By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It’s time for the tie-breaker.

The Callaway and Troup football teams have played eight times since 2008, and they’ve each won four times.

After not playing for the past two seasons, Troup and Callaway will resume their rivalry today, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. at what will likely be a packed house at Callaway Stadium.

It’s a highly-anticipated matchup featuring a pair of unbeaten teams who are ranked in their respective classifications.

Only one of the teams will emerge from today’s game with an unblemished record, though.

While it will no doubt be an electric atmosphere, players for both teams set a key will be not letting it become more than just another game.

“We take every game the exact same way,” said Nick Ligon, a senior safety for Troup. “It’s a big game for the fans and everybody to come out and watch, but to us it’s a normal game.”

Regardless of what happens today, both teams will have to quickly turn the page with the start of region play next week.

Callaway and Troup will both play their final six regular-season games against region opponents.

“It’s a good game to play in, but we’ve got region to worry about, the playoffs to worry about,” said Tely Fanning, a senior linebacker for the Cavaliers. “So it’d be great to win it, but if we don’t, you move on.”

Both teams have been impressive in the early going.

Callaway has beaten Opelika 35-21, LaGrange 14-0, and Cross Keys 50-0.

Troup has yet to be tested, overwhelming Ridgeland 32-0, Columbus 47-13 and Harris County 53-6.

Now, Troup will look to upend the second-ranked team in Class AA.

“It’s great for the community, it’s great for the kids,” Troup head coach Tanner Glisson said. “And it’s great for us to kind of let us know really where are we going into the region. We’ve played a pretty solid schedule, but with this, we’ll really have a great idea where we are going in.”

Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said there is a lot of familiarity between the two programs.

“Obviously, it’s a big rivalry, and both schools are close together,” Wiggins said. “The kids know one another. The families have grown up with one another. The kids played with one another in rec ball, and JV. So, there’s a lot of familiar faces on either side. But, we just have to play our brand of ball.”

SERIES

2008 – Troup won 15-7

2009 – Troup won 13-10

2010 – Callaway won 29-0

2011 – Troup won 17-10

2012 – Callaway won 28-7

2013 – Callaway won 34-21

2014 – Troup won 37-27

2015 – Callaway won 42-24