Achance opportunity with the Carolina Panthers could become Cortland ultimate ncore in the NFL. he 31-year-old cornerback, a Milton High and Samford University graduate, whose parents a re both retired military members, was in retirement himself after announcing March 11that his career was finished. He made the announcement on Instagram, which seemingly put a wrap on his nine NFL seasons. hat was then, however. ast Sunday, there was Finnegan, six days after joining the Panthers after impressing during a workout on Thanksgiving weekend, playing nearly half the game (30 snaps) for the Panthers in their wild 41-38 victory against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.
Finnegan was part of a win that clinched a division title and continued the Panthers quest for a perfect season and Super Bowl contention. Christmas came early for me. said Finnegan, speaking to ESPN- Paul Chestnutt, who covered the game and met with Finnegan in the ocker room. guys have put in so much hard work and time and you can see that from them being (12-0). me to be just a little part of it is NFL AP Carolina Panthers cornerback Cortland Finnegan breaks up a pass intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Marques Colston on Sunday.
PART OF PERFECTION AP Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano arms up against the New Orleans Saints. Former area prep stars Gano and Finnegan help lead the Carolina Panthers to 12-0 start BILL VILONA NFL LEADING SCORERS Note: All kickers 1) Graham Gano (Carolina) 115 points 2) Stephen Gostkowski (New England) 115 3) Chandler Catanzaro (Arizona) 108 4) Cairo Santos (Kansas City) 107 5) Josh Brown (New York Giants) 105 TOP FIELD GOAL KICKERS 1) Robbie Gould (Chicago) 26-of-31(84 percent) 2 Cairo Santos (Kansas City) 26-32 (81percent) 3) Justin Tucker (Baltimore) 26-33 (79 percent) Tie 4) Dan Bailey (Dallas) 25-26 (96 percent) Josh Brown (NY Giants) 25-26 (96 percent) Graham Gano (Carolina) 25-30 (83 percent). ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you.
You have to win Those words were spoken by noted philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emers on. But you could easily imagine Navarre occer coach Rob Simon saying the exact ame thing to his soccer team. After advancing to the state soccer ournament last season, Simon and the aiders have had their eyes firmly on the prize this year. And got the a mbition and are definitely willing to put in the work to attain that goal. Abig step toward making that a reality will take place this weekend when the Raiders travel down to the Orlando area to take part in the prestigious Montverde A cademy Invitational Soccer ournament.
he Raiders will get things started ith a bang, taking on the host team ontverde Academy. The Raiders will a lso take on state power Jacksonville olles and 2015 Class 3A state semifinalist Ponte Vedra. is going to be an extremely competitive Simon said. Academy is one of the top teams in the state (currently ranked No. 5 overall in Florida).
Last year, one public ation had them ranked No. 1in the nation. Bolles was a state champion last ear and Ponte Vedra lost in the state semifinals, just like ontverde Academy went 19-0-1last eason. The team does not compete for FHSAA state championship honors, but i a member of the FHSAA as an inde- pendent, which allows them to compete a gainst other FHSAA programs. This eason, the Eagles are 10-1and have out- HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER Big test awaits Navarre at tournament BRUCE NEWS JOURNAL Navarre Raiders head coach Rob Simon talks strategy with his players during a break in action.
Simon and the Raiders will be traveling to Orlando area this week to play in the Montverde Invitational Soccer Tournament. MONTVERDE WIST Schedule 5 p.m. Bolles vs. Newsome, Field 1 5 p.m. Flagler vs.
Merritt Island, Field 2 p.m. Montverde vs. Navarre, Field 1 7 p.m. Ponte Vedra vs. Vero Beach, Field 2 Schedule 8:30 a.m.
Bolles vs. Merritt Island, Field 1 8:30 a.m. Newsome vs. Flagler, Field 2 10 a.m. Vero Beach vs.
Montverde, Field 1 a.m. Navarre vs. Ponte Vedra, Field 2 11a.m. All-Tournament Lunch 2:30 p.m. Merritt Island vs.
Newsome, Field 1 2:30 p.m. Navarre vs. Bolles, Field 2 4 p.m. Montverde vs. Ponte Vedra, Field 1 4 p.m.
Flagler vs. Vero Beach, Field 2 BRADY AYMOND SPORTS PENSACOLA NEWS JOURNAL PNJ.COM SECTIONC Former Catholic star named second-team All-Sun Belt, 3C COLLEGE FOOTBALL BRENNAN: UNDEFEATED RUN BY WARRIORS CAPS EPIC SPORTS YEAR PAGE 6C It only took one preseason scrimmage for Calvin Ridley to deem himself ready for the Southeastern Conference. No. 2 freshman wide receiver has certainly proven his assessment correct while living up to the recruiting hype. idley has followed in the footsteps of current NFL players Julio Jones and Amari Cooper by becoming the Crimson go-to receiver not long after arriving on campus.
that first scrimmage in practice, I felt like I could do Ridley said. felt like I was doing ood in practice. And I knew if I could it in practice against this defense, I ould do it against far, so good. Ridley, who arrived as the top receiver prospect, has put up comparable first-year numbers to both Jones and Cooper ventual top 10 NFL draft picks go- i ng into the Dec. 31semifinal game at he Cotton Bowl in Dallas against ALABAMA FOOTBALL Ridley is latest freshman receiving star Follows footsteps of Jones, Cooper JOHN ZENOR ASSOCIATED PRESS KEVEN C.
IMAGES Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley has 75 eceptions for 893 yards this season. And he finished yet. CLEMSON, S.C. Deshaun Watson arely panics, not as a high school star i Georgia watching his mother fight cancer or as quarterback orking to come back from knee surgery. Calm and confident without being lashy, style led the Tigers to their first undefeated season since and a chance to accomplish uch more.
mother, Deann, says her son has always been steady and on task, more concerned with solving problems than worrying about them. never changed with she said. Watson was the one, Deann said, ho brought home the Habitat for Humanity flier that helped the family leave public housing for a home of heir own. Deshaun Watson did not collapse with his diagnosis. Instead, he dived into research to make sure it was not COLLEGE FOOTBALL Steady, calm Watson leads No.
1Clemson Sophom*ore QB flinch under pressure RICHARD alm and confident without being flashy, eshaun style led the Tigers to their first 12-0 season since 1981. PETE IACOBELLI ASSOCIATED PRESS.
