SPORTS BRIEFS: Albany State’s Jarvis Small, Victor Moli and Tavarius Washington honorable mention

ASU players honorable mention on All-American team

Albany State running back Jarvis Small, offensive lineman Victor Moli and linebacker Tavarius Washington were named as honorable mention on the 2014 BOXTOROW All-America team. BOXTOROW has administered the All-America team since 2007 and the voters are comprised of media members from around the nation that cover HBCU football.

Alcorn State quarterback John Gibbs, Jr. was named Offensive Player of the Year and South Carolina State defensive tackle Javon Hargrave was the overwhelming choice for the Willie Davis Defensive Player of the Year.

Gibbs, who was also named SWAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, is the only player in Division I football to throw for over 2,000 yards (2,482) and rush for over 1,000 yards (1,006). He completed 58 percent of his passes and led the SWAC in total touchdowns (32).

Lee wrestlers compete in Swede Umbach Classic

The Lee County Trojan Wrestling team traveled to Auburn, Ala., over the weekend to participate in the Swede Umbach Classic Wrestling Tournament. Seventeen teams, mostly Class 6A and 7A schools from Alabama and Florida were in attendance. Even in the absence of 3 starters, Lee still finished fifth in the team standings.

Several of the individual wrestlers from Lee stood out.

The number one seed at 106 pounds, Aaron Maxfield, pinned Auburn’s Marcus Boler to take first. Maxwell pinned his way through the entire tournament and improved his record to 21-2.

Eric “Opie” Hunter was finished third with a 9-0 shutout of Buckhorn’s Kevin Perry and improved his record to 21-3. Slater Cruz defeated Chase Cleveland of Fort Walton Beach High (5-2) to capture third and improve his season record to 20-3.

No. 2 seed Jonah Anderson pinned his way to the finals where he faced the Alabama 7A state runner-up and current top-ranked Matt King of Oxford High. After a furious initial scramble that saw the two wrestlers’ criss-cross the mat, King secured the takedown and a two-point lead. Anderson would gain a reversal to tie the score, before both wrestlers would each gain an escape in the final two periods and were tied three at the end of regulation.

King would eventually gain the takedown in overtime to win 5-3. Anderson brought home the silver for Lee County and his record is now 23-1.

Collins Tensley lost a tough battle to Auburn state placer and current No. 2-ranked Randy Hooks in the semifinals (3-2), but captured third with an 8-2 victory over Jeruel Hunter of Central Phenix City.

Lee County will compete in the Hardaway Invitational Dec. 19-20 at Columbus State.

Liriano gets $2 million bonus in Pirates deal

Francisco Liriano gets a $2 million signing bonus as part of his $39 million, three-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The left-hander will receive an $11 million salary next year and $13 million in each of the final two seasons of the deal, which was completed Friday. The signing bonus is payable by Dec. 31.

Liriano would get a $325,000 bonus for winning the Cy Young Award, $150,000 for finishing second and $100,000 for third. He also would get a $50,000 bonus for making the All-Star team and $25,000 each for League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP. He also would get $25,000 for Division Series MVP — an award that doesn’t yet exist.

The 31-year-old went 23-18 with a 3.20 ERA for Pittsburgh in 2013 and 2014, helping the franchise reach consecutive playoff berths for the first time in over 20 years. He figures to pitch at the top end of a rotation that includes Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett.