La Grange vs. Smithville

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday Where: Smithville Records: Leps are 1-1. Smithville is 0-2.

Of Note: Another week, another historic rivalry for La Grange, as the Leps take on Smithville, which they will be playing for the 98th time. For the first time in a long time this is a non-district game, however, as the Tigers were shifted to District 13-4A this season. Smithville has struggled defensively this season, losing to Rockdale 42-27 to start the season (though junior running back Justin Gurley had a big game, rushing for 111 yards and three touchdowns in that game) and then falling to Giddings 40-7 last week. The Leps kind of know that feeling as they have allowed 49 and 63 points in their first two games. Leps quarterback Clayton Cooper has passed for 329 yards and run for 245 yards this season ... Smithville went 3-7 last season and has a new head coach, Layne Neumann, who is a former Texas A&M kicker who was most recently offensive coordinator at Fort Bend Ridge Point before coming to Smithville.

Last meeting: La Grange beat Smithville 36-21 last season as the Leps outscored the Tigers 30-6 after halftime. Clayton Cooper threw for 215 yards and three TDs (to Julian Sherman, Nate Scott and Gabriel Sifuentes). Le’Kayvion Broussard ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns in that game. Trip Davis threw for 129 yards for the Tigers. La Grange’s Devonte McKenzie took over defensively in the fourth quarter with a fumble recovery and back-to-back sacks.