By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

For the past three seasons, the Troup Tigers have headed into their regular-season finale against Cartersville with an opportunity to play for the region championship.

If the Tigers take care of business the next two weeks, they’ll once again lock horns with the Purple Hurricanes with the region title on the line.

Cartersville leads the region with a 4-0 record, and three teams are tied for second place at 2-1.

One of those teams in second place is Troup, which plays Cedartown and Central-Carroll the next two weeks before closing the regular season against Cartersville.

While the Tigers are still very much in the picture for the region championship, their number one priority at the moment is making sure they secure one of the region’s four state-playoff berths.

Cartersville has a playoff spot secured, and five teams are vying for the region’s other three playoff berths.

Cedartown, Troup and Sandy Creek are 2-1 in the region, Chapel Hill is 1-2, and Central-Carroll is still in the playoff picture at 1-3.

LaGrange (0-4) is the only team without a region win.

Troup can take a huge step toward securing a playoff spot if it wins at Cedartown on Friday, and it closes the regular season with home games against Central-Carroll and Cartersville.

Cartersville is going for its eighth straight region title, and it hasn’t lost a region game since 2011.

Cartersville continued that remarkable streak with a 52-42 win over Sandy Creek last week in a showdown between top-five teams.

REGION 5-AAAA STANDINGS

Overall record first, followed by region record

Cartersville                        8-0, 4-0

Sandy Creek                      6-1, 2-1

Troup                                  5-2, 2-1

Cedartown                         3-4, 2-1

Chapel Hill                        4-3, 1-2

Central-Carroll                 3-5, 1-3

LaGrange                           2-5, 0-4

FRIDAY

LaGrange at Cedartown, 7:30 p.m.

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

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