Athletes Beyond Bartow: Local athletes continue to impress on national stage
Clemson continues to roll through every team in the ACC, and Trevor Lawrence remains a big reason why.
The top-ranked Tigers turned a top-10 matchup into a one-sided blowout Saturday at home, where they trounced then-No. 7 Miami. Lawrence, for his part, threw for three touchdowns and ran in another, as he continues to look like the Heisman Trophy front-runner and No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Lawrence has still never lost a regular-season game in which he started — either at Clemson or at Cartersville High. Based on how he and the Tigers have played so far this season, it appears that streak won’t end anytime soon.
Elsewhere in college football, Alabama tight end Miller Forristall scored a touchdown during a Saturday night game that actually exceeded the hype, with the Crimson Tide defeating Ole Miss in a high-scoring affair.
At the pro level, Vic Beasley Jr. might not have to wait much longer for his second game with Tennessee. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak the team has experienced, there’s a possibility Tuesday night’s game against Buffalo could be postponed again.
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
Vic Beasley Jr. (Tennessee Titans, Adairsville) — As of this writing, Tennessee is scheduled to host Buffalo Tuesday night. Yes, that’s correct. The NFL has taken to liberally adjusting its schedule during this most unusual of seasons. Likewise, the Titans were forced into taking their bye last week after a COVID-19 outbreak — which has continued to impact several players and other team personnel — pushed back their scheduled meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers into their original open date.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Jonathan Cruz (Charlotte Jr., Cartersville) — Cruz didn’t attempt a single field goal Saturday, but that was a good thing for Charlotte, as the 49ers kept finding the end zone in a 49-21 victory at North Texas. For what it’s worth, Cruz nailed all seven of his point-after tries. The 49ers (1-2, 1-1 Conference USA) are set to host Florida International this weekend.
Jordan Ferguson (Middle Tennessee State R-Jr., Cartersville) — For the second straight week, Ferguson recorded three total tackles, including one solo. The Cartersville High grad also finished with one sack and one quarterback hit. MTSU finally came out on the right side of a game, pulling out a 31-28 win Saturday at Florida International. The Blue Raiders (1-4) will hope for a similar result this week, when they host North Texas.
Miller Forristall (Alabama R-Sr., Cartersville) — Forristall had his lowest yardage total of the season but certainly made up for it with his fifth career touchdown catch and first of the season. Overall, the redshirt senior caught two passes for 16 yards, including the 3-yard score, in a 63-48 barnburner against Ole Miss Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi. No. 2 Alabama will host third-ranked Georgia in a battle of unbeatens this week.
Trevor Lawrence (Clemson Jr., Cartersville) — Lawrence tossed three touchdown passes for the third straight game and added a rushing touchdown to that number for the second time in three outings in a Saturday night rout of then-No. 7 Miami. The top-ranked Tigers easily despatched of the Hurricanes, 42-17, behind Lawrence’s latest masterpiece. A sure-fire first-round pick if he declares for the 2021 NFL draft, Lawrence completed 29 of 41 passes for 292 yards, while adding 34 yards on the ground. His touchdowns consisted of two passes to Braden Galloway, one throw to Calhoun product Davis Allen and a 3-yard run in the third quarter after he briefly went down injured. Through four games, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound quarterback has recorded 10 touchdown passes and four rushing scores. Lawrence hasn’t thrown an interception in almost a calendar year (since Oct. 19, 2019). Clemson (4-0, 3-0 ACC) will visit Atlanta this week to take on Georgia Tech.
Avery Showell (Georgia Tech R-Jr., Cartersville) — Showell assisted on one tackle in Friday’s 46-27 win over Louisville in Atlanta, as the Yellow Jackets improved to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the ACC.
--- special thanks to Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News, for his contributions to Athletes Beyond Bartow.
