DE KALB — After it’s Class 3A opening round playoff win over Water Valley, 64-34, on Nov. 7, Kemper County head coach Chris Jones knew there was one area in which his squad needed to  improve if it wished to keep advancing through the playoffs: defense.

During the following week’s practice, the second-year coach, alongside his defensive staff, would place an emphasis on fundamentals and technique.

If the results of the next two weeks of games were any indication, the coaching efforts had a significant impact.

The Wildcats defense forced eight combined turnovers, and limited East Side and Aberdeen each to just 20 points.

Kemper County (11-3) will look to sustain the momentum its built up on defense when it travels to Charleston High School (11-2) for the North title Friday.

“That’s the side of the ball that’s going to help us continue through the playoffs,” Jones said. “We’ve made strides. I feel like every week we’ve gotten better and better.”

The architect of that turnaround has been first-year defensive coordinator Mike Atwood.

“(Atwood) does a great job for us,” Jones said. “We meet on Sundays, watch film and break down the game plan. He does a great job of relaying (the game plan) and what we want to accomplish to the kids.”

Atwood said Kemper County’s recent surge defensively comes as no surprise as he has witnessed the potential first hand, dating all the way back to offseason workouts.

“We got a whole lot better in the offseason,” said Atwood, who served as the Wildcats’ linebackers coach in 2013. “It started during the Spring, and it has rolled over into the year. The guys enjoy playing in the scheme. We have a lot of great athletes, and if (the coaches) can get them in the right positions, then their talent will allow them to make plays. We try to keep it simple, but at the same time, we try to put our best athletes in the best position to make plays.”

Additionally, Atwood said it’s his players personality that makes it an easy task, allowing for the first-year coordinator to perform at his absolute best.

“I enjoy coaching my guys,” Atwood said. “I love to come to work every day. I love coaching a bunch of guys who are hungry, athletic, have a lot of speed and just like to run around and make plays.”

Perhaps the strongest indication of the progress made by the Wildcats defense this season came in their most recent contest, a 52-14 win over Aberdeen. After surrendering 40 points in a four-point loss to the Bulldogs on Oct. 10, KCHS held Aberdeen well below their season average of 33.6 points per game in last week’s win.

“So much of the game of football is making adjustments,” Atwood said. “You’re always making adjustments and finding areas in which you need to improve on in order to be successful. In the first game (against Aberdeen), we felt like there was a lot of things we could have done differently. They made a lot of plays, but we felt there were some things we could have done different, schematically. (In the second game), we made some adjustments and added a few wrinkles.

“They jumped out to a 14-point lead on us (last week), but we didn’t panic. We felt like if we stuck with the plan and did what we needed to do, then we would be OK.”

One of the integral parts of the Wildcats defense this season has been the play of senior LaCederick Odom, and his ability to provide support in defending both the run and the pass from his outside linebacker position.

“We have a pretty good defense,” Odom said. “I believe our guys on that side of the ball understand what it takes to be successful. We have to continue to shut down team’s running game, and we’ve done a pretty good job of doing that recently.”

Odom moved from inside linebacker to outside this season, and the senior standout said the transition was a rather smooth one to make.

“I knew it was better for our team for the coaches to move me outside,” Odom said. “I didn’t complain about it, because I know that’s what it would take for us to win. Having played inside, I feel that gives me an advantage; I have a good feel for the game.”

Odom and the Wildcats will look to clinch a spot in the state championship game with a win over Charleston Friday. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

“The defense has to continue to step up,” Odom said. “We have to continue to come up with big plays, and continue doing what we’ve been doing.”