The Rockmart Yellow Jackets have gotten hot at the right time.

After a 36-34 loss to Haralson County, the Yellow Jackets were sitting at 1-2 in Region 4-AAA, and a season that began with such promise was going south in a hurry.

The Yellow Jackets have righted the ship, though.

With last week’s 41-15 victory over B.E.S.T. Academy, the Yellow Jackets (5-4 overall) have won three straight games to improve to 4-2 in region play to clinch a playoff berth.

The Yellow Jackets will try to wrap up the regular season with a victory on Friday, but their assignment is a difficult one.

Standing in Rockmart’s way are the Callaway Cavaliers, who have been scorching hot since opening the season with a loss to Heard County.

Callaway (8-1, 6-0 in region play) has won eight straight games while clinching the region championship in the process.

If Callaway wins Friday night, it will match the most regular-season wins in school history while heading into the playoffs with all sorts of momentum.

“We’ve had a great week of practice. We’re looking forward to Friday night,” Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said. “It’s a special game for us. It’s senior night, and those guys have worked really hard.”

The Yellow Jackets have scored a combined 123 points during their three-game winning streak.

“Rockmart’s going to bring a great football team to Callaway Stadium,” Wiggins said. “They’ve gotten hot of late particulary from an offensive standpoint. They’re throwing the ball well. They’re going to be ready to go.

“We’re expecting a hard-fought football game. And our kids are excited about it. They’re ready to play in front of the home crowd. It’s going to be a phsyical game.”

While this will be the first region meeting between Callaway and Rockmart, the teams do have a history. In 2010, in the opening round of the Class AA state playoffs, Callaway beat Rockmart 30-8.

Rockmart is coached by Dan Duff, who Wiggins calls “a great guy.”

“Coach Duff, we’ve known each other for a long time. He’s a great guy,” Wiggins said. “He’ll have his team ready to go. We’re just looking forward to that atmosphere. We’re going to have to come out and execute and limit our mistakes and play Callaway football.”