DALTON, Ga. — Though they are focusing on improving different sides of the ball, both the Dalton and Valdosta high school coaches said the key to Friday night’s Class 6A state semifinal football game at Harmon Field will be to have balance on offense.

The team that is the most successful in doing so could find itself playing for a state championship.

In Dalton’s 30-28 quarterfinal victory over Coffee last Friday, quarterback JP Tighe completed just 6 of 18 passes and threw for a season-low 52 yards. The Catamounts were still successful thanks in large part to a season-high 243 rushing yards from tailback Ahmaad Tanner and several key plays on special teams.

Tighe has been successful at points throughout the season as he’s thrown for 2,025 yards and 20 touchdowns, but Dalton coach Matt Land believes his team will need success in the air tonight to make its first state finals appearance since 2001.

That challenge will be difficult for Dalton without its leading receiver, Zeke Cobb, who along with reserve receiver Clay Britton is expected to miss the game following a citation for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana earlier this week. Tighe believes he and the rest of the offense are up to the task of having more success in the passing game, evidenced by when the Cats won 24-22 against Allatoona on Nov. 4 despite just 12 yards from Tanner.

“We think their intentions will be to stop Ahmaad and to load the box after what he’s been able to do the last two weeks,” Tighe said. “They did it in the Allatoona game too and we stepped up and made big plays. We will have to do that again and bring our game to the next level.”

Senior Kyric McGowan knows that he and the other receivers will have to step up for the Cats to have success in the passing game. Cobb leads the Catamounts with 45 catches for 954 yards and 11 touchdowns. McGowan is second on the team with 35 catches for 639 yards and seven scores, while Sam Stepp has reeled in 14 balls for 184 yards and a score.

“We’ve got to step it up,” McGowan said. “Ahmaad has really been a big plus for us all year, but teams are starting to key on him. But we don’t think teams can stop all of us. So if they focus on Ahmaad, that leaves opportunities for the receivers to make plays in the passing game.”

It won’t be an easy task for Dalton against a stout Valdosta defense that has been well tested throughout the season. While playing in one of the toughest regions in the state, the Wildcats have held their own. The four other teams in Region 1-6A — Coffee, Houston County, Lee County and Northside-Warner Robins — all averaged more than 30 points per game this season. But the Wildcats gave up just 47 points combined in four region games.

Dalton offensive lineman Caden Stokes said the biggest thing that stands out about the Wildcats’ defense is the overall team speed.

“They are really fast,” Stokes said. “Most of the teams we’ve faced this year have been fast, but they are a whole other level up. So we just have to work even harder to be ready for it.”

The Wildcats are led on defense by James Bushware and Zakoby McClain, who lead the team in tackles with 96 and 80, respectively. Free safety Antwon Kincade has 69 tackles, while defensive end Devonnsha Maxwell has 46 tackles and nine tackles for loss.

“They have a few guys that stand out on defense that are really talented,” Land said. “They are very disciplined and flow to the football exceptionally well. They are really well coached. The two linebackers are the leading tacklers and (Maxwell) is really aggressive and comes at you. Those are the guys that really make things happen.”

Valdosta coach Alan Rodemaker said he knows the Cats can be prolific on offense by utilizing a number of playmakers, but also confirmed the key will be to slow down Tanner.

“They have so many weapons,” Rodemaker said. “We got a glimpse of it when we came up to the (Southeastern 7-on-7 Championship). JP is a really good player and their running back had a great game against Coffee. Both lines of scrimmage are really good, too. We have to stop the run and stop Tanner. He can’t have 240 yards for us to win the game.”

On offense, Valdosta uses two quarterbacks effectively. Junior Hunter Holt has completed 95 of 138 passes for 1,087 yards and 13 touchdowns with just two interceptions, while senior Josh Belton has completed 84 of 135 passes for 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. Valdosta’s leading receiver is senior JR Ingram, who has caught 50 passes for 882 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Holt is also the team’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 139 times for 626 yards and six scores. Belton has rushed 79 times for 375 yards and six scores, while tailback Tevin Gray has 98 carries for 544 yards and six touchdowns.

Rodemaker said the key for the Wildcats will be to have success running the ball.

“We struggled with that last week and had to throw a lot early,” he said. “Running and stopping the run and protecting the ball is always key. That’s been big for us all year.”

The Dalton defense has been stout as well, giving up just 13.5 points per game. The Cats have forced a lot of turnovers, 27 in total, led by an area-best six interceptions from cornerback Nasir Love-Porter. That could be a key in tonight’s game, but Land said the biggest focus will be to just keep the Wildcats from making big plays.

“It starts on defense for us,” Land said. “Myself and coach Rodemaker are both defensive coaches so we have very similar game plans — win special teams, play sound defensively and don’t let the offense hurt you. That’s the formula for defensive coaches. So what we are focusing on is we can’t give up big plays. The constant in all our big games, whether it’s Harrison, Allatoona or Winder-Barrow and on through the playoffs, is we focused on not allowing the big play.”