Sports

Columbia receiver Kyren Caldwell hauls in a pass against St. Augustine on Friday. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia receiver Kyren Caldwell hauls in a pass against St. Augustine on Friday. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

ANALYSIS: Despite loss to St. Augustine, Columbia still in great shape to make playoffs

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
It’s not easy being out of the district race after one game. And while Columbia technically isn’t after Friday’s 41-21 loss to St. Augustine, it’s all but a formality with four games to go. Let’s be honest, Friday’s contest was the defacto District 3-4A championship.
Suwannee linebacker Travis Fead grabs Wakulla running back Jeremiah Washington’s jersey as he tries to make a tackle on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee linebacker Travis Fead grabs Wakulla running back Jeremiah Washington’s jersey as he tries to make a tackle on Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

ANALYSIS: Suwannee’s ‘D’ not providing much defense

JAMIE WACHTER
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
LIVE OAK — It’s hard to make much of a defense for Suwannee’s defense through six games. After a 30-23 setback Friday to Wakulla that eliminated any hopes the Bulldogs had of winning a District 2-3A title, Suwannee’s defense continues to not find ways to slow down opposing offenses.
Lafayette hitter Brooke Lamb fires a shot as Columbia hitters Chloe Nickelson (19) and Ava Christie (17) on Monday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Lafayette hitter Brooke Lamb fires a shot as Columbia hitters Chloe Nickelson (19) and Ava Christie (17) on Monday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Lafayette sweeps Columbia

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 29, 2025
Class Rural No. 4 Lafayette swept Columbia in Mayo on Monday, its fifth win in its last six matches. The Hornets improved to 11-3 while the Tigers fell to 9-11. VOLLEYBALL — Branford 3, Aucilla Christian 0: The Class Rural No. 1 Buccaneers (14-3) swept the No.
The Lake City Reporter provides coverage for Columbia, Fort White, Suwannee, Branford and Lafayette high schools.

The Lake City Reporter provides coverage for Columbia, Fort White, Suwannee, Branford and Lafayette high schools.

SCOREBOARD: High school scores for Sept. 22-27

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Friday, Sept. 26 & Saturday Sept. 27 BOYS GOLF Wolverines vs. the World at Orange Lake Resort & Country Club (Par 72 first round, Par 71 second round) — Top 12 team scores (out of 28): 1. Ponte Vedra 567, 2. First Academy 577, 3. Notre Dame Prep 580, 4. Circle Christian 586, 5.
Columbia linebacker Kameron Mills gets tripped up by St. Augustine’s Marquell Elmore on a kickoff return Friday night. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia linebacker Kameron Mills gets tripped up by St. Augustine’s Marquell Elmore on a kickoff return Friday night. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: CHS struggles to slow Wingo, score in red zone as St. Augustine takes control of district

JORDAN KROEGER
Saturday, September 27, 2025
ST. AUGUSTINE — Friday’s story was written with red zone efficiency and Somourian Wingo. Columbia failed to score four times inside St. Augustine’s 20-yard, while the defense had no answer for the receiver committed to Miami.
Suwannee quarterback Thomas Sikes stiff-arms Wakulla’s Rayshon St. Hilaire on a run Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee quarterback Thomas Sikes stiff-arms Wakulla’s Rayshon St. Hilaire on a run Friday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee falls one play short against Wakulla

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 27, 2025
LIVE OAK — Faced with another one-score game, Suwannee High again came up one or two plays short. The Bulldogs turned the ball over three times, including on their final two drives, and gave up a 51-yard pass early in the fourth while holding on to a lead.
Branford running back TC Smith makes a leaping one-handed grab on fourth down against Hilliard on Friday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Branford running back TC Smith makes a leaping one-handed grab on fourth down against Hilliard on Friday. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Branford contains Alderman, Hilliard in homecoming rout

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Saturday, September 27, 2025
BRANFORD — Homecoming night brought no distractions to Cleve Sikes Field. Instead, the Buccaneers got the party started early and continued celebrating well into the night. Branford found the end zone on four of its first five drives Friday night on its way to routing Hilliard 37-13.
Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins throws a pass against Trinity Christian last Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins throws a pass against Trinity Christian last Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia and St. Augustine face off in top-5 showdown for control of district

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Friday night’s matchup between Columbia and St. Augustine has all the makings of a classic. It’s a top-five showdown between undefeated teams for control of the District 3-4A race, as well as an inside track for a home playoff berth. The Class 4A No. 5 Tigers (5-0) travel to face the No.
Drew Simmons (32) watches practice alongside Columbia coach Brian Allen (left) on Tuesday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

Drew Simmons (32) watches practice alongside Columbia coach Brian Allen (left) on Tuesday. (JORDAN KROEGER/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: RB Drew Simmons transfers from Union County to Columbia

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
An already talented roster added another talented piece this week. Running back Drew Simmons has transferred from Union County to Columbia, making the move after playing in all four of Union’s games this season.