Athletes Beyond Bartow: Collegiate football, cross country, volleyball, and soccer seasons underway

Most of the 2016 fall sports at colleges and universities have now started and Bartow Sports Zone will periodically spotlight current participants with local connections to Cartersville and Bartow County.

The Bartow Sports Zone website also contains a roster of current collegiate and professional athletes on the ATHLETES BEYOND BARTOW page of this site.

Hiram Velez (photo), a former Adairsville Tiger now playing for the Troy Trojans, made his 2016 debut Saturday by catching two passes including one for a 47-yard touchdown.

Here are the most recent updates for the week ending Sunday, September 4.

FOOTBALL

QUADRE ALLEN — Tusculum College (Soph., DB, Woodland HS) . . . had one tackle in the Pioneers’ season opening loss to Virginia-Wise Thursday night. Tusculum (0-1) plays at Virginia State Saturday.

DeANDRE ALLEN — Georgia Military College (Soph., DB, Adairsville HS) . . . had five tackles in GMC’s season opening 27-23 loss at Navarro. Also made multiple plays in Saturday’s 44-0 win over Middle Georgia State (game stats not yet available, but will be edited in this space later.) GMC entertains Palmetto Prep Academy Saturday afternoon.

NOAH FOLOEY — Berry College (Fr., LB, Cass HS) . . . saw time on special teams for the Vikings in their season opening 34-33 win over visiting Maryville (TN) College. Berry (1-0) plays at LaGrange Saturday night.

T.L. FORD, II — Charlotte (Jr., WR, Cartersville HS) . . . had two catches for 53 yards with a long play of 39 yards in a 70-14 loss at 19th-ranked Louisville. The 49ers (0-1) host Elon Saturday.

MILLER FORRISTALL — Alabama (Fr., TE, Cartersville HS) . . . started at tight end for the top-ranked Crimson Tide Saturday in their 52-6 rout of USC in Arlington, Texas. Alabama (1-0) hosts Western Kentucky Saturday afternoon.

LUCAS JOHNSON — Georgia State (Soph., OL, Cass HS) . . . saw action in the Panthers 31-21 home loss Friday to visiting Ball State. Georgia State (0-1) travels to Colorado Springs Saturday to face Air Force.

HAYES LINN — Air Force (Sr., DB, Cartersville HS) . . . recorded three tackles and broke up a pass Saturday in the Falcons’ 37-21 victory over Abilene Christian. Air Force (1-0) entertains Georgia State Saturday.

JAMAR POSEY — Birmingham-Southern College (Jr., OL, Woodland HS) . . . saw action in BSC’s season opening loss to LaGrange College Saturday, 47-27. The Panthers (0-1) play at Huntingdon College Saturday night.

MARK QUATTLEBAUM — Charlotte (Soph., SL, Cartersville HS) . . . caught one pass for six yards Thursday in the 49ers 70-14 loss to 19th-ranked Louisville. Charlotte (0-1) entertains Elon Saturday night.

TYLER REED -- Austin Peay State University (Fr., LB, Cartersville HS) . . . made three tackles in the Governors season opening loss to Troy. They host Tennessee Tech Saturday night in both teams' Ohio Valley Conference opener. CHAZ ROKINS — Maryville (TN) College (Jr., RB, Cass HS) . . . had five carries, but for negative total yardage Saturday in a 34-33 loss at Berry College. He did have one 2-yard run. The Scots (0-1) play at Hanover (IN) Saturday afternoon.

ISAIAH ROSS — Point University (Jr., LB, Woodland HS) . . . led the Skyhawks defense with 11 tackles, including one tackle for a one yard loss Saturday in a 28-16 road loss at Mississippi College. Ross now has 20 tackles in two games. Point (0-2) plays at Kennesaw State Saturday night.

BRANDON THOMPSON — Tusculum College (Sr., DB, Woodland HS) . . . saw action for the Pioneers in 13-10 loss to Virginia-Wise. Tusculum (0-1) plays at Virginia State Saturday afternoon.

SHELBY TOWNSEND — Georgia Southern (Soph., TE, Woodland HS) . . . saw action in the Eagles 54-0 blanking of Savannah State. GSU (1-0) travels to South Alabama for a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday night.

HIRAM VELEZ — Troy University (Jr., WR, Adairsville HS) . . . had two catches including a 47-yard touchdown reception Saturday as the Trojans pounded Austin Peay, 57-17. Troy (1-0) plays at Clemson Saturday.

DaKELIN WELLS — Maryville (TN) College (Jr., DB, Cass HS) . . . had three solo tackles, forced a fumble, and added one pass break up in the Scots season opening 34-33 loss at Berry College. Maryville (0-1) plays at Hanover (IN) College Saturday afternoon.

MALIK WILKINS — Maryville (TN) College (Jr., S, Cartersville HS) . . . saw action for the Scots in their road loss at Berry College. Maryville (0-1) travels to Hanover (IN) College for their next game Saturday afternoon.

CROSS COUNTRY

BREE COLE — Jacksonville State (Fr., Cartersville HS) . . . ran 16:29.4 for third on her team and 43 points in the Gamecocks’ JSU Struts 4K event Friday. Jacksonville State finished eighth of eight teams with Auburn winning the event. The Gamecocks travel to New Orleans to run in the Allstate Sugar Bowl XC Festival Saturday.

SPENCER FIELDS — Rhodes College (Soph., Darlington School, Kingston, GA) . . . led the Lynx, finishing second among non-DI athletes and 14th overall with a time of 15:41.3 in his team’s season opening win at the Belmont Opener. The Lynx will host the Rhodes College Invitational at Shelby Farms in Memphis on Saturday, September 17.

ROGER HERRERA — Reinhardt University (Sr., Cartersville HS) . . . finished 18th as an individual in 23:37.17 as the Eagles won the five-team Reinhardt XC Invitational at Boling Park in Cherokee County. The Eagles will be back in action at the North Georgia Invitational September 17.

TROY HICKOM — Clayton State University (Sr., Cartersville HS) . . . ran 19th as an individual overall, second for his team, in 15:59.5 earning 9 points in the White Division (non-D1) as the Lakers placed fourth of ten non-D1 schools at the Jacksonville State University Struts XC 5K Invitational in Oxford, AL. Clayton State will run Saturday at the Georgia College Bobcat Invitational 8K in Milledgeville.

JAISON MORNING — Valdosta State University (Soph., Cass HS) . . . ran 21st as an individual overall in 16:00.2 earning 11 points in the White Division (non-D1) as the Blazers placed sixth of ten non-D1 schools at the Jacksonville State University Struts XC 5K Invitational in Oxford, AL. Morning was the top runner for VSU. The Blazers will compete again Saturday at the Georgia College Bobcat Invitational 8K in Milledgeville.

VOLLEYBALL

KATIE O’CONNOR — Western Carolina University (Jr., MB, Cartersville HS) . . . had three kills and one dig in a straight set loss to University of South Florida; had five kills and two digs in a straight set win over Georgetown; had six kills and a block with 11 block assists in a four-set loss to Florida Atlantic; and added four kills and three block assists in a straight sets loss to New Mexico. The four matches were plays at the University of South Florida Classic in Tampa, FL. Western Carolina (3-4) plays Appalachian State Tuesday night and will play in the William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA Colonial Classic Friday and Saturday.

SYDNEY SUMNERS — Shorter University (Soph., DS, Adairsville HS) . . .saw action Friday against Newberry College at the King University Tournament in Bristol, TN. She contributed one assist and one dig for the Lady Hawks in a straight sets win. Shorter (4-0) had other wins over Lincoln Memorial, Virginia-Wise, and University of Montevallo in the event. The Hawks host Tuskeegee University Tuesday and will travel to Mississippi College and Christian Brothers University for Gulf South Conference matches September 12 and 13.

SOCCER

MADISON BENNETT — North Greenville University (Fr., Defender, Woodland HS) . . . entered as a substitute and played 48 minutes in the Crusaders’ 1-0 season opening home win Friday over Chowan University. NGU (1-0) will host Anderson (SC) University Wednesday night and will travel to Erskine College Saturday afternoon.

EMILY MOORE — Charleston Southern University (Sr., Defender, Woodland HS) . . . saw action as a reserve in a 4-0 home loss to College of Charleston August 31 and in a 3-2 home loss to Eastern Kentucky Sunday afternoon. The Lady Buccaneers (2-3) host The Citadel Friday, September 9.

KURT MOORE -- Birmingham Southern College (Fr., Darlington School, Kingston, GA) . . .Moore earned his first collegiate start in a 9-0 win over Louisiana College Monday. He spent 70:38 in the net as the team’s goalkeeper to help earn the shutout.

HALEY PITTMAN — Life University (Fr., Forward, Adairsville HS) . . . had two shots on goal in a 2-1 loss at Bryan (TN) College August 31 and the Running Eagles won in overtime Saturday over LaGrange College (no stats were available at press time, we will update when available). Life (2-4) travels to NAIA 2nd-ranked Lindsey Wilson in their next match September 23.

CODY WEST — Duquesne University (R-Jr., Defender, Cass HS) . . . played all 90 minutes for the Dukes in a 1-0 loss at University of Kentucky. Duquesne (1-1) travels to Wright State Monday night, September 5 and will host the Duquesne Invitational September 9 and 11 where they will play Wofford and Canisius.