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An analysis of the 2010 Salem Seminoles football team based solely on the Region 8AAAA standings and scores might lead you to conclude that Salem finished about where it should have. The Seminoles (4-6) finished seventh in the eleven team region, defeating the four teams behind them in the standings and losing to the six teams ahead of them.

But if you look a little deeper, a different picture emerges.

"Toward the end of the season, we were beginning to develop some consistency on offense," Coach John Starr said. "We were starting cut down on the turnovers."

Those turnovers, combined with penalties, were probably the only thing separating the Seminoles from the top teams in a very competitive region, one ranked third toughest in the state before the season by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Seminoles stumbled out of the gate with a 24-7 loss at Heritage but bounced back to win the next two games, a nail-biter against Madison County and then a blowout over Habersham Central. At that point, the Seminoles appeared ready to make some noise.

But the Seminoles lost four straight, including a 42-6 loss to mighty Clarke-Central. But even against the eventual region champ, the Seminoles were able to move the ball, racking up nearly 300 yards of offense and 16 first downs against a vaunted defense. Yet scoring drives unraveled due to turnovers. Against the undefeated Flowery Branch Falcons in the season finale, the Seminoles once again racked up impressive offensive numbers, but an early fumble that was returned for a touchdown put the Seminoles behind the eight ball.

Still, the Seminoles had their moments.

"We have some kids who can make big plays," Coach Starr said. Running backs Che-Darious Robinson and Georgio Redman smoked opposing defenses for big runs all year long, and workhorse Jahaad Coleman handled the tough yards up the middle and still found his way into the secondary often, cracking the hundred yard mark nearly every week.

The Salem defense, faced with the challenges associated with turnovers, acquitted itself quite well, according to Coach Starr. Linebacker John Lewis was the enforcer up the middle and made opposing running backs pay for every yard along with teammate Keenan Clark. Breon Prad's presence in the secondary kept quarterbacks on their toes.

"We had a lot of players who were dinged up during the season who still played," Coach Starr said. "The defense played hard all year."

Playing in a new offensive system installed by first year coach John Starr, the Seminoles experienced a few growing pains, but the future appears bright for the youngest Rockdale County school.

Coleman and Robinson will be back next season, and sophomore quarterback Damion Gordon is a skilled signal caller who shared duties with talented senior Jarrett Brown this past year.

"We're going to lose a lot of key players," Coach Starr said. "But we've got a lot of young players coming along who can be really special."

If the Seminoles can cut down on their mistakes in 2011, the garnet and gold will be a force to be reckoned with.