By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

With the Troup Tigers looking to put the Central-Carroll Lions away in last week’s critical region  game, quarterback Kobe Hudson tossed a pass into the right side of the end zone in the direction of Nick Schweizer.

The pass was on target, and Schweizer made a fantastic catch, reaching high to bring the ball in while making sure to keep his feet in bounds.

That touchdown put the cap on a 37-14 victory that kept the Tigers in prime position to earn one of Region 5-AAAA’s four state-playoff berths.

Troup (6-3 overall) will carry a 3-2 region record into Friday’s regular-season finale against Cartersville.

Troup is in third place in the region, and it will qualify for the playoffs with a win over Cartersville, or a Cedartown victory over Chapel Hill.

In two of Troup’s region wins, Schweizer has played a key role.

In Troup’s 21-14 victory over Chapel Hill in the region opener, Schweizer saw some time at quarterback and led Troup on a touchdown drive in the second quarter when his team was trailing 7-0.

Against Central-Carroll, Hudson only completed two passes, but one of them went to Schweizer for the game-clinching touchdown.

Schweizer also had five catches on a rainy, messy night in a 15-8 region loss to Cedartown.

Schweizer began the season primarily as the backup quarterback to Kobe Hudson, but in recent weeks he has developed into a valuable wide receiver.

That value was on display last week when Schweizer made the acrobatic catch in the end zone, cementing the big win for Troup.

“He’s made some tremendous catches the last few weeks, but he’s made probably 20 or 30 of those in practice,” said Tanner Glisson, Troup’s head coach. “He’s making all kinds of plays in practice. So that’s been really good to see. He’s somebody we trust dearly.”

While Hudson is Troup’s starting quarterback, Schweizer has played some at that position.

In the Chapel Hill game, Glisson sat Hudson for a few series in the first half, and Schweizer entered the game and played well, leading his team to a momentum-changing touchdown.

“Probably the biggest drive of our season was when he came in against Chapel Hill,” Glisson said. “We sat Kobe for a couple of series, and it was 0-0. Nick brings us right down the field and scores.”

Whatever his role, Glisson said Schweizer is appreciated by those who are around him every day.

“His teammates love him. The coaches love him,” Glisson said. “He’s never too high, never too low. He’s real even-keeled.”

Glisson added that “it’s not the easiest thing to have trained to play quarterback all year long, and you’re sitting behind Kobe. For him to go play other roles but be prepared to take snaps when we need him is huge.”

LEADING THE WAY: The Troup Tigers ran for 451 yards in last week’s win over Central-Carroll, with Trey Williams and Kobe Hudson combining for all but 30 of those yards.

Helping open holes for Hudson and Williams was an offensive line that has been a strength of the team all season.

It’s an offensive line that includes Michael Irvin, Royce White, Tyler Kitchens, Will Cooley, Braxton Truitt, as well as tight end Luke Purnell.

The Tigers have been a prolific running team this season, and the men up front are no doubt a key reason for that.

Through nine games, Troup has run for 2,395 yards on 319 attempts with 21 touchdowns.

It’s an offensive line that should continue to a strength for the Tigers next season, with only Irvin and Purnell set to graduate.

Among the returnees is White, who has a number of college offers, including one from Notre Dame.

Troup’s offensive-line coach is Sean McNamee, who took over that position after Phillip Manning left to go to LaGrange College.

DEFENSE SCORES: He was in the right place at the right time.

In last week’s win over Central-Carroll, Troup was clinging to a seven-point lead late in the first quarter when defensive lineman Xavier Clarke made one of the plays of the game.

Central-Carroll quarterback Kashif Taylor was under duress, and he was rolling out and about to be tackled when he threw an ill-advised pass.

The ball went right into the arms of Clarke who made the catch at the 5-yard line, and the junior defensive lineman waltzed into the end zone for the touchdown.

The Tigers continued to roll after that, easing to a 37-14 victory to improve to 3-2 in region play and stay in the playoff race.

That play was part of a dominant effort by Troup’s defense, which held Central-Carroll’s offense to seven points.

Central-Carroll also scored on an interception return in the second quarter.

“Everybody on the whole team had to execute, and we did,” said Zy Varner, a junior linebacker for Troup.

TROUP VS. 

CARTERSVILLE

WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Callaway Stadium

RECORDS: Troup (5-3 overall, 3-2 in Region 5-AAAA); Cartersville (9-0 overall, 5-0 in Region 5-AAAA)

LAST YEAR: Cartersville beat Troup 43-10