Longtime coaches will tell you that if you’re still playing football by the time it’s really cold outside — especially in the South — then you know you’ve had a good season. 

Fall weather hit Troup County with an arctic blast this week, dropping temperatures into the 20s and 30s for several days. 

Given that fact, we think it’s fair to say Troup, Callaway and Lafayette Christian have made it to the coldest part of the season.  All three will be participating in playoff games on Friday night, though the Cougars arguably have the most on the line.

Lafayette Christian will be facing Griffin Christian in the Georgia Association of Private & Parochial Schools state title game on Friday night. The Cougars came up short in the same spot last year, and we wish them luck as they again try to finish off a championship.

Callaway will take on Chattooga on Friday night in the first round of the Georgia High School Athletics AA playoffs. Troup will face Blessed Trinity in the first round of the AAAA playoffs. Tigers fans surely remember last year, when Blessed Trinity knocked Troup out of the playoffs in the state semifinals. 

All three teams have worked extremely hard this year and deserve big crowds to cheer them on. The bands, cheerleaders and other support members have also worked many hours this year and are ready to perform on Friday.

We will all three teams good luck as they take the field tonight. We’ll have extensive coverage of all three games in Saturday’s newspaper.