Athletes Beyond Bartow: Childers shines in Northern Illinois win
A wide variety of local 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' had impactful performances this past week across the nation in football, cross country, soccer, and golf.
Vic Beasley and the Atlanta Falcons evened their season record Sunday afternoon with a 31-24 win over the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
In college football, Marcus Childers threw for three touchdowns as Northern Illinois won its conference opener. Jonathan Cruz was perfect on his kicks and is closing in on a school record at Charlotte. Trevor Lawrence tossed another touchdown pass for 2nd-ranked Clemson, and Mark Quattlebaum hauled in his second career touchdown reception.
Spencer Fields recorded an impressive early-season run for Rhodes College in Memphis and Birmingham Southern keeper Kurt Moore recorded a shutout in net for the Panthers.
NFL
VIC BEASLEY — Atlanta Falcons (4th yr. pro; DE, Clemson University, Adairsville HS)… had two tackles Sunday afternoon in the Falcons’ 31-24 victory over the visiting Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. As they have done in the past against other mobile quarterbacks, Atlanta utilized Beasley in the final minutes as a non-rushing mirror to help contain Panthers’ QB Cam Newton. Atlanta (1-1) hosts the New Orleans Saints next Sunday afternoon.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
QUADRE ALLEN — Tusculum University (Sr., DB, Woodland HS)… recorded a pair of solo tackles and three total in a 37-10 home victory Friday over Limestone. One of his stops was for a five-yard loss. The Pioneers (2-1) host UNC-Pembroke Saturday.
CHRIS BLACKSTON — University of West Georgia (Jr., DB, Adairsville HS)… finished with six tackles Saturday including three solo stops in a 45-21 road win at Albany State. Blackston now has 18 tackles in the 10th-ranked Wolves’ first three games. UWG (3-0) hosts 13th-ranked West Florida this Saturday.
BRYCE BURGESS — Reinhardt University (Fr., DB/RB, Adairsville HS)… made a pair of solo tackles in the NAIA 7th-ranked Eagles’ 49-17 win over Warner University in Lakeland, FL. Reinhardt (2-1) will entertain Ave Maria University Saturday afternoon.
TERRIUS CALLAHAN — Austin Peay State University (R-Soph., WR, Cartersville HS)… saw action in Saturday’s 78-40 win at Morehead State. The Governors (2-1) open Ohio Valley Conference play Saturday afternoon at Tennessee-Martin.
TREVOR CARLTON — Reinhardt University (Sr., LB, Cartersville HS)… had a pair of tackle assists Saturday as the 7th-ranked Eagles won at Warner University, 49-17. Reinhardt (2-1) hosts Ave Maria University Saturday in another non-conference matchup.
MARCUS CHILDERS — Northern Illinois University (R-Soph., QB, Adairsville HS)… completed 11 of 18 passes for 109 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-16 home Mid-America Conference win over Western Michigan. He also rushed for 28 yards on eight attempts. Childers’ TD passes went for 14, 7, and 2 yards to three different receivers. The Huskies (1-2, 1-0) travel to Tallahassee, FL Saturday to challenge Florida State.
JONATHAN CRUZ — UNC-Charlotte (Fr., PK, Cartersville HS)… made both of his field goal attempts, including a 42-yarder, and converted both PAT attempts as the 49ers topped Old Dominion Thursday 28-25. Four of the six kickoffs by Cruz were touchbacks. The 2-for-2 performance on field goals extends Cruz’s consecutive streak to five straight made. The single-season record for the 49ers is seven straight. Charlotte (2-1, 1-0 C-USA) plays at UMass this Saturday afternoon.
KURTIS FEANNY — Lenoir Rhyne University (Fr., DL, Woodland HS)… saw action for the second straight week in the Bears’ 59-27 home victory over Mars Hill. LRU (2-1) travels to Wingate University (NC) this Saturday night.
JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (Soph., DT, Cartersville HS)… assisted on a second quarter sack of Georgia’s Jake Fromm on a 2nd-and-20 play that went for a four-yard loss. MTSU (1-2) lost the game in Athens, 49-7, and will begin Conference USA action Saturday night at home against Florida Atlantic.
MILLER FORRISTALL — University of Alabama (R-Soph., TE, Cartersville HS)… has seen action in each of the top-ranked Tide’s games this season including Saturday’s 62-7 blowout win at Ole Miss. Alabama (3-0, 1-0 SEC) will host Texas A&M this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
RICO FRYE — Bowling Green University (Fr., RB, Cartersville HS)… saw his first collegiate action Saturday in the Falcons’ 42-35 home win over Eastern Kentucky. Frye rushed for 37 yards on seven attempts and had a long run of 11 yards early in the fourth quarter.
CAMERON GONYEA — Saint Anselm College (Fr., DB, Cass HS)… saw action in the Hawks’ 66-3 loss at Assumption in Worcester, MA. Saint Anselm (0-2) hosts American International for Homecoming this Saturday afternoon.
GABRIEL GRIDLEY — Angelo State University (Jr., P, Cartersville HS)… punted seven times for a 45 yard average Saturday in the Rams’ 30-14 home, Lone Star Conference win over Texas A&M-Kingsville. Gridley had a long punt of 57 yards, one for a touchback, and two that were downed inside the 20 yard line. The Rams did have one punt blocked. ASU (2-1, 1-0) travel to Wichita Falls, TX this Saturday night to play at Midwestern State.
KALIN HEATH — University of West Georgia (Jr., RB, Cartersville HS)… had five carries for nine yards Saturday in a 45-21 Wolves’ win at Albany State. UWG (3-0) is ranked 10th in NCAA D2 and hosts 13th-ranked West Florida this Saturday.
SEAN HOLTON — Davidson College (Soph., DB, Cartersville HS)… was credited with six tackles and a kick return for no yards in the Wildcats’ 91-61 home win over Guilford College. Davidson set a school record for points and broke the NCAA FCS record for total yards (964) in the game that was moved up to Thursday due to Hurricane Florence. Davidson (3-0) also set an FCS record for rushing yards with 685. The Wildcats open Pioneer League play this Saturday afternoon at Dayton.
LUCAS JOHNSON — Georgia State University (Sr., OL, Cass HS)… started his third straight game at left tackle contributing to an offense that rushed for 173 yards and passed for 139 yards in a 59-22 loss at Memphis. The Panthers fell behind early and were not able to recover at the Liberty Bowl. GSU (1-2) hosts Western Michigan Saturday afternoon.
EMMANUEL JONES — Colorado State University (Soph., LB/DE, Woodland HS)… started at defensive end Saturday in a 48-10 loss at Florida. Jones had four tackles (two solo) including one for a one-yard loss. CSU (1-3) hosts Illinois State this Saturday.
TREVOR LAWRENCE — Clemson University (Fr., QB, Cartersville HS)… was 12-for-19 for 194 yards and one touchdown Saturday in the 2nd-ranked Tigers’ 38-7 win over Georgia Southern. The touchdown went for 57 yards to Justyn Ross in the second quarter. Lawrence was picked off once, but added 13 yards rushing on two attempts including a 10-yard run. Through his first three collegiate games, he is 26-for-42 for 424 yards and five TDs. Clemson (3-0) plays at Georgia Tech Saturday afternoon.
NYVIN NELSON — University of Tennessee-Chattanooga (Fr., LB, Cartersville HS)… credited with his first collegiate tackle Saturday in the third quarter of UTC’s 34-24 victory at Tennessee-Martin. Chattanooga (3-0, 1-0 SoCon) hosts conference rival Samford this Saturday night.
JACOB POTTER — Kennesaw State University (Fr., LS, Adairsville HS)… made his first college snap as the Owls’ converted a third quarter field goal during a 62-13 home win over Alabama State. KSU (2-1) hosts Clark Atlanta this Saturday night.
MARK QUATTLEBAUM — UNC-Charlotte (R-Sr., WR, Cartersville HS)… made his second career touchdown catch Thursday in a 28-25 Conference USA win over visiting Old Dominion. The 4-yard scoring reception gave the 49ers a 19-18 lead in the third quarter. He added a 15-yard reception later in the period and was targeted only one additional time in the fourth quarter. He did commit a fumble in the first quarter and had a fair catch on another effort as a punt returner. Charlotte (2-1, 1-0) travels to Amherst, MA Saturday to take on UMass in a non-conference clash.
MACLAND SHAY — New Mexico Highlands University (Fr., DB, Cass HS)… saw action in his third straight game, but the Cowboys lost 28-23 at Dixie State (UT). NMHU (2-1, 2-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) hosts Colorado School of Mines this Saturday.
GARRETT SHELTON — Alabama State University (Fr., LS, Cartersville HS)… saw action Saturday in the Hornets’ 62-13 loss at Kennesaw State. Alabama State (1-2) begins SWAC play this Saturday night at Grambling State.
AVERY SHOWELL — Georgia Tech (R-Fr., DB, Cartersville HS)… received playing time Saturday in the Yellow Jackets’ 24-19 loss at Pittsburgh. Georgia Tech (1-2, 0-1 ACC) hosts 2nd-ranked Clemson this Saturday afternoon.
HIRAM VELEZ — University of West Florida (Sr., WR, Adairsville HS)… caught a pair of passes for 23 yards including a 9-yard second quarter touchdown as the Argonauts routed Shorter University 51-7 in Pensacola. Velez also had a 14-yard catch in the first quarter. 13th-ranked UWF (3-0, 1-0 Gulf South Conference) travels to Mississippi College this Saturday night.
CROSS COUNTRY
SPENCER FIELDS — Rhodes College (Sr., Kingston, GA, Darlington HS)… placed 8th overall and second on his team as the NCAA D-3 Lynx finished second to Memphis in the 21-team Rhodes Invitational Saturday in Memphis. Fields covered the Shelby Farms 8K course (4.97 miles) in 26:10 (5:15/mi.) Rhodes travels to Kentucky Saturday, September 29 to compete in the University of Louisville Classic.
SOCCER
EMILY COLLUM — Georgia Southwestern University (Fr., F, Adairsville HS)… came off the bench to take two shots and played 64 minutes in the Hurricanes’ 3-0 home loss last Wednesday to Middle Georgia. Collum then took three shots and scored her second collegiate goal Saturday as Georgia Southwestern defeated Warner University, 2-1. The Lady Canes (2-3) play Peach Belt Conference games Wednesday at Clayton State and Saturday at Georgia College.
KATELYNN HARBEKE — Life University (Sr., F, Cass HS)… played 58 minutes and took a pair of shots in the Eagles’ overtime loss last Tuesday at Brenau University in Gainesville. Harbeke played 50 minutes off the bench and took one corner kick in a 1-0 loss Sunday afternoon at Berry College. Life (3-4) plays at NAIA 9th-ranked Cumberland University (TN) Sunday in a Mid-South Conference match.
KURT MOORE — Birmingham Southern College (Jr., Keeper, Kingston, GA, Darlington HS)… earned his second start of the season, playing all 110 minutes in goal, as the Panthers played Bellhaven to a 0-0 draw in Jackson, MS. Moore’s shutout included four saves. BSC (5-1-1) hosts Emory University Wednesday night and Hendrix College in the Panthers’ first Southern Athletic Association game Saturday night.
GOLF
LINDSAY BONNER — York College (Soph., Cartersville HS)… shot 84-85 Saturday and Sunday at the Carnegie-Mellon Fall Shootout at The Links at Spring Church in Apollo, PA. York finished fourth in the seven-team event behind two CMU teams and Denison University. Bonner placed 17th individually in the 43-player field. Next for the Spartans is the Shenandoah University Green Turtle Invitational October 6-7 in Front Royal, VA.
