The teacher notices everything.
From the student who spent 15 minutes taking a test and didn’t double-check his arithmetic, to the kid falling asleep in the corner.
Sometimes a quick talk after class does the trick. Sometimes it takes a parent-teacher conference. Sometimes it takes tutoring.
But you never quite know who is the diamond in the rough, and who is the stone in a pot of gold until mid-term time. The test scores have been averaged and attendance numbers tallied, and the news can be uplifting or disappointing.
For area high school football teams, the mid-term report cards have been filled out and sent home, and while no one is bringing home a projected 4.0 grade point average, no one is a lost cause, either.
As the second half of the 2012 schedule approaches, here are the first-half grades — overall, offense, defense and a rating on how each team has performed based on reasonable preseason expectations — dished out in the teacher’s feared red ink.
Christian Heritage — B+
(4-2 overall, 1-1 Sub-region 6A-A)
Four straight test scores found a spot on the refrigerator and ushered in hopes of at least a Class A private school state playoff spot — and maybe even a region championship. Stepping up most of the way has been the defense. Don’t blame this group for the 20-7 loss to Gordon Lee or the eight-turnover 40-16 loss to Model. They’ve been solid, as well as underrated.
Defensive Grade: A-minus
Trevor Brown’s late-game leadership in a 28-27 win against Mt. Zion-Carroll drew smiley faces and check marks. But the two losses fall on this squad’s shoulders. You can’t turn the ball over eight times and win. You can’t score just seven points and win. The offense brought its mid-term average up with big-scoring games, but also has shown inconsistency.
Offensive Grade: B
A win against Gordon Lee and a spot atop the sub-region standings would have set the curve for the rest of the class and impressed the teacher. Still, the Lions have been a surprise in their first year of GHSA competition.
Season Outlook: Exceeds expectations
Coahulla Creek — C+
(2-4 overall, 1-2 Region 5-3A)
If the defense was a little better against Gordon Lee, the Colts would have started 2-0. Erick Dominguez has been exceptional, and he shined brightest against Sonoraville with three interceptions. In the past two games, this first-year varsity program went up against two undefeated teams and only scored seven points. If a student who never took geometry takes his first trigonometry test, it might not end well.
Defensive Grade: C-plus
The losses to Cartersville and Gordon Central are tough ones to judge, considering the talent of the teams. The season’s bright spot was a 20-point, second-half effort against Sonoraville. That’s like a kid pulling his hair for 30 minutes over that word problem before you finally see him pause and fist pump.
Offensive Grade: C-plus
This is a ninth-grader taking an AP Honors class with juniors and seniors, so the teacher is a little careful not to be too harsh. Coahulla Creek is hanging around in the region, in a four-way tie for the region’s fourth playoff berth.
Season Outlook: Meets expectations
Dalton — C-
(2-3 overall, 0-1 Sub-region 7B-4A)
The Catamounts’ defense has made a couple stops when it absolutely needed to — and is a big reason for the two wins — but in the three losses, the teacher’s red ink fills the page for that side of the ball. A combined 138 points in Dalton’s three defeats is more than concerning, and it seems like the last two could have been worse. Here’s a comparison: over the past two seasons, the Catamounts had allowed more than 30 points just once.
Defensive Grade: D-plus
Sophomore running back Kelvis Rhodes is a stud and has done his part to bring the class average up. The offense was beginning to blossom in the Ringgold game and exploded in the first half against Cass. A comeback against Gilmer may have been the best all-around, 24-minute effort by this group, but the past two weeks have shown troubling declines. Tight end Will Erwin seems to be a non-factor in a passing game that sorely needs to find a way to get the ball to him.
Offensive Grade: C
This team is a Ringgold fumble and a Gilmer touchdown run away from being 0-5 and making everyone rethink why the grading system skips E on its way to F. The teacher expected more from this group.
Season Outlook: Below expectations
Murray County — D+
(0-5 overall, 0-2 Region 7-2A)
The Indians have had trouble stopping people, allowing at least 40 points in each of their five games, and coach John Hammond switched to a zone-favored Cover 2 scheme. Anytime you switch from algebra to geometry, it will take some adjusting. You just hope the light bulbs begin turning on before the final exam. The Calhoun game could be that test filled with trick questions.
Defensive Grade: C-minus
The lesson plan was created to adhere to senior quarterback Brady Todd’s abilities. It just doesn’t seem like the Indians can finish drives. In the Christian Heritage loss, they had the ball in Lions territory near the end of the second half while only trailing 14-0. It resulted in a turnover on downs. This offense isn’t intended to throw the ball 30 times a game, so it also isn’t intended to come from behind.
Offensive Grade: D-plus
There’s red ink everywhere on the page, but the teacher went in knowing there would be a curve. Still, there’s no doubt the Inians hoped to be able to compete beyond a half. Luckily, this report card does not affect the GPA. That comes after the 10th game.
Season Outlook: Below expectations
North Murray — B
(4-2 overall, 1-2 Region 5-3A)
As the wins pile up and the expectations begin to grow, the Mountaineers need to look for more from the defense. The teacher will forgive Cartersville scoring 40 points. Winless Dade County scoring 45 gets a note home to the parents. Adairsville scoring 70 deserves a student-teacher conference. It goes off and on. A good defensive showing precedes a below average one.
Defensive Grade: C-plus
For the inconsistency North Murray’s defense has shown, the offense has been nothing short of glamorous. The teacher’s pet has scored 20 points in each game, 30 or more four times and 50 or more twice. Make room on the fridge for the play of seniors Brady Swilling, Jacob Mays and Christian Bukle. They know how to score points and terrorize defenses.
Offensive Grade: A-minus
After a 1-19 start its first two years, North Murray has been the surprise student sitting in the front of the class writing down the teacher’s every word. Right now the signature win isn’t quite there, but chances are coming.
Season Outlook: Exceeds expectations
Northwest Whitfield — B+
(4-1 overall, 1-0 Sub-region 7B-4A)
Aside from two garbage-time touchdowns for River Ridge and one for Heritage-Catoosa, this is what the Bruins’ defense has allowed in their four wins: seven points each versus Pepperell, Pickens and River Ridge and zero against Heritage-Catoosa. Teachers don’t often hand out the vaunted gold stars, but this unit gets one.
Defensive Grade: A-minus
Silas Ledford is starting to become the leader of this quick-strike offense. The speed in which Northwest scores is like the kid who raises his hand to answer a question before the teacher finishes asking it. The senior has thrown four touchdowns each of the past two weeks and is beginning to make mediocre efforts in the beginning of the year a memory.
Offensive Grade: B
Northwest still has not pieced together a complete game yet, with Pepperell and River Ridge being the closest attempts. Take away the loss against Cass, and the teacher would have the Bruins on the prestigious principal’s list. Instead, an honor roll spot must suffice.
Season Outlook: Meets expectations
Southeast Whitfield — C
(1-4 overall, 1-0 Sub-region 7B-4A)
The defense stepped up when it absolutely had to against LaFayette, and the most recent impression is always the strongest. But it doesn’t completely wipe out the group’s not-so-stellar performances against North Murray, Gordon Central, Gilmer and Cedartown. Those teams combine for an 18-5 record, though, so maybe the Raiders were just picking fights with the biggest bullies at recess.
Defensive Grade: C-minus
The quarterback position is akin to the true-false exam format, where there’s no middle ground between right and wrong. Blake Foster seems to be getting better acquainted with the role in his first year at the position. And he’s starting to create a dangerous connection with wide receiver Rhett Harper. Still, it’s tough to judge the first few performances with a new coach and new quarterback.
Offensive Grade: C-plus
Anyone in the Southeast program will say the sub-region mark means more than the overall tally. Any student will tell you the science test gets more study time than the world history exam. But the first science test, LaFayette, wasn’t the most difficult, either.
Season Outlook: Meets expectations
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