Coach Ed Pilcher’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats will open their 2012 football season Friday, Aug. 24, against the East Gadsden High School Jaguars, from Havana, Fla., at 8 p.m., at Centennial Field.

The Jaguars replace Northview, of Dothan, Ala., on the Bearcats’ schedule. Bainbridge and Northview were supposed to play Friday, Aug. 31, in Dothan, but Northview called and canceled the game, after the school had changed coaches and administrators.

Since the first day Georgia High School Association (GHSA) schools can normally play a regular season game is Aug. 31, Pilcher received permission from the GHSA to open a week early.

Prior to the opener with East Gadsden, the Bearcats will host a preseason scrimmage Friday, Aug. 17, against the Chamblee High School Bulldogs, from DeKalb County, at 8 p.m., at Centennial Field.

Following a Friday, Aug. 31, open date, the Bearcats will host the Cairo High School Syrupmakers on Friday, Sept. 7.

They will travel to Blakely on Friday, Sept. 14, to take on the Early County High School Bobcats, before returning home Friday, Sept. 21, to take on the Westlake High School Lions from Atlanta.

Following an open date on Friday, Sept. 28, the Bearcats will travel to Thomas County on Friday, Oct. 5, to open their Region 1-AAAA schedule against the Thomas County Central High School Yellow Jackets.

They will travel to Harris County on Friday, Oct. 12, for a Region 1-AAAA game, against the Harris County High School Tigers. They then return home for a Friday, Oct. 19, game against the Hardaway High School Golden Hawks of Columbus.

The Bearcats will travel to Columbus on Friday, Oct. 26, for a Region 1-AAAA game against the Northside-Columbus High School Patriots.

They will host the Dothan (Ala.) High School Tigers on Friday, Nov. 2, on senior night, before hosting a Region 1-AAAA and homecoming game against the Lee County High School Trojans to conclude the regular season.