Sports

Pictured is this year’s Columbia girls golf team: Megan Ruwe (from left), Veona Osborne, Ashley Nelson, Karlee Gainey, Alison O’Brien and Sydney Jones. Head coach Chet Carter is pictured above.

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia tops Forest in girls golf opener

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Columbia’s girls golf team topped Forest 157-167 at Ocala Country Club in their first match of the season on Tuesday. Veona Osborne led the Tigers with a 36, followed by Karlee Gainey’s 38, Alison O’Brien’s 41 and Ashley Nelson’s 42.

Fort White tight end Avery Giddens gets set to line up for a play during a team scrimmage on Friday. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Giddens out to prove FWHS has ‘championship standard’ with move to tight end

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

FORT WHITE — Avery Giddens believes he can do it all. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior is out to prove that this year. Giddens has played along the offensive and defensive lines during his tenure on the Fort White football team.

CHS Bassmasters Anna Swisher (left) and Ty Jackson (right) hold up their haul at the Abua Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship. (COURTESY)

PREP FISHING: CHS Bassmasters Jackson, Swisher place 26th at high school national championship

NEWS STAFF

Monday, August 15, 2022

CHS Bassmasters Ty Jackson and Anna Swisher placed 26th out of 314 teams at the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship this weekend on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. The national championship was a two-day tournament, with the top 12 teams moving on to the third day.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young during warm ups before the start of a game against Auburn on Nov. 27, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. Alabama is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 for the second straight season. (AP File)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: No. 1 Alabama tops preseason AP Top 25; Ohio St, 'Dawgs next

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Monday, August 15, 2022

With two of the best players in the country leading the way — and a championship game loss as motivation — Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason college football poll for the second straight season and ninth time overall.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson looks for a receiver as he is pressured by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Josh Allen during Friday’s preseason game in Jacksonville. (PHELAN M. EBENHACK/Associated Press)

NFL: Watson apologizes, then struggles in Browns preseason debut vs. Jags

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Friday, August 12, 2022

JACKSONVILLE — Deshaun Watson apologized before his preseason debut with the Cleveland Browns and then got an earful from opposing fans. Watson apologized Friday “to all the women I have impacted” after being accused by two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions.

Columbia defensive end Rashod Bradley reacts after recording a sack during Friday’s team scrimmage. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia defense dominates offense in team scrimmage

JORDAN KROEGER

Friday, August 12, 2022

Columbia wrapped up week two of practice with a team scrimmage that was particularly one-sided. “The defense got after our (butts),” Columbia head coach Demetric Jackson said. “We were pretty good defensively.

Fort White running back Kamarion Griffin catches a touchdown pass during Friday’s team scrimmage. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White still working out the kinks following scrimmage

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Friday, August 12, 2022

FORT WHITE — The last practices of the summer are starting to wind down. Waning are the days of the crack of the pads early in the mornings. But that didn’t stop Fort White from hosting one last inter-squad scrimmage.

Branford running back Caden Coker carries the ball up the field during practice on Aug. 5. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Branford counting on Coker to carry heavier load offensively

JAMIE WACHTER

Thursday, August 11, 2022

BRANFORD — He may be wearing the No. 2 jersey, but Caden Coker will be Branford’s No. 1 option this fall. Coker, a senior, will be counted on to step in to the Buccaneers’ lead offensive role after playing sidekick the past two seasons.

Columbia linebacker Jaden Robinson points to a teammate during Thursday’s practice. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Gators nab commitment from CHS LB Robinson after month-long pursuit

JORDAN KROEGER

Thursday, August 11, 2022

It was July 3, one day before Columbia linebacker Jaden Robinson was set to commit to South Carolina. The 4-star rated recruit had picked the 4th to announce his commitment publicly, but he didn’t anticipate receiving a call from a school just a drive down Interstate 75 South.

Suwannee defensive back Jay Smith knocks the ball away during a drill at practice on Aug. 4. (JAMIE WACHTER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee counting on unproven talent to step up in offense

JAMIE WACHTER

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

LIVE OAK — It will be a new-look offense for Suwannee this fall. Gone are the Bulldogs’ top three receivers and four of the top five. SHS also waved goodbye to its top two rushers and the third, Kodi Lang, will now be catching passes instead of throwing them or taking off running.