By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

Another chapter in Callaway football history will take place Friday night in Fitzgerald.

The Cavaliers are in the third round of the Class AA state playoffs for the first time ever, and they’ll drive three hours south to take on one of the state’s best squads in the Purple Hurricanes.

Fitzgerald (12-0), the state’s second-ranked Class AA team, is coming off a 64-36 win over Swainsboro last week.

The Purple Hurricanes’ 64-point output was their highest of the season, but not by much.

The team averages 48 points per game with a Wing-T offense, making it the most explosive unit Callaway has faced all season.

“They run the Wing-T and they run it about as well as anybody I’ve ever seen,” said Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins. “It’ll be a tough place to play but our kids are playing very well right now. We’re excited about going down there, and we’re going to work hard and you’d better believe we’re going to go down there and play.”

Fitzgerald is coming off what could have been its most impressive offensive performance of the season last week.

Quarterback Kaleb Nobles had five total touchdowns, and running back Trenton Pruitt caught one and ran for another.

Pruitt, who is the son of long-time Fitzgerald head coach Robby Pruitt, is a dual-threat speedster who isn’t even the best running back on the team.

That title would go to senior Nick Williams, who has more than 1,000 rushing yards on the season along with 18 touchdowns.

The Purple Hurricanes boast a plethora of talented running backs, and Pruitt, Latravious Stewart and Tevin Stewart-Gaulden are averaging more than 10 yards per carry on the season.

Fitzgerald’s versatility provides a lethal attack, and a nightmare for opposing defenses to stop.

“We have to be physical up front to stop their running game,” Wiggins said. “They’re not trying to trick you, although they give you a lot of formations from an offensive standpoint. We have to play well up front and be physical.”

The Purple Hurricanes’ offense is by far the strength for the team, but they’re not too shabby on defense either.

The unit “runs to the ball well,” according to Wiggins, but the defense’s primary strength is in its numbers.

Rarely does a play go by when Fitzgerald’s defense isn’t shuffling players in and out of the game. Unlike Callaway, the Purple Hurricanes don’t have many two-way players and have plenty of depth to go around.

“They probably have more depth than anybody we’ve seen this year,” Wiggins said. “That’ll be beneficial for them.”

The Cavaliers have many two-way players, including Quantavius Leslie (wide receiver/cornerback) and Randy Bailey (fullback/linebacker), along with an assortment of linemen, among others.

Even quarterback Quan Bray gets into the game on occasion at defensive back.

It’s been that way all year, so Wiggins isn’t worried about it.

“We play kids both ways, and I feel like our kids can handle that,” Wiggins said. “We just have to play sound football in every aspect.”

A strength for the Cavaliers will be in its offense, as the unit hasn’t been stopped all year.

Despite allowing 17 straight points to Westminster School after taking a 28-13 lead in last week’s second round game, Bray led the team on a game-winning drive when it mattered.

Bray’s favorite target will be Leslie, who had more than 100 yards receiving in last week’s game, and running back Marquis Terrell hasn’t been slowed yet this season.

It’s going to be a hard-fought game between the two squads on Friday, with the victor moving on to the semifinals.

“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.”