Sports

Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton celebrates after scoring with wide receiver George Pickens against Michigan during the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on Friday in Miami Gardens. (LYNNA SLADKY/Associated Press)

Georgia wide receiver Jermaine Burton celebrates after scoring with wide receiver George Pickens against Michigan during the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on Friday in Miami Gardens. (LYNNA SLADKY/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: No. 3 Georgia beats No. 2 Michigan in CFP semifinal

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 31, 2021
MIAMI GARDENS — With one overwhelming half at the Orange Bowl, No. 3 Georgia showed that a humbling loss to Alabama did not break the Bulldogs. In fact, it might have made them even stronger.
Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. runs for a first down as Cincinnati linebacker Deshawn Pace reaches from behind to tackle him during the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Friday in Arlington, Texas. Alabama won 27-6. (MICHAEL AINSWORTH/Associated Press)

Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. runs for a first down as Cincinnati linebacker Deshawn Pace reaches from behind to tackle him during the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Friday in Arlington, Texas. Alabama won 27-6. (MICHAEL AINSWORTH/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Tide runs over non-P5 Cincy in CFP semifinal

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 31, 2021
ARLINGTON, Texas — Brian Robinson Jr. grew up near the Alabama campus watching the Crimson Tide win championships, and wanting to play a big part in one.
Columbia guard Isaac Broxey has the ball knocked away from him by a Godby defender during the final day of the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park on Thursday in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Isaac Broxey has the ball knocked away from him by a Godby defender during the final day of the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park on Thursday in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Turnovers bite Columbia again in Hitchcock's Challenge finale loss to Godby

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, December 30, 2021
ALACHUA — With each turnover, Columbia head coach Steve Faulkner dropped his head in exasperation. The Tigers had 22 of them in Thursday’s Hitchcock’s Challenge finale against Godby at Legacy Park.
New York Jets cornerback Jason Pinnock tackles Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Dec. 26 in East Rutherford, N.J. (JOHN MUNSON/Associated Press)

New York Jets cornerback Jason Pinnock tackles Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Dec. 26 in East Rutherford, N.J. (JOHN MUNSON/Associated Press)

NFL: Patriots can clinch playoff berth vs. struggling Jaguars

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 30, 2021
FOXBOROUGH, Mass.— When the Patriots had their seven-game win streak snapped two weeks ago at Indianapolis, rookie quarterback Mac Jones said the best thing to do was to “flush this game down the toilet and just roll.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with the team after winning the Big Ten championship against Iowa, 42-3, on Dec. 4 in Indianapolis. It was the Wolverines' first Big Ten title in 17 years, which clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff. (AP File)

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates with the team after winning the Big Ten championship against Iowa, 42-3, on Dec. 4 in Indianapolis. It was the Wolverines' first Big Ten title in 17 years, which clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff. (AP File)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Surprising Michigan takes run at Georgia's dominate D in CFP

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Just about everything about this season has been a joyride for No. 2 Michigan, the first team to start unranked in the AP Top 25 and reach the College Football Playoff. “We’re happy to be here, but not just happy to be here,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said.
Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder looks to pass from the pocket during the American Athletic Conference championship game against Houston on Dec. 4 in Cincinnati. The fourth-ranked Bearcats (13-0) get their shot in the CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl on Friday against No. 1 defending national champion Alabama. (AP File)

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder looks to pass from the pocket during the American Athletic Conference championship game against Houston on Dec. 4 in Cincinnati. The fourth-ranked Bearcats (13-0) get their shot in the CFP semifinal Cotton Bowl on Friday against No. 1 defending national champion Alabama. (AP File)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Non-P5 Cincy takes CFP journey to Cotton semi against Bama

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 30, 2021
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder and the breakthrough Bearcats aren’t caught up in what their unprecedented playoff appearance could eventually mean for other non-Power Five teams. This is their journey.
Columbia guard Isaac Broxey flies to the rim to score a basket against Trinity Catholic in the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park on Wednesday in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Isaac Broxey flies to the rim to score a basket against Trinity Catholic in the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park on Wednesday in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Broxey’s fourth-quarter heroics not enough to lift Columbia past Trinity Catholic

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
ALACHUA — Isaac Broxey unloaded the clip in the fourth quarter. He hit a couple of 3-pointers and scored 12 of his 25 points in the final period. But it still wasn’t enough to pull Columbia out of a 12-point hole against Trinity Catholic in the Hitchcock’s Challenge semifinals.
Columbia guard Isaac Broxey rises to score a layup against Belleview during the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park on Tuesday in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia guard Isaac Broxey rises to score a layup against Belleview during the Hitchcock’s Challenge at Legacy Park on Tuesday in Alachua. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS BASKETBALL: Columbia snaps skid with big win over Belleview at Hitchcock's Challenge

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
ALACHUA — Steve Faulkner will never complain about a victory, especially after a 3-game losing streak. But Columbia’s head coach still wants to see better execution from his team, even after a blowout win over Belleview.
Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden speaks about former quarterback Ken Stabler, pictured at rear, at a ceremony honoring Stabler during halftime of a game between the Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 15, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. (AP File)

Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden speaks about former quarterback Ken Stabler, pictured at rear, at a ceremony honoring Stabler during halftime of a game between the Raiders and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 15, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. (AP File)

NFL: John Madden, Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster, dies at 85

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
​​​​​​John Madden, the Hall of Fame coach turned broadcaster whose exuberant calls combined with simple explanations provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades, died Tuesday morning, the league said. He was 85. The NFL said he died unexpectedly and did not detail a cause.