By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It’s game week for the Troup Tigers.

Troup, coming off the most successful season in the history of the program, will kick things off with Friday’s home game against the Ridgeland Panthers.

While Troup was off last week, Ridgeland opened its season with a 38-8 loss to Calhoun.

A year ago, Troup went 12-2 and reached the semifinals of the Class AAAA state playoffs before losing to eventual state-champion Blessed Trinity.

In the 2018 season opener, Troup went on the road and overwhelmed 32-0, setting the stage for what was to come.

Ridgeland shrugged off that loss and went 8-4 and made it to the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs.

“They lost to Calhoun, and they lost to us, and they lost to Pickens, and they lost a playoff game to Cartersville,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “They have tremendous team speed. Maybe not overall as good as we have, but in spots they have really good speed. And they’re used to winning.”

While most teams in the state opened last week, Troup was off.

That means the Tigers could conceivably end up playing 15 of the next 16 weeks, if they make it all the way to the state-championship game.

Troup’s lone off week comes after it plays Sandy Creek on Oct. 4.

Fortunately for the Tigers, they won’t have to do much traveling during the regular season at least.

Seven of Troup’s 10 regular-season games are at Callaway Stadium, including five of the final six games.

“I was looking at our schedule, and seven teams on our schedule made the playoffs last year,” Glisson said. “Two of our non-region games are with Callaway and Columbus and they both went past the first round. And of course you have Cartersville (in region play). It’s a very tough schedule. The good thing for us is, we play seven games at Callaway Stadium. So we’re tickled to death with being at home, where we play really well.”

Callaway and LaGrange, who opened their seasons last week on the road, are off this week.

Callaway and LaGrange will meet at Callaway Stadium on Sept. 6.

Callaway began its season with a hard-fought 10-7 loss to Opelika, while LaGrange shrugged off an early 9-0 deficit to beat Heard County 10-9.

In private-school football, Lafayette Christian and Unity Preparatory Academy of West Georgia will continue their seasons this week.

Lafayette Christian, which evened its record at 1-1 with a 49-14 win over Lanier Christian, will be in Albany on Friday to play Sherwood Christian.

Unity Prep will host Community Christian on Friday in Hogansville.

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

FRIDAY

Ridgeland at Troup, 7:30 p.m.

Lafayette Christian at Sherwood Christian (Albany), 7:30 p.m.

Community Christian at Unity Prep, 7:30 p.m.