Athletes Beyond Bartow: Lawrence continues setting records, Clemson wins 29th straight
The Thanksgiving holiday week was not a week off for many of the college and pro athletes representing Bartow County on rosters across the nation. It was a busy week on the college and NFL gridirons as well as the college basketball hardwoods.
Trevor Lawrence, a former quarterback at Cartersville High School, continued an impressive streak and set a new school record Saturday for Clemson as the 3rd-ranked Tigers cruised past rival South Carolina. Lawrence tied an Atlantic Coast Conference passing record in the process.
NFL
VIC BEASLEY — Atlanta Falcons (5th yr. pro; OLB; Clemson; Adairsville HS)… contributed a pair of tackle assists in the Falcons’ 26-18 home loss to the New Orleans Saints Thanksgiving night. Beasley has 19 tackles and four sacks this season as Atlanta has struggled to a 3-9 record and is currently last in the NFL South Division. The Falcons host the Carolina Panthers Sunday at 1 p.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois University (R-Jr., QB, Adairsville HS)… was 6-for-11 passing for 86 yards including a 71-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter as the Huskies defeated Western Michigan 17-14 last Tuesday night. He also had 11 rushing attempts for 54 yards. Childers finished 2019 as the team’s second leading rusher with 419 yards with five touchdowns. He also threw for six touchdowns and 474 yards. Northern Illinois finished the season with a 5-7 mark.
JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC-Charlotte (So., PK, Cartersville HS)… made a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter and was successful on all four of his PAT kicks as the 49ers defeated Old Dominion Saturday in Norfolk, 38-22. Cruz also kicked off seven times for a 58.7 yard average with two touchbacks. Charlotte (7-5) is on a five-game winning streak and has accepted a bid to play Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl December 20.
KURTIS FEANNY — Lenoir-Rhyne University (So., OL, Woodland HS)… the Bears’ starting left guard was part of an offensive unit that produced 117 rushing yards and 200 yards passing in a 49-21 second round NCAA Division II playoff win Saturday over 25th-ranked Carson-Newman University. The 6th-ranked Bears will now host University of West Florida Saturday in Hickory, North Carolina in a national quarterfinal after UWF upset top-ranked Valdosta State this past weekend, 38-35.
Ja’COREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-Fr., DE, Cartersville HS)… made four tackles that included a sack in the Demon Deacons’ 39-30 overtime loss Saturday at Syracuse. Johns now has 51 tackles this season through 12 games including three sacks and a pair of quarterback hurries. Wake Forest (8-4, 4-4 ACC) has been most commonly projected for either the Belk Bowl in Charlotte vs. an SEC opponent or the Sun Bowl in El Paso vs. a Pac-12 opponent.
MANNY JONES — Colorado State University (Jr., DE, Woodland HS)… was credited with five tackles including one sack but the Rams finished the 2019 campaign with a 31-24 home loss to 19th-ranked Boise State Friday night. Jones played in 11 games this season and was sixth on his team in tackles with 54. He had five sacks, five quarterback hurries, and forced two fumbles. The Rams season ends with a 4-8 record.
TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson University (So., QB, Cartersville HS)… completed 26-of-36 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns Saturday in a 38-3 blowout of rival South Carolina. The three touchdown passes extended his streak of consecutive games with three touchdown passes to seven. He also rushed for a career best 66 yards and set a school record with 18 consecutive completions. The completed pass streak tied an ACC record. For the season, Lawrence is 216-for-315 passing for 2,870 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also has seven rushing touchdowns and 458 rushing yards. Third-ranked Clemson (12-0) will square off with Virginia in the ACC Championship Game Saturday night in Charlotte.
JACOB POTTER — Kennesaw State University (So., LS, Adairsville HS)… made successful long snaps on all four of the Owls’ extra points and three punts as Kennesaw State won its opening round FCS playoff game at 11th-ranked Wofford, 28-21. KSU (11-2) travels to Ogden, Utah this Saturday for a second round matchup at Weber State.
AVERY SHOWELL — Georgia Tech (R-So., DB, Cartersville HS)… made one solo tackle in the fourth quarter of the Yellow Jackets’ 52-7 home loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. Showell appeared in 11 games this season with one start. He finished the year with 16 tackles one pass breakup and one pass defended. Georgia Tech finished the season with a 3-9 record.
JAKE WALKER — Furman University (Jr., TE, Cartersville, GA, Darlington HS)… a starter Saturday, Walker was targeted on third down of the opening series but the pass fell incomplete. He was not targeted again in the Paladins’ 42-6 FCS playoff loss at Austin Peay. Walker appeared in all 13 games this season and caught two passes for 21 yards. Furman finished the year with an 8-5 record.
VOLLEYBALL
NEDU EVANS — Augusta University (Fr., MH, Cartersville HS) (Evans second from left, second row) ... the Jaguars won a second straight Peach Belt Conference tournament and learned their NCAA Southeast Regional assignment this past week. Augusta will be the No. 4 seed in the eight-team regional and will square off against USC-Aiken in the opening round this Saturday. The tournament is hosted by the regional’s top seed, Wingate University.
BASKETBALL
ASHTON HAGANS — University of Kentucky (So., G, Cartersville, GA; Newton HS).. in a 69-58 home win Friday over UAB, Hagans dished out 12 assists while scoring nine points with three rebounds and two steals. The 11th-ranked Wildcats (6-1) host Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday.
WHITNEY HARRIS — Toccoa Falls College (So., G, Woodland HS)… scored nine points and grabbed a pair of rebounds last Tuesday in a 70-45 home loss to Truett-McConnell. The Screaming Eagles (3-9) host Berry College Tuesday and Pfeiffer University Saturday.
CARTER HEDDEN — Hocking CC (So., G, Cass HS)… scored two points with three steals, seven rebounds, and two assists in 14 minutes and a start during an 89-66 home win last Tuesday over Salem University JV. The Hawks (7-2) play at Ohio University Lancaster Wednesday and at Terra State Saturday afternoon.
CORIANA McDANIEL — Andrew CC (Fr., G, Adairsville HS)… made her first college start, but had no stat line in a 77-62 loss at Enterprise State CC last Monday. The Tigers (1-8) host Gadsden State CC Monday, Central Georgia Tech CC Wednesday, and Southern Crescent Tech Saturday.
JANA MORNING — Berry College (Jr., G, Cass HS)… recorded five rebounds, five steals, and four assists, but did not score in a 49-47 loss last Tuesday at LaGrange College. The Vikings (3-3) entertain Toccoa Falls Tuesday before traveling to Oglethorpe University in Atlanta Saturday.
JOSIE SUMMERVILLE — North Park University (So., F, Adairsville HS)… scored six points and collected two rebounds as the Vikings stayed unbeaten with a 71-59 home win last Wednesday over St. Mary’s College (IN). North Park (5-0) plays at Carroll University Wednesday night and hosts North Central College Saturday evening.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett-McConnell University (Sr., G, Excel Christian Academy)… scored five points with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal last Tuesday in a 69-63 win at Toccoa Falls College. The Bears (5-2) host Columbia International Wednesday and Tennessee Wesleyan Saturday.
