Athletes Beyond Bartow: Lawrence, Jaguars win season opener

The 2023 NFL season kicked off this past week with former Purple Hurricane Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars winning their opener. The week in college football also saw several locals contribute with their respective programs.

The MiLB schedules move into the final week of 2023 and this week’s report also includes some professional golf, collegiate golf, volleyball, cross country, and soccer.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … finished 24-for-32 passing for 241 yards and two touchdowns Sunday as the Jaguars won 31-21 at the Indianapolis Colts. The 2021 overall No. 1 pick threw one interception and had seven rushing attempts for 21 yards. His first TD pass was a 9-yarder to Calvin Ridley in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. The second scoring strike was an 18-yarder to Zay Jones in the second quarter that gave Jacksonville a 14-7 lead. The Jags (1-0) host the defending World Champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (KC Royals Double-A affiliate; 2nd-yr. pro; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made a pitching start last Thursday and received no decision in an eventual 10-7 Naturals’ win at the Frisco RoughRiders. Barnett went 3-⅔ innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out four. Northwest Arkansas (31-31 Texas League North Division second half / 60-71 overall) completes the regular season this week at home with a seven-game series against the Arkansas Travelers.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; 6th-yr. pro; Cartersville HS) … made three starts last week in a home series with the Erie SeaWolves and was 1-for-10 with a double, two walks, one run scored, and two RBIs. Somerset concludes the regular season this week with a six-game series at the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and will then square off with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies starting September 19 in the best-of-three divisional playoff series.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Vikings’ offensive line, Cagle was part of an offensive unit that rolled up 646 yards Saturday in a 70-3 win at LaGrange College. Berry (2-0) has a bye week before traveling to Centre College (Kentucky) on September 23.

CARLOS DEL RIO-WILSON — Syracuse University (R-So., Cartersville HS) … entered in the second half Saturday and was 5-for-9 passing for 57 yards including a 20 yard completion as the Orange beat visiting Western Michigan 48-7. He also had three rushing attempts for -1 yard total. Syracuse (2-0) plays at Purdue on Saturday night.

COLLIN FLETCHER — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … had a pair of receptions Saturday including a 16-yarder for a total of 27 yards in the NAIA 10th-ranked Eagles’ 23-20 loss to Southeastern University (Florida). Reinhardt (1-1) travels to Cumberlands University (Kentucky) on Saturday.

JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Tigers’ offensive line that helped produce 389 total yards in a 37-3 win Saturday at Arkansas State. Memphis (2-0) hosts Navy on Thursday night on ESPN.

SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … the offensive lineman saw action in the Green Wave’s 37-20 home loss to Ole Miss Saturday in New Orleans. Tulane produced 342 total yards of offense against the Rebels. The Green Wave (1-1) visit Southern Miss this Saturday afternoon.

QUANTE JENNINGS — Presbyterian College (So., Cartersville HS) … had six rushing attempts Saturday for 18 yards including a long run of eight yards as the Blue Hose beat Virginia University of Lynchburg 48-17. Presbyterian (1-1) plays this Saturday night at Wofford.

SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-So., Cartersville HS) … hauled in 10 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns Saturday night in the Mocs’ 27-20 home win over Kennesaw State. Chattanooga (1-1) hosts The Citadel this Saturday night in both teams’ Southern Conference opener.

DEVONTE ROSS — Troy University (So., Cartersville HS) … had five receptions Saturday at 15th-ranked Kansas State for 28 yards. He added one kickoff return for 35 yards as the Trojans lost 42-13 in Manhattan, Kansas. Troy (1-1) hosts James Madison in a Sun Belt Conference game this Saturday night.

COURTNEY SLOCUM — Mars Hill University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … made three tackles last Thursday night in the Lions’ 15-10 home victory over Wingate University. Mars Hill (1-0) plays at Catawba College this Saturday night to open play in the South Atlantic Conference.

EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … had a pair of tackle assists Saturday in the Demon Deacons’ 36-20 win at home over Vanderbilt. Wake Forest (2-0) visits Old Dominion University this Saturday afternoon.

DREW WILSON — Illinois College (Jr., Adairsville HS) … had a return of 22 yards Saturday on the game’s opening kickoff in a 37-6 home loss to Lake Forest College. The Blueboys (1-1) travel to Ripon College (Wisconsin) this Saturday afternoon for a Midwest Conference game.

PRO GOLF

JASON BOHN — PGA Tour Champions (Acworth resident; Cartersville Country Club member) … carded rounds of 68-73-68 (4-under-par) at the par-71, 6,992-yard Norwood Hills CC in St. Louis, Missouri to finish tied for 33rd at the Ascension Charity Classic. The tournament was won by Steve Flesch at 19-under-par. Up next for Bohn is the Sanford International this Friday through Sunday at Minnehaha CC in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

COLLEGE GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (Jr., Cartersville HS) … competing with the Bulldogs this past Saturday through Monday at the Valero Texas Collegiate Invitational in San Antonio, Brumlow earned a top ten finish with rounds of 73-70-71 (2-under-par). The tournament was held at the 7,034-yard, par-27 TPC San Antonio Oaks. The individual title went to Joe Sullivan of Florida Gulf Coast who won a playoff with Gustav Frimodt of TCU and Johnny Keefer of Baylor after the trio tied at 6-under-par. Georgia finished eighth of 12 teams with an 11-over-par total at the 54-hole event. Vanderbilt (13-under-par) won the tournament followed by TCU (8-under), Baylor (4-under), and Virginia (1-under). The next tournament for UGA this Fall will be the SEC Match Play September 25-27 at Birmingham Country Club.

CROSS COUNTRY

TYLER JONES — Carson Newman University (Fr., Woodland HS) … finished 25th as an individual in 28:27 at the 8K South Atlantic Conference Preview this past Saturday hosted by Lenoir Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. CNU runs this Friday at the University of North Georgia Invitational

VOLLEYBALL

MADELYN ORTON — LaGrange College (So., Rydal, GA; Cornerstone Prep) … had six digs in a 3-2 win last Tuesday over Wesleyan and had four service receptions and one dig in a 3-0 loss at Birmingham-Southern College last Thursday. The Panthers (1-2) play at Pensacola Christian on Thursday and host Oglethorpe University on Saturday afternoon.

MEREDITH ORTON — LaGrange College (So., Rydal, GA; Cornerstone Prep) … totaled three kills and seven digs in a 3-2 win last Tuesday over Wesleyan and had one ace and four digs in a 3-0 loss at Birmingham-Southern College last Thursday. LaGrange (1-2) travels to Pensacola Christian on Thursday and hosts Oglethorpe University this Saturday afternoon.

MARIA PILIPOSYANS — Reinhardt University (So., Cass HS) … had five kills, one dig, and two blocks in the Eagles’ 3-0 loss last Thursday at Truett-McConnell. In last Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Columbia, she had two kills. Reinhardt (8-2, 1-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visits Bluefield (Virginia) on Friday and Kentucky Christian on Saturday.

SOCCER

ABBI CRAIG — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … made a start at forward and played 27 minutes in a 4-1 loss to Keiser (Florida) last Monday in Hardeeville, South Carolina. She then played 35 minutes off the Eagles’ bench last Saturday in a 6-0 win at St. Andrews (North Carolina). Reinhardt (1-4, 1-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Bryan College (Tennessee) on Wednesday night and Columbia College (South Carolina) on Saturday afternoon.

BRADY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … a defensive starter, Craig played all 90 minutes in the Eagles’ 1-0 loss this past Saturday at St. Andrews University (North Carolina). Reinhardt (1-1-3, 0-1 AAC) plays at Bryan College (Tennessee) on Wednesday night and entertains Columbia College (South Carolina) on Saturday afternoon.