Hometown Heroes: Former Panther Josh Clark making gains on Dartmouth O-line

Former Bradenton Christian School offensive lineman Josh Clark's first start for Dartmouth College was a monumental one.

The junior, who played in eight of the Big Green's 10 games this season, slotted in at left guard for the Green's final game of the season Saturday and Dartmouth clinched its first Ivy League title since 1996 with a 17-10 win against Princeton to finish 9-1.

Clark also played in nine games last year as a sophomore for the Big Green. Drtmouth, which competes in the Football Championship Series subdivision, is ranked 20th in the STATS FCS Top 25. Ivy League schools, however, do not compete in the FCS' Football Championship for academic reasons.

KELVIN McKNIGHT -- The former Manatee High wide receiver didn't wait long to make an impression at Samford with a 147-yard game. After a standout debut campaign, McKnight was honored as the Southern Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year Tuesday.

McKnight, who was a first-team All-Area selection last fall and a member of the Hurricanes' state champion 400-meter relay team, finished the season with 57 receptions for 616 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs. The true freshman also contributed 88 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries as a runner for Samford, which competes in the FCS and is 6-5 this season.

Saturday was an excellent capper for McKnight's award-winning season. In a 47-21 win against Mercer for the regular-season finale, McKnight caught seven passes for 76 yards and also returned his first punt for a touchdown.

ANTONIO AGURS -- Division II Ferris State University has featured a handful of former Canes in contributing roles this season, but none has been more productive than Antonio Agurs. The slot receiver led Ferris

State in catches with 59 this year and was named an All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honorable mention.

Agurs, who is joined by former Canes defensive back Willie Smith, slot receiver Jajuan Pollock and defensive end Marquis Dawsey on the Bulldogs, also finished second on the team with 567 receiving yards and was a dynamic threat as a runner. On 28 carries, Agurs compiled 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns, although he did lose two fumbles.

Now 11-0, FSU won the GLIAC this season and took its first playoff game 48-30 against Texas A&M University-Commerce on Saturday. Ferris State is on to the Super Region II semifinal, where it will face Grand Valley State University on Saturday.

DEMARCUS CHRISTMAS, BRIAN POOLE -- After a pair of very different non-conference tuneups Saturday, Florida and Florida State will meet Saturday in Gainesville with a former Manatee County standout playing a crucial role for each defense.

Former Manatee defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas, now a redshirt freshman for the Seminoles, has been a consistent contributor on the FSU defense and former Southeast defensive back Brian Poole, a senior for the Gators, has helped shore up a UF secondary, which is one of the best in the country. In Saturday's 20-14, overtime win against Florida Atlantic, Poole recorded four tackles, two tackles for a loss and broke up a pair of passes.

Florida State is 9-2 this year and in position to play in a good bowl game. At 10-1, Florida still has a chance at the College Football Playoff if it wins Saturday and the following week in the Southeastern Conference championship.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Hometown Heroes: Former Panther Josh Clark making gains on Dartmouth O-line ."