By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – The Troup Tigers have thrown for more yards than any team in the state this season, and a talented group of wide receivers is a big reason why.

Kobe Hudson, Jamari Thrash, Mark-Anthony Dixon and Ja’Rell Smith are an outstanding quartet of receivers, and no group in the state has been more productive.

It’s not just the wide receivers putting up numbers, though.

Troup also has a gifted tight end in senior Kenly Bridwell, and in last week’s 38-0 win over LaGrange, he was the man leading the way.

Bridwell paced the team with five receptions for 101 yards, good for an average of 20 yards a catch.

Bridwell is more than just a safety valve for quarterback Montez Crowe when his wide receivers are covered up.

Bridwell is an integral part of the offense as a blocker, and as a receiver.

While Bridwell is a relative newcomer to football, head coach Tanner Glisson said he has caught on quickly.

“Kenly, experience-wise, is not as experienced as somebody like Thrash, because he only has a year and a half of football,” Glisson said. “But Kenly’s amazing. He’ll get balls in traffic, and people don’t realize what a good blocker he is. He does a lot for us.”

Glisson realized how effective a player Bridwell can be during last year’s epic road win over Sandy Creek when he had two critical catches for 37 yards.

“His coming-out party for us was last year against Sandy Creek,” Glisson said. “We haven’t been the same team since Sandy Creek of last year. And a lot of it was due to him inserting himself. He just brings so many matchup problems for defenses when you throw a tight end into the mix.”

In the LaGrange game, Hudson had three catches for 30 yards with a touchdown, and Thrash has two receptions for 31 yards with a touchdown.

Dixon had one catch that went for 31 yards, and Trey Williams, Tyree Carlisle and Jackson Davis each had one reception.

Troup had one of its most effective running games of the year.

Davis led the way with seven carries for 63 yards, Williams had seven attempts for 34 yards, and Crowe ran the ball seven times for 34 yards.

Carlisle had two runs for 18 yards, and he and Williams each had a touchdown.