By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

When Pete Wiggins was in the early stages of his time as Callaway’s head coach, he was looking for an opponent to fill out the schedule.

Callaway ended up playing Cross Keys in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and both games were mismatches.

Callaway won 27-2 in 2006, and it beat Cross Keys 53-0 the following year.

More than 10 years later, those two teams are set to play again.

Callaway, which beat LaGrange 14-0 last week to improve to 2-0, will be in DeKalb County on Friday to play Cross Keys.

Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m., and the game will be played at Adams Stadium.

“It’ll be a different routine,” said Wiggins, Callaway’s head coach since 2005. “I think the kids will handle it well. All of our time frames will be the same, it’s just the start times will be different. We’ll try to treat everything the same way and get to Atlanta, and hopefully we’ll have success.”

The game features two teams whose seasons have gone in different directions.

Callaway opened its season with an impressive 35-21 win over Opelika, and it followed that up with a hard-fought 14-0 victory over LaGrange.

Callaway also beat Starr’s Mill 26-6 in a preseason game.

Cross Keys has played three games, and it has been outscored 155-12.

Cross Keys has been shut out in its past two games, and that included last week’s 62-0 home loss to Social Circle.

Wiggins said his team’s philosophy is the same, regardless of the quality of the opponent.

“We just have to go and play our brand of ball,” Wiggins said. “That’s being able to establish the running game, and play fast and hard on defense, and hopefully good things will happen.”

For Callaway, the season has been a grind so far.

Starr’s Mill and Opelika were both quality opponents, and Callaway had its hands full with rival LaGrange last week.

“The Starr’s Mill game was physical,” Wiggins said. “Even though it was a scrimmage, it was a hard-fought game. And then we play Opelika and LaGrange, and both of those games were physical. So our schedule’s been tough. Hopefully it’ll prepare us for down the road.”

Against LaGrange, junior quarterback Jacob Freeman accounted for both Callaway touchdowns.

Freeman had an 8-yard touchdown run, and he threw a 2-yard scoring pass to Antinez Blount.

Both of those touchdowns came in the second half.

Those 14 points were enough thanks to a stingy defense that didn’t give up a point.

Callaway will play Troup next week before beginning its Region 5-AA schedule on Sept. 21 against Temple.

Callaway’s final six regular-season games will be against region foes.

“The season’s going by fast,” Wiggins said. “I talked to the guys on Monday about how it’s week three on the regular-season schedule. Each week goes by really fast, and you need to enjoy the moment, because you can’t have them back. I think the kids appreciate that, and we’re looking forward to Friday night.”

CALLAWAY VS. CROSS KEYS

WHEN: Friday, 5:15 p.m.

WHERE: DeKalb County (Adams Stadium)

RECORDS: Callaway (2-0), Cross Keys (0-3)