Athletes Beyond Bartow: Lawrence preps for his second National Championship Game
This past week in college football, former Cartersville Hurricane Miller Forristall caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season as Alabama beat Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day.
Meanwhile, former Canes' quarterback Trevor Lawrence continues preparations for his second College Football National Championship Game and at least eleven local basketball players made their marks in college games around the country.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
MILLER FORRISTALL — University of Alabama (R-Jr., TE, Cartersville HS)… caught three passes for 36 yards including a 20-yard touchdown reception as the Crimson Tide beat Michigan New Year’s Day in the Citrus Bowl. Forristall finished the 2019 season with 15 catches for 167 yards and four touchdowns. He appeared in nine games — missing part of the season following an injury against Arkansas. The 6’5” target was on the Mackey Award Watch List in the preseason. Forristall was the Alabama coaching staff’s offensive player of the week for his play against Arkansas. TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson University (So., QB, Cartersville HS)… the 20-year-old quarterback continues to prepare this week for his second appearance in college football’s National Championship Game on Monday, January 13 in New Orleans. Clemson — the defending national champs and winners of 29 straight games — will square off with top-ranked LSU (14-0). COLLEGE BASKETBALL
JACQUEZ FOUNTAIN — Albany Tech (Fr., G/F, Cass HS)… in a pair of games this week, Fountain averaged 24 points per game and totaled 12 rebounds, four steals, two assists, and one block as the Titans won at Southern Crescent Tech 83-51 Thursday night and beat visiting Gordon College 77-74 Saturday. Albany Tech (9-6, 2-0 GCAA) travels to East Georgia CC Wednesday night at plays and Central Georgia Tech in Macon Saturday afternoon.
ISAAC GRIDLEY — Berry College (Fr., F, Cartersville HS)… saw his first action as a college player Saturday as the Vikings pounded visiting Rhodes College 92-49. Gridley played four minutes and missed his only field goal attempt. He finished with one defensive rebound and added one assist. In Sunday’s 60-59 loss to visiting Hendrix College (AR), Gridley again had one rebound in three minutes of court time. Berry (11-2, 2-0 Southern Athletic Association) had won eight straight prior to Sunday’s loss and will travel to Centre College (KY) Friday night and play at Sewanee-University of the South Sunday afternoon. ASHTON HAGANS — University of Kentucky (So., G, Cartersville, GA; Newton HS)… scored seven points, distributed seven assists, grabbed five rebounds, and added one steal in the 7th-ranked Wildcats’ 71-59 home win Saturday over Missouri. Kentucky (10-3, 1-0) plays at Georgia Tuesday night and entertains Alabama Saturday afternoon. EVAN LEE — Northland C&T College (Fr., F, Excel Christian Academy)… started and did not score but had a pair of rebounds in his team’s 79-49 home win Friday over Dakota College at Bottineau. Northland also beat Canadian Mennonite University Saturday 104-57 but boxscore information was not available. The Pioneers (5-4) host Central Lakes College Wednesday night, travel to Grand Rapids, Minnesota to take on Itasca CC Saturday afternoon, and play at Mesabi Range College in Virginia, Minnesota Sunday afternoon. KYLA MICHIENZI — Piedmont College (Fr., G, Cass HS)… scored three points with one rebound and one assist last Monday in the Lions’ 67-59 home win over Birmingham-Southern College. She also saw two minutes of action off the bench Saturday in a 74-45 loss at Maryville College (Tenn.). The Lions (7-7, 3-2 USA South Athletic Conference) host Wesleyan College Tuesday night and Berea College (KY) Saturday afternoon. JANA MORNING — Berry College (Jr., G, Cass HS)… finished with a season-high 22 points and each of them was needed in a 61-59 win over Hendrix Sunday. Morning went 7-for-16 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line in the victory. She added six rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. Morning also scored 13 points with four boards, two assists and two steals Friday night in a 70-62 home loss to Rhodes. The Vikings (7-7, 1-2 SAA) will travel Friday night to Centre and play at Sewanee-University of the South next Sunday afternoon. JAYLON PUGH — Furman University (So., G, Cartersville HS)… played four minutes off the bench last Wednesday and was 0-for-2 from behind the arc in the Paladins’ 89-73 win over VMI. Pugh also grabbed one rebound in Furman’s 65-56 home conference win Saturday over East Tennessee State. Furman (13-3, 3-0) plays at Chattanooga Wednesday night and hosts UNC-Greensboro Saturday night. DARIUS THROWER — Truett-McConnell University (Sr., G, Excel Christian Academy)… scored nine points with one rebound and one assist off the bench last Thursday in a 78-74 loss at Columbia International University. The Bears also lost 90-71 Saturday at Montreat University (NC) but game stats were not available. TMU (6-10, 2-8 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Reinhardt Tuesday night, plays at Milligan College (TN) Thursday night, and hosts Kentucky Christian University Saturday afternoon. ALEXIS WARE — Piedmont College (Fr., F, Cass HS)… scored two points and had one rebound in the Lions’ loss Saturday at Maryville College (Tenn.). Piedmont (7-7, 3-2 USA-South) entertains Wesleyan College Tuesday night and Berea College (KY) Saturday afternoon. NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont College (Fr., F, Adairsville HS)… scored 10 points with seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal last Monday as Piedmont beat visiting Birmingham-Southern 67-59. Washington grabbed four rebounds and made a pair of steals in 12 minutes Saturday during the Lions’ loss at Maryville. The Lions (7-7, 3-2 USA South Athletic Conference) host Wesleyan College Tuesday night and Berea College (KY) Saturday afternoon. CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (Sr., F/C, Woodland HS)… scored eight points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked one shot Saturday in the Nighthawks’ 90-68 loss to visiting Flagler College. UNG (5-7, 0-4 Peach Belt Conference) travels to Georgia Southwestern State University Wednesday night and will host Georgia College Saturday afternoon in a pair of PBC tilts.
