Adairsville and Cartersville picked up region softball victories on the road Thursday evening, while Cass dropped a region contest at Kell. LADY TIGERS WIN AT LFO Adairsville softball scored two runs in the top of the seventh at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Thursday to edge the Warriors in come-from-behind fashion, 3-2. The Region 6-AAA win for the Lady Tigers was their second straight. Adairsville took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but fell behind after LFO scored single runs in the third and fifth innings. Chloe Souders doubled home Alexa Varner in the seventh to tie the game 2-2 and after a Tori Lee sacrifice, Sierra Tanner singled home what would be the game-winning run. Taylor Rhoades (7 IP, 2ER, 8H, 1BB, 2K) picked up the complete-game pitching victory for Adairsville. Tanner paced the Lady Tigers’ offense with two hits and one RBI. Souders contributed her RBI double. Natalie Burrow had a hit and one RBI. Alexa Varner added a hit. Maddy Adkins had two hits including a double for LFO. Haley Stahl and Auna Rolfe each drove in a run with a double each. LFO slipped to 5-12 overall and 3-11 in Region 6-AAA with the loss. Adairsville (5-18, 3-10) hosts Haralson County Monday at 5:30 p.m. and will rematch with LFO next Thursday at Lady Tigers’ Field. CARTERSVILLE BLANKS SANDY CREEK Cartersville softball went on the road and blanked Sandy Creek Thursday 13-0 in Region 5-AAAA action. The Lady Canes, who out hit the Patriots twelve to four, scored in every frame for the run-rule, five-inning victory. Colbi Ballard was the complete-game pitching winner for Cartersville. She scattered four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Hope Short and Ballard both went 3-for-4 at the plate. Ballard drove in four runs. Short had three RBI. Cio Seigler had a hit and a sac fly for two RBI. Emery Jenkins had a hit and two RBI. AnnaKate McElhaney finished with a hit and a sac fly to drive in a run. Presley Edwards doubled. Rylie Harris and Brooklyn Pittman each added one hit. Lauren McElhaney contributed one RBI with a sac fly. With the loss, Sandy Creek falls to 8-11 overall and 1-9 in region play. Cartersville (8-9, 4-5) plays a doubleheader at LaGrange Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CASS FALLS AT KELL The Lady Colonels out hit the host Lady Longhorns Thursday night, but Kell scored three times in the fourth inning to break open a 1-1 game on their way to a 4-1 Region 7-AAAAA win over visiting Cass. The Longhorns had three hits, including a pair of doubles in the game-changing inning, to go with an error and two sacrifice bunts as they posted three runs. Rachael Lee (6 IP, 4R, 2ER, 6H, 1BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss for the Lady Colonels, despite her complete-game effort and only two earned runs. Valarie Artigues and Gracie Glass combined for four of the Longhorns’ six hits. Savannah Markt was the complete-game winning pitcher. Kylee Hembree had two hits including a double and one RBI for Cass. Lee and Kelly Young also had a pair of hits. Haley Owens and Maggie Collum contributed the other base hits for the Colonels. Kell moved to 8-5 overall and 8-4 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass (3-14, 3-8) plays in the Score Invitational Friday and Saturday. The Lady Colonels will play Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Lamar County Friday night before facing Sonoraville and Christian Heritage Saturday afternoon.

The 2018 youth recreation football season got underway this week with regular season games played at Dellinger Park, Hamilton Crossing Park, and the old Cass High School's Cunningham Stadium. Games reported for Monday, September 10 and Tuesday, September 11 by the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department and the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department. September 10 8U at Dellinger Park BARTOW COWBOYS 18, CARTERSVILLE PURPLE HURRICANES 7 COWBOYS: Anthony Moreno scored all three Cowboys’ touchdowns including two in the second half. PURPLE: Braxton Mealer touchdown run. Andy Holstein, Cayden Fotsch, and Canaan Godfrey were recognized for their defensive play. CARTERSVILLE WHITE HURRICANES 34, BARTOW STEELERS 0 WHITE: Prince Jacobs, Tristan Hall, and Solomon James each scored on touchdown runs and two point conversions. Jacobs, Noah Kearney, and Jack Mrockzo were credited with top defensive plays. 10U at Hamilton Crossing Park CARTERSVILLE WHITE HURRICANES 16, BARTOW COWBOYS 0 WHITE: Reed Ezell scored on a 35 yard run and Reed Ezell added an eight yard score and finished with 75 yards rushing. Asa Mitcham made a pair of two-point PAT kicks. Defensive standouts were Trenton Harris, Thomas Martin, Luke Gore, and Adam Reed with a fumble recovery. COWBOYS: James Lee totaled 24 yards rushing and Lucas Baker added 20 yards on the ground. Adrian Dunn had four tackles and a fumble recovery. Joseph Thorne also had four tackles and a fumble recovery. 8U at Hamilton Crossing Park BARTOW TIGERS 24, BARTOW COLTS 6 TIGERS: Isaiah Craig scored on TD runs of 21 and 18 yards. Jackson Jarrett had TD runs of 28 and 12 yards. Noah Roberts had four tackles. Craig had two fumble recoveries. COLTS: Brayden Ford scored on a 60 yard run. Connor Hartsook finished with eight tackles. Karsin Darby recovered two fumbles. September 11 10U at Cunningham Stadium BARTOW RAIDERS 20, CARTERSVILLE PURPLE HURRICANES 6 RAIDERS: Izaiah Burgs ran for 119 yards and had touchdown runs of 65 and 30 yards for the Raiders. Joshua Love added a 21 yard touchdown run. Dalton Robinson collected four tackles and William Hayes had a fumble recovery. PURPLE: Zachary Stiles scored on a 25 yard run. Pyerston Brigham made four tackles. 12U at Cunningham Stadium CALHOUN 20, BARTOW FALCONS 6 FALCONS: Sean Sisk scored on a 24 yard run. Sisk also had eight tackles and one sack. CALHOUN: no data provided 12U at Dellinger Park BARTOW BUCS 28, CARTERSVILLE GOLD HURRICANES 22 BUCS: Jamious Kinnemore had touchdown runs of 33 and 40 yards; Kentrell Whatley added a nine yard TD run and Treshaun Reed scored on a 10 yard run. GOLD: Baylon Long had two touchdown runs and JaCaiden Leonard also had a TD run. Will Feuerbach made two PAT kicks. Leonard and Maddox Frazier were credited with top defensive efforts. CARTERSVILLE WHITE HURRICANES 45, BARTOW TIGERS 6 WHITE: Brodie McWhorter TD pass to Talan Nix. Cayden Aleman and Rhys Neal also scored touchdowns. McWhorter PAT kicks. Landen Heath and Bear McWhorter were credited with top defensive efforts. TIGERS: Adrian Harris TD run. Local youth football updates are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by McWhorter Capital Partners with all information provided by the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department and the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department.

Adairsville softball came up with two big runs in the top of the seventh Wednesday night at Coahulla Creek, then held on for a 5-4 Region 6-AAA upset win over the Colts in Dalton. The two teams swapped runs throughout the contest, but Adairsville came up big in the seventh inning to knock off Region 6-AAA's current second place team. The Lady Tigers led 1-0 in the first inning and 3-1 after four innings, but entered the final frame in a 3-3 tie. Adairsville took a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh before the Colts scored a run and had the game-tying run on base when Tigers’ pitcher Taylor Rhoades ended the threat with a strikeout. Rhoades (1.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K) picked up the pitching victory in relief of starter Victoria O’Neal (5.1 IP, 3R, 1ER, 6H, 0BB, 3K). Sierra Tanner paced the Tigers’ offense with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Sadye Johnson also had two hits and one RBI. Havyn Isaac doubled home one run and Chloe Souders had the other Adairsville base hit. Alexa Varner contributed one RBI. The loss dropped Coahulla Creek to 15-5 overall and 10-4 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (4-18, 2-10) plays at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Thursday at 5:30.

Cartersville volleyball followed up their Bartow County Volleyball Championship over the weekend with a pair of Region 5-AAAA victories Tuesday night at The Storm Center. The Lady Canes cruised past Chapel Hill 25-16, 25-8 and took a much more difficult victory over Troup County 25-17, 25-23. The two wins keep Cartersville in control of the region standings as they battle for the region’s top seed in post-season play. In the win over Chapel Hill, Nedu Evans finished with 11 kills, three aces and five digs. Grace Hunter had 22 assists and four aces, while Anna Mathis tossed in seven digs and a pair of aces. Evans totaled 16 kills, two aces, and five digs against Troup. Grace Hunter contributed 25 assists with five aces. Anna Mathis had eight digs and Anna Grace Brock tallied five kills, six digs, and two aces. “This was a pair of big wins against some good competition,” said Cartersville coach Dutch Cothran after the matches. “London Shaw gave us some big blocks and Rebekah Stevens had a solid night for us on defense and in serve receive. Anna Mathis probably had her best night of the season in serve receive. She’s playing with some confidence.” Cartersville (13-11, 4-0) travels to Northwest Whitfield Thursday to play the Lady Bruins and Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe. CASS VOLLEYBALL EARNS ROAD SPLIT Coming off a runner-up finish at the Bartow County Volleyball Championship Tournament, Cass split a pair of matches Tuesday night at LaFayette High School. The Lady Colonels (6-10) defeated Gilmer 25-16 and 25-15, but fell to the host Ramblers 25-12 and 25-17. Cass hosts Pickens and Woodland Thursday starting at 5 p.m. LADY TIGERS DEFEAT HARALSON COUNTY Adairsville volleyball won for the first time this season, defeating Haralson County Tuesday 25-17 and 25-12. Dacey Hunt and Emily Green each had four aces in the match, while Green and Nakiyah Washington combined for nine kills. Adairsville hosts Calhoun and Gordon Central Thursday. WOODLAND LOSES TWO Woodland lost a pair of region matches Tuesday falling to Hiram and Carrollton. The Lady Cats won the first set with Hiram 25-23, but dropped the next two 25-18 and 25-21. The loss to Carrollwon was 25-22 and 25-21. Macey Vaughn had 20 assists and 15 digs between the two matches; Sydney Molinaro had seven kills, seven digs and nine blocks; Noelle Dickey had seven kills and 10 digs; and Caroline Gore had eight kills, 12 digs and two aces. Woodland is now 11-14 overall and 1-3 in Region 7-AAAAA. The Lady Wildcats play at Cass on Thursday.

The Cartersville boys cross country team placed fourth and the Lady Canes were sixth Tuesday at the West Hall Spartan Invitational in Gainesville. Bill Archer finished seventh in 17:43 to lead the Hurricanes. He was followed by Alex Rios (16th, 18:28), Max Florence (17th, 18:37), Levi Booth (32nd, 19:05), Banks Wilson (34th, 19:10), Jacob Busek (37th, 19:16), and Colin McCann (41st, 19:20). The North Hall boys won the 14-team event that included 121 runners. Johnson-Gainesville was second with Chestatee finishing third. Alex Machado finished tenth overall in 22:55 to lead the Cartersville girls. She was followed by teammates Vanna Beach (23rd, 24:02), Alice Terry (27th, 24:16), Trista Kelly (29th, 24:25), Jocelyn Blanchette (31st, 24:47), Jaxiry Betancourt (38th, 25:37), and Metzli Munoz (43rd, 26:05). The North Hall girls won the 11-team meet that included 79 runners. Chestatee placed second and Loganville third.

Woodland softball captured its most dramatic win of the season Tuesday night at home with an eighth inning, walk-off triple by Morgan Bailey forcing in the winning run for a 2-1 victory over Region 7-AAAAA leading Carrollton. Woodland pitcher Madi Bentley and Carrollton pitcher Olivia Fannin battled through a 1-1 tie through regulation and Bentley retired the visiting Trojans in order in the top of the eighth. In the Lady Cats’ half of the extra frame, Bella Carnes walked on four pitches and Bailey (photo) hit a 1-1 pitch into left field for a triple that enabled Carnes to score the game-winner. Bentley (8 IP, 1ER, 9H, 3BB, 1K) earned the complete-game win in the circle. Caroline Higdon finished with two hits and drove in Woodland’s first inning run. Carnes had one hit. Skylar Chappell also added a double. Scout Jennings paced Carrollton with three hits including a double and a third inning RBI. The loss for Carrollton was only their second of the year and snapped a 12-game winning streak. The Trojans slipped to 12-2 overall and 8-1 in Region 7-AAAAA. Woodland (14-5, 8-2) pulled within one-half game of the region lead and has six days off before hosting Kell next Monday. CASS 9, ROME 1 The Lady Colonels snapped a five game skid and beat region foe Rome for the second time this season Tuesday night in Rome, 9-1. Cass pitcher Rachael Lee picked up the six inning, complete-game victory by scattering five hits. The Rome run was unearned and Lee struck out three without walking a batter. She needed only 54 pitches and 45 were for strikes in an impressive outing. Rachael Lee (photo) was also 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, a sac fly, and three RBI. Jaden Musacchio was 3-for-4 for Cass. Haley Owens contributed a pair of hits. Eryn Lee (RBI), Macenzie Dougharty (RBI), Kylee Hembree, Kelly Young, and Maggie Collum (RBI) had the other Lady Colonels’ hits. Rome slips to 4-15 overall and 1-10 in Region 7-AAAAA. Cass (3-13, 3-7) plays at Kell Thursday before heading to the Chattanooga Score Tournament for two games Friday and two more on Saturday. CALHOUN 8, ADAIRSVILLE 6 The Lady Tigers held a 4-2 lead after one inning, but Calhoun posted seven runs in their first four frames on their way to an 8-6 win Tuesday night at Adairsville. Maggie McBrayer took the pitching win for Calhoun in relief of starter Lona Sims. Lyndi Rae Davis had two hits including a double and four RBI to pace the Yellow Jackets. Espee Reyes had two hits including a triple and two RBI. Carlie Henderson had two hits and Molly Walker homered for Calhoun. Alexa Varner led Adairsville with two hits. Natalie Burrow drove in two runs and had one hit. Havyn Isaac, Sadye Johnson, and Chloe Souders (RBI) had the other Tigers’ hits. Calhoun improved to 11-4 overall and 9-3 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (3-18, 1-10) plays at Coahulla Creek Wednesday and at LFO Thursday.

Sam Howard made his second appearance of the year for Colorado Monday night and worked a scoreless ninth inning as the Rockies blew out the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 13-2 at Coors Field. Howard retired Christian Walker on a ground out to start his frame, but then gave up a ground ball single to center field by Patrick Kivlehan. He then retired Chris Steward and Nick Ahmed on fly outs to complete the inning. Howard’s one inning helped wrap up a victory that extended the Rockies NL West lead to 1-1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers and 3-1/2 games over the D-backs. Rockies starter German Marquez fanned 11 and allowed only one earned run to gain the pitching win. Trevor Story’s sixth home run in the last seven games and David Dahl’s first career grand slam helped Colorado build their huge lead. The appearance was Howard's second in the Major Leagues. The Cartersville native had a previous shutout inning June 10 also against the Diamondbacks. Howard is a fifth-year professional, selected in the 3rd round of the 2014 MLB draft by Colorado. The 25-year-old southpaw made 21 starts in 2018 for the Rockies' Triple A Pacific Coast League affiliate, Albuquerque Isotopes.

A local travel baseball team competing as Cartersville Purple 14U won the Training Legends Tournament this weekend in Marietta at Sewell Park. Cartersville defeated the Sandy Plains Wildcats and tied the Hobgood Braves in preliminary round games to set up a championship game with the Hobgood Park club. Cartersville Purple 14U won the championship game, 5-1. In the finals, Ayden Ray had a two-RBI double in the first inning and finished with three RBI following another hit in the third inning. Brady Cole contributed a pair of hits. Cameron Constantine also contributed one RBI in Cartersville’s three-run third frame. Constantine went three and two-third innings on the mound for Cartersville allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts to earn the pitching win. Other teams in the tournament included the Cherokee Reds, New Level, and USA Prime. Back Row (L-R): Head Coach Jason Ray, “Big Game” Ayden Ray, Silas Freeman, Jacob Peace, Cameron Constantine, Assistant Coach Daniel Constantine, Ashton Phillips, Assistant Coach Dustin Kay, Brody Tidwell, Team Manager Simon Peace Front Row (L-R): Nick Zirkelbach, Peyton Bowen, Justin Peace, Christopher Cabe, Colt Williams, Brady Cole

Fall sports are well underway on college campuses across the country and our local Athletes Beyond Bartow are contributing. Former Adairsville High School standout, Emily Collum, is continuing her knack for scoring goals at the collegiate level with Georgia Southwestern State University and connected on a game-winning effort Sunday for the Hurricanes. NOTE: The college and pro football update for Athletes Beyond Bartow was published separately this week and is found at this LINK. CROSS COUNTRY Lindsay Scifers (South Alabama Fr., Woodland) — Scifers placed 24th overall in the Azalea City Classic, hosted by South Alabama. The freshman was eighth on her team with a time of 22 minutes, 32 seconds. The Jaguars run next at the University of Arkansas' Chile Pepper Festival on Saturday, September 22. SOCCER Brianna Bullock (Truett McConnell University, G, Cass HS) -- made an appearance August 25 for 15 minutes in net as the Bears blanked Ohio Christian, 7-0. She recorded on save. TMU (3-1) hosts Tennessee Wesleyan University Wednesday night and travels to Reinhardt Saturday afternoon. Emily Collum (Georgia Southwestern University, Fr., Adairsville HS) — Collum scored her first career goal, and it proved to be the game-winning strike in Georgia Southwestern's 2-1 road win over Spring Hill College on Sunday. The freshman converted her only shot attempt in 40 minutes after firing off five shots (three on goal) across 42 minutes in a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Southern Wesleyan on Wednesday. The Hurricanes (2-1) host Middle Georgia State on Wednesday and Warner University this Saturday. Katelynn Harbeke (Life University, Sr., Cass HS) — Harbeke recorded two shots, including one shot on goal, in Life's 3-0 win over Brewton Parker on Saturday. The Running Eagles are 3-2 on the season and play at Brenau University Tuesday night and at Berry College on Sunday. Kurt Moore (Birmingham Southern College, Jr., Euharlee resident, Darlington HS) — Moore earned the win in goal against Huntingdon, allowing two goals with three saves in a 3-2 overtime victory on Tuesday. The Panthers are 4-1 and have matches at Bellhaven (MS) Wednesday night and at Covenant College Saturday. Marissa Mowry (Anderson University, Fr., Cartersville HS) — Mowry played nine minutes in Anderson's 4-0 loss to UNC Pembroke on Saturday after not seeing any time in Wednesday's 3-0 defeat to Limestone. Anderson (0-4) plays at Coker Wednesday and hosts Wingate Saturday. Anthony Robledo (Reinhardt University, Fr., Cass HS) -- Robledo played five minutes August 28 in the Eagles 2-0 win over Savannah College of Art & Design. RU (3-0-1) hosts Union College (KY) Wednesday night and travels to Life University Friday night. -- contribution to Bartow Sports Zone by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News

Woodland pounded out 15 hits and Sarah Baynard tossed a complete game five hitter to win at East Paulding Monday evening, 12-0. Baynard (photo) did not walk a batter and struck out four in the six inning win. Hannah Miller had three hits and one RBI for the Lady Cats. Morgan Cooper drove in three runs and had two hits including a double. Kendyl Hardin had two hits including a home run and two RBI. Ansley Evans had a double in her two hits. Jordan Duck also contributed a pair of hits. Caroline HIgdon doubled and had a sac fly to drive in three runs and Skylar Chappell added a double and one RBI. The win pulled Woodland into a tie for second place in the region with East Paulding who slipped to 13-6 overall and 7-2 in region play. Woodland (13-5, 7-2) extended its current win streak to seven games in a row and 12 of the last 13. The Lady Cats host Region 7-AAAAA leading Carrollton (12-1, 8-0) Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. VILLA RICA RALLIES PAST CASS With two runs in the top of the seventh, visiting Villa Rica came from behind Monday night to edge Cass, 5-4, in a Region 7-AAAAA contest. The Wildcats and Lady Colonels swapped the lead throughout with Cass taking an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Villa Rica scored three runs in the top of the fourth for a 3-2 lead, but Cass posted single runs in their half of the fourth and fifth frames to carry a 4-3 advantage into the last inning. Tori Sheldon (7 IP, 4R, 2ER, 4H, 6BB, 3K) was a complete-game winner in the circle for the Wildcats. Rachael Lee (7 IP, 5R, 3ER, 8H, 2BB, 2K) went the distance for Cass and was tagged with the loss. Kayla Hurley, Reagan Gunter, and Mallorie Sitton combined for six hits and three RBI for Villa Rica. Jaden Musacchio and Hallie Owens (2 RBI) both doubled for Cass. Rachael Lee and Eryn Lee (RBI) had the other Lady Colonels’ hits. Villa Rica improved to 9-6 overall and 5-4 in the region. Cass (2-14, 2-8) plays at Rome Tuesday at 5 p.m.

There were a handful of youth football games played Saturday involving local teams. Two Bartow County teams continued play in the North Georgia Youth Football League and a pair of Cartersville 12U teams opened recreation play. Photo: Bartow Blue 9U prior to kickoff against LFO at Ringgold. NORTH GEORGIA YOUTH FOOTBALL LEAGUE BARTOW BLUE 9U 28, LAKEVIEW-FORT OGLETHORPE 6 Jakez Baldwin passed for 108 yards and rushed for 104 to help lead Bartow Blue 9U to their second win in as many games in the North Georgia Youth Football League. Bartow Blue 9U defeated Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 28-6 Saturday at Ringgold High School. Lance Tippett and Kaiden Kent were the top receivers for Bartow collecting 56 and 42 yards, respectively. Kent also rushed for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jovani Bautista Jackson added 67 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Bartow 9U defense was led by Jorain Bailey with eight tackles. Kadon Fezzia followed with six tackles. Lance Tippett, Israel Moreno, Maddox Raughton, Gatlin Fair, and Chris McClendon all contributed four tackles each. Bartow Blue 9U (2-0) plays at Trion this Saturday at 12 noon. BARTOW 12U 28, RINGGOLD 0 Bartow 12U shutout host Ringgold Saturday evening 28-0 and benefited from a 108 yard rushing performance by Jamarion Pullum. The victory evened Bartow 12U’s record at 1-1 in the North Georgia Youth Football League. Comari Nettles totaled 70 yards rushing for Bartow. Gavin Johnson ran for 39 total yards including a 25 yard touchdown. Kelson Mitchell added a four yard touchdown run and 28 yards rushing. Xavior Darby passed for 45 yards and had a 30-yard touchdown pass to Grayson Dysart. Nettles led the Bartow defense with six tackles. Zach Wallace had four stops and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Bartow 12U plays again next Saturday at 10:30 a.m. when they take on the Chickamauga Trojans at Gordon Lee High School. RECREATION YOUTH FOOTBALL CARTERSVILLE 12U PURPLE HURRICANES 38, ROME 0 Cartersville Purple Hurricanes 12U shutout Rome 38-0 Saturday. Brelace Williams was 3-for-4 passing with a touchdown and added a seven-yard rushing touchdown. Khristian Lando scored on a 26-yard run. Kendrick Price contributed a pair of rushing touchdowns with 73 and 19 yard runs. Braiden Pope had a 42-yard touchdown catch and a 36-yard reception. Defensively, Trevor Harris led the Purple Hurricanes with eight tackles and three pass break ups. Stephen Rowser forced a fumble and had five tackles. Lando was also recognized for his defensive performance. CARTERSVILLE 12U GOLD HURRICANES 14, CEDARTOWN 14 (tie) The Cartersville 12U Gold Hurricanes battled Cedartown Saturday to a 14-14 tie. James Echols and JaCaiden Leonard had touchdown runs for Cartersville. Will Feuerbach converted one of two PAT kicks. Xavier Parker, Preston Sorrells, Brandt Rodney, and Leonard all came up with big defensive plays against the Bulldogs. Local youth football updates are sponsored by McWhorter Capital Partners with information provided to Bartow Sports Zone by the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department and the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department.

Former Cartersville High place kicker Jonathan Cruz accounted for all of UNC-Charlotte's points and connected on a second quarter 54-yard field goal Saturday (shown in photo) in a 49ers home loss to Appalachian State. Trevor Lawrence caught the national spotlight with a 64-yard touchdown strike in Clemson's win at Texas A&M and Emmanuel Jones had an interception in Colorado State's defeat of Arkansas. Meanwhile, the NFL regular season began for Vic Beasley and the Atlanta Falcons plus more than two dozen other Bartow County athletes made marks this weekend with their college football programs across the country. NFL VIC BEASLEY — Atlanta Falcons (4th yr. pro; OLB/DE, Clemson University, Adairsville HS)… had one tackle in the Falcons’ 18-12 loss Thursday night at Philadelphia. Atlanta (0-1) entertains the Carolina Panthers Sunday at Mercedes Benz Stadium. COLLEGE FOOTBALL QUADRE ALLEN — Tusculum University (Sr., DB, Woodland HS)… had a tackle for a three-yard loss Saturday afternoon as the Pioneers won at Shorter, 61-14. Tusculum (1-1) opens South Atlantic Conference play Saturday at home against Limestone. DeANDRE APPLIN — Georgia State University (Sr., DB, Adairsville HS)… had 11 total tackles (two solo, nine assists) in Saturday’s 41-7 loss at N.C. State. The Panthers (1-1) play at Memphis Friday night. CHRIS BLACKSTON — University of West Georgia (Jr., DB, Adairsville HS)… recorded seven tackles including four solo stops and a fumble recovery in Saturday’s 42-14 win by the 13th-ranked Wolves over visiting Limestone. BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Fr., RB/DB, Adairsville HS)… had one tackle assist in the Eagles’ 45-21 home-opening win over Georgetown (KY). Reinhardt (1-1) was pre-season ranked No. 2 in NAIA, but was upset in their road opener August 23 at Bethel. The new NAIA poll will be released Monday. The Eagles’ play Saturday afternoon at Warner University in Lake Wales, FL. TREVOR CARLTON — Reinhardt University (Sr., LB, Cartersville HS)… had one tackle for a five-yard loss Saturday in the Eagles’ 45-21 victory over visiting Georgetown (KY). Reinhardt (1-1) travels to Warner University (FL) this Saturday. MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois University (R-Soph., QB, Adairsville HS)… finished 18-of-33 for 111 yards as a passer and ran for 12 yards on a dozen attempts in a 17-6 loss to visiting Utah Saturday night at Huskie Stadium. Childers had a long completion of 16 yards and a long run of 19 yards. He did throw one interception and was sacked three times by the Pac-12 Utes. Northern Illinois (0-2) begins Mid-American Conference play Saturday afternoon at home against Central Michigan. XAVIOR COAXUM — LaGrange College (Soph., DB, Cartersville HS)… the Panthers’ starting free safety had three tackles Saturday night in a 34-21 loss to visiting Berry College. Coaxum has 10 tackles in the Panthers’ first two games. LaGrange (0-2) has the week off before hosting Apprentice University Saturday September 22. JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC-Charlotte (Fr., PK, Cartersville HS)… made all three of his field goal attempts Saturday, including a 54-yarder in the second quarter, but the 49ers lost to visiting Appalachian State 45-9. Cruz also converted a 46-yarder and a 48-yarder in the second quarter to account for all of his team’s points. All four of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. His performance earned him Conference-USA Special Teams Player of the Week. The 49ers (1-1) open Conference-USA play this Saturday night at home against Old Dominion. KURTIS FEANNY — Lenoir-Rhyne University (Fr., DL, Woodland HS)… saw his first collegiate action Saturday night, but did not make the stat sheet in a 51-24 win at North Greenville. The Bears (1-1) host Mars Hill University this Saturday night in Hickory, NC. JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (Soph., DT, Cartersville HS)… has now seen action in both of the Blue Raiders’ first two games including Saturday night’s 61-37 home win over Tennessee-Martin. MTSU (1-1) plays this Saturday night at 3rd-ranked Georgia. MILLER FORRISTALL — University of Alabama (R-Soph., TE, Cartersville HS)… was part of the receiver rotation for the top-ranked Crimson Tide in their 57-7 home win Saturday over Arkansas State. Alabama (2-0) begins SEC action this Saturday night at Ole Miss. GABE GRIDLEY — Angelo State University (Jr., P, Cartersville HS)… punted ten times Saturday for a 45.9 yard average in a 41-24 loss at Abilene Christian University. One punt was for a touchback with four inside the 20 yard line. His longest punt went for 63 yards. The Rams (1-1) begin Lone Star Conference play this Saturday night when they host Texas A&M-Kingsville. HUNTER HARDIN — Point University (Soph., OL, Woodland HS)… saw action in the Skyhawks' 17-10 loss at Edward Waters College (FL). Point (0-3) hosts Kentucky Christian University for homecoming this Saturday afternoon. KALIN HEATH — University of West Georgia (Jr., RB, Cartersville HS)… had eight carries for 11 yards Saturday as the 13th-ranked Wolves beat visiting Limestone 42-14 in Carrollton. UWG (2-0) plays at Albany State this Saturday night. SEAN HOLTON — Davidson College (Soph., DB, Cartersville HS)… had one tackle in the Wildcats’ 49-28 win Saturday at home over Chowan. Davidson (2-0) will entertain Guilford Saturday night for their annual homecoming game at Richardson Stadium. LUCAS JOHNSON — Georgia State University (Sr., OL, Cass HS)… the Panthers’ starting right tackle was part of an offense that rushed for 129 yards and passed for 242 yards at N.C. State and even briefly held a 7-0 lead before losing 41-7 to the Wolfpack. GSU (1-1) plays at Memphis Friday night. EMMANUEL JONES -- Colorado State University (Soph., LB, Woodland HS)... had an interception, a sack, five tackles, two tackles for loss, and a quarterback hurry in the Rams' 34-27 defeat of Arkansas Saturday night. CSU (1-2) plays at Florida this Saturday. BRADLEY KIRK — Shorter University (Fr., DB, Cartersville HS)… recorded a pair of tackles Saturday afternoon in the Hawks’ 61-14 loss to visiting Tusculum. Shorter (0-2) opens Gulf South Conference play this Saturday night in Pensacola at NCAA D2 2nd-ranked University of West Florida. TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson University (Fr., QB, Cartersville HS)… tossed a 64-yard touchdown pass on his first play in a 28-26 victory at Texas A&M. Lawrence entered for his first series at the beginning of the second quarter. He finished the game 5-of-9 passing for a total of 93 yards and had two rushing attempts for a -1 yard total. Clemson (2-0) hosts Georgia Southern Saturday afternoon. DARIAN POELLNITZ — Miles College (Fr., DL, Cartersville HS)… had a pair of tackle assists last Thursday night in a 37-21 loss at 11th-ranked West Alabama. The Golden Bears (0-2) will host Fort Valley State Saturday evening in the prince Hall Americanism Football Classic in Fairfield, AL. MARK QUATTLEBAUM — UNC-Charlotte (R-Sr., SL, Cartersville HS)… made two catches for a one-yard total Saturday in the 49ers’ 45-9 home loss to Appalachian State. His first reception went for three yards before losing two yards on his next catch. He was targeted three times as a receiver and also made a pair of fair catches as a punt returner. UNCC (1-1) hosts Old Dominion Saturday night as they begin play in Conference USA. MACLAND SHAY — New Mexico Highlands University (Fr., DB, Cass HS)… saw action Saturday as the Cowboys remained unbeaten with a 65-37 win over visiting Adams State. Highlands (2-0, 2-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) travels to St. George, UT to play Dixie State Saturday night. GARRETT SHELTON — Alabama State University (Fr., LS, Cartersville HS)… saw action in the Hornets’ 63-9 loss Saturday night at 7th-ranked Auburn. ASU (1-1) plays at Kennesaw State Saturday evening. HIRAM VELEZ — University of West Florida (Sr., WR, Adairsville HS)… was targeted four times and made one catch for nine yards in the 2nd-ranked Argonauts’ 38-17 loss at 10th-ranked Midwestern State. Unfortunately, Velez also fumbled on his only reception turning the ball over in the first quarter to the Mustangs. UWF (1-1) hosts Shorter Saturday night in both teams’ Gulf South Conference opener. JAKE WALKER — Furman Universitiy (Soph., TE, Cartersville resident, Darlington HS)… the 21st-ranked Paladins’ starter at tight end did not have a catch and was targeted only once Saturday in a 45-7 loss at 15th-ranked Elon. Furman (0-2) plays its first home game Saturday afternoon and hosts Colgate of the Patriot League.