Alumni Updates
The players that led the Bulldogs to 4 straight State Playoff berths
and a State Championship Runner-Up finish in 2007are continuing their football careers across the country.
Here by class are those young men. Click their name to take you to their
respective university website.
If you have updates send to: webmaster@ngfootball.org
Class of 2008
Robert Pritchard
UCF Golden Knights
Steven Buffington
Tennesse Tech Golden Eagles
Clint Duggan
Elon Phoenix
Eric Eberhardt
Wofford Terriers
Marquese Quiles
Bowling Green Falcons
Eloka Anyaorah
Portland State Vikings
Jason Yoshimura
Morehead State Eagles
Donald Maxwell
Valdosta State Blazers
Tom Martinez
University of Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles
Darrius Wilborn
West Georgia Braves
Josh VanHorn
Newberry College, SC Indians
Sam Umberg (Student coach)
Valdosta State Blazers
Class of 2007
Evan Gilles
Valdosta State Blazers
Class of 2006
RJ Bastone
Valdosta State Blazers
Kyle Chewning
Maryville College TN Scots
Josh Favaro
VMI Keydets
David Montgomery
Gardner-Webb Running Bulldogs
David Ward
SE Lousiana Lions
Class of 2005
EJ Adams
University of Kentucky Wildcats
Ross Bogue
University of Kentucky Wildcats
Jared Cook
University of South Carolina Gamecocks
Brandon Reeves
Air Force Falcons
Class of 2004
Jason Cook
University of Mississippi Rebels
Alumni in the News
Awards for 2008 Season
Kyle Chewning (Class of 2006)
Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee.
Named conference Defensive Player of the week (second time)
Named to D3 Football National Team of the Week (second time)
Selected to ESPN The Magazine/ CoSida Academic All-District squad
Selected Defensive Most Valuable Player for 2008 season by Maryville College (second year)
Selected Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the USA-South Conference
Named to the D3 2008 All-South Region Team (second year)
Wofford thumps Western Carolina
By Todd Shanesy
Todd.shanesy@shj.com
GAME BALLS Offense
RB Mike Rucker
The sophomore running back
doubled his career rushing yardage. His 75-yard touchdown at the start of the second half was more yards than he had total on 17 attempts coming into the game. Rucker finished with 105 yards and two TDs on just five carries.
Defense
NT Eric Eberhardt
Part of a freshman trio of talented backups on the defensive front, Eberhardt had 2.5 sacks and six total tackles. He moves to second on the team behind Mitch Clark, who has five. Eberhardt was able to chase down elusive quarterback Zack Jaynes.
Bulldogs' dream comes to an end
Eagle grad Hanna has career day
By Guy Curtright
Staff Correspondent
ATLANTA - On one knee and holding the hands of teammates, David Montgomery felt that his homecoming would soon become extra, extra special. "I thought he was going to make it and that we'd win in overtime," the Gardner-Webb running back from North Gwinnett said of Ryan Gates' last-seconds field goal attempt. Michael Hanna, Gardner-Webb's All-Big South punter from Collins Hill, was almost ready to celebrate like never before. "I was hoping that our dream was going to come true," Hanna said. "It was a magical day."
Instead, Gates' attempt from 43 yards out was partially blocked and Georgia Tech escaped with a 10-7 victory Saturday at Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Gardner-Webb - a little NCAA Division I-FCS school from Boiling Springs, N.C. - had almost pulled off an upset for the ages. "I know we lost, but it still feels like we won," Hanna said. "I'm sure that we are the only ones who thought we had a chance of even keeping the score close."
Gardner-Webb came in 2-3, with losses to Tennessee Tech, Sam Houston State and Charleston Southern. Georgia Tech was 4-1 and supposedly one of the top teams in the ACC. "Not many people have even heard of Gardner-Webb," said Montgomery, a junior who was the Runnin' Bulldogs leading rusher last season. "We wanted to show that we were a good team and belonged here.
"None of us got recruited by Georgia Tech or other big schools. As soon as we found out last spring that we were playing this game, everyone really got excited. Especially the players from Georgia, who make up a big part of the Gardner-Webb roster.
There are 16 from the Atlanta area on the Runnin' Bulldogs' two-deep list, with wide receiver Jordan Peyton of Collins Hill joining Hanna and Montgomery from Gwinnett County. The only thing that would have made the timing of the game at Georgia Tech better is if DuVaughn Flagler from Norcross was still playing for Gardner-Webb. The Big South's all-time leading receiver finished his career last year.
Montgomery, who rushed for 29 net yards on 11 carries and caught a short pass, had 28 family members and friends at the game. Hanna topped him with 47 and put on a show. The senior punted 10 times for a 45.8 average, booming kicks of 53, 55 and 61 yards to keep Georgia Tech backed up most of the game. "This was probably my best game," Hanna said. "To have it here with everyone watching was really special." Even if the dream of all dreams didn't quite come true at the end.
Falcons stifle Wyoming 23-3
By Lindsey Korsick
Special to The Denver Post
LARAMIE — For the second consecutive season, turnovers killed Wyoming against Air Force. The Falcons forced five turnovers today and scored after three of them for a 23-3 win to open the conference season.
From the first turnover at the end of the first quarter to the fumble that ended their offensive efforts, the Cowboys couldn't get the offense rolling. They finished with 216 total yards.
Air Force strong safety Chris Thomas' blindside hit in the first quarter on Wyoming quarterback Dax Crum caused a fumble on the Cowboys' 43-yard line. Ryan Kemp recovered and the Falcons (2-0) later scored on a 40-yard field goal by Ryan Harrison, his 13th straight.
Jake Scott missed a 27-yard field goal on Wyoming's next drive, but the Wyoming defense picked up the slack. Senior Ward Dobbs nabbed his second career interception and with a key block returned it to the Cowboys' 31. Scott redeemed himself with a 47-yard field goal to go into halftime 3-3.
The Falcons' three-and-out on the first drive after halftime was a blessing in disguise. After Brandon Geyer's 54-yard punt was downed inside the Wyoming 10, Cowboys running back Wynel Seldon fumbled, and it was recovered by Thomas on 12. Wyoming held, and the Falcons settled for a 27-yard Harrison field goal and a 6-3 lead.
After Wyoming's next drive stalled, Air Force's Kyle Halderman went on a 74-yard run to the Wyoming 1, where free safety Chris Prosinski caught him with an ankle tackle. The Falcons took a 13-3 lead as quarterback Shea Smith followed with a 1-yard keeper. Falcons' linebacker Brandon Reeves' interception off Crum continued Wyoming's troubles. This turnover led to Harrison's 44-yard field goal and a 16-3 edge.
The Cowboys (1-1) tried to ignite their offense by trading out Crum for two-year starter Karsten Sween, but they again went three-and-out. Air Force went on a 12-play, 56-yard scoring drive, which ended with fullback Todd Newell's 1-yard TD leap. With 1:32 left in the game, the Falcons' Jake Paulson ended the Cowboys' final offensive drive with a sack on Crum, who fumbled.
From the Gwinnett Daily Post
South Carolina got a great effort from another Gwinnett grad - Jared Cook. The North Gwinnett product had team highs of eight catches for 111 yards from his tight end position. Cook also had a TD catch in the Gamecocks' opener.
Peachtree Ridge grad and Air Force freshman Asher Clark made his college debut last weekend with five rushes for 21 yards and is expected to play more at quarterback today. Teammate Brandon Reeves, a North Gwinnett grad, had three tackles (one for loss). In two games with Valdosta State, Buford's Kody Case (three catches for 100 yards, two TDs) and North Gwinnett's R.J. Bastone (six catches for 127 yards, TD) have been top receivers.
Jason Cook of North Gwinnett caught two passes for 26 yards last week in Ole Miss' win over Memphis