Sports

Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins gathers a snap in the rain during the Tigers’ contest against St. Augustine on Sept. 25. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins gathers a snap in the rain during the Tigers’ contest against St. Augustine on Sept. 25. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Making the case for surprise playoff runs in the area

JORDAN KROEGER
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
After a long wait, the playoffs are finally here. And while all five teams in the area were fortunate enough to qualify for regionals, the path ahead for each of them is rugged. Those paths could also be quite short.
Fort White head coach Michelle Padgett (far left) and assistant coach Chad Padgett (far right) officially resigned from their positions Tuesday after 12 seasons as the helm. (FILE)

Fort White head coach Michelle Padgett (far left) and assistant coach Chad Padgett (far right) officially resigned from their positions Tuesday after 12 seasons as the helm. (FILE)

PREP SOFTBALL: The Padgetts step down at Fort White

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
FORT WHITE — Fort White will be searching for a pair of coaches a few months ahead of the start of the regular season. Head coach Michele Padgett, along with her husband, assistant coach Chad Padgett, submitted their resignations effective Tuesday.
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.

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 11/9/24

NEWS STAFF
Sunday, November 10, 2024
BOYS SOCCER — South Walton 4, Suwannee 1: Goalkeeper Ryan Williams made eight saves but allowed four goals as the Bulldogs (0-1) dropped their season opener to the Seahawks (2-0-1) on the road. Denzel Yaxon scored the lone goal for SHS.
Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins scrambles up the field against North Miami Beach on Nov. 1. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

Columbia quarterback Xavier Collins scrambles up the field against North Miami Beach on Nov. 1. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Columbia makes playoffs for 14th straight season, will travel to top-seed St. Augustine

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, November 8, 2024
Anxiousness has turned to jubilation for Columbia. The Tigers are back in the playoffs for a 14th straight season. Columbia received the final spot in the Region 1-4A field when the FHSAA brackets were released Friday night.
Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson (8) scrambles up the field alongside running back Lecosta Byrd (0) against Fleming Island on Nov. 1. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Fort White quarterback Jayden Jackson (8) scrambles up the field alongside running back Lecosta Byrd (0) against Fleming Island on Nov. 1. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Fort White, Lafayette & Branford make Rural playoffs

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, November 8, 2024
The Class Rural playoff field had some shakeups in the FHSAA’s bracket reveal Friday night. One of the biggest stories of the night came at the expense of Fort White (4-6, 3.678 rating), which dipped all the way down to the 12 seed after previously being ranked as high as ninth.
Suwannee receiver MJ Rossin evades a Wakulla defender on his way to the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter of Thursday’s game. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

Suwannee receiver MJ Rossin evades a Wakulla defender on his way to the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter of Thursday’s game. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)

PREP FOOTBALL: Suwannee drops close one to Wakulla, still makes playoffs

MORGAN MCMULLEN
Friday, November 8, 2024
CRAWFORDVILLE — Suwannee had its chances. Up a touchdown early in the first quarter, the Bulldogs hit on a bomb from Thomas Sikes to Koy Frier for an 80-yard gain down to the Wakulla 3-yard line.
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.

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 11/8/24

NEWS STAFF
Friday, November 8, 2024
BOYS SOCCER — Columbia 1, P.K. Yonge 1: Nathan Matsubara scored a goal on an assist from Braxton Dicks while goalkeeper Logan Wheeldon made four saves to help the Tigers (0-1-1) tie the Blue Wave (1-0-1) at CYSA.
The Suwannee cross country teams qualified for state after the girls finished sixth and the boys placed seventh at the Region 1-2A meet on Friday. (COURTESY)

The Suwannee cross country teams qualified for state after the girls finished sixth and the boys placed seventh at the Region 1-2A meet on Friday. (COURTESY)

PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Suwannee girls & boys qualify for state

JORDAN KROEGER
Friday, November 8, 2024
The Suwannee girls cross country team is headed to state for the first time. The boys will join them too. The SHS girls placed sixth at the Region 1-2A meet at Cecil Field Golf Course on Friday to qualify for the state meet as a team for the first time in program history.
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.

PREP ROUNDUP: Scores and stats from 11/7/24

NEWS STAFF
Thursday, November 7, 2024
GIRLS SOCCER — Columbia 6, Fort White 0: Niki Sossie, Paola Ortiz and Marlee Hunt each scored two goals to lead the Tigers (2-0) to a shutout over the Indians (0-2) at CYSA. Sossie also had three assists and Ortiz had another, while goalkeeper Sadie Sparks made three saves.