DALTON, Ga. — When the subject of Dalton High School football is brought up, it’s safe to say most people conjure up images of physical teams with great rushing attacks.
The program’s list of 1,000-yard rushers is lengthy, including current NFL rookie star Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions and 2022 near-2,000-yard rusher Tyson Greenwade. This year’s team also has a 1,000-yard back in Adriel Hernandez, but that’s the only resemblance the current Catamounts have with previous run-heavy squads.
Coach Kit Carpenter’s Cats (8-3), who are set to take on second-ranked Creekside (10-1) in the second round of the GHSA Class AAAAA playoffs Friday night, feature one of the state’s most balanced offensive attacks this season. They have averaged 36 points per game and have amassed 4,527 total yards, with 43 plays of 20-plus yards and 17 that have gone 40 or more.
Carpenter, the former all-state Dalton linebacker, takes little credit for the prolific surge — the team had 2,000 fewer yards in 12 games a year ago — as offensive coordinator Eric Long has full control of that side of the ball.
“I don’t stay over there at all,” Carpenter said with a laugh. “Coach Long and his staff do a great job, which gives me a lot of freedom as a head coach.”