Sports

Fort White quarterback Tyler Jefferson scrambles for yardage against Taylor County on Oct. 2. (CHRISTINA FEAGIN/Special to the Reporter)

Fort White quarterback Tyler Jefferson scrambles for yardage against Taylor County on Oct. 2. (CHRISTINA FEAGIN/Special to the Reporter)

FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW: Down but not out, Fort White ready for Hamilton County in play-in

JORDAN KROEGER
Thursday, November 5, 2020
FORT WHITE — It’s been a tough season for Fort White. The Indians’ schedule has been anything but easy. They’ve been shut out three times against bigger schools like Carrollwood Day, Baldwin and P.K. Yonge, and lost two more games by double digits to Santa Fe and Newberry.
Suwannee quarterback Jaquez Moore hands the ball off the running back Malachi Graham against Ponte Vedra on Oct. 23. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

Suwannee quarterback Jaquez Moore hands the ball off the running back Malachi Graham against Ponte Vedra on Oct. 23. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Special to the Reporter)

FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW: Suwannee, Baker County meet in playoff prelude

JAMIE WACHTER
Thursday, November 5, 2020
LIVE OAK — When the Class 5A playoffs begin next week for Suwannee, the Bulldogs will have a pretty good idea of where they stand. Closing out the regular season, SHS visits Baker County today for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Memorial Stadium.
Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) runs past Missouri's Martez Manuel (3) and linebacker Nick Bolton, back left, this past Saturday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) runs past Missouri's Martez Manuel (3) and linebacker Nick Bolton, back left, this past Saturday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Play of Trask gives Florida hope vs. Georgia

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, November 5, 2020
JACKSONVILLE — Florida’s Kyle Trask has one of the most impressive streaks in school history going right now. The fifth-year senior has at least four touchdown passes in four straight games, a feat no other Gators quarterback has accomplished. Not even Tim Tebow, Rex Grossman or Danny Wuerffel.
Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (13) is tackled by a Miami player on Sept. 26 in Miami Gardens. (AL DIAZ/Miami Herald via AP)

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis (13) is tackled by a Miami player on Sept. 26 in Miami Gardens. (AL DIAZ/Miami Herald via AP)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Struggling Florida State, Pittsburgh look to get on track

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, November 5, 2020
TALLAHASSEE — Pittsburgh was expected to take a step forward and be one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top teams in 2020. Florida State was presumed to have a dominant defense and return to prominence in the league.
Missouri running back Larry Rountree III, right, is stopped by the Florida defense, including linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) and defensive back Brad Stewart Jr., back, this past Saturday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

Missouri running back Larry Rountree III, right, is stopped by the Florida defense, including linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) and defensive back Brad Stewart Jr., back, this past Saturday in Gainesville. (JOHN RAOUX/Associated Press)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Florida LB Cox gets shot at former team in 'Cocktail Party'

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, November 5, 2020
GAINESVILLE — There’s little doubt Brenton Cox has been waiting for this game. Counting down the days? Circled on the calendar? No one knows for sure because Cox turned down multiple interview requests this week in an attempt to avoid the spotlight.
Columbia forward Tanner Pierce is moving up top from defense this season to provide some additional offense to a squad returning nine starters. (FILE)

Columbia forward Tanner Pierce is moving up top from defense this season to provide some additional offense to a squad returning nine starters. (FILE)

BOYS SOCCER: Columbia counting on several returners, depth to make a run in a loaded district

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Seven ties and four losses by a single goal. So many matches could have gone Columbia’s way last season. Call it “a learning experience” for a team that finished 8-7-7. This year, the Tigers are hoping to change their fortune.
Columbia forward Isa Maranto will be counted on to score goals this season following the graduation of Kirsten Garner and Ember Russell-Martinez. (FILE)

Columbia forward Isa Maranto will be counted on to score goals this season following the graduation of Kirsten Garner and Ember Russell-Martinez. (FILE)

GIRLS SOCCER: Columbia turning to several freshmen to fill key roles left behind by 11 seniors

JORDAN KROEGER
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Kirsten Garner set a school record with 27 goals last year as a senior. Replacing her won’t be easy. Neither will Ember Russell-Martinez, who tallied 10 goals, or goalkeeper Emily Lamoreaux, who was a four-year starter in the net.
Former Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton throws a pass at the NFL football scouting combine on Feb. 27 in Indianapolis. The Jaguars (1-6) believe Luton will make a smooth transition into the starting lineup despite not playing in nearly a year. He missed out on preseason games and was the team’s third-string quarterback for the first seven games, inactive behind starter Gardner Minshew and backup Mike Glennon. (AP FILE PHOTO))

Former Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton throws a pass at the NFL football scouting combine on Feb. 27 in Indianapolis. The Jaguars (1-6) believe Luton will make a smooth transition into the starting lineup despite not playing in nearly a year. He missed out on preseason games and was the team’s third-string quarterback for the first seven games, inactive behind starter Gardner Minshew and backup Mike Glennon. (AP FILE PHOTO))

NFL: Jags rookie QB Luton armed and ready for debut vs. Texans

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
JACKSONVILLE — Sitting at home with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ playbook in hand and virtual meetings lined up regularly, rookie quarterback Jake Luton was looking for another way to practice. The former Oregon State standout turned to those closest to him for help.
Florida's head coach Mike White celebrates after defeating Xavier 70-65 in the finals of the Charleston Classic on Nov. 24, 2019, in Charleston, S.C. The Gators didn’t have much fun last year. White is eager for his Gators to run and press like never before. Florida is scheduled to open their season on Nov. 25 in Connecticut. (AP FILE PHOTO)

Florida's head coach Mike White celebrates after defeating Xavier 70-65 in the finals of the Charleston Classic on Nov. 24, 2019, in Charleston, S.C. The Gators didn’t have much fun last year. White is eager for his Gators to run and press like never before. Florida is scheduled to open their season on Nov. 25 in Connecticut. (AP FILE PHOTO)

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Tortoise to hare? Florida plans to play considerably faster

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Mike White won’t come right out and say it. He hints at it. He talks around it. He subtly divulges one of the reasons his team was among the biggest disappointments in college basketball last season. The Gators were simply too slow. Not methodical or patient, either.