Athletes Beyond Bartow: Beasley debuts with Vipers

Vic Beasley and the Vegas Vipers opened their 2023 XFL season Saturday.

Former Adairsville High School star and Atlanta Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley hasn’t played in the NFL since 2020, but he made his XFL debut Saturday afternoon with the Vegas Vipers.

The revitalized XFL made its 2023 debut over the weekend with all eight teams in action. This is the third attempt for a league that has been rebranded several times since 2001.

The 30-year-old Beasley was the eighth overall pick by the Falcons in 2015 and was First Team All-Pro in the Falcons’ Super Bowl season in 2016 when he recorded 39 tackles and led the NFL in sacks. The following season his production fell off and his contract was allowed to expire following the 2019 season. He signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2020 and was waived after seven games. He was then picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders later that season.

PRO FOOTBALL

VIC BEASLEY — Vegas Vipers (XFL, DE/LB, Clemson, Adairsville HS) … had one assist and two tackles including one for a loss in the Vipers’ 22-20 loss Saturday at the Arlington Renegades. Vegas (0-1) hosts the D.C. Defenders Saturday night.

PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS — Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League; 3rd-year pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … totaled 23 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and one assist in a pair of losses last Monday and Wednesday at the Motor City Cruise in Detroit. The Swarm (7-12) are in 13th place in the 15-team Eastern Conference. They host the Cleveland Charge Wednesday night and the Maine Celtics Friday and Saturday nights.

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th year pro; NBL-Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … in three straight wins at the Newfoundland Rogues last week, Mosby averaged 23 points, seven assists, and a pair of rebounds. Sudbury won 144-137, 131-120, and 131-129. The Five (8-3) will play home games Monday and Saturday against the KW Titans.

BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … scored 10 points with four assists, three rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot Sunday afternoon as the Vikings beat visiting Centre College (KY) in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Athletic Association conference tournament, 86-64. Last Wednesday, Benham scored 10 points and had five assists, two steals, and one rebound in a regular season finale at Oglethorpe University. No. 1-seeded Berry will host Birmingham-Southern College in the SAA semifinals Saturday at 3 p.m.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (So., Cass HS) … scored five points with one rebound and one assist last Tuesday in a 67-63 home win over Tennessee Wesleyan. He then scored seven points and added one assist in an 87-71 loss Saturday at Columbia International. The Skyhawks (15-13) head to the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament in Kingsport, Tennessee Thursday where they will play Montreat in the first round.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and added one blocked shot in an 87-71 home win Saturday over Point University. The Rams (14-13) begin play in the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Wednesday against Bluefield University.

T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … had four rebounds with one point and one steal last Monday in an 88-75 loss at Central Georgia Tech. Horton then scored 16 points with three rebounds and two steals last Wednesday in a 95-47 win at home over Southern Crescent Tech. Stats for the Chargers win at Andrew College on Saturday were not available at the time of this report. GHC (16-9, 10-1 GCAA) play at East Georgia State CC in Swainsboro Tuesday, hosts South Georgia State CC Thursday, and visits South Georgia Tech in Americus Saturday.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … had one steal, one assist, and one rebound last Monday in an 82-53 Titans’ loss at South Georgia Tech CC. She also saw playing time with no stat line in an 83-68 home loss last Wednesday to East Georgia State. The Titans (8-19, 2-11 GCAA) host Andrew College Wednesday and visit Georgia Highlands CC in Rome Saturday afternoon.

JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad student, Cartersville HS) … scored 17 points with six rebounds, two steals, and two assists Saturday at Georgia Southwestern State in a 115-105 overtime win. Last Wednesday, Pugh finished with 10 points, six boards, one assist and one steal in an 80-58 home win over Georgia College. Lander (19-7, 11-5 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Young Harris College Wednesday night before traveling to Flagler College Saturday.

ABIGAIL TAYLOR — Centre College (Fr., Woodland HS) … scored three points and grabbed three rebounds last Wednesday in a Colonels’ 60-39 win at Sewanee-University of the South. She then saw playing time, but had no stat line in Centre’s Southern Athletic Association tournament quarterfinal win Sunday over visiting Sewanee. Centre (19-7) will host Berry College Saturday in the conference semifinals.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … totaled 29 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot, and one steal in a pair of losses last week to West Virginia State and University of Charleston (WV). The Battlers (5-20, 4-16) host Wheeling Wednesday night and Notre Dame College on Saturday.

NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … as the Lions honored their seniors last week, Washington was recognized as the Piedmont University program’s all-time leading scorer, a three-time All-USA South Conference performer, and a two-time CoSIDA Academic All District. In a 56-45 home win Saturday over Maryville College (Tenn.), she scored just one point with six boards, two steals, one assist, and one blocked shot. Piedmont (15-10) opens Collegiate Conference of the South tournament play Wednesday night at home against Huntingdon.

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a 5-2 team win at North Greenville University Saturday, Bush teamed with Catarina Marcko Ferreira to win 6-4 at Line 3 doubles then defeated her Crusaders opponent at Line 3 singles 6-0, 6-0. Sunday she was a 6-1, 6-1 winner at Line 3 singles as YHC topped visiting Carson-Newman, 5-2. The Mountain Lions (3-5) will play Texas A&M-Kingsville at home Thursday afternoon.

CONNOR GUNNELL — Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … in a 7-0 loss last Tuesday at Lee University, Gunnell dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decsion playing Line 5 singles. He and partner Caleb Harper also lost 6-2 in their Line 3 doubles match. Shorter plays at Mississippi College Friday and at University of West Alabama Saturday.

TRACK & FIELD

BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (So., Cartersville HS) … finished eighth (4:19.13) in the one mile run at the Gulf South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship last Tuesday as the Falcons placed fourth behind Mississippi College, Lee University, and Alabama-Huntsville. The next meet for Montevallo will be at Berry College March 4.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … tied his career low with a 6-under-par 66 in the final round and moved up 22 spots in the individual standings last Tuesday as the Bulldogs finished third of 13 teams at the Puerto Rico Classic at Grand Reserve Golf Club. Brumlow finished tied for 10th of 77 players in the tournament with a 54-hole total of 7-under-par 209 (70-73-66). Georgia carded a 24-under-par team total which was six shots behind tournament winner Oklahoma. East Tennessee State was runner-up, one shot ahead of the Bulldogs. UGA travels to Las Vegas February 26-28 for the Southern Highlands Collegiate hosted by UNLV.

SWIMMING

HARPER POWELL — Florida Tech (So., Adairsville HS) … placed 11th (23.86) in the 50-yard freestyle last Friday at the Sunshine State Conference Championship in Clearwater. She also missed the finals of the 100-yard backstroke with a 17th place finish (59.60) in the preliminaries.

WRESTLING

KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (R-So., Woodland HS) … lost his bout at 125-pounds as the 13th-ranked Panthers lost at 19th-ranked Wisconsin 23-17. Next for Northern Iowa (7-5) is the Big 12 Championships March 4-5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 8 nationally in the 149-pound weight division, Henson fell behind early to his Virginia opponent but came from behind for an eventual 9-4 win. The 9th-ranked Hokies won a share of the ACC title with a 33-3 win over the Cavaliers. Virginia Tech returns to action on March 5 at the ACC Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Fr., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 13 nationally in the 197-pound weight division, Smith won his bout 8-2 while the Terps topped Binghamton last Friday 19-12. Sunday in New York City, Smith won a major decision (11-3) in his bout but the Terrapins came up short at Columbia, 18-16. Maryland heads to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the 2023 Big Ten Championships on March 4-5.

SOFTBALL

LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made three pitching appearances over the weekend at the UAB Classic in Birmingham. Friday she worked 2-⅔ innings without a decision against Ball State. She allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out four Cardinals. Saturday, she tossed 6-⅔ innings and gave up just one unearned run on two hits but was tagged with a pitching loss as the Bulldogs fell 1-0 to Lindenwood. Sunday against UAB, Baker pitched 1-⅔ innings allowing one earned run. She struck out one. Samford (2-6) visits Alabama Wednesday night and will host five games facing Southern Indiana twice, IUPUI twice, and North Alabama in their own Bulldog Classic Friday through Sunday.

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … was 0-for-5 at the plate with three walks during a weekend Gulf South Conference series with visiting Union University (Tennessee). The Hawks salvaged one game in the series with a 5-4 win on Sunday. Shorter (4-8, 1-2) hosts Auburn-Montgomery Tuesday in a doubleheader before traveling to Mississippi College Saturday and Sunday for a three game series at Mississippi College.

PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-4 in a 7-3 home loss to Sewanee Sunday afternoon. She was also 0-for-3 in a 1-0 home win in that doubleheader. Friday, the Wolves’ catcher was 0-for-2 in an 8-0 loss to 18th-ranked Coastal Georgia. Wesleyan (1-5) plays at Columbia College (SC) Friday and at Covenant College Saturday.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … in a pair of starts Saturday playing third base, Evans was 3-for-7 at the plate against Thomas University. The visiting Night Hawks won the opener 3-1 but the host Eagles took Game 2, 11-9. Reinhardt (4-2) hosts two games with Midway University Friday and two with Union College (KY) Saturday.

SADYE JOHNSON — University of North Georgia (So., Adairsville HS) … appeared in games against UNC-Pembroke and Lake Erie College Saturday and Sunday and was 1-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs. The Nighthawks went 4-0 in games Saturday and Sunday. UNG (10-1) has a doubleheader Wednesday at home against West Georgia and a three-game series Saturday and Sunday at home against USC-Beaufort.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … the Eagles’ centerfielder went 0-for-2 in a 3-1 loss in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday with visiting Thomas University. In the second game, however, she finished 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and one RBI in an 11-9 win over the Night Hawks. Reinhardt (4-2) hosts two games with Midway University Friday and two with Union College (KY) Saturday.

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … the Commodores went 2-1 in games at Florida State Jacksonville CC and Seminole State CC this weekend. Lee was 0-for-7 at the plate. Gulf Coast State (9-3) hosts a doubleheader with Motlow State Monday and plays five games Friday and Saturday in Oxford, Alabama against five different opponents.

LAUREN McELHANEY — University of West Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a pair of starts last Tuesday and Saturday at catcher and was 0-for-2 at the plate with one at bat in each game — a 9-1 home loss to Georgia Southwestern and a 7-5 loss to West Alabama. The Wolves were 1-4 for the week picking up a win Sunday against UWA. West Georgia (2-8, 1-2 Gulf South Conference) visits North Georgia for a doubleheader Wednesday and travels to Lee University for a three-game conference series Saturday and Sunday.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made a pinch hitting appearance Saturday in the Hawks’ 10-1 loss to visiting Union University (Tenn.). Shorter lost twice on Saturday but edged the Bulldogs 5-4 Sunday in the series finale. Shorter (4-8, 1-2) hosts Auburn-Montgomery Tuesday in a doubleheader before traveling to Mississippi College Saturday and Sunday for a three game series at Mississippi College.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … in a three-game home series with Union University (Tenn.) Varner made a start at shortstop and a start in left field going 0-for-3 at the plate with one walk in losses Saturday. Sunday, she appeared as a pinch runner and stole a base in a 5-4 win. The Hawks (4-8, 1-2 Gulf South Conference) have a home doubleheader with UA-Montgomery Tuesday and a three-game conference series at Mississippi College this weekend.

BASEBALL LOGAN MARTIN — University of Kentucky (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made a five inning start last Friday allowing a pair of earned runs on six hits and one walk. Martin struck out six but was the pitcher of record in a 2-0 loss at Elon. The Wildcats (2-1) host University of Evansville Tuesday and have a three-game home series with Wright State Friday through Sunday.

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … faced three batters and got three fly outs in the third inning last Tuesday in an eventual 9-5 home loss to Young Harris College. It was a no-decision appearance for McKibben. The Flames (5-6, 2-1 Gulf South Conference) also won two of three at Alabama-Huntsville over the weekend. Lee hosts Carson-Newman Tuesday and a three-game conference series with West Georgia Friday and Saturday.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agriculural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … in a split doubleheader at USC-Salkehatchie and a loss at Santa Fe CC (Fla.), Rothschild was just 1-for-8 at the plate with two walks but drove in four runs and scored one. He also stole a base. The Stallions also had a loss Saturday at Wallace-Dothan. ABAC (3-9) hosts a doubleheader with USC-Salkehatchie Monday, travels to College of Central Florida Wednesday, and visits Tallahassee CC Saturday for a doubleheader.

STEPHEN SPELL — Young Harris College (Sr., Cass HS) … in four starts this past week, Spell raised his season batting average to .351 by going 6-for-14 with two walks and one RBI. The Mountain Lions won last Tuesday at Lee University and swept a three-game series with Augusta University. YHC (9-2, 3-0 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Tusculum Tuesday and plays the Battle of Blood Mountain three-game series at North Georgia Friday through Sunday.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in a two-game split with Thomas University and a two game sweep of West Virginia Tech, Warner was 7-for-16 at the plate with one walk, one hit by pitch, one double, two home runs, and six RBIs. He also swiped a pair of bases. Two of his starts were at third base and two as designated hitter. The 7th-ranked Grizzlies (8-2) host a four-game series Friday and Saturday with Indiana University-South Bend.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … during a weekend three-game home series sweep of Truett McConnell, Welchel was 3-for-9 with three walks, scored three runs, and drove in a pair of runs. The right fielder was moved to the leadoff spot in the batting order for the final two games of the series. The NAIA 3rd-ranked Bulldogs (9-0, 3-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Cumberland University Wednesday afternoon and have a three-game home conference series with Columbia International Friday and Saturday.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … started twice and appeared in three games last week for the Grizzlies going 3-for-9 including a double at the plate with four RBIs. The catcher walked twice, scored five runs, and stole two bases in home games against Thomas University and West Virginia Tech. The 7th-ranked Grizzlies (8-2) host a four-game series Friday and Saturday with Indiana University-South Bend.

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … made a pitching start for the Panthers Sunday and received no decision after allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits, three walks, and one hit batsman in an eventual 15-11 win over 21st-ranked East Texas Baptist. NCAA D-III 4th-ranked BSC (6-1) went 4-0 Saturday and Sunday hosting 2nd-ranked LaGrange College, Millsaps College, East Texas Baptist, and Huntingdon College. This Friday through Sunday, the Panthers host the BSC Classic.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in a three-game series at Young Harris College over the weekend, the Jags’ first baseman was 1-for-13 with a double and one RBI. Augusta dropped all three games. The Jaguars (1-7, 0-3 Peach Belt Conference) visit Georgia Southwestern State Friday and Saturday for a three-game conference series.