Sports

Columbia hitter Meleane Wood fires a shot against Lafayette on Sept. 28. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia hitter Meleane Wood fires a shot against Lafayette on Sept. 28. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Columbia, Branford & Lafayette advance to district championships

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Elinor Kirsch delivered 13 kills, served up four aces and had 13 digs to help No. 2 seed Columbia sweep No. 3 seed Stanton 26-24, 25-15, 25-14 in the District 3-4A semifinals at SHS on Tuesday night.The Tigers (11-16) also got eight kills from Carrin Nelson, seven kills from Langsley Smith, six...
Kelbie Snider took first place to lead the Branford girls cross country team to first place at the Trenton Invitational on Tuesday, while Logan Haley won the boys for the Buccaneers. (COURTESY)

Kelbie Snider took first place to lead the Branford girls cross country team to first place at the Trenton Invitational on Tuesday, while Logan Haley won the boys for the Buccaneers. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 10/13/26

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Not only did Logan Haley win another race for Branford but so did Kelbie Snider at the Trenton Invitational on Tuesday.Snider finished with a time of 21:56.9 to help the Lady Buccaneers win the event with 32 points just ahead of Suwannee, which finished with 34.
Columbia defensive back Mekah Combs-Turner (back) and linebacker Bryson Grinstead (bottom) combine to tackle Manatee receiver Deno Dalacas on Oct. 2. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia defensive back Mekah Combs-Turner (back) and linebacker Bryson Grinstead (bottom) combine to tackle Manatee receiver Deno Dalacas on Oct. 2. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Columbia within reach of Open Division following rankings shakeup

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
One spot.That’s all that currently separates Columbia (7-0) from being a favorite in the Class 4A playoffs or having to go through a gauntlet in the Open Division.The Tigers, who are still ranked No. 1 in 4A, rose to 11th overall in the state in the latest MaxPreps’ rankings.
Branford running back Cameron Anderson looks for running room against Trenton on Monday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Branford running back Cameron Anderson looks for running room against Trenton on Monday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Branford's late mistakes lead to costly loss to Trenton

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Monday, October 12, 2026
BRANFORD — The Buccaneers’ course to the playoffs has gotten choppier after a Monday-night loss quickly spiraled out of control late.Trenton capitalized on a pair of special teams miscues while running back Wyatt Vanlandingham accounted for four touchdowns in a 41-19 win against Branford at Cleve...
Columbia celebrates winning a set against Baker County on Oct. 8. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia celebrates winning a set against Baker County on Oct. 8. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 10/12/26

NEWS STAFF
Monday, October 12, 2026
District tournaments began for volleyball on Monday with three area teams advancing to the semifinals.Two schools were victorious on the golf course as well.Here are the scores and stats from Oct. 12.VOLLEYBALL— Columbia 3, Ribault 0: Behind seven kills from Elinor Kirsch, six kills each from...
Branford coach Will Dettor (right) and his assistant challenge the referees on a call during a game against Crescent City on Sept. 25. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Branford coach Will Dettor (right) and his assistant challenge the referees on a call during a game against Crescent City on Sept. 25. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Hurricane Isaias moves Branford-Trenton to Monday

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, October 9, 2026
BRANFORD — Mother Nature remains undefeated, though that’s only slightly better than the combined records of the teams she postponed Friday.
Suwannee quarterback Haigen Johnson tries to scramble away from Baker County defensive end Joshua Chick on Friday night. Chick sacked Johnson on the play. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee quarterback Haigen Johnson tries to scramble away from Baker County defensive end Joshua Chick on Friday night. Chick sacked Johnson on the play. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee ‘whipped’ by Baker County in district blowout

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, October 9, 2026
LIVE OAK — Baker County left no doubt Thursday night on which team was tougher.In a District 2-3A matchup that Suwannee coach Kyler Hall said would come down to toughness at Langford Stadium, the Wildcats manhandled the Bulldogs from the start in a 42-0 rout in the rain.
Columbia coach Brian Allen (middle) speaks alongside a T-Mobile representative (left) and Columbia offensive line coach Anthony Newton (right) while surrounded by players, staff and cheerleaders as the football program is presented with $25,000 after advancing to the final 40 in the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition on Thursday. CHS is now in the running for a $250,000 prize. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia coach Brian Allen (middle) speaks alongside a T-Mobile representative (left) and Columbia offensive line coach Anthony Newton (right) while surrounded by players, staff and cheerleaders as the football program is presented with $25,000 after advancing to the final 40 in the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights competition on Thursday. CHS is now in the running for a $250,000 prize. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia wins $25,000, eyes $250K prize in T-Mobile competition

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, October 8, 2026
It may be Columbia’s bye week, but the Tigers won again.The CHS football team was greeted Thursday morning at the Jones Fieldhouse by cheerleaders, members of the band, Lake City Mayor Noah Walker, Columbia County Commissioners Tim Murphy and Everett Phillips and representatives from T-Mobile.In...