Rockdale took the football field for competition on Thursday for the first time since finishing a 10-4 season with a 28-0 loss to Clarke Central in the Class AAAA semifinals last December.
 The Bulldogs split up for an intersquad scrimmage to cap off their spring practice sessions at Rockdale stadium looking to continue its winning ways in 2010.
 The result on the scoreboard was an uneventful one at 0-0, but Coach Mike Etheridge said he was pleased with the results of two weeks of practices.
 "Our biggest thing is trying to find some depth," Etheridge said. "We're trying to get two offensive lines ready."
 One of the ways he tried to do that was moving the starting offensive line, with the No. 2 offensive unit, and putting the No. 1 offensive unit with some of the lineman who didn't start last season.
 "They really did a pretty good job," Etheridge said.
 The Bulldogs had a player perform well at tackle and center. Spencer Mathis garnered some attention following the spring contest.
 During the exhibition contest, the offensive line had probably one of the toughest challenges of units during spring practice going up against a trio of college prospects on the defensive line.
 Grady Jarrett, James Tool and Jerry Mathis have garnered attention from several Division I schools, including scouts who were at Thursday's game such as Georgia Southern.
 "They play good in there all the time," Etheridge said. "It's hard to block them. If we move the ball at all against that defensive front, we're in good shape."
 The offense had a couple of big plays, including a run of more than 10 yards by running back Devon Franks, and a long pass play from Darion Clark to Dana Turner.
 Clark was one of the spring game's biggest draws, as the rising junior is tabbed as 2010's starting quarterback after the graduation of Isaiah Gresham.
 Also graduating from 2009's offensive unit are running backs Kyle Tippins and Rashawn Binns.
 Stepping into those two spots in spring has been James Baker, Franks and Donta London.
 "I feel like with the backs we have out there, we're going to get better," Etheridge said. "Franks did a good job, and James Baker is going to be an exceptional back as soon as he matures up a little bit."
 Also showing some skill on offense has been Turner, a rising junior.
 The Bulldogs didn't show a lot on offense Thursday, as the game mainly remained a defensive affair. But Ethridge said there will be more to come for the 2010 season.
 "We really didn't have much of our offense in right now, just a little bit. There are some things that we want to do that we're doing, but we didn't do it (Thursday)."