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Callaway has now rattled off three wins in a row after defeating no. 8 Columbia 33-12 on Thursday night. 

After the games were moved up due to potential inclement weather Friday, the Cavaliers looked anything but disrupted. Callaway got a late start – 8:30 – as the second game of a doubleheader, but showed no signs of lethargy seeping in. 

It was a defensive slugfest early with both teams not able to mount much on offense in a first quarter that ended scoreless. This changed in the second quarter when Callaway quarterback DeShun Coleman broke a 55-yard run that might have been a house call if the turf monster did not get him. Coleman’s run set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Quay Whitfield later on in the drive. 

Whitfield was just getting started. He was immense for the Cavaliers on the night as he accumulated over 200 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns.

The Cavaliers got tricky with an onside/squib kick that they were able to recover, but the drive ended with a field goal attempt by Callaway that ended up being blocked by the Eagles. 

The Eagles got the ball and promptly gave it right back to the Cavaliers with Cam Tucker coming away with a huge interception to stall the Columbia drive. 

Unfortunately for Callaway, Coleman threw a pick-six on the ensuing Cavaliers drive. The Eagles two-point conversion attempt was no good as the Cavaliers clung to a 7-6 lead in the second quarter.

Coleman responded after the unfortunate pick that had little blame attached to the Cavaliers quarterback as it was deflected. On the final play of the first half, Coleman threw a dart to Southern Miss commit Exavious Reed, who rumbled into the end zone for a touchdown as the Cavaliers were able to take a 14-6 lead into halftime.  

The second half was the Whitfield show as he salted the game away. Whitfield scored from a yard out with 7:01 left in the third quarter to give the Cavaliers some breathing room. 

The Cavaliers defense came up with a couple massive stops to preserve the Callaway lead. Cameron Gunn was everywhere along the defensive line and consistently found his way into the backfield. Despite not registering an interception, Karmelo Burton came close on a couple of occasions as he put the clamps on the top Columbia wide receivers. 

Whitfield once again added to his statline by wrapping the game up with a touchdown run with 4:43 left in the game. 

Columbia got a garbage time touchdown before Whitfield showed his strength by plowing through a few defenders and giving the Cavaliers a 33-12 lead.

After going 0-3 to start the season, the Cavaliers have been impressive over the last three games culminating with a massive win on Thursday against a top-10 team in AA football. Callaway is now 2-0 in the region heading into a bye week. The Cavaliers will return to the gridiron on Oct. 14 against Towers at Callaway Stadium.