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 Purdue dropped a 31-24 rivalry contest to Notre Dame at home this past Saturday.
Hunt had a productive game for the Boilermakers, recording 94 total all-purpose yards.
Hunt led Purdue with 12 carries on the ground for 22 yards, while grabbing nine passes for 72 yards and a score.
The junior running back scored the Boilermakers’ first touchdown of the night on their opening drive, grabbing a 15-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rob Henry with 9:08 left in the first quarter.
Hunt and Purdue return to action this Saturday on the road at Wisconsin at 3:30 p.m.
D.J. Hill, Newton- Hill and the Virginia Cavaliers were off this past weekend after suffering a 59-10 loss to Oregon on Sept. 7.
Hill currently has three total tackles, including half of a tackle-for-loss.
Hill and the Cavaliers return to action this weekend at home against the Virginia Military Institute at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Devon Edwards, Alcovy- Edwards and the Duke Blue Devils dropped their first game of the season last Saturday as Duke fell 38-14 to Coastal Division rival Georgia Tech.
Edwards participated, but did not record a tackle in the Duke loss.
Duke returns to action this weekend when it hosts Atlantic Coast Rival Pitt for a 12:30 p.m. start in the teams' first match-up as ACC foes.
Deandre Rashada, Newton- Rashada and Alabama State earned their first victory 40-39 on the road this past weekend at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Rashada finished third overall on the team with five assisted tackles.
Rashada is currently sixth on the team with 12 total tackles.
The junior free safety and the Yellow Jackets return to the gridiron this Saturday at home against Grambling State. Game time is set for 5 p.m.
James Johnson, Eastside- Johnson and the William & Mary Tribe moved to 2-1 on the season after defeating Lafayette 34-6 this past weekend.
Johnson started for an offensive line that powered its way to 245 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Johnson and the Tribe take the field next week at home against Rhode Island for a 7 p.m. contest.
Shaquille Huff, Eastside- Huff and Middle Tennessee State powered their way to a 17-15 win over Memphis this weekend at the Blue Raiders’ Hall of Fame game.
Huff participated, but did not record a tackle in the win.
Middle Tennessee State travels to Boca Raton, Fla., next weekend for an 11 a.m. contest against Florida Atlantic.
Joaquin Ross, Alcovy- Ross and the Presbyterian Blue Hose dropped a 21-20 decision to Furman this past weekend, going scoreless in the second half after 20 first-half points.
Ross recorded a pair of tackles in the loss, including a tackle-for-loss for two yards.
Ross and the Blue Hose have a week off before hosting Charlotte at 2 p.m. on Sept. 28.
Dante Blackmon, Eastside- Blackmon and the Mountaineers rested during a bye week this past weekend after falling to North Carolina A&T on Sept. 7.
Appalachian State returns to action this weekend on the road at Elon at 6 p.m.
Sheldon Rankins, Eastside- Rankins and Louisville earned a 27-13 victory over in-state rival Kentucky this past weekend.
Rankins did not participate in the Cardinals’ contest against the Wildcats.
Louisville hosts Florida International this weekend at noon.
