Athletes Beyond Bartow: Locals prep for their bowl games, Lawrence enters concussion protocol
December 18, 2023 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com
Former Cartersville High standout Shadre Hurst was selected Freshman All-American by the publication, The Athletic, this past week. The redshirt freshman, offensive guard for Tulane is preparing for the Military Bowl where the Green Wave will square off against Virginia Tech in Annapolis, Maryland on December 27.
Other former Hurricanes — Devonte Ross (Troy), Jonah Gambill (Memphis), and Jonathan Cline (UCF) — are also getting ready with their bowl game practice sessions. Jarvis Hicks (North Carolina) of Woodland and Sacovie White (Georgia) of Cass are also participating in bowl practices with their respective teams. From that list, UCF squares off with Georgia Tech on Friday in the Tampa Gasparilla Bowl. North Carolina plays West Virginia on Saturday in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte. Troy will play Duke on Saturday in the Birmingham Bowl. Memphis faces Iowa State on December 29 in the Liberty Bowl and Georgia meets Florida State on December 30 in the Orange Bowl.
In NFL news, former Cartersville High quarterback Trevor Lawrence sustained a concussion on a play in the fourth quarter during Sunday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens and has entered the league’s protocol for the injury.
NFL
TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL; 3rd-yr. pro; QB; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … Jacksonville coach Doug Pederson told The Athletic Sunday night that Lawrence, who was evaluated after the game, will enter concussion protocol following the Jaguars’ 23-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Pederson said he thought his 24-year-old quarterback sustained the concussion on a play in the fourth quarter. Lawrence, who has never missed a game due to injury, passed for 264 yards (25-for-43) and rushed for 41 yards on four attempts. His passing numbers included a 65-yard touchdown strike to Jamal Agnew in the third quarter. The toss was the longest of Lawrence’s NFL career. He did have two lost fumbles. On December 10, Lawrence played through a high-ankle sprain in a 31-27 loss at the Cleveland Browns. He was 28-for-50 passing for 257 yards and three touchdowns but did throw three interceptions. Two of his scoring throws went to tight end Evan Engram with the other to Parker Washington. Jacksonville has now lost three straight and is tied with Indianapolis and Houston at 8-6 in the AFC South. The Jaguars play at Tampa Bay on Sunday.
NBA G-LEAGUE
ASHTON HAGANS — Rip City Remix (4th yr. pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … started each of the last four games for the Remix — a pair of home wins over the Stockton Kings on December 7 and 9 plus a pair of road losses in Las Vegas to the G-League Ignite last Tuesday and Thursday. Hagans averaged 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and two steals in the four games and added a pair of blocked shots. Rip City (7-7) is currently in fourth place in the G-League’s West Division and returns to action on December 28 at the Stockton Kings.
NBL-CANADA
A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th yr. pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … opened training camp last week with Sudbury of The Super League of the National Basketball League of Canada. Mosby is one of four returning players on the Five’s 16-man roster. The team opens its 2024 season on Thursday, December 28 at the Sudbury Arena when they host the London Lightning. Standing at 6’3", the 27-year-old returns to the Five after an impressive 2022-23 season, where he averaged 20.2 points per game (PPG), 4.2 rebounds per game (RPG), and 4.2 assists per game (APG) across 36 games. His stellar performance earned him the 2023 NBLC Newcomer of the Year award and a spot on the NBLC All-League First Team. He expressed his enthusiasm for rejoining the Sudbury club, stating, "Sudbury! Super excited to be back. I want to thank Coach Stutz and the whole organization for allowing me to come back! I'm ready to give the best fans in the world a show."
PGA CHAMPIONS TOUR
JASON BOHN — PGA Tour Champions (Acworth resident; Cartersville Country Club member) … failed to finish in the Top 5 at the PGA Tour Champions Q-School Final Stage December 5-8 in Scottsdale, Arizona December 5-8. Bohn finished at even par for the 72-hole event and tied for 47th. The top five at the event earned full exemptions on the senior golf tour for the 2024 season. Bohn will now have limited access via sponsor’s exemptions. He finished 73rd in the Schwab Cup points in 2023 and earned $169,127.
FOOTBALL
SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (R-Fr., Cartersville HS) … the national publication, The Athletic, recently named Hurst as a 2023 Freshman All-American. The Green Wave offensive lineman has played in all 13 games with nine starts at guard this season. He has helped pave the way for a Tulane offense that is averaging 26.8 points per game, 156.8 rushing yards, and 222.4 passing yards. Tulane has topped the 20-point barrier in 11 of 13 games and scored 37 points against South Alabama. The Green Wave (11-2) will face Virginia Tech (6-6) in the Military Bowl on December 27 in Annapolis, Maryland.
WRESTLING
ANGEL BANDA — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … went 3-1 in the 125-pound weight class as the NAIA 7th-ranked Eagles finished 3-1 at the Lindsey Wilson College Duals December 10 in Columbia, Kentucky. Reinhardt beat Marion (47-3), 15th-ranked Lindsey Wilson (38-12), and Lourdes (25-20) with the only loss coming to 12th-ranked Indiana Tech (24-14). Banda’s only loss came to his Lindsey Wilson opponent. Last Wednesday in home duals against NCAA D-II UNC-Pembroke and Life University, Banda won both of his bouts as the Eagles beat UNC-Pembroke but lost to Life. At this past Saturday’s Rocky Top Duals in Gatlinburg, Banda went 1-2 in his bouts as the Eagles won two of five team matches. RU defeated Midway (38-12) and Rio Grande (35-22) but lost to Campbellsville (32-9), Cumberland-TN (28-14), and University of the Cumberlands (21-15), The Eagles continue their season on January 12 at the Virginia Duals.
EASTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … wrestling at both 125 and 133, he was 0-5 in the Eagles matches with Marion, Indiana Tech, Lindsey Wilson, UNC-Pembroke, and Life. The Eagles went 6-5 in dual matches between December 10 and 16. The Reinhardt schedule picks back up on January 12 at the Virginia Duals.
COLTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … wrestling in the 125- and 133-pound division, he had a win over his Midway opponent and a loss in his bout during the Lourdes match. The Eagles, who went 6-5 in duals December 10-16, return to the mats at the Virginia Duals on January 12.
CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (So., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 2 nationally in the 149-pound weight class, Henson disposed of his opponent by tech fall Sunday as 10th-ranked Virginia Tech defeated visiting 16th-ranked Stanford, 29-7. On Tuesday, the Hokies head to the Campbell Duals in Buies Creek, North Carolina to face Purdue, Campbell, and North Dakota State.
TYLER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (Fr., Cass HS) … won his 149-pound bout Sunday as the Wildcats defeated visiting Sacred Heart 39-12. McKnight also beat his Duke University opponent in a narrow 19-17 team loss at home to the Blue Devils on December 8. Davidson will return to action on January 1-2 at the Chattanooga Southern Scuffle.
JORDAN MITCHELL — Life University (Sr., Cass HS) … went 3-0 in his 141-pound bouts against opponents from Reinhardt and UNC-Pembroke last Wednesday at home. He added a Saturday home win over his Montreat opponent. NAIA 2nd-ranked Life went 7-0 for the week also defeating Lindsey Wilson, University of the Cumberlands, Cumberlands University, and Campbellsville University. Next on the schedule for Life is the NWCA National Duals at Northern Iowa on January 5-6.
JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (So., Woodland HS) … won his 197-pound bout by tech fall as 22nd-ranked Maryland won at Morgan State in Baltimore on December 10. Smith is ranked No. 5 in the country in his weight class. The Terps return to action on January 5 at the Franklin & Marshall Lehman Open.
JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 2-1 in the 165-pound weight class in three home bouts on December 9 as the Eagles went 3-0. Williams won his bouts against Kentucky Wesleyan and Thomas More University but lost to his Brewton-Parker College opponent. This past Saturday at the Smoky Mountain Duals in Gatlinburg, Williams went 1-2 in his three bouts as his team beat Bluefield University but lost to Reinhardt and St. Thomas (Florida). Midway also split duals with Siena Heights and Montreat at the event. The Eagles return to action on January 11 at Cumberland University (Tennessee).
BASKETBALL
ZAYLAN CHANEY — Tallahassee CC (So., Cartersville resident, Legacy Academy) … in starts December 8-12, Chaney averaged 14 points and nine rebounds as the Eagles beat Copiah-Lincoln CC and Central Georgia Tech but lost to Eastern Florida State. In the Central Georgia Tech game he had a double-double with 14 points and 17 boards. Tallahassee also had a home win over Andrew College and a loss to Florida Southwestern State this past weekend but Chaney did not see action. The Eagles (11-4) host Albany Tech CC on Tuesday night.
CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (So., Cass HS) … had five rebounds with two points, two blocks, and one assist on December 9 in a 75-62 loss at Nova Southeastern. She followed with nine points, five boards, one block, and one steal in an 84-37 home win last Tuesday over Mount Olive. The Sailfish (4-5, 0-3 Sunshine State Conference) will face Bowie State and Shaw University on Monday and Tuesday in Boca Raton at the Fighting Knight Christmas Classic.
JA’KA’YAH DRAUGHN — Chattanooga State CC (Fr., Cartersville HS) … totaled four points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist in a pair of Tigers’ wins at Covenant College JV and Meridian CC on December 8 and 13. CSCC (10-0) also had a 64-54 win over Gadsden State CC this past Saturday. The Tigers visit Dyersburg State CC on Wednesday, December 20.
JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored nine points with two rebounds and two assists Saturday in a 91-69 loss at Thomas University (Georgia). The Skyhawks (5-7, 0-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) return to action on Saturday, December 30 at home against Truett-McConnell University.
DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Sr., Woodland HS) … finished with a double-double including 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots in a 98-83 win at Milligan (Tennessee) on December 6. He then scored 10 points with nine boards, three steals, and two assists in a 72-67 loss at Union College (Kentucky) on December 9. Last Tuesday, Heathcock scored 15 points with eight rebounds and one assist in an 86-72 home win over Tennessee Wesleyan. The Rams (9-5, 8-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) will be back in action January 2 at Truett McConnell University.
HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (So., Cass HS) … started both games and scored eight points with three rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a 70-66 home exhibition loss to Fort Valley State University on December 9. Johnson then scored seven points with three boards, one assist, and one steal last Thursday in a 70-57 loss to Spartanburg Methodist. CGTCC (2-8) begins conference play on Wednesday, January 3 at Albany Tech CC.
KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (So., Cass HS) … contributed two rebounds and one assist in a 77-76 win at Carolina University on December 7. The Screamin’ Eagles (9-2) are off until a January 11 date at Warren Wilson (Kentucky).
T.J. PRINTUP — Tusculum University (R-Fr., Adairsville HS) … came off the bench and totaled five points and two rebounds on December 9 and last Wednesday in an 82-77 loss at Coker College and an 83-73 home loss to Carson-Newman University. The Pioneers also dropped a 79-60 decision this past Saturday at Newberry University. Tusculum (3-6, 1-3 South Atlantic Conference) plays at UNC Pembroke on Saturday, December 30.
LONDAISHA SMITH — Salem University (Jr., Cass HS) … contributed one assist in a 77-58 home loss this past Saturday to Cedarville. Salem (3-9) is off until January 10 when the Tigers host the University of Charleston (WV).
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