Sports

Columbia’s Olivia Kelly takes on Suwannee’s Hannah Humphries inside the penalty box during Friday night’s match. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Olivia Kelly takes on Suwannee’s Hannah Humphries inside the penalty box during Friday night’s match. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

GIRLS SOCCER: Kelly kicks Columbia past rival Suwannee

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, December 17, 2021
Olivia Kelly recorded her first hat trick of the year in Columbia’s first game of the season against Keystone Heights. She nearly had her second Friday night.
Columbia’s Wesley Wingate dribbles up the field as Santa Fe’s Ethan Barnes chases after him on Friday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia’s Wesley Wingate dribbles up the field as Santa Fe’s Ethan Barnes chases after him on Friday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

BOYS SOCCER: Columbia can’t finish in shutout loss to Santa Fe

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, December 17, 2021
If you watched the first 30-plus minutes of Friday’s match, you had to think Columbia would eventually walk away with a win. Shot after shot was finding the goal, only to be stopped by Santa Fe goalkeeper Radhesa Rico.
Suwannee’s Emily Gamble bench presses during the Bulldogs’ Power of Christmas invitational. Gamble placed ninth overall in the 169-pound class. (TJ VICKERS/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee’s Emily Gamble bench presses during the Bulldogs’ Power of Christmas invitational. Gamble placed ninth overall in the 169-pound class. (TJ VICKERS/Special to the Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Branford girls place fifth, Suwannee finishes eighth at Power of Christmas

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 17, 2021
LIVE OAK — There was no repeat Power of Christmas title for host Suwannee on Friday. Rather, the SHS girls weightlifting team placed eighth in its invitational that drew 20 teams to the SHS gymnasium.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jihad Ward (6) dances in front of teammates defensive tackles Doug Costin (58), Taven Bryan (93) and Jay Tufele (97) during practice on Thursday at TIAA Bank Field's practice field in Jacksonville. (COREY PERRINE/The Florida Times-Union/TNS)

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jihad Ward (6) dances in front of teammates defensive tackles Doug Costin (58), Taven Bryan (93) and Jay Tufele (97) during practice on Thursday at TIAA Bank Field's practice field in Jacksonville. (COREY PERRINE/The Florida Times-Union/TNS)

NFL: Jaguars turn attention to Texans without Meyer, aim to end skid

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 17, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jihad Ward was hooting, hollering and doing handstands during practice Thursday. He was feeling loose, maybe even relieved, following the firing of coach Urban Meyer.
Columbia's wrestling team took first place at the Tri-County Duals at Union County. (COURTESY)

Columbia's wrestling team took first place at the Tri-County Duals at Union County. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: CHS wins Tri-County Duals, SHS & FWHS win in boys soccer

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 17, 2021
Columbia won the Tri-County Duals at Union County on Thursday night despite having to forfeit the 106, 113, 145 and 160 weight classes. Carlee Morrison also stepped up and went 1-1, which head coach Pete Whittington said was the difference for the title.
FGC's Jeremiah Barze tries to get around a Johnson U. defender to shoot on Thursday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

FGC's Jeremiah Barze tries to get around a Johnson U. defender to shoot on Thursday night. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Johnson U.'s experience proves to be key in win over FGC

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Facing a four-year school is a challenge for any junior college. Thursday night’s matchup against Johnson University was no different for Florida Gateway College. Experience played a big factor, even when the Timberwolves led by double digits. Certainly when the Suns took the lead for good.
Jacksonville Jaguars interim head coach Darrell Bevell, an offensive coordinator under former coach Urban Meyer, leads practice on Thursday at TIAA Bank Field's practice field in Jacksonville. Bevell took over after Meyer was fired. (COREY PERRINE/Florida Times-Union via AP)

Jacksonville Jaguars interim head coach Darrell Bevell, an offensive coordinator under former coach Urban Meyer, leads practice on Thursday at TIAA Bank Field's practice field in Jacksonville. Bevell took over after Meyer was fired. (COREY PERRINE/Florida Times-Union via AP)

NFL: Jaguars move quickly to end many of Meyer's practice methods

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 16, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — The Jacksonville Jaguars moved quickly to rid themselves of some of Urban Meyer’s non-traditional methods Thursday. There was no longer a motivational team huddle on the practice field. There was no longer an emcee with a microphone barking out directions for drills.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer walks off the field after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 5 in Inglewood, Calif. Meyer's tumultuous NFL tenure ended after just 13 games — and two victories — when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him early Thursday because of an accumulation of missteps. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer walks off the field after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 5 in Inglewood, Calif. Meyer's tumultuous NFL tenure ended after just 13 games — and two victories — when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him early Thursday because of an accumulation of missteps. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

COMMENTARY: Meyer learns bullies run out of rope fast in NFL

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 16, 2021
There’s a dozen good reasons why college coaches rarely make a successful jump to the NFL. Leave it to Urban Meyer to trip over the dumbest one.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer stands on the field before a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 5 in Inglewood, Calif. Meyer's tumultuous NFL tenure ended after just 13 games — and two victories — when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him early Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 because of an accumulation of missteps. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer stands on the field before a game against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 5 in Inglewood, Calif. Meyer's tumultuous NFL tenure ended after just 13 games — and two victories — when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him early Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 because of an accumulation of missteps. (JAE C. HONG/Associated Press)

NFL: Jaguars fire Urban Meyer after 13 games, countless missteps

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 16, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — Urban Meyer never fit in the NFL. His mottos. His methods. Even his moods seemed to go against what's considered normal behavior in a league filled with professionals and grown men. He rubbed just about everyone the wrong way: assistants, players and eventually his bosses.