The following is an update on former Newton County high school players and their on-the-field performances during the 2013 season:
Akeem Hunt, Newton - Hunt and the Purdue Boilermakers suffered a tough opening-weekend loss to Cincinnati this past weekend, falling to the Bearcats 42-7.
Hunt rushed for 21 yards on seven carries in the loss, while grabbing one reception for five yards. Hunt also added one kickoff return for 20 yards in the Purdue loss.
Hunt finished third on the team with 46 all-purpose yards against Cincinnati.
Purdue and Hunt will return to action on Sept. 7 when they play Indiana State in a noon contest at home.
D.J. Hill, Newton - Hill saw action in Virginia’s opening game of the season, but did not record a tackle for the Cavaliers in the team’s 19-16 victory over BYU.
Hill and Virginia prepare this week to host No. 3 Oregon at home in Charlottesville in a 3:30 p.m. start.
Devon Edwards, Alcovy - Edwards recorded a pair of tackles, including half of a tackle-for-loss, in the Blue Devils' shutout victory over N.C. Central.
Duke bested the Eagles 45-0 in the rout.
Duke will return to action this Saturday against out-of-conference foe Memphis in a 4:30 p.m. start.
Deandre Rashada, Newton- The Alabama State University free safety finished with seven total tackles this past weekend, but fell to Jacksonville State 24-22 in the Hornets’ opening game of the season on Saturday.
Rashada recorded five
solo tackles while assisting on two others, finishing fourth on the team in total tackles in the loss.
Down 24-9 in the fourth quarter, Alabama State scored a pair of late touchdowns, but its comeback bid fell short in the season opener.
The Hornets will travel to Jackson, Miss., this weekend for a 5 p.m. contest against Jackson State.
Zac Johnson, Eastside-
Johnson saw action along the offensive line for William & Mary this past weekend in the team’s 24-17 loss to West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va.
The Tribe’s offensive line surrendered just one sack in the defeat, while allowing quarterback Michael Graham to pass for more than 200 yards and a 67 percent completion percentage.
William and Mary hosts Hampton University this weekend at home for a 7 p.m. contest.
Shaquille Huff, Eastside-
Huff registered a tackle in the Blue Raiders opening season 45-24 win against Western Carolina this past weekend.
Huff’s tackle was recorded as a tackle-for-loss for a loss of six yards.
Huff and Middle Tennessee State hit the gridiron again this weekend against the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. Game time is set for noon.
Joaquin Ross, Alcovy-
Ross recorded four total tackles for Presbyterian in the Blue Hose’s 31-7 loss to Wake Forest on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Ross had three solo tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, and assisted on one tackle. Ross also
had a forced fumble in the defeat.
Presbyterian returns to action this Saturday against Brevard at home in a 2 p.m. contest.
Dante Blackmon, Eastside-
Blackmon saw action this past weekend in Appalachian State’s 30-6 loss to Montana on the road, but did not record a tackle.
Blackmon and the Mountaineers return to Boone, N.C., this weekend to host North Carolina A&T in a 6 p.m. game.
Sheldon Rankins, Eastside-
The Louisville sophomore did not see action in the Cardinals’ 49-7 win over Ohio this past Saturday.
Rankins and Louisville return to action this weekend at home against Eastern Kentucky in a noon game.
Broderick Alexander, Eastside-
Alexander did not see action this weekend as Akron fell 37-8 to the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday.
The Zips return to action this weekend at home in a 6 p.m. against James Madison.
Kingsley Ejike, Newton-
Ejike did not participate in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s 34-31 loss to Troy on Saturday.
Ejike and the Blazers take on No. 12 LSU at 6 p.m. this coming Saturday.
Treyvon Richardson, Newton-
Richardson did not see action in Jackson State’s 34-7 loss to Tulane last Saturday.
Richardson and the Tigers will face fellow Newton alum Deandre Rashada and Alabama State this coming weekend in a 5 p.m. kickoff.
Chase Chancey, Eastside; David Rash, Alcovy; Matthew Dial, Newton-
Chancey, Rash and Dial did not participate in Point University’s 57-28 win over Bluefield College last Thursday.
Point returns to action this weekend at noon against Edward Waters.
For a full list of former county football players, please check online at The Covington News website.
