Sports

After his arrival in Jacksonville on April 30, Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Trevor Lawrence, center, and running back Travis Etienne appear with team owner Shad Khan, left, head coach Urban Meyer and Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke at an introductory press conference at TIAA Bank Field. (BOB SELF/Florida Times-Union/TNS)

After his arrival in Jacksonville on April 30, Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Trevor Lawrence, center, and running back Travis Etienne appear with team owner Shad Khan, left, head coach Urban Meyer and Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke at an introductory press conference at TIAA Bank Field. (BOB SELF/Florida Times-Union/TNS)

NFL: Brady-Prescott kicks off season, Jaguars open at Houston

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
The NFL is returning to London in October and Tom Brady begins his pursuit of an eighth Super Bowl title against Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys when Tampa Bay hosts the league’s annual kickoff game on Sept. 9. The first game in London since the coronavirus pandemic will be played on Oct.
Branford's softball team celebrates winning the Region 3-1A championship after defeating Taylor County 14-3 in five innings on Tuesday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford's softball team celebrates winning the Region 3-1A championship after defeating Taylor County 14-3 in five innings on Tuesday night. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford routs Taylor County to advance to 1A Final Four

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
BRANFORD — Cera McElreath’s emotions were sky high. Oscar Saavedra called it a dream. Branford keeps making history, this time with a trip to the state Final Four. Less than a week after winning the first playoff game in program history, the Class 1A No. 5 Buccaneers routed No.
Former Clemson teammates and now Jaguars teammates running back Travis Etienne, left, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence pose with their new teal jerseys prior to an introductory press conference on April 30 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. (BOB SELF/TNS)

Former Clemson teammates and now Jaguars teammates running back Travis Etienne, left, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence pose with their new teal jerseys prior to an introductory press conference on April 30 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. (BOB SELF/TNS)

NFL: Lawrence & Etienne are just a couple of college teammates getting back together in the pros

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — Trevor Lawrence was fielding calls, posing for pictures and still hugging everyone in sight when he realized the Jacksonville Jaguars were about to be back on the clock during the first round of the NFL draft. The No.
Suwannee track & field athlete Garrison Beach is pictured with his three medals from the Class 2A state meet on Saturday after placing fifth in the javelin, sixth in the 300 hurdles and eighth in the 110 hurdles. (COURTESY)

Suwannee track & field athlete Garrison Beach is pictured with his three medals from the Class 2A state meet on Saturday after placing fifth in the javelin, sixth in the 300 hurdles and eighth in the 110 hurdles. (COURTESY)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Suwannee's Beach medals in 3 events at Class 2A state meet

JAMIE WACHTER
Monday, May 10, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — With a goal of three medals, it wasn’t a very good start to the Class 2A state meet. On his first throw of the javelin Saturday morning at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium, Suwannee junior Garrison Beach only recorded a toss of 43.
The Suwannee Spirit Crush team is pictured: Carlie Moon (top row, from left), Sophie Jackson, Katie Otterbine, Brianna King and Halleigh Ray Harris; Lindsay Self (bottom row, from left)) Emily Mrvica, Brooklynn Howard, Mackenzie Thomas and Zamaria Granado. (COURTESY)

The Suwannee Spirit Crush team is pictured: Carlie Moon (top row, from left), Sophie Jackson, Katie Otterbine, Brianna King and Halleigh Ray Harris; Lindsay Self (bottom row, from left)) Emily Mrvica, Brooklynn Howard, Mackenzie Thomas and Zamaria Granado. (COURTESY)

CHEERLEADING: Suwannee Spirit's Crush qualifies for national championship at Disney World

NEWS STAFF
Monday, May 10, 2021
Suwannee Spirit’s all-star cheerleading team “Crush” will soon face off against nine other senior level 4.2 teams from around the nation at the D2 Summit National Championship held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.
Branford’s softball team celebrates after defeating Hilliard 6-1 in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. It was the first playoff win in program history. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford’s softball team celebrates after defeating Hilliard 6-1 in the Region 3-1A semifinals on Thursday. It was the first playoff win in program history. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Branford & Taylor County meet for fourth time in Region 3-1A final

JORDAN KROEGER
Monday, May 10, 2021
BRANFORD — Taylor County looked like the better team in the regular season, sweeping two games against Branford. But the Buccaneers won when it mattered most two weeks ago. They played their best game of the season in a 9-0 shutout to beat the Bulldogs for the District 6-1A title.
Columbia sprinter James Williamson is pictured with his two medals after placing third in the 100m and fourth in the 200m at the Class 3A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. (COURTESY)

Columbia sprinter James Williamson is pictured with his two medals after placing third in the 100m and fourth in the 200m at the Class 3A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. (COURTESY)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: Williamson DQ'd in 200 after placing fourth, following a third-place finish in 100 at 3A state meet

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, May 7, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — James Williamson capped off his high school career with some hardware and broke his two school records in the process. All on a sore hamstring too. Or so he thought.
Branford’s coaches and athletes at the Class 1A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. Pictured are boys coach Tim Clark (from left), Justin Hernandez, Evan Dowdy, Bruce Criggall, Seth Humphries, Zamaria Granado, Nathalia Veal and girls coach Erin Clark. (COURTESY)

Branford’s coaches and athletes at the Class 1A state meet on Friday at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. Pictured are boys coach Tim Clark (from left), Justin Hernandez, Evan Dowdy, Bruce Criggall, Seth Humphries, Zamaria Granado, Nathalia Veal and girls coach Erin Clark. (COURTESY)

PREP TRACK & FIELD: 3 Bucs take home five medals at 1A state meet

JAMIE WACHTER
Friday, May 7, 2021
JACKSONVILLE — Since qualifying for the Class 1A state meet, Branford junior Seth Humphries and Michelle Richards, the Buccaneers’ distance coach, focused on one area for improvement: strategy.
Branford third baseman Madyson Sikes strolls into home plate and celebrates with her teammates after hitting one of her two home runs against Hilliard during Thursday’s Region 3-1A semifinal. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Branford third baseman Madyson Sikes strolls into home plate and celebrates with her teammates after hitting one of her two home runs against Hilliard during Thursday’s Region 3-1A semifinal. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

PREP SOFTBALL: Sikes homers twice as Branford beats Hilliard for program’s first playoff win

MIKE JONES
Thursday, May 6, 2021
BRANFORD — Branford made history Thursday night. A pair of home runs from Madyson Sikes and an 11-strikeout performance from pitcher Laila Arnold led the Class 1A No. 5 Buccaneers past Hilliard 6-1 in Thursday’s Region 3-1A semifinal and to the first playoff win in program history.