By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

Callaway’s Anthony Elliott is enjoying life on the defensive line.

Elliott was a linebacker last season, but he was shifted to defensive line in the offseason, and that’s where he has been for the first two games of the season.

So far, that move is paying huge dividends for Elliott, as well as the Cavaliers.

Elliott has been in double digits in tackles in both of Callaway’s games, and he has helped a new-look defense stand tall against Opelika and LaGrange.

In the Opelika game, a 10-7 loss, Elliott was second on the team with 12 tackles, including six solo stops, and he had a fumble recovery.

Elliott made even more of an impact in last week’s 56-10 victory over LaGrange.

Elliott, once again manning one of the two defensive-end positions, led Callaway with 16 tackles, including five for loss, and he had 2.5 sacks.

Elliott will look to keep making plays when Callaway hosts Cross Keys on Friday at Callaway Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

Elliott is part of a new-look Callaway defense that has been thriving so far, holding its first two opponents to a combined 20 points.

In the opener against Opelika, senior linebacker R.J. Williams led Callaway with 15 tackles.

Williams was next with his 12 tackles, and linebacker Charlie Dixon had nine tackles.

In the LaGrange game, while Elliott led the way with 16 tackles, Williams added eight tackles, including one for loss.

Cameron Smith had an interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Callaway only returned two starters on defense from last season’s team that made it to the state semifinals, and some of the players who did play a lot last year, like Elliott, are in new positions.

So far, at least, Callaway’s defense has stood tall.

Callaway likely won’t face much of a test in Friday’s game against a Cross Keys team that is 0-3 and has been outscored 181-6 in those three games combined.

Callaway won last year’s game 50-6.

Things will be considerably different next week against a Troup team that improved to 3-0 with Thursday’s 20-14 win over Harris County.

CALLAWAY VS. 

CROSS KEYS

WHEN: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Callaway Stadium

RECORDS: Callaway (1-1); Cross Keys (0-3)

LAST MEETING: Callaway beat Cross Keys 50-0 last season