By Kevin Eckleberry

Sports Editor

The Lamar County Trojans have a new stadium, and a new winning mindset to go along with it.

The 2007 and 2008 seasons were forgettable for the Trojans, who went a combined 2-18 in those two years.

Things have turned around in a drastic way this fall, though.

Under second-year head coach Jason Strickland, the Trojans are off to a 4-1 start, and they’re 3-0 in Region 5-AA.

The turnaround comes at a perfect time, with the team breaking in a splendid new stadium this season.

The Trojans have rewarded their fans by winning both of their games on the home turf this season.

“The kids have done a great job so far of playing hard and with great effort,” said Strickland, who came to Lamar County after serving as an assistant coach at Charlton County. “That’s got the community excited.”

The Trojans will put their new-found winning attitude to the test Friday night when they host the Callaway Cavaliers in a region showdown.

The Cavs are the region’s top dog at the moment.

They’ve won 14 consecutive region games over the course of three seasons, and they won the region championship a year ago.

This year, Callaway hasn’t been tested in three region victories.

Strickland figures his Trojans are a bit “out-manned” by the star-studded Cavaliers, who have a number of guys who will be playing on Saturdays in the coming years.

But, he figures anything can happen on a given night.

“We don’t have to play the best of seven,” Strickland said. “You play one game, and hopefully things will go our way that one night.”

The Trojans will rely heavily on quarterback Mike Bloodser, a three-year starter.

In a victory over Macon County, Bloodser passed for 100 yards and ran for 165 yards on 11 carries.

“He’s got a big arm. He’s a very talented young man, and he runs the offense very well,” Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said.

While the Bloodser-led offense has been putting up big numbers, the defense has been stingy.

In three of their five games, the Trojans have given up six or fewer points.

“Their defense is really good,” Wiggins said. “They’re shutting people down. Their linebackers run to the ball, their secondary does a great job, and they’re very physical.”

The Lamar defense will have to be at its best to slow a Callaway offense that has been unstoppable.

With junior quarterback Quan Bray, running back Marquis Terrell and wide receiver Quantavius Leslie leading the way, the Cavs are averaging 44 points a game in region play, and most of that damage has come in the first half since each game as been a blowout.

Callaway’s defense hasn’t been too shabby, either, allowing an average of eight points a game against region opponents.

Sophomores Jeffrey Cameron, Albert Trammell and Ricky Parks have teamed with senior Randy Bailey to give Callaway a strong presence at the linebacker position.

Jamal Bruce, Golden Sutton, Debo Davis and Justin Dumas have controlled things on the defensive line, and the defensive backfield has been buoyed by the return from an injury by D.J. Rutledge, as well as the presence of Leslie, who has been playing a lot on defense.

Callaway has been terrific on special teams as well, with kicker Josh Ham showing tremendous range on his kicks.

He made one field goal from beyond 40 yards earlier this season.

The Cavs are as healthy as they’ve been all season, they’re motivated, and they’re ready for the challenge.

“I feel like our kids have had a good week of practice, and we’ll go over there and do what we do,” Wiggins said. “We’re going to play good defense and our offense, hopefully we’ll put points on the board and we’ll have a solid special-teams game.”