An article in The Athletic released Monday notes the publication’s first Heisman Straw Poll of the year virtually mirrors the majority of preseason polls. Former Cartersville High and current Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a clear frontrunner. In the straw poll, Lawrence received 33 of a possible 44 first-place votes and 115 total points. Those numbers placed him well ahead of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones who received eight first-place votes and 64 total points. Ohio State quarterback, Justin Fields, and Alabama running back Najee Harris received the other first-place votes. Fields was third overall, followed by BYU quarterback Zach Wilson and Harris. Visibility obviously matters — with some of the top vote-getters just beginning their seasons. The race, as always, will be interesting to follow as the college football season continues. The full article in The Athletic may be viewed here — https://theathletic.com/2161314/2020/10/26/heisman-trophy-favorites-trevor-lawrence/

Vic Beasley Jr. hasn't enjoyed the best start to his Tennessee Titans tenure, but perhaps, Sunday signified a turnaround of sorts. Following offseason drama that saw the former Adairsville star arrive late to training camp, Beasley missed Tennessee's opening two games due to injury. He made his debut for the team Week 3. However, he only managed one assisted tackle through his first three appearances. Sunday's narrow loss — the team's first of the season — saw Beasley finally make a sizable contribution. It wasn't a monster stat line. Even still, a pair of tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, and a forced fumble represented a significant uptick in impact plays. With the Titans (5-1) looking to return to the playoffs after reaching the AFC Championship Game last season, Tennessee will be hoping to see Beasley continue to make noise along the defensive front. At the collegiate level, five of the six football players who participated in Saturday action helped their respective teams come out on top. Miller Forristall contributed in an SEC win for Alabama. Jonathan Cruz and Jordan Ferguson did their part to see their sides pick up victories in Conference USA. JaCorey Johns and Trevor Lawrence helped their ACC teams pick up conference wins. Speaking of Lawrence, the Heisman race opened back up a bit more Saturday, when he looked human and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (a graduate of Harrison High in Kennesaw) did not in his highly anticipated season debut. Fields completed 20 of 21 passes in his team's opener. It will be fascinating to see how the shortened season from the Buckeyes impacts Fields’ Hesiman push, but it seems likely that Northwest Georgia will produce a couple of finalists for the prestigious award. PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL Vic Beasley Jr. (Tennessee Titans, Adairsville) — Beasley enjoyed his best game as a member of the Titans Sunday, although Tennessee did drop its first game of the season — 27-24 to Pittsburgh. The former Atlanta Falcons edge rusher recorded two tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble in the game. Next up for Tennessee (5-1) is a trip this week to Cincinnati. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Jonathan Cruz (Charlotte Jr., Cartersville) — After having last week’s game postponed, Charlotte picked up its second win of the season with a 38-28 victory over Texas-El Paso. Cruz converted a 32-yard field goal and made all five of his point-after tries in the home win. Charlotte (2-2, 2-1 Conference USA) will face in-state foe Duke on Halloween. Jordan Ferguson (Middle Tennessee State R-Jr., Cartersville) — Ferguson set a career high with nine tackles, albeit just two solo, in a wild, 40-34 victory over Rice in double overtime. Following a bye week, MTSU (2-5, 2-3 Conference USA) is scheduled to host Charlotte Nov. 7 in Murfreesboro. Miller Forristall (Alabama R-Sr., Cartersville) — Forristall continues to make his opportunities in the passing game count, hauling in a 25-yard reception for his only catch in a 48-17 romp past Tennessee. Overall, Forristall has nine catches for 127 yards — an average of 14.1 yards per reception — this season. This week, second-ranked Alabama will welcome Mississippi State to Tuscaloosa. JaCorey Johns (Wake Forest R-So., Cartersville)  — Johns did his part in helping Wake Forest upset then-No. 19 Virginia Tech Saturday, when he totaled four tackles (three solo), one tackle for loss and one sack. Fresh off their 23-16 home victory, the Demon Deacons (3-2, 2-2 ACC) will look to extend their winning streak to four games this Saturday at Syracuse. Trevor Lawrence (Clemson Jr., Cartersville) — It wasn’t his cleanest performance, but Lawrence still managed to account for 300-plus yards and two touchdowns. A vast majority of that production came via his right arm, as the former Canes signal-caller went 27-for-43 passing for 289 yards and a pair of scores. Lawrence threw an interception for the second straight game — this one his first career pick-6 — after not having a turnover through the air in nearly a year. Even still, the presumptive top pick in the 2021 NFL draft wound up leading the Tigers to a four-score win. No. 1 Clemson (5-0, 4-0 ACC) hosts Boston College this week in its final tune-up before a potential top-five matchup Nov. 7 at Notre Dame. Avery Showell (Georgia Tech R-Jr., Cartersville) — Showell assisted on a tackle in a 48-27 road defeat against Boston College Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Yellow Jackets (2-4, 2-3) are set to face No. 4 Notre Dame Saturday in Atlanta. CROSS COUNTRY Parker Breedlove (Reinhardt So., Cartersville) — Breedlove placed 14th in 27 minutes, 44.63 seconds during the NAIA Southern States Challenge Saturday in Bluffton, South Carolina. Reinhardt finished runner-up — just a single point behind Southeastern (Florida) — in the six-team event. The Eagles will host the Reinhardt Invitational Friday at Boling Park in Canton. -- Contribution by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News

The Adairsville Tigers scored six touchdowns on their seven first-half possessions Saturday afternoon as they corralled the visiting Coahulla Creek Colts, 42-14. Coahulla Creek, playing a third game in only eight days, had no answer against the Tigers’ offense in the first half and added their only points in the second half against Adairsville reserves. Quarterback Conner Crunkelton had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs and connected with Charlie Ray for a 37-yard touchdown pass in the first two periods. Courtney Slocum opened the game’s scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run in the first two minutes. Eli Agnew added a 1-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and freshman quarterback Jonathan Gough scored on an 8-yard keeper with less than a minute remaining in the first half to make the score 42-0 at halftime. The Colts slip to 1-5 on the season and 0-4 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (4-2, 3-1) plays at Sonoraville next Friday.

The Cartersville volleyball season came to a close Saturday with a Sweet Sixteen loss at Greenbrier in straight sets. The host Wolfpack won 25-9, 25-9, and 25-15. Greenbrier advances to the state quarterfinals to face the Locust Grove/McIntosh winner. Lily Gochee finished with six assists and four digs for Cartersville. Ailee England had three kills and three digs. Mia Nicklas contributed eight digs, five kills, and two aces. London Moultrie totaled two aces, one kill, one block, and one dig. Layne Condra finished with five digs. Elizabeth Brown added five digs and two aces. The Hurricanes’ season ends with a 28-15-1 record.

Woodland held leads of 6-0 and 9-7 Friday night, but Cass scored 21-unanswered points in the second half to earn a Region 7-AAAAA road victory, 28-9. The Wildcats, who had three games canceled or postponed in recent weeks due to COVID concerns at the school, led 6-0 on their first offensive play of the night. After a Cass punt was downed at the Woodland 10-yard line, Asa James took a handoff right up the middle and split the Colonels' defense for a 90-yard scoring run. The snap was bobbled on the ensuing PAT attempt. Cass struggled on offense through much of the first half. The Colonels fumbled twice in the first quarter, but Woodland failed to capitalize on the takeaways. Meanwhile the Cass defense kept their team in the game including a stop on a 4th-and-short in Colonels' territory. Cass was able to take a 7-6 lead before halftime on a 64-yard drive with 7:39 remaining in the half. Cass freshman quarterback Devin Henderson connected with freshman wideout Sacovie White for a 29-yard scoring play to cap the seven play drive. White went high in the air near the 2-yard line to pull down the reception and then stretched his way to the pylon for the score. The first of four PAT kicks by Kaleb Speights gave Cass the intermission lead. On the opening drive of the second half, Woodland regained the lead but lost their starting quarterback Johnathan Thomas. Thomas ripped off a 21-yard run to the sideline, but came up hobbling on the sideline and left the game. He was seen on crutches later and did not return. Sophomore Chase Carson took the reins at quarterback and -- along with James -- had several nice runs as the Wildcats drove into the red zone. The drive stalled, however, and the Wildcats settled for a 42-yard field goal by Christopher Sanchez to take a 9-7 lead with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter. Colonels' head coach Steve Gates and the Cass offense picked up the tempo on their next possessions and move the ball more effectively. Cass drove 64 yards on 14 plays and scored on a 27-yard pass from Henderson to Tanayce Calhoun with 2:18 left in the third period to regain a 14-9 lead. On the Colonels' next possession, running back Josh Varnum had a pair of runs that covered 58 yards to the Woodland 1-yard line. That set up a one-yard keeper by Henderson with 0:16 remaining in the third quarter as Cass took a 21-9 advantage. Later in the fourth quarter, Varnum gave the Colonels a 28-9 lead on a 55-yard jaunt with 7:14 remaining. Woodland (3-1, 0-1) hosts Calhoun next Friday. Cass (6-1, 1-1) will be on the road at Hiram.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes routed the Hiram Hornets on Friday night 51-26 to earn their second region win of the year. Cartersville led 21-9 after the first quarter and 37-12 at the half. The Canes scored on a pair of rushing touchdowns by Quante Jennings, two receiving touchdowns by Sam Phillips, and new quarterback Carlos del Rio-Wilson totaled three scores (one rushing, two passing). Phillips and Collin Fletcher were the recipients of his passes. On the defensive side, Brittan Walker had a 40-yard pick-six with 2:18 left in the second quarter and Case Adams had an interception at the end of the third period. Oscar Hernandez booted a 47-yard field goal just before the intermission as Cartersville took a 37-12 lead at halftime. Hiram (0-7, 0-2) kept the game close early, but Cartersville’s quick-strike offense was too much to handle for the Hornets’ defense. Omar Grant and Jirah Douglas had rushing touchdowns for the Hornets, while Dalton Moyse kicked a pair of Hiram field goals. Hiram added a fourth-quarter fumble recovery in the end zone for its final touchdown. Cartersville’s quarterback Stratton Tripp went 10-for-14 for 156 yards and one touchdown, while Del Rio-Wilson completed 11 of 14 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Tripp also rushed for five yards on three attempts and Del Rio-Wilson rushed for 32 yards and one touchdown on three attempts. Philips finished the night with seven Cartersville receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns, Kyler Johnson caught three passes for 59 yards and Collin Fletcher had three grabs for 39 yards and one score. Jaylon Benham finished with 33 yards on two catches and Kolbe Benham and Brynen Wilkins also had 25 and 21 receiving yards respectively. Cartersville (6-1, 2-0) hosts second-ranked Blessed Trinity next Friday at Weinman Stadium.

Region standings for local high school football teams in Bartow County.

The Woodland softball team swept a home playoff doubleheader with Greenbrier Thursday to advance to the GHSA Class AAAAA state quarterfinals next Tuesday. Woodland, the No. 2-seed from Region 7-AAAAA, won the opening game in the best-of-three series 2-1 and took the second game 7-4. Greenbrier, the No. 4-seed from Region 8-AAAAA, had its season come to a close with a 17-14 record. The visiting Wolfpack didn’t take long to get on the scoreboard in Game 1. Megan Steinmeyer hit a leadoff home run to give Greenbrier an early 1-0 lead. That advantage held until Woodland scored the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michiah Hicks — who had three hits in the game — drove in a run with a double and Kailey Baker later scored when Greenbrier turned a double play. Ansley Evans had walked earlier in the inning and Hannah Miller added a base hit in the frame. Woodland pitcher Lainey Baker tossed a three-hitter in the opener. She walked four and fanned six. Greenbrier’s Alyssa Bedenbaugh (6 IP, 2ER, 9H, 3BB, 9K) was the losing pitcher. Cambrie Carrington had two hits for the Wildcats. Jessica Ryan, Dylynn Motes, Ansley Evans, and Hannah Miller added one hit each. In Game 2, Woodland — playing as the visiting team on their home field — grabbed a 5-0 lead through the first four innings to take control. Hannah Miller smacked a grand slam in the top of the third after a walk to Ansley Evans was sandwiched by singles from Cassie Jones and Hicks. Jones then delivered again in the fourth with an RBI double to drive in Motes who had doubled to lead off the frame. Steinmeyer hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the fifth and Molly Anton had a two-RBI single in the sixth to make the score 5-3. Steinmeyer followed with an RBI single and the Wolfpack had narrowed the lead to 5-4. The Wildcats responded in the top of the sixth, however. Evans led off the inning with a single and Hicks followed with a two-run home run to centerfield. Greenbrier added a run in the bottom of the seventh on three hits but Woodland pitcher Lainey Baker was able to end the game with a strikeout and a groundout. Baker scattered ten hits and four walks in Game 2. She struck out eleven. Steinmeyer (7 IP, 7ER, 9H, 3BB, 5K) was again the losing pitcher in the finale’. Hicks (2 RBIs) and Jones (double, RBI) led the Wildcats’ offense with two hits each. Evans, Miller (grand slam), Kailey Baker, Lainey Baker, and Motes contributed one hit apiece. As a No. 2-seed, Woodland (24-9) will host its quarterfinal series against the Jones County-Northside, Columbus winner. Jones County is the No. 3-seed from Region 4-AAAAA and Northside-Columbus is the No. 4-seed from Region 2-AAAAA.

The best cross country times for Bartow County athletes during the 2020 season. HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL All-time best marks: Women: McKenna Trapheagen (Woodland HS) 17:32.69 Men: Joseph Stegall (Cartersville HS) 15:41

Ansley Hight hit a first inning, three-run home run Tuesday night to give Cass an early 3-0 lead in their series deciding state playoff game at Chapel Hill, but the host Panthers took control the rest of the way. The two teams split a doubleheader Monday to force Tuesday night’s rubber game in the best-of-three series. Cass won the first game 15-5 with the host Panthers winning the second game, 13-7. Tuesday, Chapel Hill (17-11) knotted the score 3-3 in the home half of the first inning and went ahead 7-3 in the second inning. From there the Panthers added on for an eventual 15-5 win. Cass threatened in the fourth inning when Haley Smith scored on a wild pitch and Rachael Lee singled home Rachael Lee, but the Colonels ultimately left the bases loaded and really never threatened again. The Panthers scored six runs with two outs in their next frame and retired Cass in order in the fifth inning to end the game. Hight finished 2-for-3 for the Colonels. Haylee Dishmon was 1-for-2. Woods and Rachael Lee each ended up 1-for-3. Chapel Hill advances to face Region 8-AAAAA champion Walnut Grove in a second round series. Cass has its season end with a 17-14 mark. Seven starters in the Colonels lineup return next season.

Woodland volleyball got off to a fast start Tuesday night in their first-ever appearance in the state playoffs. The Wildcats, the Region 7-AAAAA fourth seed, won their opening set at North Springs 27-25. The host Spartans, Region 6-AAAAA champs, rallied to win the next three sets however — 25-17, 25-9, and 25-15 to eliminate Woodland. “They’re a pretty good team,” said Woodland head coach David Condon. “We kind of fell apart midway through the second set and they took advantage. North Springs had a lot of confidence about how they were playing. We tried to find a way to fight back after a really rough third set, but came up short in the final set.” Sydney Molinaro finished with seven kills, six assists, four digs, two aces and a block in the four set loss. Emmalee Cigainero had 15 digs, two assists, two aces, and a kill. Delaney Tuplin contributed five kills and a pair of digs. Cayley Stantz added seven assists, three digs, and a kill. North Springs (11-4) advances to host Appalachee Saturday in the second round. Woodland (12-26-1) has its season come to a close.

Cartersville volleyball won its GHSA Class AAAAA first round match Tuesday night at Villa Rica in three straight sets. The Hurricanes won 26-24, 25-17, and 25-21 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen round. Lily Gochee had 24 assists, three aces, two digs, and one block. London Moultrie totaled nine kills, seven assists, four digs, and two blocks. Mason Cline had nine kills and one dig. Ailee England contributed 11 digs, 10 kills, and one ace. Abby Allen had 12 digs and four kills. Mia Nicklas finished with 12 digs, five aces, five kills, and two blocks. Elizabeth Brown added 12 digs and an ace. Cartersville (28-14-1) will play the Southwest DeKalb - Greenbrier winner Saturday. Site and time to be determined.