The following is an update on former Newton County high school players and their on-the-field performances during the 2013 season:
DeVon Edwards, Alcovy – The month of November was a big one for Duke redshirt freshman Edwards.
Edwards helped the Blue Devils to a 27-25 victory over rival North Carolina this past Saturday, clinching a spot for Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Football Game against Florida State this weekend.
Against the Tar Heels, Edwards recorded eight tackles, including six solo takedowns, while clinching the game with an interception with 13 seconds left in the game.
Down 15-10, Edwards also returned a UNC kickoff for 99 yards, giving the Blue Devils a 17-15 lead that they never surrendered.
Edwards finished the game with 138 return yards on three kickoff returns.
For the season, Edwards has tallied 50 total tackles, including half of a tackle-for-loss. The defensive back also has three interceptions and five pass breakups.
Edwards is third on the team with 634 all-purpose yards, including 556 kick return yards and 78 interception return yards.
Edwards and Duke will take on the Seminoles in Charlotte, N.C., this Saturday at 8 p.m. The game can be seen nationally on ABC.
Akeem Hunt, Newton -– Hunt and the Purdue Boilermakers closed their season this past Saturday with a 56-36 loss on the road to Indiana in the Old Oaken Bucket Game.
Hunt rushed for 15 total yards on six carries, while catching one pass for zero yards.
Hunt returned four kicks for 79 total yards, with a long return of 23 yards.
For the season, Hunt finished as the Boilermakers' leading rusher, rushing for 464 total yards on 123 carries in 12 games. Hunt scored one rushing touchdown this year, with an average of 38.7 rushing yards a game.
Hunt was second on the team with 38 receptions, finishing the year with 340 receiving yards and two scores.
The junior led Purdue with 626 kick return yards, averaging 26.1 yards a return with one touchdown.
Hunt ended the season as Purdue's all-purpose yards leader with 1,430 total yards, averaging 119.2 all-purpose yards a game.
Purdue finished the season 1-11, losing its final 10 games of the season and all eight Big 10 contests.
D.J. Hill, Newton –Hill and the Virginia Cavaliers fell 16-6 to rival Virginia Tech this past Saturday in their final game of the season.
Hill saw action against the Hoakies, but did not record a tackle.
As a junior, Hill finished with nine total tackles in 12 games, including five solo tackles.
Hill also recorded a tackle-for-loss and forced a fumble in 2013.
The Cavaliers finished the year with a 2-10 overall record, losing their final nine games of the season.
Virginia went winless in ACC play.
Deandre Rashada, Newton – Deandre Rashada and the Alabama State Hornets ended their season with a 41-28 victory over Stillman in the 90th Turkey Day Classic on Thanksgiving Day.
Rashada led the Hornets with eight tackles, including a tackle-for-loss.
The junior finished third on the team with 76 total tackles, including 50 solo takedowns and a tackle-for-loss.
Rashada also tallied an interception, five passes defended and four pass breakups.
The Hornets finished the season with an 8-4 overall record with a 7-2 mark in SWAC play.
James Johnson, Eastside – Johnson and the William & Mary Tribe fell in their final game of the season this past Saturday, dropping a 31-20 decision on the road against Richmond.
The Tribe gained just 56 yards on the ground in the loss, while giving up three sacks for a loss of 17 yards.
William & Mary finished the season with a 7-5 overall record with a 4-4 mark in CAA play.
At left guard, Johnson helped the Tribe's rushing game gain 1,787 total yards and 15 scores, while the Tribe's passing offense threw for 2,040 yards and 10 scores.
Shaquille Huff, Eastside – Huff and Middle Tennessee State closed their season last Saturday with a 48-17 victory over UTEP.
Huff played, but did not record a tackle against the Miners.
For the season, Huff finished with 22 total tackles, including 13 solo tackles.
Huff posted 7.5 tackles-for-loss to finish second on the team and had a pair of sacks this season for a loss of seven yards.
The Blue Raiders ended the season with an 8-4 mark and a 6-2 conference record in Conference USA.
Sheldon Rankins, Eastside – Rankins and the Louisville Cardinals were off this past weekend, but return to action tomorrow night on the road against Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m.
Rankins has appeared in eight games for the Cardinals this season, recording 13 total tackles.
The sophomore has three sacks for a loss of 17 yards, whole totaling four total tackles-for-loss.
Rankins has also forced a fumble this season.
Louisville can complete a perfect road season with a win over Cincinnati. The Cardinals are currently 10-1 overall with a 4-0 mark on the road.
Jarrett Hubbard, Eastside – Hubbard and the Birmingham Southern Panthers fell in their final game of the season on Nov. 16, dropping a 53-19 decision to Centre.
The Panthers finished their season with a 5-4 overall record and a 3-3 mark in conference play.
Along the offensive line this season, Hubbard helped the Panthers record 379.1 offensive yards a contest, including 1,475 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns.
