Florida Sports Wire

 JACKSONVILLE – A late Brian Navarreto blast helped the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp secure a Thursday win against the Rochester Red Wings, 4-3, from VyStar Ballpark. Locked in a 2-2 tie in the seventh, Navarreto (5) smashed a go-ahead solo home run, giving Jacksonville (76-52, 29-24) a 3-2 lead. Nathan Martorella doubled in the ensuing at bat. Jack Winkler reached first on a fielder’s choice, advancing Martorella to third. With two runners on, Shane Sasaki cracked a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 4-2. Rochester (50-76, 23-31) rallied in the ninth. With two outs, Fransico Mejia singled. Following a mound visit, Nasim Nuñez laced an RBI double, making it 4-3. The Jumbo Shrimp opened the scoring in the home half of the first. With one out, Jacob Berry smacked a double. Two batters later, Deyvison De Los Santos blooped an RBI single, giving Jacksonville a 1-0 lead. The Red Wings answered in the top of the second. Andrew Pinckney worked a leadoff walk. With a runner on first, Trey L...

 TAMPA – South Florida football (1-0, American) was “Back in Black” and back with quarterback Byrum Brown making plays under center Thursday in Raymond James Stadium as a national-television audience on ESPN watched the Bulls roll past No. 25 Boise State (0-1; MWC), 34-7. The Bulls rode a strong defense, aggressive play calling and the legs of Byrum Brown to their first victory over a Top 25-ranked opponent since downing No. 22 Navy in 2016. The 27-point margin of victory was the second highest in program history over a ranked opponent behind only a 45-14 win over No. 9 Louisville in 2005.  The USF defense caused three big turnovers – all fumbles – and held the Broncos in check, allowing just one touchdown, well below the Broncos 37.7 points per game scoring average last season.  It was Boise State’s lowest scoring opener since 2013 and their first time scoring less than 10 points since 2019. The Bulls were led by a career-high 14 tackle effort from Jhalyn Shuler, who als...

 JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed DL Matt Dickerson and WR Erik Ezukanma to the practice squad, the team announced today. Dickerson has appeared in 40 regular season games with the Tennessee Titans (2018-20), Atlanta Falcons (2022), Kansas City Chiefs (2023) and Miami Dolphins (2024). He has totaled 42 tackles (three for loss) and three quarterback hits in his career.  Dickerson has also played five postseason games (one start) with the Titans (2019-20) and Chiefs (2023) and recorded two tackles and 1.0 sack. The San Mateo, Calif., native played collegiately at UCLA where he appeared in 44 games and recorded 94 tackles (seven for loss), four passes defensed and 1.5 sacks. Ezukanma has played in five games with the Dolphins after being selected by Miami in the fourth round (125th overall) of the 2022 draft. His career totals include five rushes for 22 yards as well as a three-yard reception. Ezukanma appeared in 35 games in four seasons (2018-21) at Texas Tec...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fought tooth and nail in a back-and-forth affair against the Rochester Red Wings, but ultimately fell 6-5, Wednesday evening at VyStar Ballpark. Trailing 6-5 in the top of the ninth, Rochester (50-75, 23-30) took the lead. Jackson Cluff singled on a sharp line drive. After a pop out, Francisco Mejía was intentionally walked. Darren Baker walked the following at bat to load the bases. After a force out, Christian Franklin smacked a two-run single, making it 6-5. The Red Wings opened the scoring in the top of the first. Christian Franklin led off with a single, and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice. Yohandy Morales lined an RBI double, giving Rochester a 1-0 lead.   Rochester kept their momentum going in the second. With one out, Mejia (4) went deep to right for a solo homer, making it 2-0. Jacksonville (75-52, 28-24) broke through in the bottom of the second. Victor Mesa Jr. (6) cracked a solo home run, cutting the defic...

 JACKSONVILLE – Former Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp catcher Will Banfield made his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday at Chase Field. Banfield is the second former Jumbo Shrimp player this week to make his major league debut following Maximo Acosta’s debut for the Marlins on Tuesday, August 19. Banfield entered the game as a defensive replacement for outfielder TJ Friedl. He took over the catching duties after Jose Trevino was replaced by Will Benson and Benson moved to the outfield. He caught the final two innings and recorded three putouts. Banfield played six seasons in the Marlins organization before being signed as a minor league free agent by the Cincinnati Reds on November 22, 2024. He played in 73 games with Triple-A Louisville before his major league debut, Saturday. Originally drafted by the Marlins in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft out of Brookwood High School, he spent his first professional season in 2018 with both the GCL Marlins (former rookie...

Ryan Blaney’s celebration after winning the Coke Zero 400 Saturday night at the Daytona International Speedway started with a celebratory slide through the infield grass, followed by the trophy presentation in Victory Lane. (Photos by Chris Gray/Getty Images for NASCAR)   DAYTONA BEACH – Alex Bowman seemingly rode shotgun with Ryan Blaney during a turbulent final two laps of the Coke Zero 400 Saturday night. The front of the field was filled with drivers who were primed to knock Bowman out of the NASCAR playoffs. Blaney was mired back in 13 th place with two laps remaining when his improbable charge to the front started. Even more impressive, it came without a wreck. Blaney decided to create a third lane of traffic against the outside wall and Cole Custer chose to go with him. They quickly moved closer to the front, then Custer got cut off. Blaney then got a push from Daniel Suarez, and that was enough to get him to the finish line. Suarez wound up second, followed by Justin Ha...

 ORLANDO — Orlando Pride (8-5-4, 28 points) forward Barbra Banda has been placed on the Season Ending Injury list after suffering a full thickness avulsion of her right adductor longus tendon, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Club announced today. Banda will work with the Pride’s medical team and partners at Orlando Health to put together a recovery and rehabilitation program.   "We are devastated to announce Barbra Banda has been placed on the Season Ending Injury list following the soft-tissue injury she sustained during our recent match against Kansas City Current,” said Haley Carter, Orlando Pride VP of Soccer Operations and Sporting Director. “Barbra has been instrumental to our success and losing a player of her caliber is heartbreaking for the entire organization. We are committed to providing her with the highest level of care and support throughout her recovery. Her contributions to this team both on and off the field have been immeasurable, and we know ...

 WORCESTER, Mass. – Deyvison De Los Santos reached base four times and Joe Mack homered on Saturday, but the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s comeback effort came up short in a 6-5 loss to the Worcester Red Sox from Polar Park. The Red Sox (63-61, 22-28) jumped on Jumbo Shrimp (75-49, 28-21) starter Morgan McSweeney (3-1) early on. Mikey Romero singled and Trayce Thompson walked with two outs in the firth. Nathan Hickey followed with an RBI single to put Worcester in front 1-0. Seby Zavala started the second with a walk before Chadwick Tromp singled. Thanks to a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, there were runners on second and third with two outs. An infield single for Kristian Campbell coupled with an error brought in both runners to widen the gap to 3-0. Thompson began the third with a single. Three batters later, Zavala went deep to put Worcester at a 5-0 advantage. Jacksonville broke through in the sixth. De Los Santos was hit by a pitch from WooSox starter Tyler Uberstine (3-3) an...

Parker Klingerman celebrated his unexpected victory in the Wawa 250 for the NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Daytona International Speedway with a thrilling burnout after the race. He stepped in to drive Connor Zilisch's Chevrolet after Zilisch was sidelined just 13 laps into the event due to a broken collarbone. Klingerman took over the wheel and showcased his skills, ultimately guiding the team to victory while Zilisch focused on his recovery. Zilisch, left, joined Klingerman in Victory Lane to help celebrate the win. (Getty Photos/NASCAR) Connor Zilisch to drive Trackhouse Chevy in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series   DAYTONA BEACH – Connor Zilisch, who is credited with seven NASCAR Xfinity Series victories in his rookie season, will drive a Chevrolet full-time for Trackhouse Racing in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series, team owner Justin Marks announced Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway . The 19-year-old Zilisch and Marks said they’ve reached a multi-year agreement for Trackhouse ...