By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

After the Callaway Cavaliers beat the Westminster Wildcats last week, Reggie Perry said he and his teammates were “like family.”

So it’s only natural that Perry and the members of his football family spent part of Thanksgiving together.

The Cavaliers practiced Thursday morning, and when they were done, they enjoyed a meal put together by player parents and other supporters of the program.

“It’s a good way to celebrate Thanksgiving,” Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said.

The practice was the final one for the Cavaliers, who will make the trek to Fitzgerald today for a Class AAA quarterfinal matchup.

Whatever happens, whether the Cavs win or lose, they’ll do it together.

Last week, when Westminster scored a late touchdown to take the lead over Callaway, the players never lost faith in one another.

“We stuck together,” Perry said. “We’re a family.”

The Callaway family will face it’s toughest test of the playoffs, and perhaps of the season, tonight.

Fitzgerald brings a 12-0 record and a No. 2 state ranking into the showdown.

The Purple Hurricanes have abused their opponents this season, averaging nearly 50 points per game while playing stingy defense as well.

The Hurricanes have playoff experience, they have a coach who has been here plenty of times before, they have a deep roster, and they’ll be at home after winning a coin flip last weekend.

Since Day 1, the Hurricanes have been talked about as a state-title contender, and they’ve done nothing to change that opinion.

Fitzgerald reached this point by hanging 64 points on a Swainsboro team that had championship dreams of its own.

In that game, the Hurricanes had 627 yards of offense, and they scored four touchdowns in about a six-minute span to break it open in the fourth quarter.

The ‘Canes, Wiggins said, run the Wing T offense “about as well as anybody I’ve ever seen.”

The other dog in this fight has plenty of bite, though.

Since dropping their first two games to Troup and Lovett, the Cavaliers have ripped off 10 straight wins, including last week’s scintillating 35-31 playoff win over Westminster.

The Cavs drove 70 yards for a game-winning touchdown in that game after Westminster went ahead 31-28 with a little more than three minutes to go.

The situation was chaotic and the atmosphere was tense, but the players - the Callaway family - felt nothing but confidence.

“Everybody was calm,” said senior wide receiver Quantavius Leslie, whose 37-yard catch set the Cavs up at the 1-yard line on the winning drive. “We know we’re a pretty good team. We just had to live up to it.”

Wiggins said that no matter the situation, the belief that things will turn out OK never wavers.

It was that case against Westminster, and it’ll be that way tonight.

“We’ve got confidence in the kids,” Wiggins said. “They believe they can win.”

Can they?

Do the Cavaliers have what it takes to venture into an opponent’s stadium and beat one of the state’s best teams?

There is no doubt they do.

The Cavaliers have the talent, they’ve shown that repeatedly.

They have an electrifying quarterback in Quan Bray who showed against Westminster that when a game is on the line, he can make the plays.

They have a junior running back in Marquis Terrell who has run for better than 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns, including six touchdowns in two playoff games.

And then there is Leslie, who has seven touchdown catches and three interceptions returns for a score.

The senior has also taken a couple of kick returns the distance.

Fullback Randy Bailey is a bruising runner and blocker, and the Cavs have a veteran offensive line that opens up the holds for Terrell and company.

Callaway’s defense has been up to the challenge as well, with guys like Debo Davis and Jamal Bruce leading the way up front, Bailey anchoring the linebacker unit, and Leslie and Bray Hardy helping patrol the defensive backfield.

Throw in a kicker in Josh Ham who has shown he can make field goals of 40 yards or longer, and the Cavs have the look of a championship contender.

“I feel like our kids believe they can win and can beat anybody,” Wiggins said. “If we can execute offensively and run the ball, and our defense plays physical, I feel like we’ve got a shot to beat anybody.”

The Cavs do have a shot, but it won’t be easy.

It will, in fact, take a near flawless performance by the Cavaliers to add another chapter to an already historic season.

Finding a way to put the brakes on a Fitzgerald offense that has scored more points than any team in Class AA will be the toughest challenge.

Any player who touches the ball for the Hurricanes is capable of going the distance.

If it becomes a shootout, though, the Cavaliers can keep up.

Is there another Class AA team in the state that has a trio like Bray, Terrell and Leslie?

With those three guys leading the way, the Cavs scored 35 points against a Westminster defense that held eight of its first 11 opponents to single digits in scoring.

If Callaway’s defense can make a few stops, and perhaps force a turnover or two, or three, the Cavs can score enough points to win the game.

The Cavs shouldn’t be bothered going on the road.

They’ve played well away from home this season, and at the end of the day, football is football, wherever the game is played.

Wiggins said his team is “excited about the atmosphere we’re going to see.”

It should be a special night.

So, who will it be?

Will Fitzgerald continue its march toward what many expect will be a state title, or can Callaway add another playoff notch to its belt?

Fitzgerald is an outstanding football team, arguably the best in the state, but there is something special about this Callaway bunch.

Many wondered how the Cavaliers would fare if they got involved in a close game after winning so many blowouts.

Well, they handled that situation just fine against Westminster.

I like this Callaway team to go on the road, stun the Purple Hurricanes, and return home to Callaway Stadium for a semifinal showdown, possibly against Buford.

My pick: Callaway 31, Fitzgerald 30.