Athletes Beyond Bartow: Local college football players move into post-season
Several local collegiate football athletes are headed to post-season play with their respective teams as Bartow Sports Zone presents the latest football 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' update.
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BROOKS BARDEN -- UNC-Charlotte (R-Jr., QB, Cartersville HS)... saw action in a 66-21 UNC-Charlotte loss to Southern Miss. Charlotte (1-10, 1-6 Conference USA) lost 66-21 at Southern Miss. The 49ers wrap up their 2017 season Saturday afternoon at home against Florida Atlantic.
TERRIUS CALLAHAN -- Austin Peay State University (R-Fr., WR, Cartersville HS)... saw action in a 28-13 Austin Peay win over Eastern Illinois. APSU (8-4, 7-1 Ohio Valley Conference) was left on the outside looking in when NCAA FCS bids were revealed last Sunday. The Governors', who snapped a 29-game losing streak with their first win this season, were one of the best stories in college football. Unfortunately, APSU was not selected for post-season.
TREVOR CARLTON — Reinhardt University (Jr., LB, Cartersville HS)… had one solo tackle and three assists for four total tackles as the Eagles defeated Concordia University at home in the opening round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. 3rd-ranked Reinhardt (10-0) hosts Georgetown College (KY) Saturday in the national quarterfinals.
MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois University (R-Fr., QB, Adairsville HS)… On a night when both teams had to manage windy conditions, Childers ran for 43 yards and one touchdown on 10 attempts and was 6-for-11 passing for one touchdown and 64 yards to help lead the Huskies to a 35-31 home conference win last Wednesday. NIU (8-3, 6-1 Mid-America Conference) remained in contention for the MAC Championship Game, but does not hold the tie-breaker with Toledo (6-1 MAC) who has one conference game remaining Friday afternoon at home against Western Michigan. Northern Illinois concludes MAC play Friday afternoon at Central Michigan.
T.L. FORD II — UNC-Charlotte (Sr., WR, Cartersville HS)… had three receptions for 50 yards and one touchdown last Saturday. He was targeted six times during the game and his touchdown was a 19-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Charlotte (1-10, 1-6 Conference USA) lost 66-21 at Southern Miss. The 49ers wrap up their 2017 season Saturday afternoon at home against Florida Atlantic.
GORDON GRAY — Kennesaw State University (R-Jr., WR, Cartersville HS)… saw playing time in the Owls’ 52-21 Big South Conference clinching win at home over Monmouth. KSU (10-1, 5-0) hosts Samford Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA FCS playoffs. It will mark the Owls’ first appearance in the national playoffs in the program’s third year of existence.
GABE GRIDLEY — ASA Brooklyn CC (So., Punter, Cartersville HS)… the Avengers (8-1) did not play this week, but were invited to play Mesa CC (6-4) in the NJCAA Valley of the Sun Bowl in Mesa, Arizona on December 2. Gridley has 37 punts this season for a 39.4 yard average with a long punt of 60 yards and six punts downed inside the 20 yard line.
EMMANUEL JONES — Colorado State University (Fr., LB, Woodland HS)… had three total tackles, including one for loss in the Rams’ 42-14 home conference win over San Jose State last Saturday. Jones has appeared in all 12 games and has recorded 35 total tackles and six tackles for loss. He was also credited with one quarterback hurry. CSU (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West Conference) awaits a 2017 bowl game assignment.
RODNEY MITCHELL — Coastal Carolina University (Sr., OL, Cartersville HS)… saw playing time Saturday in the Chanticleers’ 13-7 conference win at Idaho. CCU (2-9, 1-6 Sun Belt Conference) will close out the 2017 season at home December 2 against Georgia Southern.
MARK QUATTLEBAUM — UNC-Charlotte (R-Jr., SL, Cartersville HS)… had one, first quarter reception for 13 yards and was targeted two other times in the opening quarter during a 66-21 loss at Southern Miss. Charlotte (1-10, 1-6 Conference USA) will conclude its 2017 season at home Saturday against Florida Atlantic.
SHELBY TOWNSEND JR. — Georgia Southern University (R-Jr., DL, Woodland HS)… saw playing time in the Eagles’ first win of the year last Saturday at home over South Alabama, 52-0. Townsend has seen action in each GSU game this season. The Eagles (1-9, 1-5 Sun Belt Conference) play at Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday afternoon.
JAKE WALKER — Furman University (Fr., TE, Cartersville, GA, Darlington HS)… saw playing time, but was not targeted as a receiver in the Paladins’ 26-20 loss last Saturday at Samford. Walker has played in all Furman games this season and has six receptions for 91 yards. Furman (7-4, 6-2 Southern Conference) received a bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs and will play at Elon (8-3) this Saturday afternoon in the opening round.
