Former Bearcats experience opening week of college football

Published 7:58 pm Tuesday, September 2, 2014

A number of former Bainbridge High School Bearcats, who are now playing college football, had big games last Saturday.

Shawn Samuel Connell, a cornerback, kickoff returner and running back or coach Chris Hatcher’s Murray State University Racers in Murray, Kentucky, ran 68-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Racers 73-26 victory over Union College an NAIA school in Union, Kentucky. He also picked up 81 yards rushing and had two solo tackles on defense.

Samuel Connell, who wears No. 1, will lead the Racers into Louisville this Saturday where they will take on the University of Louisville Cardinals.

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Safety Rohan Gaines of the Arkansas Razorbacks had seven tackles and one assist in a 45-21 loss to the Auburn University Tigers in Auburn.

Offensive lineman Chris Johnson, who recently earned a full football scholarship to Savannah State University, is slated to see some playing time. He will lead Savannah State into Tallahassee for a Saturday, October against the Florida A&M University Rattlers.

Former Bearcat punter Paul Soden is now punting for Southern University and is a team captain. Former Bearcats quarterback Quincy Fortson is playing for Albany State University and former Bearcats running back Terry Lewis is playing for the College of the Desert in California. Former Bearcats quarterback Steven Bench is playing for the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Former Bearcats defensive lineman Tarrow Barney is a starting lineman with Penn State University. Former Bearcats quarterback and defensive back Nick Johnson, who played for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of North Alabama, is now on the roster of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.