Tickets for the National Football Challenge, a new season kickoff event to be held Aug. 29 at North Gwinnett, will go on sale at noon Monday in the school's main office.

Tickets also will be available at www.game-seven.com. General admission tickets for the doubleheader are $15, and reserved sideline tickets are $25.

The 6 p.m. game pits Central Gwinnett against Mainland High School of Daytona Beach, Fla. At 9 p.m., North Gwinnett will play Byrnes High School of Duncan, S.C.

Mainland, led by highly touted linebacker Phillip Bailey, is one of the favorites to win Florida's Class AAAAA. Byrnes has won five of the past six South Carolina AAAA championships and finished last year ranked in the nation's top 10.

"We want to create an event that shines a spotlight on the great football in this state but also challenges Georgia's best to compete on a national level," said North Gwinnett coach Bob Sphire, whose Bulldogs are 24-4 in his two seasons in Suwanee.

"Byrnes has established itself as one of the absolute best football programs anywhere over the past decade," Sphire added. "Defensively, they are one of the fastest teams I have ever seen in 20 years of coaching. Then you consider they return nine starters on offense, including a quarterback that won a state title as a sophomore and some big-time college prospects at their skill positions. It will be a great measuring stick to see how Georgia football stacks up against the best of the best."

Kentucky-based Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST) is managing the event, along with North Gwinnett. Organizers say the doubleheader will be televised live, but a broadcast partner has not been announced.

New Central Gwinnett coach Ed Stokes said the Black Knights are excited to play in this new showcase.

"We know Daytona Mainland has a rich tradition, and we're excited to have the opportunity to play them and get an early test for our ball club as to exactly how good we can become next season," Stokes said.

The late Dennis Roland, the Central Gwinnett coach who died last December after a battle with cancer, will be honored in a pregame ceremony for his contribution to Georgia high school football and to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.