Sports

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (84) makes the catch ahead of Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) on Saturday in Atlanta. (BRYNN ANDERSON/Associated Press)

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts (84) makes the catch ahead of Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) on Saturday in Atlanta. (BRYNN ANDERSON/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Kyle Pitts turns pro less than 12 hours after SEC title game

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 20, 2020
GAINESVILLE — Florida standout Kyle Pitts, the team's best player and the top tight end in the country, is turning pro and skipping a potential bowl game. Pitts made his announcement on social media Sunday, less than 12 hours after the 11th-ranked Gators lost to No.
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against Alabama during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship on Saturday in Atlanta. (BRYNN ANDERSON/Associated Press)

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against Alabama during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship on Saturday in Atlanta. (BRYNN ANDERSON/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Trask says Florida just ran out of time in comeback against Tide

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 20, 2020
ATLANTA — Hearing the officials confirm time had run out on the Florida Gators was too much for Kyle Trask to take. Trask fell to one knee after the No. 7 Gators' comeback fell short in a 52-46 loss to No.1 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Saturday night.
Florida linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (11) hits Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship on Saturday in Atlanta. (JOHN BAZEMORE/Associated Press)

Florida linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (11) hits Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship on Saturday in Atlanta. (JOHN BAZEMORE/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Harris scores 5 TDs, No. 1 Bama escapes No. 7 Florida to win SEC championship

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sunday, December 20, 2020
ATLANTA — In a season of blowouts, Alabama finally got tested. Against a team that just wouldn't quit, the Crimson Tide required every last point.  Nick Saban needed his offensive stars to shine as bright as they have all season. Boy, did they ever.
Suwannee’s Samantha Barber pumps herself up during a lift Friday at the Power of Christmas Invitational at SHS. Barber finished fourth in the unlimited division. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee’s Samantha Barber pumps herself up during a lift Friday at the Power of Christmas Invitational at SHS. Barber finished fourth in the unlimited division. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee wins Power of Christmas title; Chasteen takes first for Columbia

NEWS STAFF
Friday, December 18, 2020
LIVE OAK — The program’s first invitational title was so nice, the Suwannee girls weightlifting team decided to add another. One week after grabbing that initial title, the Bulldogs captured their own Power of Christmas Invitational on Friday, easily outdistancing second-place Clay.
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles away from pressure Monday night against Cleveland. (JOHN KUNTZ/cleveland.com/TNS)

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambles away from pressure Monday night against Cleveland. (JOHN KUNTZ/cleveland.com/TNS)

NFL: Ravens can’t afford letdown against Jaguars

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 18, 2020
The Baltimore Ravens left Cleveland on Monday night riding a wave of emotion following a thrilling victory that greatly enhanced their playoff hopes.
Florida forward Keyontae Johnson (11) looks on during a game against Marshall on Nov. 29, 2019, in Gainesville. Johnson, the Southeastern Conference's preseason player of the year, collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday. He was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation. (AP FILE PHOTO)

Florida forward Keyontae Johnson (11) looks on during a game against Marshall on Nov. 29, 2019, in Gainesville. Johnson, the Southeastern Conference's preseason player of the year, collapsed coming out of a timeout against rival Florida State and needed emergency medical attention Saturday. He was taken off the floor on a stretcher and rushed to Tallahassee Memorial for evaluation. (AP FILE PHOTO)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Florida's Johnson releases video message after collapse

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Friday, December 18, 2020
GAINESVILLE — Florida forward Keyontae Johnson thanked everyone for their support in a video message Friday, his first public appearance since collapsing on the court at Florida State nearly a week ago.
Suwannee’s Tyra Kalandyk lifts during the clean and jerk portion of a meet last season at Suwannee High School. SHS hosts its annual Power of Christmas event today. (PAUL BUCHANAN FILE/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee’s Tyra Kalandyk lifts during the clean and jerk portion of a meet last season at Suwannee High School. SHS hosts its annual Power of Christmas event today. (PAUL BUCHANAN FILE/Special to the Reporter)

GIRLS WEIGHTLIFTING: Suwannee’s Power of Christmas meet smaller, but still competitive

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, December 17, 2020
LIVE OAK — Not even the Power of Christmas can avoid the reach of covid-19. The Suwannee girls weightlifting program’s annual holiday meet will have a smaller feel to it when it lifts off at 4 p.m. today at the SHS gymnasium.
Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith catches a touchdown against Ole Miss on Sept. 28, 2019. (MICKEY WELSH/TNS)

Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith catches a touchdown against Ole Miss on Sept. 28, 2019. (MICKEY WELSH/TNS)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Alabama heavily favored against UF

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, December 17, 2020
ATLANTA — Alabama’s slump lasted all of one season. After failing to reach either the Southeastern Conference championship game or the College Football Playoff a year ago — what qualifies as a subpar season in Tuscaloosa — the Crimson Tide is back on track to claim another national title.