Athletes Beyond Bartow: Disappointing finish for Lawrence and the Jaguars

January 7, 2023 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

It was a disappointing end to what had started as a promising season for Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. After reaching the playoffs last season and starting this year with an 8-3 mark, the Jags will miss the playoffs following their 28-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … completed 29 of 43 pass attempts Sunday for 280 yards and two touchdowns but was also picked off twice and was stopped short on a crucial 4th-and-goal keeper in a season-ending loss at the Tennessee Titans. Jacksonville controlled its playoff fate entering the season's final weeks but lost five of six down the stretch after starting the season 8-3. The collapse makes the Jaguars the sixth team in the last 25 years to begin a season 8-3 or better and miss the playoffs. Lawrence, who battled a series of injuries late in the season and missed a game for the first time in his career, completed 66 percent of his passes this season for more than 4,000 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was intercepted 14 times and had an 88.5 QB rating this season starting 16 of 17 games.

NBA G LEAGUE

ASHTON HAGANS — Rip City Remix (4th yr. pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … recorded a double-double with 18 points and 14 assists last Thursday in a 126-122 win at the Salt Lake City Stars. He also had five steals in that win. Over the weekend at the Mexico City Capitanes, Hagans scored 16 points with six assists, three rebounds, and one steal Friday in a 132-124 loss before recording another double-double on Sunday in a 118-110 win. He scored 10 points and had 11 assists, four rebounds, and one steal. The Remix (3-3) host the Oklahoma City Blue on Sunday.

BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE

A.J. MOSBY, JR — Sudbury Five (6th year pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … The Five split a pair of games this past Saturday and Sunday at the Montreal Toundra. In a 114-111 win on Saturday, Mosby scored 10 points and had four rebounds, five assists, and three steals. In Sunday’s 126-121 double-overtime loss, he finished with 29 points, eight boards, five assists, and three steals. Sudbury (3-1) hosts the London Lightning on Friday night and the Pontiac Pharaohs of The Basketball League (TBL) on Saturday night.

WRESTLING

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (So., Woodland HS) … ranked second nationally in the 149-pound weight class, Henson defeated No. 24 Ethan Fernandez 9-2 this past Sunday but the 11th-ranked Hokies lost at 10th-ranked Cornell, 24-13. Virginia Tech returns to the mat on Friday at home against Appalachian State.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (So., Cass HS) … went 3-2 in his 141-pound bouts at the 2024 Lehman Open this past Friday hosted by the Diplomats. Kresho’s wins were over Army-West Point, Pittsburgh, and Drexel opponents. His losses came to opponents from Lehigh and Campbell. Next on the schedule for F&M is a home match with Hofstra on January 21.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Jr., Cass HS) … in a 74-68 home win over Rhodes College last Friday he scored 26 points with six rebounds, four steals, two assists, and one blocked shot. This past Sunday in a 94-79 victory over visiting Hendrix College (Arkansas) he scored 17 points with seven boards, six assists, and three steals. The Vikings (5-9, 2-1 Southern Athletic Association) travel to Centre College (Kentucky) on Friday and visit Sewanee-University of the South on Sunday afternoon.

ZAYLAN CHANEY — Tallahassee CC (So., Cartersville resident, Legacy Academy) … after missing three games, the 6-7 forward came off the Eagles’ bench last Wednesday to score 18 points with two rebounds and two steals in an 85-77 home win over St. Petersburg CC. Tallahassee (13-4) hosts TRC Academy on Wednesday.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (So., Cass HS) … came off the bench to grab seven rebounds and score four points last Wednesday in a 72-56 Sunshine State Conference win over Florida Tech. The Sailfish (8-5, 2-3) will carry a five-game win streak to Embry-Riddle University on Wednesday night. PBAU will then return home to face Saint Leo University on Saturday.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (Jr., Cass HS) … in a pair of starts Hayes totaled 15 points, one block, one rebound, and one assist in home losses to Blue Mountain College (Mississippi) last Thursday and Tennessee Southern this past Saturday. The Skyhawks (6-9, 0-7 Southern State Athletic Conference) host Brewton-Parker on Wednesday and visit Faulkner University (Alabama) on Saturday.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Sr., Woodland HS) … scored 13 points and had two steals, one rebound, and one assist this past Saturday in an 82-69 home loss to University of Pikeville (Kentucky). Columbia International (10-6, 9-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Montreat College (North Carolina) on Saturday afternoon.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC — (So., Cass HS) … scored nine points and had three rebounds, three steals, and two assists last Wednesday in a 57-56 win at Albany Tech CC. CGTCC also had a 93-63 win this past Saturday at Andrew College but no box score information was available. The Titans (4-8, 2-0 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) have a home game on Wednesday night against South Georgia Tech CC, a home game on Saturday afternoon with Southern Crescent Tech CC, and a visit to Brenau University JV next Monday.

T.J. PRINTUP, JR. — Tusculum University (R-Fr., Adairsville HS) … made his first start this past Saturday in an 87-78 loss at Wingate University (North Carolina) scoring 12 points with seven rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot. Last Wednesday at Emory & Henry College (Virginia), Printup collected five boards and scored two points with one assist and one blocked shot. The Pioneers (4-8, 2-4 South Atlantic Conference) host Limestone University on Saturday.