By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Troup is going to play the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes for the Region 5-AAAA championship next week.

Whether Troup will head into that showdown with an unbeaten record will be determined this week.

Troup (8-0), which remained perfect with last week’s hard-earned 20-13 victory over Cedartown, will visit Central-Carroll on Friday with a chance to improve to 9-0 for the first time in the history of the program.

Cartersville (9-0) is off this week, and it can finish with a perfect regular-season record for the fourth consecutive year if it beats Troup.

While Cartersville and Troup will finish first and second in the region, the third and fourth spots are up for grabs.

Sandy Creek, Cedartown, Chapel Hill and Central-Carroll all head into the final two weeks of the regular season with an opportunity to earn one of the region’s four playoff spots.

Only LaGrange has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Central-Carroll (2-6 overall) is 1-3 in the region, and it has to beat Troup to keep its playoff hopes alive.

“I know Cartersville is the elephant in the room,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “But first things first. Central is very well-coached. Coach (Darius) Smiley is a buddy of mine, and those guys do a tremendous job.”

Whatever happens this week, Troup’s position in the region won’t be impacted.

If Troup beats Cartersville, it will win the program’s first region championship since 1987.

If Troup loses that game, it will finish second and will be at home for the opening round of the state playoffs.

Cartersville will come into that game having won 47 consecutive regular-season games.

Sandy Creek and Cedartown are 2-2 in the region, and they hold the inside track to earn the region’s final two playoff spots.

Chapel Hill (1-3) and Central-Carroll (1-3) both still have a chance to make the playoffs if they win their next two games.

RECORDS

Cartersville                                    9-0, 5-0

Troup                                              8-0, 4-0

Sandy Creek                                   5-3, 2-2

Cedartown                                      4-4, 2-2

Chapel Hill                                      5-3, 1-3

Central                                               2-6, 1-3

LaGrange                                         1-7, 0-5

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

FRIDAY

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

Troup at Central-Carroll, 7:30 p.m.

Sandy Creek at Cedartown, 7:30 p.m.

Cartersville is off