Florida Sports Wires

  The Jaguars are back. They desperately needed a convincing win and they put one together against the Patriots. Their 35-6 win was a complete one in many ways.  After a bad second half in Denver last week, Jacksonville proved to themselves and their fans that they are legitimate AFC South contenders and can be among the AFC elite.  The Jags looked as good and probably better as they did in their home opener thumping of Cleveland two weeks ago. They had a dominant showing on both sides of the ball against a reeling Patriots’ team that again showed that last year’s Super Bowl run was truly sparked by a soft schedule. Pats’ quarterback Drake Maye proved he can run the ball effectively, but he still needs some fine tuning as a passer with his subpar 14 of 25, 199-yard, two-interception day. In some ways, Maye has mirrored Trevor Lawrence in his early years, but Lawrence had a breakout season in his second year after a lackluster rookie season.  Lawrence  did enough...

JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL Affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild and the AHL’s Iowa Wild, announced that forwards Drew Kuzma and Blake Biondi, along with defenseman Reilly Webb, have been assigned to Jacksonville by the Iowa Wild. Defensemen Jaden Condotta and forwards Will Hillman and Brandon Yeamans were released from their training camp try-out contracts with the Wild as well. All six men will be available for Icemen training camp beginning on October 5. Kuzma, 23, played 13 games for the Greensboro Gargoyles in the ECHL last season while recording five goals and three assists for eight points. 6-6, 218 lb native of St. Albert, Alberta, he played four years of NCAA college hockey at Lindenwood University from 2022-2-26. Eventually rising to be the team’s captain his senior season. Biondi, 24, brings both size and experience to the Icemen this season. A former 4th-round draft pick (109th OVR) by the Montreal Canadiens in 2020, Biondi is a veteran of 36 AHL contests ...

From Florida Sports Wires JACK SONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com)  – Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp outfielder Cam Cannarella and infielder Juan Matheus have earned the Miami Marlins’ Minor League Player and Student of the Year awards, respectively, the Marlins announced Friday.   Outfielder Matthew Etzel was named the Jacksonville Team MVP, with current Jumbo Shrimp outfielder Brandon Compton earning the same honor for Double-A Pensacola.  Cannarella began the 2026 campaign with High-A Beloit, batting .394/.439/.577/1.039 in 19 games before earning a June 2 promotion to Pensacola. The Hartsville, S.C., native continued to excel with the Blue Wahoos, hitting .344/.453/.607/1.060 in 34 games prior to earning a promotion a month and a half later to Jacksonville.  The Marlins’ supplemental first round pick (43rd overall) out of Clemson in 2025, Cannarella reached base in 41 of the 45 games he played with the Jumbo Shrimp, slashing .282/.393/.420/.813 with 15 doubles, three ho...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wires The Jaguars’ 20-13  loss in Denver Sunday clearly was a game of two halves. It also was an early wake-up call and a stiff reminder. As simple as the cliche suns, you have to play for four quarters, or at least until you have it under control. The Jags thought they had one in the win column in Denver. In the opening half, they were crisp on offense and aggressive on defense. Trevor Lawrence again looked like he was locked in, as he was in the opener in Cleveland. Lawrence was 12 of 17 for 78 yards, and Parker Washington caught six passes.  Their defense was stellar overall, and impressive in their three-down, goal-line stand before Denver settled for a field goal, their lone scoring in the first two quarters. Jourdan Lewis had a photo-op, leaping interception in the corner of the end zone. Cam Little banged home a 44-yard field goal just before halftime, and the Jags sprinted to the locker room with a 10-3 lead that appeared to be larger in...

  By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wires JACKSONVILLE - Was that the Trevor Lawrence we all have been awaiting? Over the years, we have heard that same phrase before, and have been teased with some epic showings. It resulted with his trademark untimely interception or bad game.  You remember when Lawrence was billed as the next greatest college quarterback in 2021? He was the league’s next generational signal caller.  Well, six seasons later through some injuries and inconsistencies that plagued him over the years, Lawrence may have finally reached that lofty anticipated status. In the Jaguars' season and home opener 34-10 rout against a bad Browns’ team, Lawrence arguably had one of his best performances.  Lawrence looked calm, cool, and composed, completing 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards, but more importantly, he connected on 78.3 percent of his passes for an average of 10.7 yards per catch. The last two stats are the impressive ones. He put on a clinic and had plen...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsday.com) - The Jacksonville Jaguars will again win the AFC South. Remember, this team won 13 games last year, and had a hiccup against Josh Allen and the Bills in a playoff game.  Should you take it to the bank? No. However, the Jags have a real chance to make a deep run in the postseason. In order to do that, they have to be on their A-game. (Trevor Lawrence can’t throw that untimely interception.)  On paper, Denver may be the best team in the AFC. They have all the tools and the coach in Sean Payton. You can’t count out Seattle, who will see how the season plays out. Cincinnati and Buffalo also should be near the top this season.  Kansas City lost some key personnel on their defense, and they don’t have the same offensive weapons. Yes, Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes, even though he is coming off a knee injury. But the Chiefs, like tight end Travis Kelce, are getting old. New England had the benef...

Special to Jax Sports News NORFOLK, Va. (www,jaxsportsnews.com) – Deyvison De Los Santos blasted two home runs, but a five-run Norfolk sixth turned the Tides to a 9-3 victory over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday at Harbor Park. The Jumbo Shrimp (66-65, 24-33) led 3-2 with one out in the sixth. Brandon White (3-8) walked Payton Eeles before yielding a go-ahead two-run homer to Rece Hinds. After a hit by pitch, the Tides (50-80, 22-33) took a 6-3 lead on a two-run shot from Brandon Butterworth. Jud Fabian then walked and advanced to third on a Sam Huff single before scoring on a wild pitch. Norfolk put the finishing touches on in the eighth. Huff walked with two outs before Bryan Ramos reached on an error. Enrique Bradfield Jr. followed with a two-run triple to set the final margin at 9-3. Jacksonville took an early lead in their first at-bats. With one out, Jonathon Long walked, Matthew Etzel reached on an error and De Los Santos walked to load the bases. Kemp Alderman lifted ...

  By Jeff Moeller JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com) - Jacksonville Jaguars’ GM James Gladstone made some last-minute eye-popping moves to his team’s final  53-man roster in preparation for their season opener against Cleveland Sept. 13. Trust in Gladstone, Jaguars’ fans. Just when you thought veteran Nick Mullens was going to be the backup to Trevor Lawrence, he wasn’t. Gladstone acquired Miami quarterback and former Texas’ star Quinn Ewers to serve the role for a 2028 sixth-round pick, and Mullens eventually ended up on the practice squad.  This one was a stumper.  Ewers played in four games and threw for 622 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in between the Tua Tagovailoa saga. He didn’t exactly overwhelm the Dolphins’ brass last season.  Gladstone must have seen something in him. Mullens is still within arm’s reach as well as rookie Joey Aguilar.  The GM also sent  veteran tight end Hunter Long to the Cardinals for a 2028 sevent...

Special to Florida Sports Wires  JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com) – Brandon Lockridge bookended his day with run-scoring doubles in a five-RBI performance to help the Nashville Sounds defeat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 8-4 Friday afternoon at VyStar Ballpark Lockridge’s final blow arrived in the eighth with Nashville (70-59, 27-27) leading Jacksonville (65-63, 23-41) 5-3. Two walks to Tyler Black and Jacob Hurtubise, along with a fielder’s choice groundball from Daniel Guilarte on which the Jacksonville infield failed to record an out, loaded the base for Lockridge, who cleared the bases with a double down the left field line to set the final margin at 8-4. Nashville made landfall first with a two-run top of the second. Hurtubise reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a Guilarte walk. Lockridge plated them both on a double to the right-center alley to give the Sounds a 2-0 lead. A trio of hits in the third allowed Nashville to add on. Luke Adams, Blake Burke...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida Spotrts Wire JACKSONVILLE (wwwjaxsportsnews.com ) It’s the end of the preseason tonight, and that also means the cutdown day is within reach.  Sunday is the big day at 4 p.m., and GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen shouldn’t have too many major decisions in their hands. Gladstone likely will swing a deal or two before it is over. One glaring issue - and it is a good problem - is the Jaguars’ wide receiver room. This season, the predominant offensive message will be clear- throw the ball. Heading into the game, the wide receivers on the Jags’ roster are Jakobi Meyers, Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington, Travis Hunter, CJ Williams, Josh Cameron, Austin Trammell, Tim Jones, Michael Wortham, Trebor Pena, Ben Patterson, Brady Boyd, and Chandler Brayboy.  For once, the Jags are loaded with wide receivers and tight ends, as they will play hand through their passing game. It has worked well with their running game in transition. This has created a po...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com) Nick Mullens’ stock rose. Like a stock, you want to see it rise and feel safe about it. And most times, don't touch it. It's just another reminder of the NFL backup quarterback.  After his performance against New Orleans in the preseason opener, Mullens certainly caused some queasy stomachs for Jaguars’ fans.  He was 3-for-7 for 33 yards and an interception. This is the same backup quarterback designated behind Trevor Lawrence. Did you feel good about that? Mullens redeemed himself with a 6-for-7, 65-yard performance against Carolina last week. Probably the most important player behind our starting quarterback is your backup quarterback.  Yes, you can make the argument that a dominant position player is more vital. But how have you felt when Lawrence has been knocked out of a game or has to leave for a number of plays?   Talk about a nervous stomach or agita.  You were probably wonde...

Special to Florida Sports Wires JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com)  – Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender is scheduled to join the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with the club’s 7:45 p.m. ET first pitch at the Memphis Redbirds from AutoZone Park. Bender was placed on the injured list on June 30 with a right shin stress reaction. He had pitched in 35 games for Miami prior to his injury, going 1-1 with a 2.62 ERA. Over 34.1 innings, the 31-year-old had yielded only 21 hits and 12 walks while striking out 41.  A native of Petaluma, Calif., Bender was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2016 draft out of Santa Rosa Junior College (Calif.). He reached as high as High-A Wilmington in the Royals’ organization before getting released during Spring Training in 2019.  Bender latched on with independent Sioux City of the American Association, pitching in two games before signing a m...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida SportsWire (www.jaxsportsday.com) - It was important to see the Jaguars mount their comeback against the Saints and pull out a 24-20 victory. The game certainly can serve as a motivator as well as ignitor for the rest of the preseason. However, this is preseason where the outcome of the games really doesn't matter. Instead, it’s the old-time adage on how you got there. For the Jaguars, hopefully, it is a true indicator and not just one based on facing second- third-, and fourth-stringers. What the Jaguars need this summer is to establish their running game. Against the Saints, they may have taken the first step. Behind rookie, free agent J’Mari Taylor, the Jags ran for 118 yards on 36 carries. Taylor paced the field with a workmanlike 78 yards on 22 carries.  When you look at 118 yards, it doesn’t seem like much. But the 36 carries are the difference. The heavy-pass offense Jags threw just 25 times behind the backup core of Nick Mullens, Joey Aguilar, and ...

Special to Jax Sports News JACKSONVILLE (www.thefloridasportswire.com) – The Syracuse Mets rallied in the eighth inning to defeat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4-3 Saturday night at VyStar Ballpark in front of 7,435 fans.  MJ Melendez (14) slugged a solo homer off Jacksonville (59-58, 17-26) reliever Jack Ralston (L, 5-2) with one out in the top of the eighth to give Syracuse (58-60, 20-23) the lead for good.  Syracuse opened the scoring in the top of the first against Jumbo Shrimp starter Karson Milbrandt after Melendez walked and Ronny Mauricio (14) slugged a two-run home run to center field to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.  Johnny Olmstead (8) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second with a solo homer off Syracuse starter Kevin Herget. Jacksonville knotted the score at three in the sixth with a two-out rally. Cam Cannarella singled and Deyvison De Los Santos (17) launched a two-run homer to right. Once Syracuse retook the lead, Chris Devenski (SV, 1) earned his first save wit...