Athletes Beyond Bartow: Remarkable turnaround season ends for Lawrence and the Jaguars

January 12, 2026

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

The Jacksonville Jaguars' remarkable season came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday, with a narrow 27-24 home Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Cartersville High alum Trevor Lawrence passed for three touchdowns, but Jacksonville’s turnaround season came to an end.

On the collegiate front, several local alumni from Cartersville, Cass, and Adairsville High Schools delivered standout performances across basketball, wrestling, and gymnastics.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 5th-year pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS)  … completed 18 of 30 pass attempts for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the Jaguars’ 27-24 home Wild Card Playoff loss this past Sunday to the Buffalo Bills. Lawrence was picked off twice, including a tipped ball interception on Jacksonville’s final possession. He rushed for 31 yards on six attempts. Jacksonville took a 24-20 lead with just over four minutes remaining, but the Bills scored on their next possession to take a three-point lead. Lawrence passed for 4,007 yards during the regular season and completed 61 percent of his throws. The playoff loss ends the Jaguars’ season with a 13-5 record. The season was a remarkable turnaround for Jacksonville who went 4-13 in 2024.

BASKETBALL

TAFF BRADLEY — Huntingdon College (So., Cartersville HS) … scored three points and made one steal on January 6 in the Lady Hawks’ 66-35 home win over Wesleyan College (GA). Huntingdon (7-7, 4-1 USA South Athletic Conference) hosts LaGrange College on Tuesday and visits Asbury University (KY) on Saturday.

NA’YEL CAMPER — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … in abbreviated court time, Camper had one rebound in the Eagles’ win at Tennessee Wesleyan University on January 7. She also saw action in a home win last Saturday over Columbia College (SC). Reinhardt (11-5, 8-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) hosts Union Commonwealth University (KY) on Wednesday and Montreat College (NC) on Saturday.

SE’NAI CAMPER — Montreat College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled 10 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots, and one steal as the Lady Cavaliers lost at Brenau University (GA) 69-67 on January 7 and dropped an 86-62 decision at home this past Saturday to Spartanburg Methodist College. Montreat (5-11, 3-7 Appalachian Athletic Conference) looks to snap a six-game skid on Wednesday at home against Columbia International University and Saturday at Reinhardt University.

JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Brewton Parker Christian University (So., Cartersville HS) … totaled 33 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and two steals in three home games last week. The Barons beat Life University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, but lost to Thomas University. BPCU (4-12, 3-2 Southern States Athletic Conference) visits Faulkner University on Thursday and the University of Mobile on Saturday.

ANSLEY GRIFFIN — North Carolina Wesleyan University (So., Cartersville HS) … scored two points with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal on January 6 in a home 91-67 win over Greensboro College (NC). Griffin also saw playing time this past Saturday in a 64-53 home loss to Southern Virginia University. NCWU hosts Meredith College on Wednesday and visits Salem University (WV) on Saturday.

ZION HAYES — Vincennes University (So., Cass HS) … scored nine points with five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one blocked shot this past Saturday in an 83-64 win at Rend Lake College. The Trailblazers (10-6) play at the Trevecca Nazarene University (TN) JV on Friday night.

ZYON HEATH — LaGrange College (So., Woodland HS) … scored two points and had one rebound in the Panthers’ 96-78 loss on January 6 at Belhaven University (MS). LaGrange (8-6, 1-2 Collegiate Conference of the South) visits Huntingdon College (AL) on Tuesday night.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Sr., Cass HS) … scored five points with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal this past Saturday in a 75-69 loss at Trinity College of Jacksonville (FL). The Screamin’ Eagles (5-10) host Pensacola Christian College on Thursday.

T.J. PRINTUP — Tusculum University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … totaled 33 points, 17 rebounds, nine steals, three assists, and three blocks in road losses January 7 and this past Saturday at Lincoln Memorial University (TN) and 4th-ranked Anderson University (SC). The Pioneers (7-7, 3-5 South Atlantic Conference) travel to UVA Wise on Wednesday and host Lenoir-Rhyne University (NC) on Saturday.

MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (So., Woodland HS) … grabbed two rebounds and had one assist last Thursday in an 85-69 loss at Brewton-Parker Christian University. She also had two rebounds this past Saturday in a 67-61 win at Point University (GA). The Fillies (5-8, 2-3 Southern States Athletic Conference) visit College of Coastal Georgia on Tuesday, host Loyola University (LA) on Thursday, and entertain William Carey University (MS) on Saturday.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cass HS) … totaled 41 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and one assist in wins January 7 at Tennessee Wesleyan University and at home against Columbia College (SC) this past Saturday. The Eagles (11-5, 8-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) host Union Commonwealth University (KY) on Wednesday and Montreat College (NC) on Saturday.

ALISSA WINTERS — Truett McConnell University (So., Adairsville HS) … totaled four points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals as the Bears dropped a home game to Bryan College (TN) and a road game at Bluefield University (VA). TMU (4-13, 3-7 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visits Milligan University (TN) on Wednesday and Georgia Gwinnett College on Saturday.

WRESTLING

WILLIAM COLTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Sr., Woodland HS) … won his bout at 125 pounds as the Eagles beat Lindsey Wilson University on January 3 at the Huntingdon College Duals in Montgomery. Reinhardt hosts Andrew College (GA) on Thursday afternoon and Montreat College (NC) on Friday night

HUNTER BARRETT — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … went 1-2 in the 133-pound division at the Huntingdon Hawks Open Tournament on January 4. RU has home matches with Andrew College (GA) on Thursday and Montreat College (NC) on Friday.

LEE CAMP — Reinhard University (So., Cass HS) … went 1-1 in his 133-pound bouts at the Huntingdon College Duals with a win over his opponent from Schreiner University (TX) and a loss to his opponent from Lindsey Wilson University. He added a forfeit win vs. McMurray University (TX). The Eagles wrestle at home Thursday and Friday against Andrew College (GA) and Montreat College (NC).

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall (Sr., Cass HS) … a team captain for the Diplomats, Kresho went 2-2 in his 141-pound bouts last Friday at the Lehman F&M Open. Franklin & Marshall wrestles at Binghamton University (NY) on Sunday.

CADEN McCRARY — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … had wins over his opponents from Lindsey Wilson University and Schreiner University (TX) as the Eagles went 3-0 at the Huntingdon College Duals on January 2-3 in Montgomery. McCrary also picked up a win by forfeit vs. McMurray University (TX). Reinhardt hosts Andrew College (GA) and Montreat College (NC) on Thursday and Friday.

LIAM NEAL — Reinhardt University (So., Cartersville HS) … was 0-2 in his 133-pound bouts at the Huntingdon Hawks Open Tournament on January 4. Reinhardt hosts Andrew College (GA) and Montreat College (NC) on Thursday and Friday.

KRIECG ROE — Lindsey Wilson University (Fr., Cass HS) … went 2-2 in his bouts at 174 pounds and 184 pounds on January 3 in Montgomery. The Blue Raiders also went 2-2 with wins over Truett-McConnell University and McMurray University (TX). The losses were to Reinhardt University and Life University. This past weekend, Roe was 0-3 in his 174 pound bouts at the Valley Duals in Marshall, Missouri against Saint Mary (KS), Marian University (IN), and St. Ambrose (IA) while the Blue Raiders went 3-1 as a team. LWU travels to Georgetown College (KY) for a conference dual on Friday.

HAYDEN SANTORA — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … went 2-0  in bouts at 165 pounds and added a win by forfeit as the Eagles defeated Lindsey Wilson University (KY), Schreiner University (TX), and McMurray University (TX) on January 2-3 at the Huntingdon College Duals in Montgomery. RU hosts Andrew College (GA) and Montreat College (NC) on Thursday and Friday.

ANETRA WITHERSPOON — Life University (So., Cartersville HS) … went1-2 in the Open 180-pound division of the January 4 Huntingdon College Red Lady Open in Montgomery. Life hosts North Central College on Thursday night and visits the University of the Cumberlands (KY) on Saturday.

GYMNASTICS

ABIGAIL BUNCH — Rhode Island College (Sr., Cass HS) … scored a 9.450 on uneven bars and 9.350 on the balance beam on Sunday as the Anchorwomen finished third in a quad meet at Brown University (RI) that also included Southern Connecticut State University and Springfield College (MA). Brown won the meet by 2.300 over SCSU. RIC was third, another 1.400 back. Next for Rhode Island College is a quad-meet on Saturday at SCSU with Springfield and Utica University.