By CHRIS MEGGINSON / For the Reporter

CALERA – It was a short night for Calera’s varsity starters, exiting the game in the first quarter of a 48-22 win over Wilcox Central Friday at Ricky Cairns Stadium.

The Eagles led 27-0 after the first 12 minutes of action and scored all 48 of their season-high point total in the first half.

“Every coach knows the trap of playing someone you’re better than,” Calera head coach Wiley McKeller said. “We played at a very high rate of speed and were very aggressive. We delivered an early knockout punch, and we got better this week. Even though we didn’t play very much, I thought our attitude and the way we showed up is how we got better.”

Kyle Harrell, who led the Eagles with 95 yards rushing on three carries, started the night with a 56-yard touchdown run. Calera followed with an 11-yard pick-six on defense, then a 52-yard touchdown run by Charles White and a 6-yard Tyler Ferguson touchdown run to close the first quarter.

Dee Woodson (21 yards) and Trez Harris (1 yard) added touchdown runs in the second quarter. Alex Dozier returned the Eagles’ second interception for a touchdown to make it 48-0 at halftime. Woodson followed Harrell’s lead and finished with 91 yards rushing on four carries.

Calera piled up 369 yards on the ground, while holding Wilcox Central to 243 yards of total offense.

The Eagles (5-1, 3-1) will travel across the county Oct. 9 to play Helena (4-2, 3-1) in a Class 5A, Region 4 battle. Calera beat 45-21 last season, but McKeller expects a different type of game with the second-place spot in the region on the line.

“They’re a much improved football team,” McKeller said. “We’re going to have to play our best to come out with a win there.”