GOSHEN — In just one year, Coy Brown has went from playing for the NorthWood High School football team at Andrews Field in Nappanee to playing at the NCAA Division I level.

Brown began his freshman season for the Bowling Green Falcons with a game at the University of Florida in Gainsville and ended the season last Thursday in the 2012 Military Bowl in at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., which was the home of the NFL’s Washington Redskins until 1996 when the team moved to FedEx Field in suburban Maryland.

The Falcons dropped a 29-20 decision to San Jose University after taking a 20-19 lead at 10:26 of the fourth quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by John Pettigrew.

Brown’s tackle came on the ensuing kickoff when he brought down Tyler Ervin after a 21-yard return at the San Jose 22.

Bowling Green finished the season with an 8-5 record. Brown played in seven games and was credited with four tackles, one of them for a loss.

Concord High School graduate Jason Spriggs had a pretty impressive season for the Indiana Hoosiers (4-8 overall, 2-6 in the Big Ten). The 6-7 (268) freshman started all 12 games at left tackle for the Hoosiers, leading the team with 80 knockdowns. He also allowed a mere two sacks in 961 center snaps.

Among the postseason honors for Spriggs were an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection, an ESPN.com Big Ten All-Freshman Team and BTN.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team selections, an 247Sports.com Second Team All-Big Ten selection and a CollegeFootballNews.com Freshman All-American honorable mention honor.

Men’s Basketball

The Notre Dame football team isn’t the only local college sports team that is competing in Miami, Florida.

The Bethel College men’s basketball team notched a 76-59 win over Florida Memorial on Saturday as junior Taylor Kolbus (Goshen) scored six points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for the Pilots. Bethel (14-3) had a 41-24 advantage in rebounding.

Freshman Jordyn Coon (Warsaw) contributed seven points and five rebounds for the winners.

Earlier the Pilots defeated Saint Thomas 72-70. Saint Thomas was No. 18 ranked in NAIA Division II.

On Friday according to Bethel coach Mike Lightfoot’s Facebook page the Pilots were standing outside of the Orange Bowl where the Notre Dame Fighting Irish battle the Alabama Crimson Tide for the BCS National Championship on Monday, Jan. 7.

Senior Ethan Hussey (Goshen) netted all 11 of his points in the first half as the Saint Francis Cougars (11-4) posted a 99-55 win at IU-Kokomo.

Hussey connected on 5-of-7 field goals (1-of-2 from 3-point range) to go with five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Hussey is just five points shy of 1,000 for his career.

Freshman Riley Stichter (Wawasee) snared five rebounds for the IUSB Titans (9-6) in a 71-54 loss to Columbia College in the Columbia College Tournament in Columbia Missouri.

Ancilla College freshman Jakyah Qaiyim (NorthWood) totaled five points, eight rebounds and an assist for the Chargers (6-4) in a 98-60 home loss to Danville Area Community College.

Women’s Basketball

Senior Ashlee Ort (Wawasee) had two points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals for the Bethel College Pilots in a 75-49 loss to Madonna University in the Ave Maria University Holiday Classic in Ave Maria, Florida. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Pilots (11-3).

Ort was recently named the Crossroads League Player of the Week as she led the Pilots to a pair of wins by averaging 15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

“What a great recognition for Ashlee Ort,” Bethel head coach Jody Martinez said on the school Web site.

“She has worked very hard to be a great role player in this system and sometimes her efforts are not on the stat sheet like other players. So, for Ashlee to be the Player of the Week in the Crossroads League is not only a great honor for her but her teammates as well. Ashlee is one of the most improved players since her freshmen year and it is because she has great work ethic.”

Junior Taylor Goshert (Wawasee) scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds for the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats (15-0) in a 64-35 win over Mount Mercy in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in Mount Mercy, Iowa.

Senior Chelsea Hite (West Noble) netted six points to go with a rebound and a blocked shot for Eastern Michigan in a 61-38 loss to Ole Miss in the consolation game of the 17th annual Tulane-Double Tree Classic in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hite had two points and three rebounds in a 71-65 loss to Tulane in the first round of the tournament.