Division II-A East // Grace Academy Stadium, 7815 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
At the helm
Bob Ateca
(25-48 in seven years here and overall)
Heroes assemble!
The Golden Eagles return 7 off., 7 def. starters.
Super powers
The Golden Eagles return most of their 2016 starters. A few will be in different positions, but all that experience is still a plus.
Possible kryptonite
As for all schools Grace's size, depth is always a concern. Some positions are in a better semblance than others.
Spidey sense tingling
With the Golden Eagles making the transition to Division II and being the only team from the Chattanooga area in the DII-A East Region, they have no idea what to expect in their new league. The eight-team region could be competitive, considering Grace was one of six to advance to the state playoffs last year. Yet only Donelson Christian Academy won in the first round, and it lost the following week.
Here I come to save the day!
Cade Tinsley, a 1,200-yard rusher last year, is transitioning to QB. Fellow junior Noah Gray is the leading returning WR, and classmate Matthew Lindon is a 230-pounder who will help on both sides of the line.
Up, up and away!
Jimmy Green remembers when he began hitting his stride last football season. It was right about the time it ended.
Green suffered a wrist injury in April 2016 while playing soccer at Grace. He ultimately had to have surgery and was fitted with a cast.
He had made some key contributions his freshman year in football and finally was able to return to the field Sept. 9 when Grace hosted Silverdale Baptist in the fourth game of the season.
"All my teammates helped me get through it," Green said. "They pushed me even harder. I felt like by the end of the season I was part of the team again."
It's only a slight exaggeration to say he finally felt like he belonged back on a football field about the time of the Golden Eagles' season-ending November playoff loss at Columbia Academy. But it did take until practically October, which was still too late.
"He's healthy right now," Ateca said of the WR/CB. "He looks a whole lot better. He was a sophomore last year and just needed reps. He just got so far behind.
"Our hope is that he gets back to showing the flashes he did as a freshman."
Ateca noted that coming back from injury can take dealing with the mental part of convincing oneself of being well again, in addition to the physical recovery.
Green may have been a victim of that then. But he feels good about where he is now.
"You've still got to work hard at your position," Green said, "because everybody else is working their tails off to get it, too."
2016 Results
Aug. 19 Concord Christian won, 65-0
Aug. 26 Ezell-Harding lost, 41-21
Sep. 2 Lookout Valley won, 48-13
Sep. 9 Silverdale Baptist lost, 33-7
Sep. 16 Sale Creek won, 49-0
Sep. 23 Copper Basin lost, 35-21
Sep. 30 Whitwell lost, 56-34
Oct. 6 Tenn. Christian Prep won, 1-0
(forfeit)
Oct. 21 Chatt. Christian lost, 42-14
Oct. 28 South Pittsburg lost, 53-14
Nov. 4 Columbia Academy lost, 49-21
(first round)
2017 Schedule
(All times 7:30 Eastern)
Aug. 25 at Sale Creek
Sep. 1 Friendship Christian, 8
Sep. 8 Silverdale Baptist
Sep. 15 at Concord Christian
Sep. 22 Boyd-Buchanan
Sep. 29 Ezell-Harding, 8
Oct. 6 at King's Academy
Oct. 13 at Donelson Christian, 8
Oct. 20 Mt. Juliet Christian, 8
Oct. 27 at Middle Tenn. Christian, 8
Division II-A East games in bold