Athletes Beyond Bartow: College football honors, pro football signing, and updates on college athlet
This week's update for Bartow County college and pro athletes includes pro football and basketball news, along with action from college football, basketball, and wrestling.
In pro football, Vic Beasley of Adairsville picked up another sack on Sunday with the Atlanta Falcons and former Cass football standout Tarris Batiste signed with the Atlanta Legends of the newly formed Alliance of American Football professional league.
Several local college football players have upcoming bowl games and/or collected post-season honors while the college basketball season has now hit full stride. PHOTO: Former Cartersville High School quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, helps lead Clemson as they prepare to play Notre Dame in the College Football Playoffs.
PRO FOOTBALL
TARRIS BATISTE — Atlanta Legends (1st yr. pro; DB; Georgia State; Cass High School)… signed this past week by the Atlanta franchise of the newly formed Alliance of American Football (AAF). Batiste starred as a receiver and defensive back for Cass and signed out of high school with Indiana State. He transferred and completed his college career at Georgia State. In addition to the Legends who will play home games at GSU, the new professional football league features franchises in Birmingham, Orlando, Memphis, Salt Lake, San Antonio, San Diego, and Tempe, Arizona.
VIC BEASLEY — Atlanta Falcons (4th yr. pro; DE; Clemson; Adairsville High School)… had one tackle and one assist including a quarterback sack in the Falcons’ 34-20 loss Sunday at Green Bay. Beasley has 15 tackles and four sacks this season. Atlanta (4-9) hosts the Arizona Cardinals Sunday at 1 p.m.
COLLEGE SOCCER
RUSSELL SHEALY -- University of Maryland (Fr., GK, Cartersville resident, Darlington HS)... was a member of the NCAA Division-I men's soccer championship team that took the title over the weekend. The Terrapins defeated Akron, 1-0, in Sunday's championship game to win the program's fourth national championship. Shealy did not see any action this year behind a goalie who played every single minute of the season, but he will still have a championship ring to show for it.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois (R-So.; QB; Adairsville HS)… after winning the Mid-American Conference championship, Childers and the Huskies (8-5) will face UAB in the Boca Raton Bowl Tuesday night, December 18. For the season, Childers has 1,996 yards passing and 496 rushing yards.
JONATHAN CRUZ — Charlotte (Fr., PK, Cartersville HS)… was named Second Team All-C-USA and was the league’s only three-time Special Teams Player of the Week. He was also named to the Conference-USA All-Freshman Team. Cruz had the two longest kicks in C-USA action and set schol records with eight made field goals of 40 or more yards and three makes of 50 or more yards. He was a perfect 27-of-27 on PATs.
MILLER FORRISTALL — Alabama (R-So.; TE; Cartersville HS)… primarily a contributor this season on the Tide’s kickoff return team, Forristall and Alabama are preparing to face Oklahoma in the College Football Playoffs at the Orange Bowl December 29.
GORDON GRAY — Kennesaw State (Sr., WR, Cartersville HS)… one of 22 seniors on the 2018 Owls that fell Saturday in the FCS playoffs to South Dakota State. He appeared in six games with one start this season and appeared in 26 games in his KSU career.
TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson (Fr., QB, Cartersville HS)… a recipient of multiple awards — including Manning Award finalist, Second Team All-ACC, and ACC Rookie of the Year — Lawrence and the Tigers are preparing for their College Football Playoff matchup with Notre Dame December 29 at the Cotton Bowl. Lawrence has accumulated 2,606 yards passing for 24 touchdowns this season to go with 144 rushing yards and one touchdown.
WRESTLING
ROBBY EARICK — Life University (So., Cartersville HS)… lost a major decision, 11-2, to his Brewton-Parker opponent Friday, but the Running Eagles defeated the Barons 27-18. Life is scheduled to compete Sunday at the Pigeon Forge Duals.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
MARK CHESTER — Georgia Northwestern Tech CC (Fr., G, Cass HS)… scored seven points in the Bobcats 74-63 loss to the Covenant JV team last Thursday. Georgia Northwestern also dropped a 76-68 decision Saturday to visiting Southeastern Baptist College. GNTCC (2-6) hosts West Georgia Tech CC Saturday afternoon.
RYAN DAVIS — Francis Marion University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored nine points with 10 rebounds, four assists, and a steal in the Patriots’ 86-78 home win last Wednesday over Mount Olive. FMU (5-1, 1-0 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Georgia Southwestern Monday and at Columbus State Wednesday.
WHITNEY HARRIS — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., G, Woodland HS)… scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds with one steal in the Screaming Eagles’ 65-45 home loss to Bob Jones University last Tuesday. Toccoa Falls (1-10) plays at Trinity (FL) College Friday and at Johnson University (FL) Saturday.
KIMORA McCLINIC — Middle Georgia State University (So., G, Cartersville HS)… scored two points on 1-for-4 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds, and had one assist in the Knights’ 94-52 home win over Carver Bible College last Tuesday. MGSU (5-4, 1-1 Southern State Athletic Conference) travels to Hattiesburg, MS to play William Carey University Friday and then to New Orleans to face Loyola (LA) Sunday.
JANA MORNING — Berry College (So., G, Cass HS)… had two points, collected five rebounds, and had two assists in a 52-39 home conference loss to Oglethorpe University Friday night. Berry (2-5, 0-1 Southern Athletic Association) plays at Mississippi University for Women Monday night before hosting LaGrange College Friday evening.
JONATHAN PRITCHETT — Vermont Tech CC (So., G, Woodland HS)… scored five points with three assists and two steals in a 97-80 loss to Maine-Fort Kent Sunday. He also had three rebounds, two assists, and a steal Saturday in a 96-85 loss at Southern Maine CC. Last Wednesday, the Knights beat College of St. Joseph 127-102. Pritchett scored seven points with four assists and four rebounds. VTCC (9-5, 5-2 Yankee Small College Conference) plays at Green Mountain College Saturday.
JAYLON PUGH — Furman University (Fr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored nine points, collected three rebounds, and added two assists last Tuesday in a 98-77 win at Elon. He also saw four minutes of floor time in the Paladins’ 74-60 win Saturday over USC-Upstate. Last week, Furman (10-0) made school history by entering the Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the first time at No. 25. The ‘Dins host Charleston Southern Tuesday and UNC-Wilmington Saturday.
JOSIE SUMMERVILLE — North Park University (Fr., F, Adairsville HS)… in limited minutes, she totaled four points, five rebounds, and a steal as Vikings defeated Milikin University 79-66 at home last Wednesday and won at North Central College Saturday night, 83-82. NPU (5-4, 2-1 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) travels to Elmhurst College Saturday afternoon.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (Jr., G, Excel Christian Academy)… scored 12 points and had one rebound Saturday during a 67-66 loss at St. Andrews (NC). He also scored three points and had one steal in a 77-54 loss last Wednesday at Point University. TMU (5-5, 2-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) makes a Virginia trip Friday and Saturday to play at Stratford University and Regent University.
CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (R-Jr, F, Woodland HS)… was 0-for-2 from the floor in two minutes of playing time last Tuesday during a 79-71 win at Emmanuel College. UNG (5-2, 0-1 Peach Belt Conference) hosts PBC opponents Flagler College and Augusta University December 17 and 19.
PRO BASKETBALL
ELIJAH ROBINSON — Club Atletico Villa San Martin (1st yr. pro; La Liga Argentina; Emmanuel College; Excel Christian Academy)… scored 13 points with seven rebounds and one assist in last Friday’s 78-74 win at Obera Tennis Club. Villa San Martin (7-5) is currently tied for second in the North Division and hosts Salta Basketball Wednesday.
