friday night.

“We’re the AAAA school, they’re the AA school,” Shaver said. “We’re supposed to win. If we don’t win, they look bad at you even though a good team has beat you.”

If there was a year the Bulldogs could spring an upset, this season could be it. Both teams lost their preseason scrimmage to Tropical Storm Fay. Although both have concerns at key positions, Thomasville is loaded at quarterback and running back with Charles Hayes, Jeffery Dyson, Lanoris Christopher, Tyrone Williams, Dakari Mitchell, Jamarcez Carr and Fred Holton.

“They’re a very good team,” Shaver said. “Skill-wise, they got as good a folks as you can have. They have a guy (Hayes) that would be our quarterback right now if he hadn’t transferred.

“We know what kind of players they’ve got. They know what kind of players we’ve got.”

Friday’s game will mark the 42nd in the series with Thomasville holding a 23-18 advantage. The game is expected to draw a huge crowd, including fans from Cairo, since the Syrupmakers have an open week.

“I think the community looks forward to it,” Thomasville radio announcer Darrell Allen said. “Now that we’re not in the same classification, you can play this game this week, and next week, you can be a fan of the other team.”

Added Thomasville linebackers coach Willie Frederick: “It’s good for the community. The Bulldogs have always looked forward to this game. The kids worked hard in the offseason.

“We have a great set of kids that’s willing to do anything we ask them to do.”