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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Callaway Cavaliers, who are still basking in the glow of their state championship last year, have released their schedule for the 2021 season.

The regular season will begin with a game against Opelika on Aug. 20, and it will be the third time in four years the teams have played.

Callaway was supposed to play Opelika to open the 2020 season, but the game was canceled when the Georgia High School Association delayed the start of the season by two weeks.

In the first meeting between the two programs, Callaway won 35-21 to open the 2018 season.

A year later, it was Opelika beating Callaway 10-7 in a game dominated by the defenses.

Callaway also lost a game against Dothan (Ala.) last season, but it was able to add a game at Thomas County Central.

In the first meeting between the programs, Callaway scored a touchdown with less than 10 seconds left to beat Thomas County Central 16-14.

This year, Callaway and Thomas County Central will play again, and the game will be at Callaway Stadium.

Callaway also has non-region games against Troup, Hardaway and Douglass-Atlanta, as well as a preseason game against Darlington.

Callaway’s Region 5-AA opponents are Haralson County, Bremen, Temple and Heard County.

A year ago, Callaway went 12-1, and it beat Fitzgerald 22-17 in the Class AA state-championship game in Atlanta.

Callaway, which won the region title, also beat Lovett, Thomasville and Rabun County in the state playoffs.

Callaway will be led by head coach Pete Wiggins, who has a 150-48 record since taking over the program in 2005.

Under the guidance of Wiggins, the Cavaliers have made it at least as far as the third round

of the state playoffs for five straight years, and they broke through for their first state title last fall.

The Cavaliers have been in the state playoffs for 15 straight seasons, and they’ve won at least one playoff game every year but one since 2008.

2021 SCHEDULE

PRESEASON

Aug. 12 – Callaway at Darlington

REGULAR SEASON

Aug. 20 – Callaway at Opelika

Aug. 27 – Troup at Callaway

Sept. 3 – Hardaway at Callaway

Sept. 9 – Douglass-Atlanta at Callaway

Sept. 24 – Thomas County Central at Callaway

Oct. 8 – Haralson County at Callaway

Oct. 15 – Callaway at Bremen

Oct. 28 – Temple at Callaway

Nov. 5 – Callaway at Heard County