No. 1 LaGrange hosts No. 2 Shaw

LAGRANGE - The numbers are staggering.<br> <br> Since the calendar turned over to a new century, LaGrange and Shaw have been among the state&#39;s best programs, and they&#39;ve got the records to prove it.<br> <br> Beginning with the 2000 season, Shaw and LaGrange have a combined record of 106-7, and they&#39;ve won eight region titles and three state championships. If the list of the state&#39;s elite programs doesn&#39;t begin with Shaw and LaGrange, then the two west Georgia schools aren&#39;t far from the top.<br> <br> But despite the proximity of the two schools, they haven&#39;t met on a football field since 1997 when they were last in the same region. That will change Friday night when LaGrange and Shaw, ranked first and second respectively in Class AAA, get together at Callaway Stadium in LaGrange.<br> <br> Both teams are 3-0, and the winner will be favored to win the Region 2-AAA championship.<br> <br> ``We go in expecting to win every game, and they&#39;re the same way,&#39;&#39; LaGrange coach Steve Pardue said. ``It&#39;s two programs that are very successful right now.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Shaw&#39;s run of success actually began in 1999 when, on the heels of three straight seven-win seasons, it went 12-1 and made it to the Class AAAA quarterfinals. A year later, the Raiders went 15-0 and beat Statesboro 30-0 for the state championship.<br> <br> Although the Raiders haven&#39;t returned to their championship form, they&#39;ve been to the quarterfinals twice and the semifinals once since 2000. Since the 1999 season began, Shaw is 64-5, and it has a 52-1 record in the regular season. Last year, Shaw lost in the quarterfinals to eventual Class AAAA state champion Marist.<br> <br> ``Winning does breed confidence,&#39;&#39; said Shaw coach Charles Flowers, a native of LaGrange and a former assistant at LaGrange High. ``At the same time, you have to respect your opponent. I think that&#39;s something we both have for each other.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> While Shaw was winning 12 games in 1999, LaGrange was suffering through a 2-8 season. But the Grangers have known almost nothing but success since.<br> <br> After going 11-1 in 2000, the Grangers went 14-0 in 2001 and beat Cedartown 22-19 for the Class AAA state title. The Grangers had their 26-game win streak snapped in 2002 when they fell to Swainsboro in the quarterfinals. But last year, the Grangers won 14 straight games, and they outlasted Peach County 16-7 for their second state title in three years. LaGrange&#39;s current win streak stands at 17 games.<br> <br> ``The thing both of us have right now is confidence, and it&#39;s hard to simulate that,&#39;&#39; Pardue said. ``They&#39;re going to come down here expecting to win the football game, and were going to go out there expecting to win the ball game.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Regardless of the outcome, the Grangers and Raiders will still be in the region-title picture, and barring a stunning change of events, they&#39;ll both be in the state playoffs.<br> <br> But although there will be a tomorrow for both teams, the game still has a playoff, do-or-die type of feel to it.<br> <br> ``The thing is, it&#39;s not going to make or break anybody&#39;s season in the long run, but it&#39;s big right now,&#39;&#39; Pardue said. ``I&#39;m sure they&#39;re selling out (emotionally) like we are.&#39;&#39;