Athletes Beyond Bartow: Lawrence, Jaguars take down Broncos in a clash of NFL division leaders

December 22, 2025 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

A weekly update on the professional and collegiate athletes from Cartersville and Bartow County for the week ending December 21.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 5th-year pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS)  …threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score this past Sunday, leading the Jaguars to an impressive 34-20 win that snapped the Denver Broncos’ 11-game winning streak. Lawrence has been hot in recent weeks as Jacksonville has taken over first place in the AFC South and outscored its last five opponents 171-72. The Jags have now won six straight. Lawrence scored on a 1-yard keeper and had touchdown throws to Parker Washington, Brenton Strange, and Travis Etienne in the win over the Broncos. The 26-year-old finished the day completing 23 of 36 passes for 279 yards and rushing for 20 more. Jacksonville (11-4) holds a one-game lead in their division and has regular-season games remaining against Indianapolis on Sunday and Tennessee at home on January 4.

CHINESE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

ASHTON HAGANS — Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons (6th year pro; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … the 26-year-old is currently playing for the Brave Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association, although he was initially listed on the opening day roster for the Portland Trail Blazers’ NBA G-League team, the Rip City Remix. Hagans spent a brief stint with the Portland NBA franchise in 2024 and played in the CBA last season. He signed with the Cairns Taipans of Australia’s NBL earlier this year before being released from that contract in September. He is averaging two points, two rebounds, and three assists through the first four games of the season with the Brave Dragons (3-1).

FOOTBALL

KHRISTIAN LANDO — Jacksonville State University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … made his first start for the Gamecocks, rushing for 44 yards on 11 carries with a long run of 17 yards as JSU beat Troy University 17-13 in the Salute to Veterans Bowl in Montgomery on December 16. Lando finished the season with 201 rushing yards on 51 attempts with one touchdown. He also caught one pass for 11 yards as the Gamecocks finished a 9-5 season.

IAN WILLIAMS — University of Memphis (Fr., Cass HS) … saw action on special teams last Friday in the Tigers’ 31-7 loss to N.C. State at the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. Williams completed his true-freshman season with six tackles as Memphis finished an 8-5 campaign.

WRESTLING

WILLIAM BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) … lost his bout at 125 pounds during the Eagles’ 39-9 loss to Life University on December 17. Reinhardt returns to action January 2-3 at the Huntingdon College Duals.

LEE CAMP — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … won his 133-pound bout by pinfall at the 6:53 mark, but the Eagles fell at Life University on December 17, 39-9. Reinhardt returns to action January 2-3 at the Huntingdon College Duals.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Sr., Cass HS) … lost his 141-pound bout, but the Diplomats defeated Presbyterian College 31-10 last Thursday in Clinton, South Carolina. Franklin & Morris also had a team win over Davidson College, but lost to Air Force during the quad-meet. Next on the Diplomats’ schedule is the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships on Monday and Tuesday.

CADEN McCRARY — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … lost his 141-pound bout in the Eagles’ loss at Life University on December 17. Reinhardt returns to action January 2-3 at the Huntingdon College Duals.

AIDAN PIATT — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … lost his bout at 174 pounds in the Eagles’ loss on December 17 at Life University. Reinhardt returns to action January 2-3 at the Huntingdon College Duals.

KRIECG ROE — Lindsey Wilson College (Fr., Cass HS) … won by pinfall in the first minute of his 174-pound bout against Rochester Christian University and pinned his Midway University (KY) opponent at the 1:41 mark as the Blue Raiders won 31-17 and 34-15. Lindsey Wilson returns to action on January 3-4 at the Huntingdon College Duals and Open in Montgomery, Alabama.

HAYDEN SANTORA — Reinhardt University … lost in a 165-pound bout December 17 as the Eagles fell at Life University. Reinhardt returns to action January 2-3 at the Huntingdon College Duals.

BASKETBALL

TAFF BRADLEY — Huntingdon College (So., Cartersville HS) … scored four points and collected three rebounds last Friday in a 78-43 home win over Agnes Scott College. The Hawks (4-6, 1-0 Collegiate Conerence of the South) return to action on January 2 against visiting Maryville College (TN).

NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … totaled three points, three rebounds, and two assists in two one-sided wins by the Lady Eagles last week over Columbia International University and Point University. Reinhardt (9-5, 6-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) returns to action January 7 at Tennessee Wesleyan.

SE’NAI CAMPER — Montreat College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled five points, seven rebounds, and one blocked shot in Lady Cavaliers’ losses last week at home against Milligan University and at Georgia Gwinnett College. Montreat (5-8, 3-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) has an exhibition game at Western Carolina University on December 30 and returns to conference action at home on January 3 against Union Commonwealth University.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Brewton Parker Christian University (So., Cartersville HS) … scored 18 points last Monday in an 87-73 loss to 18th-ranked University of the Cumberlands in Lakeland, Florida, and scored 13 points in an 84-53 loss at 23rd-ranked Southeastern University (FL) on Tuesday. Draughn totaled eight rebounds, five assists, and one steal in the two games. The Barons (2-11, 1-1 Southern States Athletic Conference) visit the University of West Georgia on Sunday.

ANSLEY GRIFFIN — North Carolina Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … totaled nine points, two rebounds, two steals, and two assists in losses on December 15 and 16 at Southern Virginia University and Mary Baldwin University. Griffin has started all ten games for the Battlin’ Bishops (3-7, 1-3 USA South Athletic Conference), who return to action December 30 with an exhibition at D-I Elon.

ZION HAYES — Vincennes University (So., Cass HS) … scored 17 points with six rebounds and one assist December 17 in a 76-58 home loss to Mineral Area College. The Trailblazers (8-5) host Schoolcraft College (MI) on Tuesday, December 30.

HALEY JOHNSON — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cass HS) … scored nine points with seven rebounds and two assists on December 17 in an 87-52 victory at Point University. The Lady Eagles (9-5, 6-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference)  return to the court on January 7 at Tennessee Wesleyan University.

T.J. PRINTUP — Tusculum University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … scored 14 points with eight rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in a 77-60 conference win on December 17 at Mars Hill University. The Pioneers (6-5, 3-3 South Atlantic Conference) host Bluefield State University (VA) on January 3.

MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Woodland HS) … scored two points and had one rebound on December 15 in an 88-64 home win over Trinity College-Jacksonville. The Fillies (4-7, 1-2 Southern States Athletic Conference) visit Brewton Parker Christian University (GA) on January 8.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cass HS) … scored eight points with two rebounds, two steals, and one assist as the Eagles won at Point University on December 17. The Eagles (9-5, 6-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travel to Tennessee Wesleyan University on January 7,

ALISSA WINTERS — Truett McConnell University (So., Adairsville HS) … totaled five points, and added six rebounds and three assists in the Bears’ three losses during a Florida swing last week. TMU lost at Warner University (FL) and Southeastern University (FL). Truett McConnell also dropped a decision to Culver-Stockton College (MO) in Lake Wales. Winters has started all 14 games for TMU this season. The Bears (3-11, 2-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host the University of Pikeville (KY) on January 3.