LAGRANGE – If the Lafayette Christian School Cougars make it back to the state-championship game this season, they’ll have home-field advantage.

A new on-campus football stadium at Lafayette Christian is nearing completion, and in November, it will serve as the site of the Georgia Independent Christian Athletic Association eight-man championship game.

A year ago, the championship game was played in Lithia Springs on the campus of Colonial Hills Christian School, and Lafayette Christian beat Central Christian 41-30 to win the program’s first state title.

This year’s championship game will be on Nov. 18, and it will be the final game of the three-week, eight-team playoffs.

Lafayette Christian’s stadium will also serve as the site for the GICAA football all-star game, and that will be held on Dec. 3.

“They’re looking for good on-campus stadiums for these games,” Lafayette Christian head coach Nate Shaw said.

The stadium is part of a major, multi-million dollar project that will include a field house as well as a track.

While work continues at the stadium, it should be ready to for the Aug. 19 season opener against Solid Rock Academy.

The field house won’t be completed until later in the season.

“We’re super excited,” senior Jess Hill said. “We’re really hoping we get to play on that field for our first game to open the season.”

Since the program’s inception, the Cougars have played all of their home games at the Whitesville Road football stadium.

The new stadium will also be the home of the Lafayette Christian boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, who play during the spring.

Like the football team, the boys’ soccer team is coming off a state-championship season.

Lafayette Christian’s football team has four home games scheduled.

In addition to the opener on Aug. 19, Lafayette Christian will host Heritage Christian Academy on Sept. 9, CrossPointe Christian on Sept. 16, and Ballard Christian on Sept. 23.

The Cougars could conceivably play three more home games in the state playoffs, including the championship game.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports