By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

Callaway will be in for a dogfight in order to notch its first win of the season Friday night at Manchester High.

The match-up between the Region 5-AA rivals has always been a tough, physical game, according to Cavaliers’ head coach Pete Wiggins, and he’s expecting the same in this year’s go-around.

With an 0-2 record to start the year, a win is desperately needed for Callaway.

“It’s a very physical game. (Manchester) is a hard-nosed team with a sound defense,” Wiggins said.

Wiggins is 2-2 against the Blue Devils during his tenure at Callaway, but his team has won the last two.

Last year’s game was a slugfest, with the Cavaliers holding a 7-0 lead late into the fourth quarter before they pulled away with a pair of scores for a 20-0 victory.

It was one of just two region games last year in which Callaway’s dynamic offense failed to score at least 32 points.

“It’s always been a tough game for our team,” Wiggins said. “(Manchester coach Greg) Oglesby will have his team ready to play.”

Manchester (1-1) came away with a big win last week in a 25-24 victory over Lithia Springs.

The team lost to Greenville 14-7 in the opener.

The Blue Devils’ offense runs a similar one to the Cavaliers - a run-oriented Veer option attack.

It will likely use a ball-control game plan to keep Callaway’s fearsome attack on the sidelines.

Callaway will need to play sound defense to stop them, and that didn’t happen in last week’s 56-28 loss to Lovett.

A 13-10 loss to Troup in the opener was a similar story, except the defense played much better.

Wiggins said if his team can stay away from turnovers, the Cavaliers could be able to put it all together and notch their first win of 2009.

“We’ve been able to get some yards - we had over 400 against Lovett and over 300 against Troup - but we’ve got to quit the turnovers,” Wiggins said. “When you’ve had the turnovers we’ve had, it’s tough to beat any team, much less teams like Lovett and Troup.”

Cavaliers’ quarterback Quan Bray is one of many weapons on offense, and he had three total touchdowns last week.

Running back Marquis Terrell also notched more than 100 yards and a touchdown last week, and wide receiver Quantavius Leslie got in the end zone for the first time this season.

Manchester’s physicality could prove to limit the Cavaliers’ offense, however.

“We’ll need to play a really good game to win this one,” Wiggins said.