Sports

Suwannee runner Olivia Hermanson competes at the Alligator Lake Invitational on Saturday. (COURTESY)

PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Suwannee leads area at Alligator Lake Invitational

NEWS STAFF

Monday, October 6, 2025

Suwannee sophomore Logan Haley led the area at the 17th Annual Alligator Lake Invitational on Saturday, placing fifth with a time of 16:46.5 that was fewer than 20 seconds behind winner Jack Kline from Cornerstone Classical Academy.

$Columbia running back Jerome Horne sits on the sideline Friday night with crutches after fracturing his ankle in practice Wednesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)$

Columbia running back Jerome Horne sits on the sideline Friday night with crutches after fracturing his ankle in practice Wednesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia RB Jerome Horne out for season with ankle fracture

JORDAN KROEGER

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Columbia won Friday night’s game, but the team suffered a huge loss earlier this week in practice. Starting running back Jerome Horne fractured his ankle during Wednesday’s workout and is out for the rest of the season.

Columbia cornerback Tacori Allen picked off two Manatee passes Friday night, returning one for a touchdown at Tiger Stadium. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia bounces back with shutout win over Manatee

JORDAN KROEGER

Saturday, October 4, 2025

There was no hangover from last week. Just a statement win. Xavier Collins threw two early touchdowns while the defense scored twice in the fourth quarter to polish off a 35-0 victory for Class 4A No. 9 Columbia against Class 5A No. 8 Manatee on Friday night at Tiger Stadium.

Lafayette quarterback Tywan Williamson reacts after scoring the Hornets’ first touchdown against Fort White on Friday night. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Lafayette capitalizes on Fort White miscues

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Saturday, October 4, 2025

MAYO — It looked like more of the same for Lafayette. Fort White had taken its opening drive 98 yards in eight minutes for a 6-0 lead, a spot the Hornets had been used to over the last three years. But fate had different plans in mind for Lafayette.

Branford Buccaneers

PREP FOOTBALL: Balanced Branford hammers Interlachen

JAMIE WACHTER

Saturday, October 4, 2025

INTERLACHEN — It wasn’t quite a perfect night for Branford’s offense. But the Buccaneers weren’t far off at Interlachen on Friday night. In nine drives, the Bucs put up eight touchdowns and 535 yards in a 56-20 rout of the host Interlachen Rams at Doug Feltner Field.

Lafayette hitter Brooke Lamb fires a shot against Columbia on Sept. 29. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Lafayette, Branford win via sweeps again

NEWS STAFF

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Brooke Lamb delivered 14 kills and Sophia Kendrick had 13 to lead Class Rural No. 4 Lafayette to a 25-17, 25-16, 25-19 sweep of Bell at home Thursday night in District 6-R action.

Columbia defensive end Kyten Davis lines up for a snap against St. Augustine last Friday. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia faces another top-10 test against Manatee

JORDAN KROEGER

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

One top-10 matchup follows another. Columbia is hoping the next one goes a lot better than the first. Class 5A No. 8 Manatee will make the three-hour bus ride north to Lake City to face the Class 4A No. 9 Tigers on Friday night at 7:30.

Fort White receiver Jayden Jackson returns a punt for a touchdown against Lafayette last season. (FILE)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White, Lafayette meet again in Rural showdown

MORGAN MCMULLEN

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

MAYO — Both coaches should be quite familiar with each other — and their playmakers — by now. Fort White’s Demetric Jackson and Lafayette’s Marcus Edwards have met one another each of the last two seasons. Jackson has had the upper hand so far, coming away with wins of 35-0 and 32-21.

Columbia honored seniors Bella Lester, Sinei Wood, Zion Wallace, Jenavieve Farer, Ava Christie and Chloe Nickelson for Senior Night during Wednesday's match against Baker County. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia sweeps Baker County on Senior Night

NEWS STAFF

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Sinei Wood delivered 24 kills to go with three aces and 15 digs to lead Columbia to a 25-15, 25-22, 25-15 sweep of Baker County during Senior Night on Wednesday. Brynn Lester assisted 36 kills and added three aces for the Tigers (10-11) while Zion Wallace had 11 digs.

Lafayette's volleyball team celebrates after scoring a point against Columbia on Monday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Lafayette sweeps Dixie County

NEWS STAFF

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Brooke Lamb delivered 13 kills and three aces while Sophia Kendrick and Emma Soride each had 10 kills to lead Class Rural No. 4 Lafayette to a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-13, 25-18) over Dixie County on the road Tuesday night.