Athletes Beyond Bartow: Second half rally lifts Lawrence, Jags to third win

We have entered the cross-over time of the year for college sports with most Fall sports beginning to wind down as the Winter schedules are getting underway.

In this week’s ABB report, former Bartow County athletes at the college and pro levels have contributed in seven different sports with their respective teams and programs.

This past week in the NFL, former Cartersville High signal caller Trevor Lawrence helped rally the Jacksonville Jaguars to their third win of the season while college athletes made marks in football, cross country, volleyball, soccer, swimming, wrestling, and basketball.

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (2nd yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … threw a third quarter touchdown pass and was 25-for-31 for 235 yards with no interceptions in a 27-20 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jaguars trailed 20-7 late in the second quarter but rallied for a second half comeback. Lawrence’s touchdown pass was from 7 yards out to Christian Kirk with 10:15 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown narrowed the Raiders’ lead to 20-17 at the time and capped a nine-play, 45-yard drive. The 23-year-old quarterback also rushed for 53 yards on six attempts including a 24-yard run. He was 15-of-16 for 133 yards and a touchdown in the second half to help rally the Jags. Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson told the team’s website the NFL draft overall number one pick played solid. ““I thought he played within himself. He really managed the offense, the situations, made some tough throws, got out of some tough throws, got out of some sack situations, ran hard. [He] just took a step in the right direction. That’s all you can ask from your quarterback.” Lawrence did have one turnover, a fumble in the first quarter. Jacksonville (3-6) is in third place in the AFC South and plays at the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday afternoon.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … made one tackle in the Red Foxes 31-21 win last Saturday at Morehead State. Marist (4-5, 4-3 Pioneer Football League) hosts Valparaiso Saturday at noon.

BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts in the Eagles’ 48-21 home win over Point University last Saturday. His touchdowns were a 2-yarder in the second quarter and from 20-yards in the third period. Reinhardt (7-1, 4-0 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Union College (Kentucky) Saturday afternoon.

HAYDEN CAGLE — Berry College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … as an offensive lineman Cagle was part of a unit that produced 546 total yards (333 rushing / 213 passing) in a 63-14 victory at Sewanee. The Vikings (6-3, 4-2) host Hendrix College Saturday afternoon.

CARLOS DEL RIO-WILSON — Syracuse University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … started at quarterback going 8-for-23 passing for 120 yards. He also rushed 14 times for a net seven yards in a 19-9 loss last Saturday at Pittsburgh. Syracuse suffered a third straight loss after starting the season 6-0. The Orange (6-3, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) host 25th-ranked Florida State Saturday night.

JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … made nine total tackles including a pair of sacks in a Blue Raiders’ 40-24 loss last Saturday at Louisiana Tech. MTSU (4-5, 1-4 Conference USA) entertains Charlotte Saturday afternoon.

DYLAN FORMAN — Shorter University (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … was a participant but recorded no stats in the Hawks’ home 31-14 win last Saturday over North Greenville University. Shorter (3-7, 1-6 Gulf South Conference) finishes up the regular season Saturday at Valdosta State.

JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (So., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Tigers’ offensive line that produced 433 total yards (284 passing / 149 rushing) in a 35-28 loss to visiting 22nd-ranked UCF last Saturday. The Tigers (4-5, 2-4 American Athletic Conference) host Tulsa Thursday night on ESPN.

QUANTE JENNINGS — Presbyterian College (So., Cartersville HS) … saw playing time, but had no stats in a Blue Hose 52-28 home conference loss to Dayton. Presbyterian (1-9, 0-7 Pioneer Football League) finishes the regular season November 19 at Stetson.

JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … made three tackles including one tackle for loss in the Demon Deacons’ 30-21 loss last Saturday at No. 17 N.C. State. Wake Forest (6-3, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays No. 15 North Carolina at home Saturday night.

ANDREW NGUYEN — Berry College (Fr., Cass HS) … made one tackle for a loss last Saturday in the Vikings’ 63-14 home win over Sewanee-University of the South. Berry (6-3, 4-2 Southern Athletic Association) hosts Hendrix College Saturday.

SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (So., Cartersville HS) … made one catch for seven yards last Saturday in the 12th-ranked Moccasins’ 31-21 win at The Citadel. Chattanooga (7-2, 5-1 Southern Conference) hosts 10th-ranked Samford Saturday.

JACOB RAY — Berry College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made seven tackles (five solo) including credit for 2.5 for loss in Berry’s 63-14 home win over Sewanee. He was also credited with one forced fumble in the first quarter. The Vikings (6-3, 4-2 Southern Athletic Association) host Hendrix College Saturday.

COURTNEY SLOCUM — Mars Hill University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … was a participant last Saturday but recorded no stats in the Lions’ 34-27 conference win at home over Tusculum University. Mars Hill (7-2, 7-1 South Atlantic Conference) plays for the conference championship Saturday at Newberry College (South Carolina).

EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (So., Cartersville HS) … made five tackles (four solo) in the Deacons’ 30-21 road loss at 17th-ranked N.C. State. Wake Forest (6-3, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) entertains 15th-ranked North Carolina Saturday.

BRANDON WADE — University of West Florida (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … made three tackles last Saturday from his defensive tackle position as the 8th-ranked Argonauts won at Valdosta State, 32-31. UWF (8-1, 6-1 Gulf South Conference) has now won six straight and completes the regular season slate Saturday afternoon at Mississippi College.

CROSS COUNTRY

BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (So., Cartersville HS) … ran fifth for the Falcons as Montevallo placed fourth last Saturday at the 8K Gulf South Conference Championship. Archer finished 53rd of 100 starters in 26:44. Next for the Falcons will be the NCAA DII South Region Championship Saturday, November 19 in Lakeland, Florida.

VOLLEYBALL

MARIA PILIPOSYANS — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … in a straight sets home conference win last Tuesday over Truett McConnell, she recorded four kills and had four block assists. Reinhardt (18-12, 16-4) advances to the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday through Saturday in Kingsport, Tennessee. The fourth-seeded Eagles play No. 5-seed Milligan Friday at 4 p.m. in the 10-team, single-elimination tournament’s second round.

SOCCER

ABBIE CRAIG — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … came off the Eagles’ bench Saturday to play 19 minutes in a 6-0 blanking of Columbia International University. Reinhardt (13-4, 12-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) will host Tennessee Wesleyan Wednesday night in the conference tournament semifinals.

BRADY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … played all 90 minutes as a defender in the Eagles’ 2-1 conference tournament loss last Friday at Union College (Kentucky). Reinhardt finished the year 9-5-4 overall and 8-1-4 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference.

RUSSELL SHEALY — Syracuse University (R-Sr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) … made four saves as the Orange shutout visiting North Carolina in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. The No. 2-seed Orange, ranked 4th-nationally, host 3-seed and 14th-ranked Virginia Wednesday in the ACC semifinals.

SWIMMING

MALLORY COOK — University of Montevallo (So., Adairsville HS) … placed third in the 100-yard butterfly (1:04.04); fourth in the 200-yard butterfly (2:26.08); and was a member of the fourth place 800-yard freestyle relay team (8:53.47) as the Falcons beat visiting Birmingham-Southern College 150-111 last Saturday. The next meet for UM will be the Toyota US Open in Greensboro, North Carolina November 30-December 3.

WRESTLING

ANGEL BANDA — Reinhardt University (Jr., Adairsville HS) ... placed fourth in the 125-pound weight division and scored 14.5 team points for the 13th-ranked Eagles at the UNC-Pembroke Open this past weekend. Reinhardt hosts the Reinhardt Duals Saturday.

COLTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Fr., Woodland HS) ... lost both of his matches over the weekend at the UNC-Pembroke Open. The Eagles, ranked 13th nationally, host the Reinhardt Duals Saturday.

COLE COCHRAN — UT-Chattanooga (Fr., Woodland HS) ... wrestling in the 157-pound division, Cochran lost a dual meet match to his opponent from Little Rock as the Mocs fell to the Trojans 28-5. Chattanooga also had team losses to Buffalo and Wisconsin hosting the Battle at River City. Next for the Mocs is The Citadel Open on Sunday in Charleston, South Carolina.

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … went 5-0 on the day en route to his second Open Division title at 149-pounds competing as the Southeast Open in Roanoke, Virginia over the weekend. Henson defended his Open title he first won last year as a high school senior. The 11th-ranked Hokies return to the mats Friday night at 5th-ranked Ohio State.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall College (Fr., Cass HS) … went 2-2 in the 141-pound Freshman/Sophomore Open Division of the Southeast Open in Roanoke, Virginia. His second loss (5-3) came to a teammate, Sam Kotch, with the winner advancing to the placing rounds. The Diplomats host Elizabethtown Wednesday night and wrestle at the Binghamton Bearcat Open Sunday.

QUESTAPHA LEWIS — Midway University (So., Woodland HS) … reached the semifinals of the Patriot Open over the weekend as the Eagles competed at University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky). He finished the tournament 3-1 and in fifth place in the 133-pound division. The next event for Midway is the Grand View Open in Des Moines, Iowa this Saturday.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Fr., Woodland HS) … wrestling at 197-pounds, Smith won by technical fall as the Terps beat Bloomsburg Saturday, 37-6. He also won by major decision in a 37-0 win over Duke and by major decision in a 29-10 victory over American University also on Saturday. Maryland travels to the University of Missouri Tiger Style Invitational Saturday in Kansas City.

BASKETBALL

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored nine points, had eight rebounds, two blocks, and two assists in the Rams’ 91-78 home conference win last Saturday over Johnson University (Tennessee). Heathcock also scored 11 points with eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a 78-65 win at Talladega University October 27. CIU (2-0, 1-0) plays Appalachian Athletic Conference games at Milligan University Tuesday night and at Tennessee Wesleyan Saturday afternoon.

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … scored two points and collected three rebounds in a 78-62 loss at Tallahassee CC last Tuesday. The Titans (0-1) host Southern Union State CC Monday night; travel to South Georgia Tech CC Wednesday night; play at Chipola CC Friday night; and face Gulf Coast State CC Saturday afternoon in Marianna, Florida.

JORDAN THOMPSON — Southwestern CC (Iowa) (So., Woodland HS) … scored 21 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 at the free throw line in a 72-45 win last Friday at Peru State College JV. Thompson also had seven rebounds and a pair of assists. The Spartans (1-0) play at Metropolitan CC (Nebraska) Wednesday night; at Johnson County CC Friday; and will play Fort Scott CC in Overland Park, Kansas Saturday.