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Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared in the LaGrange Daily News’ football magazine, Pigskin, which is available now.

The last time Callaway did not make at least the AA state quarterfinals Barack Obama was president. Times change, but the dominance of Callaway football remains. It has been eight straight seasons with at least a trip to the state quarterfinals.

The Cavaliers will take it a game at a time, but simply put the program’s expectations are always to make a deep playoff run. Regardless of how far Callaway goes in the postseason this year, an annual tradition will be going away. For the last eight years the Cavaliers have played a playoff game on Black Friday and shared a large Thanksgiving meal the day before. This year, GHSA decided to make it a bye week before resuming the playoffs the following week. 

“I’ve always enjoyed the opportunity to eat with our players on Thanksgiving Day and you know, meet families and just spend time with with one another,” Callaway head coach Pete Wiggins said. “It was a very special tradition for our team and I’m sad to see it go.”

Last year’s senior class was the final class that will come through Callaway High which got a taste of the lone state championship in school history (2020). The team and school are hungry for another and they have come close the last few years but have not been able to finish.

Championship aspirations are the new normal for the Cavaliers, but as always Wiggins will take it week-by-week, game-by-game. 

“We have to take care of each game one week at a time,” Wiggins said, “With our schedule, you cannot overlook any team.”

“​​A lot of questions that I get asked is ‘how many guys do you have returning? How many were starters?’ I think that’s a great question, but I think it’s something that we try really hard to do here is to develop that depth and experience of guys so that once it is their chance to start they already have experience on Friday nights for us,” Wiggins said.

For the first time since 2003, somebody other than Dusty Hubbard will be running the defense. Casey Smith, former head coach at Union Grove, will put his stamp on that side of the ball for Callaway.

“I’m excited about Coach Smith,” Wiggins said. “He’s done a great job. He’s bringing great energy. So our practices this summer have been a lot of learning.”

Smith brings a strong defensive pedigree having won two state champions, four region champions, nine top-10 finishes for defenses under his command, and 36 career shutouts.

As always there is player turnover as well. The team lost 18 players from last season.

“With that group, there were multiple three-year starters, there were guys that had contributed at multiple positions for a long time and those guys are hard to replace, but we are excited about the guys filling those shoes this season,” Wiggins said. 

Callaway will be entering an entirely new region this year, occupied by Westside (Macon), Rutland, Morgan County, Jackson and Pike County. It is one of the smallest regions in the state, forcing the Cavaliers to play five non-region games.

QUARTERBACK:

For the last six years, a Coleman has been a starter at quarterback for the Cavaliers. Demetrius started from 2018-2020 before passing the torch to younger brother DeShun for the last three seasons. Now, there is a changing of the guard. Blake Harrington, a junior, has been watching, learning and occasionally hitting the field on varsity to get him ready for this moment.

“For six years we had a Coleman back there starting at quarterback for us and that was a big deal,” Wiggins said. “Losing a guy that has started for us for the last three years is extremely difficult, but we know Blake will be up for the challenge. “

Harrington connected on 11-of-15 passes for 177 yards while also turning 36 rushes into 202 rushing yards and five total touchdowns. It was not just garbage time touches either as offensive coordinator Zach Giddens worked some scripted plays for Harrington.

“He has taken a lot of reps in some big games and he’s taken a lot of big snaps at practice against really good players,” Wiggins said. “I think that he’ll be ready. I think he’ll be focused and I think that he’s excited about the opportunity for the starting role

The Cavaliers asked a lot of DeShun last season and he answered the call, throwing for 1,744 yards while leading the team in rushing with 560 yards and 27 total touchdowns.

Now, they will ask the same from Harrington.

Kaidan James and AJ Williams will serve as the team’s backup quarterbacks.

“They’re all getting better. It takes a long time to develop as a quarterback and there’s a lot of weight that position shoulders, so we are excited to see these guys continue to develop,” Wiggins said.

RUNNING BACK:

The team’s top two leading running backs from last season departed for the collegiate ranks. Cam Tucker was a Swiss Army knife and had 440 yards on the ground and 440 yards receiving and was a near-impossible player to replace.

“It’s hard to find a Cam Tucker, he was very special and did a lot of good things for us,” Wiggins said. 

Zai Hart rushed for 422 yards and eight touchdowns last year and is now playing football at Maryville.

The Cavaliers will see the return of senior Tyren Buggs. He was second on the team in carries last season (70) and fourth in rushing yards (414). 

“He had an injury during basketball season and hopefully he will be cleared here soon and be able to play for us,” Wiggins said. 

Senior BreShun Hall is going to step in and get some touches at running back this season. Travon Reeves, who will play some wide receiver, will be in the backfield some.

The Cavaliers also have high hopes for Christian Kennedy this season after turning 37 carries into 237 yards. 

“I expect all four of those guys to take snaps at running back for us this season,” Wiggins said. “They’re all different, they all bring something a little bit different. They all bring a different style.

WIDE RECEIVER:

Cam Tucker and Treyonn Tucker will be massive losses for the Cavaliers. Cam did it all for the Cavaliers and Treyonn was a true no. 1 wide receiver, putting up 44 catches for 796 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior. The team also lost their third-leading receiver in D’Arcy Harris, who was a two-way stud for the Cavaliers.

Filling the void left behind will be Bryceton Sanders, younger brother of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braylon Sanders. An injury wiped away his junior year, but he is poised to return and lead the wide receiver corp as a senior.

“He had a very significant injury last year and he’s had to work hard in the offseason to come back from that and we’re really excited about him being back this year,” Wiggins said. “Even though he missed last year, he’s a guy that’s played a lot of ball for us.”

Kaiden James played sporadically at wide receiver last year, catching five passes for 77 yards. The big-body receiver is getting attention from all over the country this offseason and has already received an offer from the University of Alabama among other universities.

“He’s got a big frame for a 10th grader, he’s 190 pounds and he’s 6’1 and so he’s got a size,” Wiggins said. “He’s worked hard each day and so hopefully, there will be an opportunity for him to create explosive plays for our offense this season.”

Travon Reeves might be able to fill the Cam Tucker role in some ways. He can line up out wide or in the backfield and turned six catches into 126 yards last season.

Jeremiah Dunn, Jeffrey Ellis and TJ Pollard will all get reps at wide receiver this season as well.

“We’ve got several guys that have gotten a lot of reps at wide receivers, and we’re excited about what they may bring to our team. They are going to rotate in and bring some explosiveness to our offense,” Wiggins said.

TIGHT END:

The Callaway offense will deploy a platoon of tight ends this season. Junior Nizerik Houston is poise to lead the way at the position, but Tyrone Fitten, Brandon Sellers, Xae Anderson, Darius Davis and Tony Hardaway will all receive playing time at tight end and in the blocking H-back role.

“We are still trying to figure out our exact depth chart for the position, but most if not all of those guys will see action on offense,” Wiggins said. 

Koryon Hoard, who caught six passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns and was a reliable blocker, got the lion’s share of work at tight end last season, but this year another player will have to emerge to fill the role. 

OFFENSIVE LINE:

A new leader has emerged along the offensive line with Jojo Shuman graduating and playing at Point University this fall, the team needed a leader in the trenches. They got just that in senior De’Various Ewing, who has matured and taken a big step forward this offseason.

“When you can see young people grow and develop into leaders, that’s what coaching is about,” Wiggins said. “He’s progressed so much in his high school career and he works hard in the weight room and he’s doing a great job for us. he’s really determined right now and brings a good positive energy to our football team.”

Ewing’s playing time has been limited coming into this season, but the senior is set to hit new heights in 2024.

Junior Elijah Rowe broke onto the scene last season. The 6’5 interior offensive lineman already holds offers from Georgia State and Appalachian State and will be a starter once again this season.

Senior Curt Willis will start at one of the guard spots. Lason Blackmon, another senior, could earn the starting tackle spot opposite of Ewing.

Junior Tyrone Fitten also started on the offensive line last season and will see some reps there and at H-back this year.

Josiah Garrett started at guard last season and could earn a starting nod there again this year. 

Sophomores Hudson Norris, Tevin Mackfield and KaMar Simon will be valuable depth pieces and could get rotated into the lineup.

“’I’m excited about our offensive line, they went to a camp in June at Jekyll Island and they really came together down there with (offensive line) coach (Robbie) Adams,” Wiggins said. “I think it was a really neat experience for them and I feel like it helped them mature as football players.

DEFENSIVE LINE:

With Callaway being a 2A school, a lot of the premium players up front have to play on both sides of the ball. 

Expect guys like Tyrone Fitten, Nizerik Houston and Brandon Sellers to all be impact two-way players. All three of these players received ample playing time on the defensive line a season ago. Fitten was an All-Region player last season snd sixth on the team in tackles with 30. 

Houston was fourth on last year’s team in sacks (3) and had five tackles for a loss. 

Skylar Melton was a starter last season at defensive tackle and earned a spot on the All-Region teams as well.

Experience guys like BreShun Hall, Tony Hardaway and Josiah Garrett will all have their roles to play along the defensive line.

Sophomore Nigel Jones has enjoyed a breakout summer and could get worked into the rotation as well.

“there’s still a lot of competition for starting roles on the defensive line which is a good thing because every team needs depth at that position,” Wiggins said. “We will rotate these guys in and out.”

The Cavaliers had Camren Gunn eating up space, dominating offensive linemen and getting into the backfield. The next great Callaway defensive lineman is likely already on the roster, ready to break out this fall.

LINEBACKER:

The admiral on defense this season will be Xae Anderson, who finished third on the team in tackles last season with 62. 

Anderson is not just one of the most talented players on the team but is also one of the smartest. He possesses a combination of rare traits that have drawn the attention of scouts. 

The junior already has college offers from the Naval Academy and Vanderbilt.

“You gotta be a person that can make plays on Friday nights and if you don’t have that, you’re not going to get that kind of attention,” Wiggins said. “He has excellent grades, and he’s a high-character kid. He has all the boxes checked.”

The Cavaliers will have to replace All-Region linebacker Trey Freeman as well as Kavius Leonard, who will be sliding back into the secondary. Darius Davis, Jy’quan Mitchell and Tyren Buggs have all seen significant reps at linebacker and all will be a part of the linebacking unit this year. 

SECONDARY:

Kavius Leonard, who also has an offer from the Naval Academy and West Point, was an All-Region player last season at linebacker, but will slide to safety.

“There are a lot of kids who have talent but do not have the work ethic, so I don’t think guys like him get enough credit for how much he puts in on and off the field,” Leonard said. “He is a kid that is super talented and works super hard and that makes him stand out.”

Leonard was fifth on the team in tackles with 44.

Callaway had four members of its secondary make the All-Region teams a season ago — Johnathon Freeman, D’Arcy Harris, Jeremiah Dunn and Jeffrey Ellis. While the first two graduated, Dunn and Ellis will be back this season and will likely be the team’s two starting cornerbacks. Dunn was tied for the team lead in pass breakups last year with six. Ellis was third on the team with five. 

Keyshawn Cameron Christian Kennedy, Trayvon Reeves and Antravious Terry will be competing for reps in the secondary with at least one of these players likely to start in week one.

SPECIAL TEAMS:

The Cavaliers will have some changeover in special teams this year. Greyson Batchelor handled both kicking and punting duties a season ago and graduated in May. 

He will be replaced by BreShun Hall in the kicking department and Deantarrious Harris as punter.

The Cavaliers have a friendly competition between Xae Anderson and Tyrone Fitten to see who wins the starting long-snapper position.