Sports

Lafayette’s Jalen Hill scores a touchdown against Taylor County while Jordan Murphy (10) celebrates on Tuesday night. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Lafayette’s Jalen Hill scores a touchdown against Taylor County while Jordan Murphy (10) celebrates on Tuesday night. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Lafayette looks to rebound at Trenton after tough loss

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
MAYO — After waiting a while to make up one game, the Hornets now have a quick turnaround to prepare for another. Lafayette suffered a devastating 18-13 loss to Taylor County Tuesday night in a makeup game from the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.
Lafayette quarterback Tywan Williamson can’t track down a loose ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Taylor County on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Lafayette quarterback Tywan Williamson can’t track down a loose ball in the end zone, resulting in a safety for Taylor County on Tuesday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Early, late safeties doom Lafayette in second loss to Taylor County

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
MAYO —  After a high snap from Lafayette forced a scrum in its own end zone to start the game, the Hornets finished with another catastrophe on the same end of the field to stop any hopes of a comeback.
Columbia defensive end Au’vontae Smith makes a tackle against Middleburg on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia defensive end Au’vontae Smith makes a tackle against Middleburg on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

COMMENTARY: Columbia silenced doubters with another district title

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
All that outside noise? Columbia never listened to it. Even at 0-4, the Tigers kept believing they’d turn their season around. Fast forward three weeks, and Columbia is once again district champions and headed back to the playoffs.
Columbia middle hitter Cassidy O’Neal gets blocked by Vanguard middle hitter Lillian Hart during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia middle hitter Cassidy O’Neal gets blocked by Vanguard middle hitter Lillian Hart during Tuesday’s District 2-5A semifinal. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP VOLLEYBALL: Vanguard upsets Columbia in District 2-5A semis

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Columbia had a chance to further improve its playoff resume. Vanguard kept its postseason hopes alive instead. Behind a strong front line, which was led by middle hitter Lillian Hart with 16 kills, the No. 3 seed Knights upset the No.
Columbia golfer Karlee Gainey watches her shot during Monday’s tri-match against Branford and Chiefland at Quail Heights. (COURTESY)

Columbia golfer Karlee Gainey watches her shot during Monday’s tri-match against Branford and Chiefland at Quail Heights. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 10/16/23

NEWS STAFF
Monday, October 16, 2023
GIRLS GOLF — Columbia 154, Branford 230, Chiefland 242: Karlee Gainey shot a career-low 2-under-33 for medalist honors to lead the Tigers over the Buccaneers and Indians in a tri-match at Quail Heights on Monday.
Columbia runner Nolan Martin (second from right) competes at the New World Fall Spectacular. (COURTESY)

Columbia runner Nolan Martin (second from right) competes at the New World Fall Spectacular. (COURTESY)

PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Martin, Golden lead CHS teams at New World Fall Spectacular

NEWS STAFF
Monday, October 16, 2023
Columbia competed at the New World Fall Spectacular on Saturday at New World Golf in Jacksonville, where the boys placed 13th out of 29 teams and the girls finished 11th out of 17 teams. The boys were led once again by Nolan Martin, who placed 27th in the open high school race in a time of 18:19.
Columbia linebacker Tyson Yaxley (15) and defensive lineman Kyten Davis (34) make a tackle against Middleburg on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia linebacker Tyson Yaxley (15) and defensive lineman Kyten Davis (34) make a tackle against Middleburg on Friday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia tops Middleburg behind stingy D to win third straight district title

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, October 14, 2023
MIDDLEBURG — That 0-4 start? It’s now a distant memory. Columbia is district champs once again. Thanks to a stellar defense that intercepted three passes and limited Middleburg to 130 yards of offense, the Tigers came away with a 17-6 victory on the road Friday night for their third straight win.