Recent history hasn't been kind to northwest Georgia teams forced to play up a classification due to increased student enrollment.
A move to Georgia's highest classification and an 0-20 record in 2006 and 2007 was a major reason the program at Murray County went from annual playoff contender to one just now finding its way back to respectability. Northwest Whitfield fared better in its move the same two years but won just eight games before moving back down and getting back into the playoffs.
Dalton hopes to buck that trend as it moves into Region 7-AAAAA, where the Catamounts will face some familiar foes in Cass, River Ridge and Woodland. In fact, coach Matt Land believes a move into the state's second-highest classification will invigorate his team.
"We're excited about the opportunity to compete at a higher level of competition," he said. "For us to be successful at this level we're going to have to take some of those little things that we could maybe overlook in Class three-A and four-A and concentrate on them more. It will challenge us from a coaching standpoint and from a player and community standpoint, and I'm very excited about it.
"We know we're competing in five-A for the next two years, and we plan on doing it at the highest level we can. We expect to win."
Dalton's isn't taking the field hurting for talent. In fact, even with the announcement recently that star linebacker Eder Mora would concentrate on soccer this year and not suit up this fall, Dalton may have perhaps its most talented team since a run to the state title game in 2001.
The team's option-based offense again will feature Kelvis Rhodes, the former 1,500-yard rusher who was injured much of last season, and a quarterback in Payton Veraldi who can make defenses pay if they put too much emphasis on stopping Rhodes. Dalton's biggest weapon, however, may be senior tight end Chase Westfall, who, despite being 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, runs a sub 4.6 40-yard dash.
"Chase is just a freak of a football player, and I mean that in a good way," Land said with a laugh. "He is very physical, and when we get him the ball he can do some great things. One of our goals this year is to find more ways to get him involved in the offense."
The Mercer University recruit also will play some on a defense that, even with Mora's absence, should be strong and aggressive. Gordon Central transfer Nate Mays will help replace Mora's production in a linebacking corps that is expected to be among the best the program has produced.
"We've got probably the most athletically inclined linebackers we've had," Land said. "When you can put your fastest guy on the team like [former quarterback] Jase Chastain, who was clocked at 4.47 [in the 40], and pair him with Nate Mays, who is a 4.5 guy at 220 pounds, and add hammerheads like Tucker Sumner and Jay Rockholt, they all add unique qualities to a group that should be fun to watch."
- Lindsey Young
DALTON CATAMOUNTS
Head coach: Matt Land (27-17 in four years here and overall)
Last year: 8-3, 5-0 in Region 7B-AAAA; lost to Alexander in AAAA first round
Returning starters (O/D/K): 8/3/1
Control panel: The Catamounts' run-first offense again will revolve around RB Kelvis Rhodes (5-10, 170, Sr.), who missed a good part of last year with an ankle injury. QB Peyton Veraldi (6-2, 180, Sr.) had a great summer and is one of the team's best athletes, while TE/DE Chase Westfall (6-4, 241, Sr.) will be a mismatch on both sides of the ball.
New producers: Transfer LB Nate Mays (6-3, 217, Sr.) brings power and athletic ability to the defense, while fellow LB Jase Chastain (6-3, 195, Sr.), who was a quarterback before being injured last year, is expected to have a breakout year.
BLURBS
22 - All-time wins against the teams Dalton is joining in the new Region 7-AAAAA. The Catamounts have lost 10 games to those same teams.
9 - Harmon Field is regarded as one of the state's toughest places to play, yet Dalton hasn't won a home playoff game in nine years.
"For a lot of teams it's probably good to be the new kid on the block, because there are things they don't know about you, but everybody knows about Dalton and what we're about, so I don't see an advantage." - Matt Land
2014 SCHEDULE
(all games at 7:30 Eastern unless noted)
Aug. 22 - at Scottsboro, Ala., 8
Aug. 29 - Calhoun
Sept. 12 - North Atlanta
Sept. 19 - Cass *
Sept. 26 - at Sequoyah *
Oct. 03 - Creekview *
Oct. 10 - at Rome *
Oct. 17 - River Ridge *
Oct. 24 - at Woodland, Cartersville *
Nov. 7 - Region 7-AAAAA play-in
- Region 7-AAAAA game