Sports

Fort White running back John’l Lawson tries to break free from a Union County defender during last Friday’s 33-0 win. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White running back John’l Lawson tries to break free from a Union County defender during last Friday’s 33-0 win. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White, Santa Fe set to renew Battle for the Paddle

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
FORT WHITE — While the team in front of them may have changed, the Indians are hoping the same formula can sustain the same results.Fort White welcomes in rival Santa Fe to Arrowhead Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff Friday.
Suwannee quarterback Haigen Johnson tries to escape pressure from the Palatka defense last Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee quarterback Haigen Johnson tries to escape pressure from the Palatka defense last Friday. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee focused on improvement, not history vs. Hamilton County

JAMIE WACHTER
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
LIVE OAK — Kyler Hall was there the last time Suwannee lost to Hamilton County.Hall, Suwannee’s head coach the past 11 years, was in eighth grade when the Bulldogs traveled to Jimmy Williams Memorial Stadium in Jasper and left with a 27-6 loss on Oct. 4, 1996.He doesn’t plan on his Bulldogs letting...
Columbia libero Kinslee Hall hits the floor hard as she dives for a dig against Lafayette on Sept. 3. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia libero Kinslee Hall hits the floor hard as she dives for a dig against Lafayette on Sept. 3. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 9/15/26

NEWS STAFF
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Columbia's volleyball team came up empty in a tri-match Tuesday night, while Branford and Fort White came away with sweeps.Here are the scores and stats from Sept. 15.VOLLEYBALL— Camden County 2, Columbia 0; Lowndes 2, Columbia 0: The Tigers dropped both matches in a tri-match at Lowndes, falling...
Columbia defensive end Mikel Morgan (34) celebrates after scoring a touchdown off a blocked punt by defensive end Jae’quan Wilson during Friday’s 49-0 win over Ribault. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

Columbia defensive end Mikel Morgan (34) celebrates after scoring a touchdown off a blocked punt by defensive end Jae’quan Wilson during Friday’s 49-0 win over Ribault. (GARY LLOYD MCCULLOUGH/Special to the Reporter)

FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Columbia’s special teams continue to be special

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Columbia’s special teams have been every bit special so far this season, and it was display again in Friday night’s 49-0 win over Ribault.The Tigers blocked their first two punts of the year, one of which led to a touchdown when defensive end Jae’quan Wilson broke through late in the first half for...
Branford's bench celebrates a point against Suwannee on Aug. 18. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Branford's bench celebrates a point against Suwannee on Aug. 18. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 9/14/26

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 14, 2026
Branford's volleyball team extended its winning streak further Monday night and Fort White won its third in a row, while the Columbia, Suwannee and Branford golf teams were in action earlier in the day.Here are the scores and stats from Sept. 14.VOLLEYBALL— Branford 3, Trenton 0: Anabella Dicks...
The Columbia boys cross country team won the Tiger Open on Saturday, led by Timothy Todd's first-place finish. (COURTESY)

The Columbia boys cross country team won the Tiger Open on Saturday, led by Timothy Todd's first-place finish. (COURTESY)

PREP ROUNDUP: Columbia boys win Tiger Open, Haley wins Bobcat Classic

NEWS STAFF
Monday, September 14, 2026
Columbia hosted its first cross country meet in over 20 years on Saturday and went home victorious.Timothy Todd won the boys race at the Tiger Open with a time of 18:20.4 to help CHS finish with 37 points and edge Ridgeview (42) for the title in the four-team meet that also featured Baker County...
Suwannee linebacker Marco Rojas forces a fumble on a sack of Palatka quarterback Noah McKinley on Friday night. Rojas had 3.5 sacks in the game. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee linebacker Marco Rojas forces a fumble on a sack of Palatka quarterback Noah McKinley on Friday night. Rojas had 3.5 sacks in the game. (PAUL BUCHANAN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee shuts down Palatka after early blow

JAMIE WACHTER
Saturday, September 12, 2026
LIVE OAK — Suwannee took Palatka’s best shot early Friday night.After that opening touchdown drive, though, the Bulldogs delivered all the blows, shutting down the Panthers the rest of the way in a 20-6 win at Langford Stadium.Palatka drove 80 yards on 11 plays to open the game, using four minutes...
Chiefland linebacker Andrew Thisse stops Lafayette running back Trevor Byrd short of the goal line on the Hornet’s two-point conversion attempt in overtime. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

Chiefland linebacker Andrew Thisse stops Lafayette running back Trevor Byrd short of the goal line on the Hornet’s two-point conversion attempt in overtime. (JACK HOWDESHELL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP ROUNDUP: Lafayette falls in OT, Branford rolls

NEWS STAFF
Saturday, September 12, 2026
CHIEFLAND — After missed opportunities forced Lafayette into overtime at Chiefland, the Hornets thought they had a shot at getting to a second extra period.But after senior running back Trevor Byrd scored standing up to answer the Indians’ overtime score, Byrd couldn’t get back into the end zone...