What better way to kick off the football season than winning $500 in cash?

"We had so much fun with the Golden Egg and the Golden Seashell, that we are sure that folks all over Richmond County will enjoy looking for our Golden Football,” said Daily Journal publisher Rick Bacon.

By the time the football is found it may be more blue and green than gold.

“We spray painted a Nerf brand football gold, but when you handle it, the gold flakes off,” Bacon said. “The certificate of authenticity is stuffed into a slit we made in the side of the ball.”

There is only one official Daily Journal Golden Football and you’ll need the certificate inside to claim the prize.

Clues will run each Tuesday, Thursday and in the Weekender during the month of August. If the Golden Football is found before the last clue runs we will have an entry blank printed in the paper and will have a second chance drawing for a $100 prize.

The ball will be hidden somewhere in the county that welcomes the public. That means it could be at any business, church, public building (except Rockingham City Hall) or school. It will be hidden in such a way that you may not be able to see it without moving vegetation but it will not be buried or be placed behind a locked gate or fence. It will not be hidden at anyone's personal residence. There may or may not be hidden meanings in the clues. That's for the searchers to figure out.

The official rules

n The Golden Football is located on property open to the public.

n The person finding the Golden Football must bring it to the Daily Journal office during regular business hours. In addition to bringing the Golden Football, you must bring the official authorization form (located inside the Golden Football) to prove authenticity.

n Claiming prizes authorizes the newspaper to use your name and picture in the newspaper.

n One clue will be announced in the paper each of the days the ad runs (12 clues).

n Clues will be posted at participating stores 24 hours after they are published in the newspaper.

n In the event no one finds the Golden Football, ads will run one additional time.

n The Golden Football will be visible without moving any permanent structures. It may be covered by vegetation, but it is not guaranteed that it will not be covered by debris.

n There is only one authentic Daily Journal Golden Football.

n Clues are available only by purchasing the paper or stopping by participating stores. If someone finds the Golden Football early, we'll accept entries from an entry blank published on each additional ad, until the 12 ads run. This will be a second chance drawing for $100.