His brother may be miles away, but Ben Callaway still finds a way to make it seem as if his sibling is still close at hand.

The Morgan Academy junior halfback no longer sees his brother, Allen, on the field or the sidelines. But, at least in spirit, the two are never far apart.

After joining his brother on the Morgan Academy football team, Allen – a former tight end and defensive end with the Senators – graduated last season and is now an Engineering major at the University of Alabama. However, Ben said the competition that kept the two so close still exists.

“I saw him last week at the Fort Dale game,” Ben said of Allen. “He told me he’s still better than me. But the younger brother’s always better. That’s just how it goes.

“It’s hard not having Allen out there,” Ben added. “In fact, I look for him because he’s always been the leader out there on the field. But he’s also not on my case anymore, which is a good thing. Maybe he is on the sideline, but I can’t hear him.”

After seeing light playing time in last season’s state championship season, Ben Callaway has become a key part of the Senators’ offense as both a running back and receiver for quarterback Jeremy Smith. The Senators have won seven games in a row and will go for their eighth consecutive victory Friday night when they visit Meadowview Christian.

Next Friday, the Senators will finally have their chance to stake their claim for another title when they travel to Mobile to take on the AISA’s top team in Faith Academy.

“We’ve practiced for Faith all year,” Ben said. “Somewhere down the road we’ll have to beat them, whether it’s there or in the playoffs.”

As Morgan Academy prepares and marches into the playoffs, Ben knows he isn’t alone. Not only will his brother keep in touch from Tuscaloosa, but Ben also knows his father, Vic, won’t be far away.

The Callaway brothers lost their father two years ago when Vic Callaway died in his sleep from a blood clot in his back. The condition came about after Vic underwent back surgery. He passed away on Halloween night in 2002 – the day before Ben’s first game against Meadowview Christian.

While a shoulder injury kept Ben out of the game, Allen played.

“I wish I could have played, too,” Ben said. “Dad was a huge supporter of Morgan Academy and whatever athletic event I was in. It’s what he would have wanted me to do.”

Ben said he thinks about his father and former teammate Walt Harrison before every game. Harrison, a defensive lineman for the Senators last season, was killed in a car accident last winter.

Prior to every game, Ben turns his wrists into somewhat of a memorial for his father and former teammate. After wrapping his wrists with athletic tape, he writes messages honoring the two. On his left wrist tape, Ben writes RIP Dad, while his right wrist tape sports Harrison’s name and jersey number 72.

“Walt was the best defensive player on the team,” Ben said. “He knew he was good. Everyone knew he was good.

“Having those words on my wrists is a motivation for me in every game,” Ben added. “If I’m tired and I feel like I can’t pull it out, I look down at my wrists. After that, I know there’s nothing I can’t do.”