Past Griffin High and Spalding High players and coaches with have been faring well recently.

Former Griffin High and University of Georgia gridiron standout Chris Clemons enjoyed the most productive season of his NFL career this year, logging a career highs in tackles (20) and sacks (8) for the Oakland Raiders.

He played linebacker in 16 games, starting in two of them.

On the hardwood, former Griffin High basketball great Josh Pace continues to do well for the East Kentucky Miners, the CBA’s newest franchise, where he is averaging a league-leading 24 points per game.

He is also averaging 2 steals (fourth in the league) and 4.6 assists (eighth best in the league) per game. Earlier this year Pace became the Miner’s first player selected. He is really making the Miners look like they know what they’re doing.

Another former Griffin High hardwood great, Brent Petway, is playing for the Idaho Stampede in the NBA Development League. Petway went undrafted this year, but had brief stints during tryout camps with the Portland Trailblazers, Atlanta Hawks and for a second time with the Trailblazers.

The second time around with the Trailblazers he made it to the next to last cut. Idaho is affiliated with the Trailblazers as well as the Seattle Supersonics.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound Petway, who was the captain last year for the University of Michigan, is averaging 7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

Former Griffin High head coach Ferris Qualls - who coached both Petway and Pace - has landed at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City. Ala., where he is an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team. At the end of last season he stepped down after a 32-year career in public education. He had coached the Bears the past 14 seasons.

Bumped into Bobby Rainey during the break. The former Griffin High All-State player and Griffin Daily News Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006, declared a redshirt year this season at Western Kentucky. Rainey told me he ran into trouble passing the clearing house, but all of his records are in order now. Unfortunately by the time he got everything straightened out a fraction of the season remained.

He opted to redshirt.

A much bigger and stronger Rainey looks forward to playing this upcoming season. He had worked his way up to starter at running back on the depth charts for the Hilltoppers prior to redshirting he said.

In the Southeastern Conference, former Spalding High standout Brett Upson finished his sophomore year at Vanderbilt ranked No. 10 in the conference in punting with a 39.2-yard average and a long of 59.

Sullivan is the sports editor at the Griffin Daily News.