Grangers set for second preseason game

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 11, 2016

LAGRANGE – The LaGrange Grangers will play one more tune-up game.

After hosting Heard County last week, LaGrange will play a second and final preseason game today, and it will be taking on a familiar foe.

LaGrange and Newnan have played more than 80 times in a rivalry that dates back more than 100 years, and they will meet again today.

Newnan will be the host team, and kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

LaGrange hosted Newnan for a preseason game last year, and it was a hard-fought game, with the visiting Cougars hanging on for a 14-13 win.

While LaGrange has the edge in the all-time rivalry, Newnan has had the upper-hand in the series of late.

Since losing to LaGrange 35-7 in 2004, Newnan has won seven consecutive games in the series.

In the most recent regular-season meeting in 2013, it was Newnan winning 42-20.

In last week’s game, LaGrange fell behind 20-0 against Heard County before rallying late in a 20-13 loss.

In the second half, it was the reserve players leading the charge as the Grangers scored two second-half touchdowns to get within seven in the fourth quarter.

LaGrange got as close as the Heard County 20-yard line in the closing moments before the comeback bid ended with a failed fourth-down play.

Cornell Kendrick and Myles Johnson both had touchdown runs for LaGrange.

Following the game, LaGrange head coach Dialleo Burks said the offense still has “some kinks to work out”, and that the defensive players need to “wrap up and tackle.”

LaGrange will begin playing for keeps next week when it takes on Callaway in the season opener on Aug. 19.

A year ago, LaGrange beat Callaway 45-20, and it beat Troup 35-7 the following week to win the county championship.

HEADING TO PURDUE: Senior LaPerion Perry, LaGrange’s dynamic quarterback who is recovering from offseason surgery, has made his college decision.

Perry has been a heavily recruited player following a breakthrough junior season, and he has plenty of options when it comes to choosing a college home.

On Tuesday, Perry let the world know where he intends to play college football.

Perry has verbally committed to Purdue, and he plans on making it official on national signing day in February.

While Perry is a quarterback for the Grangers, he has shown throughout his high-school career how versatile he is.

As a sophomore, Perry played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and he also returned kicks.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports

The LaGrange Grangers will visit Newnan today for a preseason game. Kevin Eckleberry | Daily News

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2016/08/web1_LHS1-1.jpgThe LaGrange Grangers will visit Newnan today for a preseason game. Kevin Eckleberry | Daily News

By Kevin Eckleberry

keckleberry@civitasmedia.com