www.centralmethodist.edu
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The Collegian January 22, 2014
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Page 7
Two Eagle football players slated for post-season Two student-athletes from Central Methodist are making appearances in postseason showcases. This includes All-Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) and All-American offensive lineman Bo Amos, who will take part in three future combines starting with the Beyond Sports Network (BSN) Collegiate Showcase presented by the National Scouting Combine Feb. 2627 in Northern Virginia. Amos, a 2013 first team AllHAAC member and three-time All-HAAC recipient, was named to the BSN All-America third team last season. The Lee’s Summit, Mo., native will take part in the NFL Regional Combine on March 29 in Indianapolis, Ind. “The regional combines are gaining in popularity with NFL teams,” NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “Every team receives a copy of the testing numbers, but more and more teams are beginning to send their own scouts to these workouts.”
The combines are getting deeper every year in terms of viable talent, Indianapolis Colts general manager Ryan Grigson said, and Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome counts them among valuable scouting opportunities. “As a general manager, I am always looking for opportunities to get information on as many college players as I can,” Newsome said. “The NFL Regional Combines are another resource I can use.” Amos is also scheduled to participate in a CFL combine, but a date has not been finalized. Amos has already played in two postseason all-star games in December 2013. He participated in the 36th annual All-American Bowl, played Dec. 14 in Mexico City, Mexico, and the D2 vs NAIA Challenge on Dec. 21 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. A junior starter from the 2013 squad, wide receiver Martin Bayless Jr. played for Team National in the 3rd annual NFLPA Collegiate
CMU’s Bo Amos is taking part in multiple postseason all-star games and combines. Bowl on Saturday in Carson, Calif. The game was aired on ESPN2. Bayless Jr., from San Diego, Calif., averaged 10.7 yards per catch in 2013 for the Eagles.
Postseason all-star contests serve as excellent opportunities for draft eligible players to showcase their skills in front of scouts representing all 32 National Foot-
ball League teams and squads from other professional leagues, with performances in pre-event practices frequently proving as important as the actual game.
Lady Eagles suffer close loss to Mid America Nazarene A Rachel Boan steal and two Navia Palu free throws in the final six seconds allowed No. 5 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) to escape Puckett Fieldhouse with a
61-59 win over Central Methodist in Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) action. Central Methodist (12-4, 3-3) saw its four-game win streak
snapped despite a career-high 20 points from Kyra Williams and a defensive effort that limited MidAmerica Nazarene (15-1, 7-0) to 1-of-13 from three-point
CMU’s Kyra Williams goes for a layup in the second half Saturday.
range. The Eagles allowed more than 60 points for the first time in their last five games. Kelsey Balcom led all Pioneers’ scorers with 16. Palu and Boan scored 12 and 11, respectively. Balcom and Daria Sprew each had nine rebounds. However, Sprew, who entered Saturday leading the NAIA in field goal percentage, was held to only five points on 1-of-9 shooting. Megan Balcom, ranked 25th in three point field goals, was 0-of-9 from distance and 3-of-14 overall for only six points. Williams was 8-of-17 shooting and 4-of-4 from the line to go along with three assists. Reigning HAAC Player of the Week Morgan Vetter chipped in 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 2-of-3 from behind the arc. Jesse Ellis had 10 points and seven rebounds. Taylor Cornelison had four points and eight rebounds. The Eagles shot 42.1 percent (24-of-57) from the field and lim-
ited the Pioneers to 36.5 percent (23-of-63). The 23 made field goals are the second lowest for a game this season. The Pioneers, who ranked first in assists per game, were held to only nine, 11 below the season average, while the Eagles compiled 14 assists. However, the Pioneers won the rebounding battle, 43-33. In a game that featured five ties and 15 lead changes, the Pioneers never trailed following a Boan jumper with 1:53 to play. Williams tied the contest with two free throws with 17 seconds left, but an Eagles’ foul sent Palu to the line, where she made both attempts to give the visitors a 59-57 edge. Williams came back down the floor on the next possession, but Boan forced a jump ball under the basket, and the possession arrow belonged to MidAmerica Nazarene. Central Methodist travels to Graceland (Iowa) on Thursday, Jan. 23. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.