Seniors Ricky Frazier and Malcolm Tatum have been key players for the Troup Tigers over the years, and even though the season ended with a loss to Shaw Friday night, the two players both went out by making big plays.

Frazier, a combination running back, wide receiver and defensive back, had a 31-yard touchdown reception from Will Smith during the first half.

Frazier was also the team’s leading rusher with 78 yards.

Tatum, meanwhile, had a 20-yard touchdown catch from Smith in the fourth quarter that got the Tigers within three and sparked hope of a comeback.

Tatum had a couple of injuries during the game, but he only left the field briefly and kept making plays on offense and from his defensive-back position until the end.

Tatum has six catches for 59 yards, and after the game, Shaw head coach Kyle Adkins said “I sure hope he’s a senior.”

Troup head coach Lynn Kendall said “Malcolm Tatum played his heart out tonight.”

Tatum knew it could be his final game, and it was going to take a lot more than some minor injuries to keep him on the sidelines.

“I just knew it was the last game of my senior year and I just wanted to play the best I could for my team to get into the playoffs,” Tatum said.

While Frazier and Tatum both came up big, the Raiders did a nice job defensively on Troup’s top offensive player, Daryl Dunlap.

Dunlap, a 1,000-yard rusher this season, was held to 48 yards on 18 carries.

“We knew of their big back (Dunlap) and I felt we did a great job of containing him but they have a lot of quick guys,” Adkins said.

BRUTAL SCHEDULE: There probably aren’t many teams in the state that have played a tougher schedule than LaGrange.

The Grangers head into the state playoffs after going 5-5 in the regular season, and most of those losses came to some of the state’s best teams.

In fact, of the Grangers’ five losses, four of them came to teams that either won their region championship or finished second, and two of the teams are ranked first in their respective classification.

LaGrange also beat one team that won a region championship.

The best teams LaGrange played are Thomson and Sandy Creek, who are both ranked first in the state.

Sandy Creek, which is in Region 5-AAAA along with LaGrange, is number one in Class AAAA after a 10-0 regular season.

Thomson, meanwhile, is also 10-0 and enters state play ranked first in Class AAA.

One of Thomson’s toughest games came against LaGrange.

The two teams played on Sept. 21 at Callaway Stadium, and Thomson won 49-42.

Another of LaGrange’s opponents is Newnan, which is 8-2 and finished second in Region 3-AAAAAA.

Newnan edged LaGrange 24-21 at the start of the season.

LaGrange also played region foe Carrollton, which went 7-3 and finished second in Region 5-AAAA.

LaGrange also beat a region champion, the Harris County Tigers.

Harris County opened the season with four straight losses, but it has won six in a row to win the Region 1-AAAAA championship.

Those five teams, Sandy Creek, Thomson, Harris County, Newnan and Carrollton, have a combined record of 41-9, and they’ll all be at home this weekend for the first round of the state playoffs.

LaGrange also played and beat a playoff team in Shaw, and the schedule also included a Troup team that struggled this season, but it’s still a rivalry game.

MEMORABLE PLAY: For a guy who is only in his second season of high-school football, Terry Godwin has already put together an impressive highlight film.

Now, Godwin has a play that he can lead off his highlight package with.

Late in Friday’s game, the Cavaliers were clinging to an 11-point lead, and the visiting Rockmart Yellow Jackets had a bit of momentum after scoring a touchdown earlier in the second quarter.

With time winding down in the half, the Yellow Jackets had the ball back, and they were hoping to take the ball down and score and take all the momentum into the break.

Godwin didn’t let that happen.

Rockmart’s quarterback threw the ball downfield, and it looked like it was going to sail over Godwin’s head.

Instead, Godwin soared high into the air and made a brilliant one-handed interception.

After the game, when asked about the pick, Godwin said it “was instinct, and great coaching.”

The play wasn’t done, though.

When Godwin landed, he saw nothing but green turf in front of him, and he raced 50 yards to the end zone for the touchdown.

Godwin said “everybody was on the left side of the field, and I just took it to the house.”

The Cavaliers led 31-14 at the half, and they went on to win 41-14.

Godwin’s remarkable play turned the tide permanently in Callaway’s favor.

“Rockmart had a little momentum in the second quarter, and he picked the ball off and took it in for a touchdown,” Wiggins said. “It’s kind of a momentum swing that carried us on through the game.”

Godwin has swung momentum Callaway’s way a lot this season.

Godwin has scored a team-high nine touchdowns, and he’s done it with interception returns, punt returns and pass receptions.