By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – Things are different this spring.

Just like past years, high-school football teams in Georgia are allotted 10 days for spring practice.

That hasn’t changed.

What has changed is that, at the close of spring practice, the Georgia High School Association is permitting teams to hold scrimmages against teams from opposing schools.

Callaway, LaGrange and Troup will each take advantage of that by playing spring games.

LaGrange will be on the field tonight for its spring game at Manchester, while Callaway and Troup will play each other on May 19 at Callaway Stadium.

Tonight’s game at Manchester will feature two teams coming off drastically different seasons.

While Manchester went 10-2 last year and reached the second round of the state playoffs, LaGrange struggled to a 2-8 record.

LaGrange head coach Dialleo Burks is hopeful today’s game, which will begin at 7:30 p.m., will serve as a nice springboard into the summer schedule.

“It’s a good test for us to get back on that horse, and prepare ourselves mentally for the summer,” Burks said.

Troup and Callaway aren’t playing in the regular season, but they’ll at least get to share the field for a spring game, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. next Friday before what should be a nice crowd at Callaway Stadium.

Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said it’s business as usual this spring, despite having a game with a rival team waiting at the end of the two weeks.

“Troup has a great football team,” said Wiggins, who won his 100th career game last season. “They’ve got a lot of players back, and I know they’re working hard, and there’ll be a big crowd.

“We’ve just got to go do what we do, and that’s work hard every day, and work on our offense and defense, and work on fundamental football, and try to get better each day.”

The Cavaliers went 13-1 last season and lost in the final four of the state playoffs, while the Tigers went 8-3 a year after winning just one game.

“You’re excited, because you want to go play them, because you know they’re going to be good, and you think we’re going to be good,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “But then it’s also that deal of you want to keep doing the fundamental things in spring that you’re always supposed to do. So, they’re kind of in the same situation I don’t think either one of us is going to be prepared to play a true game. But we’ll give it our best shot and see what happens.”

SPRING GAMES

LAGRANGE VS MANCHESTER

WHEN: Today, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Manchester

TROUP VS. CALLAWAY

WHEN: May 19, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Callaway Stadium