VALDOSTA, Ga. — Alan Rodemaker has tried his best to avoid looking ahead this season, but it comes with the territory as head coach.

The Wildcats would prefer not to presume any victories, but they’ve had to do it on more than one occasion this season.

Valdosta celebrated becoming the first high school football program to win 900 games, but the logistics had to be worked out before officially defeating Lowndes in the season-opening Winnersville Classic.

The Wildcats planned their Thanksgiving festivities, which included a large lunch, bowling and a coaches touch-football game, without another week of football guaranteed before their second-round playoff game against Northgate.

Last week, Rodemaker took a brief glimpse into the future, and called his team’s Class 6A semifinal game in Dalton “a blessing in disguise.”

With more than 300 miles separating the schools, Valdosta took the trip Thursday morning to allow itself plenty of time to get ready for the game, resulting in a dominant 27-6 victory.

Now with a trip to the Georgia Dome set for Friday, Rodemaker and the Wildcats already have their routine set.

“If we’re fortunate enough to win the game, then our itinerary will be exactly the same the next week,” Rodemaker said last Tuesday.

Prior to the trip to Dalton, the furthest Valdosta had to travel for a game this season was the 130-mile journey to Warner Robins for the regular-season finale against Houston County. The Wildcats showed their mental fortitude against the Bears, overcoming a 24-7 deficit to eliminate them from playoff contention, but it paled in comparison to the conditions leading up to facing the Catamounts.

Aside from more than doubling the distance of their previous season-long road trip, the Wildcats had to spend the night away from home only to kickoff their semifinal game in 45 degree weather — well below the average temperature on a Friday evening in Valdosta.

Valdosta didn’t blink though. The Wildcats came out and controlled the game against the Catamounts from the beginning.

After the win, Rodemaker commended his team for being ready to play, defensive line coach/director of football operations DeMario Jones for his work behind the scenes, and the Wildcat faithful for making Harmon Field feel like Bazemore-Hyder Stadium North.

“I think our kids are mentally tough,” Rodemaker said, “We practice hard every week and we make our practices as physical as we can make them.

“The trip was really planned out nice. Coach Jones did a great job with the trip… We had a good movie today, Hacksaw Ridge, I’d recommend it to anybody, and then we stayed at a nice hotel. It felt like we were home. Then all the fans that came out, we feel that side, and it was good to see so much gold and black.”

Valdosta City Schools dismissed students early last Friday to give fans an opportunity to either drive or take one of the fan buses to the game, and they responded by packing out Bill Chappell Stadium.

This Friday, VCS will follow similar procedure so as many fans as possible can witness the Wildcats pursue their first state championship since 1998.

Dismissal times are set for 11:30 a.m. at Valdosta High School, Horne Learning Center and Valdosta Early College Academy (VECA), noon at VCS middle schools and 12:30 p.m. at the elementary schools.

Valdosta sent three chartered fan buses to Dalton for the semifinal round, and its looking to increase that number to up to seven for Friday’s final against Tucker. Buses will leave from the VHS Performing Arts Center on Friday at noon. Seats can be purchased at the Valdosta ticket office for $40 each plus game ticket which are $18. Tickets will be sold for $20 at the Georgia Dome.

Ticket office hours are from 8:30 a.m. until noon and 1-4:30 p.m. today and Wednesday and from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Fans attending the game should also review the Georgia Dome’s clear bag policy.

Derrick Davis is a sports reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times.