This Friday, Bainbridge will pay tribute to the only Bainbridge High School football team to win the state championship.

Coach Ralph Jones’ 1982 state-title winning team will reunite for their 30th anniversary in a ceremony Friday at Elcan-King Elementary School, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Then, at halftime of the Bainbridge-Hardaway football game that night, the team will be honored again. Kickoff for the game is 7:30 p.m.

Many of the players will have traveled great distances to join together for this special reunion. Other players continue to live in Decatur County, and are still an important part of this community. But on Friday night, they will all again become one, a reminder of the great success that high-school football team had 30 years ago.

They all deserve our support and applause. Let’s fill the stands at Centennial Field on Friday night to cheer our Bearcats, both present and past.