By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

They’re starting over.

For the seven teams in Region 5-AAAA, and the seven teams in Region 5-AA, the slate will be wiped clean this week with the start of region play.

Callaway, LaGrange and Troup will all play their region openers on Friday as they look to take the first step toward a possible state-playoff berth.

To make it to state, a team has to finish fourth or higher in its region.

Callaway and LaGrange will be on the road for their first region games, while Troup will be at home.

Callaway’s opponent in its first Region 5-AA game will be Temple, and LaGrange will visit Central-Carroll for its Region 5-AAAA opener.

Troup will be at Callaway Stadium to face Chapel Hill in a Region 5-AAAA game featuring two 4-0 teams.

Callaway (3-1), coming off last week’s loss to Troup, will try to take the first step toward a region championship with a road win over Temple (1-3).

“At this point, everybody’s 0-0,” Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said. “We’re excited about starting region. We feel good about where we’re at right now. We’ve got some bumps and bruises, but for the most part we’re healthy. We’re about to start a new stretch of the schedule in the region, and it starts with Temple Friday night.”

Callaway’s first region home game will be against unbeaten Bremen on Sept. 28, but it’s first things first.

“Our region is tough,” Wiggins said. “You always have to take it one game at a time, and right now it’s Temple. Coach Scotty Ward does a great job with their team. It’s always a physical game.”

Troup’s region opener will be against a Chapel Hill team that is off to the best start in the history of the program.

“You’ve got a 4-0 Chapel Hill team that is very talented, and they believe they’re good,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “That makes them extremely dangerous. This is their best team they’ve ever had. They’ve never started 4-0.”

LaGrange (1-2), after beating Hampton 8-6 on Sept. 7 to end a 17-game losing streak, will begin its region schedule against Central-Carroll (1-3).

LaGrange, as it has all season, will rely on its stingy  defense to lead the way.

“Let them play fast and do what they know, and we should be able to control that side of the football game,” Troup head coach Chuck Gibbs said. “And then it’s just a matter on offense if we can execute. We know our linebackers are going to make plays.”

REGION 5-AAAA

Troup 4-0

Cartersville 4-0

Chapel Hill 4-0

Sandy Creek 3-1

Cedartown 2-2

LaGrange 1-2

Chapel Hill 1-3

Friday’s games

Chapel Hill at Troup

LaGrange at Central-Carroll

Cartersville at Cedartown

Sandy Creek is off

Region 5-AA

Bremen 3-0

Callaway 3-1

Heard County 2-2

Lamar County 2-2

Temple 1-3

Jordan 1-3

Spencer 0-4

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Callaway at Temple

Bremen at Cross Keys

Jordan at Lamar County

Spencer at Heard County