Sports

Columbia receiver Camdon Frier catches a touchdown pass during Monday’s practice. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Frier battling back from sports hernia surgery in Columbia fall camp

JORDAN KROEGER

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Camdon Frier goes through stretches where he looks great. He’s catching passes one handed. Passes behind his head. Anything you throw at him really. Then other times, the Columbia senior receiver is slamming his helmet into the turf in frustration.

Fort White receiver Najeeb Smith takes a handoff from quarterback Jayden Jackson during practice on July 31. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Najeeb Smith ‘ring-chasing’ in Fort White senior year

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

FORT WHITE — Najeeb Smith has been keeping his head down lately. Gone are the days of wondering who his next head coach would be or how he would be used in the Indians’ offense.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NCAA denies hardship waiver for FSU's Darrell Jackson Jr., who transferred to be near ailing mom

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. won’t be allowed to play this season after transferring from Miami. The NCAA denied Jackson’s hardship waiver last week, Seminoles coach Mike Norvell said Tuesday.

Columbia’s defense swarms to tackle receiver Camdon Frier during Friday’s practice. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Defense earns an ‘A’, plus 5 takeaways from first week of CHS camp

JORDAN KROEGER

Friday, August 4, 2023

Columbia matched up 11 on 11 to wrap the first week of fall camp Friday and the unit that’s won the battle most of the week did so again not long into the first series.

The installment of the new track at Tiger Stadium is sill ongoing, prompting the Preseason Classic between Columbia and Suwannee to be moved to Langford Stadium on Aug. 18. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Preseason Classic moved from Columbia to Suwannee due to track delays

JORDAN KROEGER

Friday, August 4, 2023

Columbia and Suwannee will play this season, just not at the originally scheduled location. The Preseason Classic between the Tigers and Bulldogs set for Aug. 18 has been moved from CHS to Suwannee High because of the ongoing resurfacing of the track at Tiger Stadium.

Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson sets to throw a pass during Monday’s practice. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Demetric, Jayden Jackson in sync on offense ahead of Fort White's new season

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Friday, August 4, 2023

FORT WHITE — While the dynamic isn’t unique to the Indians, a father-son duo in high school football always carries with it a sense of intrigue. So naturally, head coach Demetric Jackson and his son, quarterback Jayden Jackson, aren’t making a big stink about it.

Suwannee receiver MJ Rossin runs up the field after a catch during Friday’s practice. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee looking for receivers to catch on in camp

JAMIE WACHTER

Friday, August 4, 2023

LIVE OAK — Suwannee’s top receiver from a year ago graduated. The Bulldogs’ second-leading receiver in 2022 will be throwing passes this fall instead of catching them. If the SHS offense is going to build off its momentum from a year ago, playmakers need to catch on outside.

Columbia receiver JT Cook lines up for a snap during Wednesday’s practice. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: JT Cook finding role at Columbia after transferring from Lafayette

JORDAN KROEGER

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was one JT Cook felt was best for his football future.

Lafayette defensive end Amarie Fleming performs a drill with head coach Marcus Edwards during Tuesday’s practice. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Edwards says Lafayette has work to do to reach last year’s level

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

MAYO — Starting off fall practice a day after most, there was no talk about perfection at Lafayette on Tuesday. Rather, the Hornets’ goal leading into their Aug. 18 preseason Classic against Newberry at Dale Walker Field in Mayo is making progress.

Branford quarterback Thomas Sikes throws a pass during Monday’s practice. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Branford is small in number but plenty experienced in camp

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

BRANFORD — Introductions are probably not needed in Branford. As the Buccaneers begin preparations for the 2023 season, numbers are at a premium. At Monday’s initial fall practice, BHS had just 25 varsity players on the field.