Athletes Beyond Bartow: Childers named MAC Freshman of Year
The 2017 football season continues for post-season participants and the 2017-18 college basketball and wrestling seasons are in full stride.
Here is how athletes with local connections fared this past week.
NFL
VIC BEASLEY -- Atlanta Falcons (3rd yr. pro; Clemson University; Adairsville HS)... recorded five solo tackles Sunday in the Falcons’ 14-9 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Atlanta (7-5) hosts the division leading New Orleans Saints Thursday night.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
DeANDRE APPLIN — Georgia State University (Jr., DB, Adairsville HS)… had four tackles this past Saturday in the Panthers’ 24-10 home loss to Idaho. He completed the regular season 44 tackles, 2.5 for loss, three pass break ups, one forced fumble and one interception. He is fifth on the team in tackles. Georgia State (6-5, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference) will play Western Kentucky December 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando on the CBS Sports Network.
TREVOR CARLTON — Reinhardt University (Jr., LB, Cartersville HS)… accounted for seven tackles Saturday in the Eagles’ NAIA national semifinal win over Southern Oregon in double-overtime 37-34 in Waleska. Carlton now has 39 total tackles, 5.5 for loss, one sack, one pass break up, and one fumble recovery this season. Reinhardt (12-0) will play University of St. Francis (IN) in the NAIA National Championship Game Saturday night, December 16 in Daytona Beach, FL.
MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois University (R-Fr., QB, Adairsville HS)… Childers was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year last week in a conference media release. He is the first NIU player to win the league's Freshman of the Year trophy since NIU rejoined the MAC in 1997, and just the third Huskie all-time to win the award as quarterbacks. After entering the Kent State game in the first quarter, Childers led NIU to a 6-2 MAC mark. He accounted for almost 1,900 yards of total offense (1,440 passing and 454 rushing) and accounted for 20 touchdowns (15 passing, five rushing). He led NIU in rushing TDs and had a 3:1 touchdowns to interceptions ratio while completing 57.3 percent of his passes (137-of-239). The Huskies did not play this past weekend but learned their bowl game and opponent. NIU (8-4) will take on the Duke Blue Devils (6-6) in the Quick Lane Bowl on Tuesday, December 26 at Ford Field in Detroit.
TRASE FEZZIA -- Ellsworth CC (Fr., DB, Cartersville HS)... recorded a pair of solo tackles and fielded one kick in the Panthers' 55-14 win over Northland Community and Technical College in the Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, IA. Fezzia had two interceptions, 15 tackles, and over 300 yards in kick return yards as Ellsworth finished 4-8.
GABE GRIDLEY -- ASA-Brooklyn CC (Soph., P, Cartersville HS)... punted twice for a 72-yard total in the Avengers' 28-23 win over Mesa College in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Both of his punts were downed inside the 20 yard line. He finished the year with a 39.2 yards-per-punt average on 39 kicks. He had eight punts downed inside the 20 yard line. ASA-Brooklyn finished the 2017 season with a 9-1 mark.
LUCAS JOHNSON — Georgia State University (Jr., OL, Cass HS)… was part of the offensive line rotation for the Panthers Saturday during a 24-10 home loss to Idaho. Johnson has been a part-time starter for GSU during the 2017 season. Georgia State (6-5, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference) will play Western Kentucky December 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando on the CBS Sports Network.
EMMANUEL JONES — Colorado State University (Fr., LB, Woodland HS)… completed the regular season with 35 total tackles (16 solo). He had six tackles for loss, two sacks, and one quarterback hurry. The Rams (7-5, 5-3 Mountain West Conference) will face Conference USA foe Marshall (7-5, 4-4) in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, December 16. The game will be a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff televised by ESPN.
RODNEY MITCHELL — Coastal Carolina University (Sr., OL, Cartersville HS)… was part of the offensive line rotation as the Chanticleers defeated visiting Georgia Southern Saturday, 28-17. Coastal finished the season 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. Mitchell completed his degree in recreation and sports management prior to the season and is pursuing a second degree in communication.
TORRIAN SCRUTCHINS -- Ellsworth CC (Fr., DL, Cartersville HS)... recorded a pair of sacks for a total of 18 yards in losses as Ellsworth defeated Northland Community & Technical College last Saturday in the Graphic Edge Bowl in Cedar Falls, IA. Scrutchins completed his season with 16 tackles and three sacks.
SHELBY TOWNSEND JR. — Georgia Southern University (R-Jr., DL, Woodland HS)… saw playing time in the Eagles’ loss at Coastal Carolina last Saturday. GSU finished the year 2-10 and 2-6 in the Sun Belt Conference.
JAKE WALKER — Furman University (Fr., TE, Cartersville, GA, Darlington HS)… saw playing time and was targeted once in the first quarter Saturday during the Paladins’ 28-10 FCS playoff loss at Wofford in Spartanburg, SC. The loss ended Furman’s season with an 8-5 record. Walker played in all 13 games as a freshman and caught six passes for 91 yards.
BASKETBALL
RYAN DAVIS — Francis Marion University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in an 88-76 conference win at North Georgia Saturday. He also made three steals and had a pair of assists. Davis was named the Patriots Student-Athlete of the Week. FMU (5-0) plays next at Mount Olive December 13.
KIMORA McCLINIC -- Middle Georgia State University (Fr., G, Cartersville HS)... had three points and two assists in eight minutes during a 72-47 win over Voorhees (SC) last Tuesday. She also entered as a reserve Thursday in a 72-56 loss to Faulkner (AL), totaling six points with a pair of rebounds in 17 minutes.
JANA MORNING — Berry College (Fr., G, Cass HS)… scored one point and had one rebound in seven minutes during a 73-47 loss at Oglethorpe last Friday. The Lady Vikings (2-4) play at Covenant College Saturday.
A.J. MOSBY — Alcorn State University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored 19 points with eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block in an 81-65 loss at Tulane last Friday. He followed that with nine points, seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals in an 89-50 home win Saturday over Rust College. The Braves (2-7) play at Iowa State Sunday.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (Soph., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… saw action in all three of the Bears’ games last week scoring four points with two rebounds and one assist in a 73-71 overtime win at St. Andrews (NC) last Friday. TMU (9-2, 4-2 AAC) also had Appalachian Athletic Conference wins last Tuesday at Tennessee Wesleyan and Saturday at home over Union College (KY). The Bears host Point University Wednesday night.
COREY TOBIN — Reinhardt University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored 18 points with four rebounds and one assist last Thursday during a 95-91 home loss to Allen University (SC) last Wednesday. He added five points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a 70-68 loss at Union College (KY) Friday. Tobin then scored seven points with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in a 107-76 loss at Winthrop on Saturday. Reinhardt (7-5, 2-2 AAC) plays at Bryan College (TN) Wednesday and will host Bluefield College (VA) Saturday.
CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (F/C, Woodland HS)… scored eight points and collected a pair of rebounds Saturday in an 88-76 conference, home loss to Francis Marion University. UNG (2-5, 0-1 Peach Belt Conference) plays an exhibition at Mississippi State this Saturday afternoon.
HAKEEM WINTERS — Point University (Jr., F, Cartersville HS)… grabbed two rebounds with three blocks, two assists, and one steal but did not score last Monday in an 83-80 home loss to Voorhees (SC). He scored five points with one rebound and three blocks in a 70-56 home loss to Bryan College (TN) on Friday. Winters added one point and one assist Saturday in a 108-81 loss at 19th-ranked Montreat College (NC). He started all three games as the Skyhawks slipped to 3-10 overall and 0-6 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Point plays at Truett-McConnell Wednesday and host Milligan College Saturday.
RUDY WINTERS — Columbus State University (R-Jr., G/F, Excel Christian Acad.)… scored 10 points, grabbed two rebounds, made one steal, and had one assist in the Cougars’ 98-63 home Peach Belt Conference win Saturday over Lander. CSU (1-3, 1-0) is off until Sunday, December 17 at UNC-Pembroke.
WRESTLING
EVAN COLE -- Cumberland University, Sr., Cartersville HS)... Cole won his first match at the Indiana Little State Duals over the weekend, posting a 3-2 decision over Joliet’s Andrew Bonner. He then lost by technical fall to Indiana Tech’s Chase Hack and was pinned by Indiana Tech’s Dylan Stocker, ending his tournament. Cumberland returns to the mats Saturday, December 16 at the Smokey Mountain Duals in Pigeon Forge, TN.
JAKE HUFFINE — University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (Jr., 133 wt. class, Woodland HS)… dropped a major decision in a match Saturday night against 6th-ranked N.C. State. The Mocs (2-2, 2-0 Southern Conference) face 2nd-ranked Ohio State on Sunday, December 17 at The Cooler in Alpharetta, GA. UTC will then grapple with Ohio University the next day at home.
JERMEL LEWIS -- Emmanuel College (Jr., 181 Wt., Class, Woodland HS)... defeated Anthony Toineeta of Queens 11-6 for the Lions' only win of the match Sunday at the Newberry Duals. Earlier, he had a 6-4 loss to Bellarmine's Mitch Rusch and a 13-5 major decision loss to Paul Rallis of East Stroudsburg. Emmanuel hits the mats again Tuesday at Truett-McConnell and at Coker (SC) Friday night.
HUNTER QUINN — Emmanuel College (Soph., 157 wt. class, Cass HS)… defeated Naftali Horowitz of Queens University in an 11-5 decision Sunday afternoon as part of a 24-18 team victory at the Newberry Duals. Emmanuel was 1-3 at the weekend tournament with losses to East Stroudsburg (PA), Bellarmine (KY), and Life University (GA). The Eagles travel to Truett-McConnell Tuesday night and Coker on Friday.
