Athletes Beyond Bartow: Lawrence and Jaguars slip to 0-4, locals play in MiLB Championship Series

September 30, 2024

NFL

TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL, 4th-yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … completed 18 of 33 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns this past Sunday in a 24-20 loss at the Houston Texans. He also had three rushing attempts for five yards. The Jaguars (0-4) host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

MiLB

MASON BARNETT — Midland RockHounds (3rd-yr. pro; Oakland A’s Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) …started Game 2 of the Texas League Championship Series and went five innings but received no decision in the Rockhounds’ 3-1 loss at the Arkansas Travelers September 24. The right hand hurler allowed one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight. Midland also dropped the third and deciding game of the series the next night 5-4. Barnett completed his 2024 campaign with a 9-8 record in 26 appearances and 25 starts. The 23-year-old had 161 strikeouts in 133 innings pitched with a 4.20 ERA.

ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-4 and scored one run in the Patriots Game 2 playoff loss to Erie. The loss eliminated Somerset in two straight games of the Championship Series.  Seigler finished the season with a .234 batting average in 364 official at-bats. The 25-year-old had 12 homers, 49 RBI, scored 61 runs, and stole 29 bases in 2024. The 2018 first-rounder had an on-base percentage of .350 and a .748 OPS.

FOOTBALL

KOLBE BENHAM — Marist College (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … made six tackles this past Saturday in a 47-14 home loss to Dayton University. The Red Foxes (0-4, 0-1 Pioneer Football League) visit Davidson College on Saturday afternoon.

JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Tigers’ offensive line that helped produce 413 total yards (186 rushing) in a 24-7 home win over Middle Tennessee. Memphis (4-1, 0-1 American Athletic Conference) has a bye week before traveling to South Florida for a Friday night game on October 11.

KEVIN HENDERSON — University of Findlay (Fr., Cass HS) … had one solo tackle this past Saturday in the Oilers’ 28-21 Homecoming win over Hillsdale College. Findlay (4-0, 2-0 G-MAC) plays at Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday.

SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (So., Cartersville HS) … an offensive line starter in the Green Wave’s 45-10 home win this past Saturday over South Florida. Tulane rolled up 528 total yards (198 rushing). The Green Wave (3-2, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) play at UAB on Saturday afternoon.

QUANTE JENNINGS — Presbyterian College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … had six carries for 60 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown in a 48-37 Blue Hose loss this past Sunday night at Davidson College. Presbyterian (2-3, 0-1 Pioneer Football League) plays at San Diego on Saturday afternoon.

JAKE PARKER — Judson University (So., Cartersville HS) … the Eagles’ starting quarterback was 13-for-32 passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns this past Saturday in a 77-18 loss at Lawrence Tech (MI). Parker was intercepted four times. He also had one rushing attempt for nine yards. Judson (1-3) hosts Concordia (MI) on Saturday afternoon.

SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … caught five passes for 150 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown in the Mocs’ 45-30 win this past Saturday over Portland State. Chattanooga (1-3, 0-1 Southern Conference) plays at East Tennessee State on Saturday afternoon.

CHRIS ROPER — Dartmouth College (So., Adairsville HS) … saw action this past Saturday for the Big Green but had no stat line in a 16-14 win at Merrimack College. Dartmouth (2-0) hosts Penn on Saturday afternoon for their Ivy League opener.

DEVONTE ROSS — Troy University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Trojans’ wide receiver and kick returner caught three passes for 16 yards, rushed for eight yards on two carries, returned two kickoffs for 44 yards, and added a 13-yard punt return during a 13-9 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe. Troy (1-4, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) hosts Texas State on Thursday night.

STEPHEN ROWSER — Morehouse College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made four tackles, including one for a three-yard loss in the Maroon Tigers’ 21-5 home loss to Benedict College. Morehouse (1-4, 1-2 SIAC) will play Tuskegee University on Saturday in Columbus.

EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … made six tackles (two solo) in the Demon Deacons’ 41-38 home loss to Louisiana this past Saturday. Wake Forest (1-3, 0-1 ACC) visits N.C. State on Saturday afternoon.

VOLLEYBALL

AILEE ENGLAND — Berry College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … saw action in one set and had one kill in the Lady Vikings’ 25-20, 25-13, 25-18 straight sets home win over Millsaps College this past Saturday. Berry (5-7, 2-0 Southern Athletic Association) entertains Sewanee on Saturday afternoon.

MAKAYLA MALONE — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … saw action in one set last Tuesday but had no stat line in a 3-1 loss at Bob Jones University. The Screamin’ Eagles (4-9, 3-3 NCCAA) host Ferrum on Monday, Warren Wilson on Tuesday, and will face Pensacola Christian and Andrew College on Saturday in Cuthbert, Ga.

MADELYN ORTON — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep Academy) … contributed three digs last Wednesday in the Panthers’ five-set loss at Huntingdon College. This past Sunday, she added one assist and three digs as the Panthers split matches with Asbury College and Wesleyan College. LaGrange (4-10, 1-3 Collegiate Conference of the South) visits Point University on Tuesday, hosts Belhaven University (Miss.) on Thursday, and plays Covenant College and hosts Piedmont University on Saturday.

MEREDITH ORTON — LaGrange College (Jr., Cartersville resident, Cornerstone Prep Academy) … in a five-set loss at Huntingdon College last Wednesday, Orton appeared in all five sets, totaling eight kills, three digs, and one ace. This past Sunday, she totaled five kills and six digs as LaGrange split matches with Asbury and Wesleyan. The Panthers (4-10, 1-3 CCS) play at Point University on Tuesday, host Belhaven University (Miss.) on Thursday, and meet Covenant College and host Piedmont University on Saturday.

JAYNA WILSON — Huntingdon College (Fr., Adairsville HS) … appeared in one set but had no stat line in a 3-0 victory this past Saturday over Agnes Scott College at Covenant. The Hawks (6-13, 2-1 CCS) face Maryville College (Tenn.) and host Wesleyan on Saturday in Macon.

SOCCER

ABBEY CRAIG — Reinhardt University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … made her seventh start and logged 49 minutes on the pitch in an 8-0 Eagles win this past Saturday at Kentucky Christian University. Reinhardt (4-3, 3-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference) 

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — University of North Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … won her first round match 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 over Matilde Moretti of Catawba College but fell in straight sets to Wingate’s Suzuka Sambyakugari this past weekend at the ITA D-II Regionals in Sumter, SC. She added consolation bracket wins over opponents from Erskine College and Emmanuel College on Sunday. The Nighthawks will play in Rome in the ITA Cup on October 9-13.

SYDNEY COPPOLA — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … partnered with Vikings’ teammate Maggie Cox to win three straight doubles matches in the ITA D-III South Regional B Division last Saturday and Sunday. Berry faces Wallace State-Hanceville on October 25 to close out the fall schedule.