Athletes Beyond Bartow: Jags' playoff run ends, local athletes contribute across the country

Trevor Lawrence

An exciting six-week run to the playoffs and into the AFC Divisional round came to an end Saturday for Cartersville’s Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The second-year quarterback was an integral part of the Jaguars’ transition from a 3-18 team in his rookie season to one of the final four teams standing this past weekend in the AFC.

Jacksonville lost at AFC top-seed Kansas City Saturday 27-20 as Lawrence finished 24-for-39 passing for 217 yards and one touchdown.

In the National Basketball League of Canada, former Cartersville Hurricane A.J. Mosby has played a key role in a 4-0 start for the Sudbury Five while Cartersville native Ashton Hagans continues to come off the bench for the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League.

At the collegiate level, sixteen more athletes from Bartow County contributed to their respective programs this past week in tennis, swimming, wrestling, and basketball action.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 2nd-yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS … was 24-for-39 passing for 217 yards Saturday in Jacksonville’s divisional playoff round loss at Kansas City. He added 26 yards rushing on three attempts. Lawrence’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Christian Kirk in the first quarter tied the game 7-7 but the Chiefs regained the lead early in the second quarter and never trailed again. There were second half opportunities for Jacksonville and Lawrence. His lone interception came in the fourth quarter with the Jags trailing by 10 points and at midfield. That turnover followed a fumble by Jamal Agnew on the Chiefs’ 9-yard line as the Jags’ threatened on the previous drive. Those back-to-back turnovers diminished the Jaguars’ chances. The 23-year-old QB did engineer a final 37-yard drive in 39 seconds to set up a 48-yard field goal by Riley Patterson that narrowed the Kansas City lead to one score. The ensuing onside kick failed, however, and the Chiefs closed out a 27-20 win.

"It's special what we were able to do," Lawrence told reporters following the 27-20 loss. "No one thought we should be here and we just kept believing. It's really cool. Really cool to be a part of. And it was special. Like I said, just the beginning. This year, obviously, was huge for this organization, for our city, just for our franchise moving forward. And it kind of sets the bar of who we're gonna be and what we're gonna do moving forward. That's the mindset. And we won't settle for less than that. We got a taste of it, being here, but there's more left.”

PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS — Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League; 3rd-year pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … totaled five points and had a pair of rebounds in home losses last Wednesday and Saturday to the Cleveland Charge and Windy City Bulls. Greensboro (2-8) travels to Oshkosh, Wisconsin this weekend for games at the Wisconsin Herd Friday and Saturday nights.

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th-year pro; NBL-Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 12 points and had six rebounds, six assists, and one steal in an 86-83 win last Thursday night at the London Lightning. Sudbury (4-0) plays at the Windsor Express this Friday night.

TENNIS

EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … playing against her former team, Surcey won her Line 5 singles match 6-2, 6-1 as the Bulldogs defeated Arkansas State, 7-0 last Friday. She was not in action in MSU’s 4-3 win over Jacksonville State — also last Friday. She did have a 6-0, 6-1 win on January 15 against Louisiana as the Bulldogs (4-0) won 5-2. Mississippi State hosts Tennessee State this coming Sunday.

SWIMMING

GRAYSON BREEDLOVE — Lenioir-Rhyne University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … was part of the Bears’ fifth place 200-yard medley relay team. She also placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle and ninth in the 100-yard freestyle as LRU lost to UNC-Pembroke and Roanoke College last Saturday at UNC-Pembroke. Next for the Bears is the South Atlantic Conference Championship in Charlotte on February 8-11.

HARPER POWELL — Florida Tech (So., Adairsville HS) … in a team loss at Saint Leo University this past Friday, Powell was second in the 50-yard freestyle (25.68) and was on two relay teams that finished second. Her 200-yard medley relay team (1:54.47) and 200-yard freestyle relay team (1:41.41) were meet runners-up. The Panthers are at home Friday against Florida Southern University and the University of Miami.

WRESTLING

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … now ranked ninth nationally in the 149-pound weight class, Henson defeated his N.C. State opponent Friday night as the 8th-ranked Hokies edged the 5th-ranked Wolfpack, 16-14. Virginia Tech hosts Pittsburgh this Friday night.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Fr., Cass HS) … won his 149-pound bout as the Diplomats defeated Gettysburg 36-6 at home last Wednesday. This past Saturday Kresho dropped a major decision to his opponent from Long Island University and won a major over his Hofstra opponent. Franklin & Marshall defeated LIU 29-11 but lost to Hofstra 21-12. The Diplomats return to the mat next Sunday afternoon when they host Sacred Heart University. JORDAN MITCHELL -- Life University (R-Jr., Cass HS) ... was 6-2 in his bouts at the Missouri Valley College Invitational in Marshall, Missouri last weekend in the 141-pound division and placed fifth as an individual while the Runnin' Eagles placed fourth of 30 participating teams. Next for Life is a home conference dual with Reinhardt Thursday night and a trip to Appalachian State on Saturday.

JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (So., Cartersville HS) … won one of three bouts last Friday and Saturday in the 165-pound division of the Missouri Valley College Invitational in Marshall, Missouri. Next for Midway is a home dual against Thomas More University,

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … scored 12 points with three rebounds, two steals, and one assist Sunday afternoon in a 94-74 Vikings’ win at Rhodes College in Memphis. Last Friday night, he scored five points, grabbed five boards, had four assists, and one steal in an 80-59 win at Hendrix College (Arkansas). This week Berry (16-2, 6-0 Southern Athletic Association) hosts Hendrix on Friday night and Rhodes on Sunday afternoon.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fr., Cass HS) … collected six rebounds, scored four points, made two steals, and added one assist in an 84-45 loss Saturday at 11th-ranked Eckerd College. PBAU (8-9, 4-5 Sunshine State Conference) hosts Florida Southern Wednesday and Saint Leo University Saturday.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (So., Cass HS) … totaled 22 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and one assist as the Skyhawks finished last week 1-2. Point won 59-53 last Tuesday at home over Truett-McConnell, lost last Thursday at Milligan (Tennessee) 69-59, and dropped a 71-58 decision at home Saturday to Union College (Kentucky). Point (11-10, 11-7 Appalachian Athletic Conference) entertains Bryan College Wednesday night in another AAC matchup.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, blocked two shots, and added one steal and one assist last Tuesday in an 89-84 loss at Johnson University (Tennessee). He also finished with six points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one blocked shot in an 80-70 overtime loss Saturday at Montreat College (North Carolina). The Rams (8-10, 7-8 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travel too St. Andrews University (North Carolina) Wednesday and will host Tennessee Wesleyan Saturday.

T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … in three wins last week he totaled 21 points, 11 steals, nine rebounds, and seven assists as the Chargers won 111-74 at Southern Crescent Tech last Tuesday, beat visiting Andrew College 78-74 last Thursday, and topped East Georgia State 78-72 in Rome Saturday. Georgia Highlands (9-8, 3-0 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) plays at South Georgia State CC Wednesday night and hosts South Georgia Tech Saturday.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … saw limited action and had no stat line in last Wednesday’s 65-49 home loss to Albany Tech CC. The Titans (7-14, 2-7 GCAA) host Georgia Highlands CC Wednesday night and Spartanburg Methodist Saturday.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., Cass HS) … scored one point and had a pair of rebounds last Monday in an 80-67 home loss to Johnson & Wales University (North Carolina). She added one assist and one blocked shot last Thursday in an 82-49 loss at Welch College (Tennessee). TFC (11-6, 3-1 National Christian College Athletic Association South Region) hosts Trinity Baptist College Monday and Warren Wilson College (North Carolina) Thursday before traveling to Appalachian Bible College (West Virginia) Saturday.

JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad student, Cartersville HS) … in home wins over Clayton State, Columbus State, and Georgia Southwestern last week, Pugh totaled 22 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals off the Bearcats’ bench. Lander (14-4, 6-2 Peach Belt Conference) plays at Georgia College Wednesday night and hosts Flagler College Saturday.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds, made four steals, and had three assists in a 91-75 loss last Wednesday at West Liberty University (West Virginia). She then scored 11 points with five boards, one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot Saturday in a 73-67 loss at Notre Dame College (Ohio). ABU (4-13, 3-9 Mountain East Conference) plays Glenville State (West Virginia) at home Wednesday night before traveling to Concord College (West Virginia) Saturday afternoon.

NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … scored eight points and collected eight rebounds with five assists and two steals last Friday night in an 87-63 home win over Belhaven University (Mississippi). Saturday she scored 18 points with nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a 98-91 home loss to Huntingdon College (Alabama). The Lions (9-7, 5-2 Collegiate Conference of the South) host LaGrange College Wednesday and travel to Covenant College Saturday afternoon.