By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The LaGrange Grangers will host the Kendrick Cherokees in a preseason game today at 7:30 p.m. as they look to build some momentum for a challenging stretch to begin the regular season.

LaGrange’s first two regular-season games are against Heard County and Callaway, who are expected to be among the top teams in Class AA.

Chuck Gibbs, LaGrange’s first-year head coach, said playing a game today will be a nice reward for the players who have been working hard getting ready for the season.

“It’s been a long summer, and the kids are trying to learn a new system, under a new coach, with new rules, and new expectations, and a new tempo in practice,” Gibbs said.

LaGrange will open the regular season on Aug. 17 at home against Heard County, and after a week off, it will face Callaway on Aug. 24.

Today’s game will give LaGrange’s two quarterbacks, Charles Crawford and Sammy Caputo, an opportunity to take turns running the offense.

Both men were effective leading the offense during the spring game against Manchester.

Whoever plays quarterback will spend plenty of time handing the ball off to some talented running backs, including Myles Johnson and Laracco Glaze.

LaGrange also has some gifted wide receivers, including seniors Jordan Ogletree and Kayo Bradfield.

A strength of LaGrange’s team could be a defense that didn’t allow a point in the first half against Manchester.

It helps to have a trio of linebackers in Dexter Fitzpatrick, Vondez Taylor and Jequavious Bowles.

“We’ll see some three-and-outs, and we’re hoping the offense can complement the defense, and control the ball, and move the ball and get first downs,” Gibbs said. “Hopefully we can throw the ball effectively, and run the ball efficiently enough to be able to eat up the clock and limit an opponent to five or six possessions in a game and create some turnovers.”

Today’s game two teams hoping to improve on a difficult 2017 season.

LaGrange went winless, while Kendrick managed one win.