By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Troup Tigers are hoping to be at home for the opening round of the Class AAAA state playoffs.

They have a chance to make that a reality by beating Cedartown on Friday night at Callaway Stadium in a Region 5-AAAA game.

If Troup wins, it would finish no lower than second in the region, meaning it will host a playoff game.

A victory over Cedartown would also set up a region-championship showdown at Cartersville on Nov. 2.

If Troup loses to Cedartown, it would still be in position to earn one of the region’s four playoff spots.

Troup visits Central-Carroll on Oct. 26 before heading north for the showdown with Cartersville.

“If we win Friday, we solidify no worse than second place,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “And it’s senior night. So if we win Friday, it guarantees these guys another home game. So it’s huge. And Cedartown has been a thorn in our side the last two years. So it’s really important that we play well.”

While Troup is a near lock to make it to the state playoffs, LaGrange still has a chance.

LaGrange finishes its region schedule with home games against Sandy Creek on Friday and Chapel Hill on Oct. 26.

If the Grangers win both games, they’d finish with a 2-4 region record, and that could be good enough for fourth place with some help.

“If we go out and win, and Cedartown beats Sandy Creek, we get fourth place,” LaGrange head coach Chuck Gibbs siad.

The region’s two lone unbeaten teams are Cartersville (4-0) and Troup (3-0), and Cedartown is 2-1 in the region.

Sandy Creek (1-2), Chapel Hill (1-2) and Central-Carroll (1-3) each have one region win, and LaGrange (0-4) is in last place.

RECORDS

Overall record first, followed by region record

Cartersville                    8-0, 4-0

Troup                              7-0, 3-0

Cedartown                      4-3, 2-1

Sandy Creek                   4-3, 1-2

Chapel Hill                      5-2, 1-2

Central                             2-6, 1-3

LaGrange                         1-6, 0-4

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

Thursday

Sandy Creek at LaGrange, 7 p.m.

Friday

Cedartown at Troup, 7:30 p.m.

Cartersville at Chapel Hill, 7:30 p.m.

Central-Carroll is off