By KEVIN ECKLEBERY

Daily News

The Callaway Cavaliers will be crossing the state line for their spring game.

Callaway, coming off the latest in a long line of exceptional seasons under head coach Pete Wiggins, will be at Jacksonville State on Saturday to play Montgomery-Catholic (Ala.) in a spring game, with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m.

Wiggins was looking for a spring game for his team, and the opportunity arose for Callaway to be a part of a series of games at Jacksonville State.

“We didn’t have a spring game, so it was difficult finding a game,” Wiggins said. “I put a phone call out to several Alabama schools and a lot of Georgia schools, and I got a call back from a guy at Jacksonville State that was putting several games together. He asked if we’d be interested in playing, and that’s kind of how it happened.”

Callaway’s opponent will be a Montgomery-Catholic team that reached the quarterfinals of the Class AAAA state playoffs last season.

“They were 11-2 last year, and they’ve got a good program. So it’ll be a test for us,” Wiggins said. “It’ll be a great matchup. They’ve got a lot of ballplayers. They’re well-coached. We’ll find out where we’re at.”

Wiggins believes playing in a college stadium will be a positive experience for his players.

“I think it’ll be a great atmosphere for our kids,” Wiggins said. “Jacksonville State has a whole lot of tradition. It’s a very nice venue, and it’s really not that far away. I feel like our kids will enjoy it. They’ll get to experience a big college atmosphere, and there’ll be a lot of coaches there. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Like Montgomery-Catholic, Callaway is coming off an 11-2 season that ended with a loss in the state quarterfinals.

While the Cavaliers have plenty of talented guys back, many of whom will be playing college football at the highest level down the road, there are a lot of key players to replace.

“We’ve got a lot of holes to fill from last year’s team,” Wiggins said. “We lost a lot of players. The guys have worked hard this spring. And I’m looking forward to seeing where we are.”

Saturday’s game will put an end to Callaway’s spring practice.

“I don’t feel like you’re ever as prepared as you want to be, but I think we’ve gotten better,” Wiggins said. “Each day the guys have brought a positive attitude out to practice, and it’s been good to us. We’ve still got a long way to go where we need to be.”

Following the spring game, Callaway’s players will take a little time off before getting started with the busy summer schedule.

“We’ll start into the weight rooms, and the camps, and practice will be here before you know it,” Wiggins said.

SPRING GAME

WHO: Callaway vs. Montgomery-Catholic

WHEN: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Jacksonville State