Each week, a number of players who got their starts on the local football fields continue their careers representing their college and university. This is a review of how some of them performed this past weekend.

• Deante Battle, a Starr’s Mill graduate, had five solo tackles and two assists for Northwestern in their 33-7 loss to Penn State.

• Larry Beard, a Sandy Creek graduate, got some playing time for Georgia Southern in their 24-14 win over Western Carolina.

• Charles Castleberry, a McIntosh graduate, rushed for four yards for Minnesota, Crookston in their 28-0 loss to Wayne State College.

• Ri’Chard Davis, a Fayette County graduate, had one tackle in Georgia Southern’s 24-14 win over Western Carolina.

• Andrew Gardner, a Sandy Creek graduate, started at left tackle for the Georgia Tech yellow Jackets in their 38-27 win over Virginia Tech.

• Michael Gates, a Sandy Creek graduate, started at left guard for Mississippi State in the Bulldogs’ 48-17 loss to LSU.

• Chris James, a Starr’s Mill graduate, kicked a 25 yard field goal and three extra points for Western Kentucky in their 38-35 win over Western Illinois.

• Calvin Johnson, a Sandy Creek graudate and current wide receiver for the Georgia Tech yellow Jackets, had six catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the Yellow Jackets 38-27 win over Virginia Tech. He was named the ACC offensive back of the week for the second straight week and third time this season. He was also nominated for the Cingular All-American Player of the Week award for the second straight week. Fans can determine the winner by text messaging “VOTE” to “87654” on their wireless phone. You will receive a response with the four candidates - reply with “B” to vote for Calvin Johnson.

• Grant Jones, a Fayette County High School graduate, is a junior at the University of West Georgia. He is a tight end and H back for the Wolves and is on the kick-off, punt, extra point teams. He had one tackle against # 24 ranked, NCAA Division II, Henderson State University last week in a hard fought 16-9 loss at Arkdelphia, Arkansas.

• Hart Pearson, a Fayette County graduate, had four punts for 175 yards for Charleston Southern University, in their 20-10 win over North Greenville.

• Andy Smith, a Starr’s Mill High School graduate, started at right guard for the University of Memphis in their 41-7 loss to the University of Tennessee.

• Riley Swanson, a Sandy Creek graduate, had one tackle, one tackle for a loss, one interception and one pass breakup for Wake Forest in the Demon Deacon’s 34-14 win over Liberty.

If you do not see your favorite local player now playing college football, either their stats are not available on the team’s web site or we don’t know about the player. Please e-mail information and photos to sports@thecitizen.com.

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