Sports

Fort White wide receiver Najeeb Smith celebrates as he crosses the goal line for a touchdown Friday night against Lafayette. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White wide receiver Najeeb Smith celebrates as he crosses the goal line for a touchdown Friday night against Lafayette. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White buries region-leading Lafayette with big 2nd half

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Saturday, October 7, 2023
MAYO — For one half, the game looked like a classic matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the region. After all, only one score separated host Lafayette and Fort White through two quarters.
Suwannee safety Kodi Lang returns an interception in the first quarter Friday against Santa Fe. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee safety Kodi Lang returns an interception in the first quarter Friday against Santa Fe. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee steamrolls Santa Fe as Lang runs for 2, throws 2 TDs

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, October 7, 2023
LIVE OAK — The Suwannee Bulldogs wasted little time getting the homecoming festivities started. Forcing a turnover on the second play of the game, Suwannee scored less than two minutes in and kept on rolling from there.
Branford wide receiver Haiden Ward and offensive lineman Sabastian Waugama celebrate after Ward’s touchdown in the second quarter Friday against Trenton. (ERIN ROBERTS/Special to the Reporter)

Branford wide receiver Haiden Ward and offensive lineman Sabastian Waugama celebrate after Ward’s touchdown in the second quarter Friday against Trenton. (ERIN ROBERTS/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Branford holds on to beat Trenton in defensive struggle

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, October 7, 2023
TRENTON — Branford head coach Tim Clark will be the first to admit his Buccaneers’ defense got pushed up and down the field Friday night. Branford’s defensive front seven was pushed around for four- and five-yard gains all night thanks to a potent Trenton ground attack.
Daniel Tillman (left), a 2022 Suwannee High School Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, joined Class of 2023 inductees Lyn Gross, Niki Boyle Rogers and Jessie TenBroeck Brundage in being honored Thursday during the induction ceremony. Leon Moses, the fourth member of the 2023 class, could not attend. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

Daniel Tillman (left), a 2022 Suwannee High School Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, joined Class of 2023 inductees Lyn Gross, Niki Boyle Rogers and Jessie TenBroeck Brundage in being honored Thursday during the induction ceremony. Leon Moses, the fourth member of the 2023 class, could not attend. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP SPORTS: Four inducted into Suwannee High Hall of Fame

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, October 5, 2023
LIVE OAK — When informed this summer he was set to become a member of the Suwannee High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Lyn Gross was just a tad bit excited. “I think I yelled, I was like 'Yeah' or whatever,” Gross said Thursday afternoon during the induction ceremony in the atrium at SHS.
Columbia's Avery Sandlin dives to return a shot against Lafayette on Sept. 12. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia's Avery Sandlin dives to return a shot against Lafayette on Sept. 12. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 10/5/23

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, October 5, 2023
VOLLEYBALL — Lowndes 3, Columbia 1: The Tigers (14-6) saw their 12-match winning streak snapped by the Vikings (14-14) on Thursday night, falling 25-12, 19-25, 25-19, 29-27 on the road. Autumn Jones had 13 kills and 23 digs in the loss, while Sinei Wood had 12 kills and 26 digs.
Columbia receiver Camdon Frier turns up the field after a catch against Orange Park on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia receiver Camdon Frier turns up the field after a catch against Orange Park on Friday night. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fresh off first win with a new attitude, Columbia aims for another vs. Bolles

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Like Columbia, Bolles also started the season on a losing streak. The Bulldogs dropped their first three games, all by one score to playoff caliber teams which included St. Augustine (ranked second in Class 3S), Mandarin (ranked sixth in Class 4M) and Coffee (ranked first in Georgia AAAAA).
Suwannee defensive back Demontay Brown (3) returns an interception against Taylor County last Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee defensive back Demontay Brown (3) returns an interception against Taylor County last Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee aims to crush Santa Fe's confidence early

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
LIVE OAK — When Suwannee coach Kyler Hall sees Santa Fe on the schedule, he doesn’t see the current Raiders. In his mind, Santa Fe isn’t the one that will enter Friday’s 7:30 p.m.
Branford quarterback Thomas Sikes is hit as he throws by Lafayette defensive lineman Amarie Fleming last Friday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

Branford quarterback Thomas Sikes is hit as he throws by Lafayette defensive lineman Amarie Fleming last Friday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Branford wraps up tough 4-game stretch vs. Trenton

CONCEPCION LEDEZMA
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
BRANFORD — Being on a two-game skid after a 3-0 start, Branford coach Tim Clark admits it may generate a healthy chip on the shoulders of his players heading into the final stage of a rugged four-game stretch. “Absolutely, I want them to have that sense of urgency,” Clark said.