Florida Sports Wires

Photo Courtesy Cleveland Browns By Jeff Moeller Florida Sports Wire Preseason football isn’t about wins and losses. To use the old adage, it’s how you play the game. If you’re a Jaguars’ fan, you had to be impressed with the team’s first offense and defense Friday night at TIAA Field. In the second preseason game, you got a taste, but you didn't get the whole enchilada. That should come this Friday night when the Pittsburgh Steelers come into TIAA Field. The anticipation is building, and we want to see. We got a glimpse of what Trevor Lawrence could do this season. In his opening drive, Lawrence looked seasoned and crisp. Over his next two drives, Lawrence had some growing pains, but he still maneuvered with  the poise of a veteran. Lawrence added a new wrinkle when he was able to sprint one way with the flow of his line, and then reverse his course. On his back spin, he connected with tight end Evan Engram on a nine-year touchdown pass. Covering Engram’s initial years with the Gia...

Photo Courtesy of Cleveland Browns By Jeff Moeller Florida Sports Wire JACKSONVILLE (FSW) - There were some mixed results for the Jaguars in their 24-13 loss to the Cleveland Browns at TIAA Field Friday night. The Jags’ first-team offense and defense were in sync, but new head coach Doug Pederson will need to sort through the backups over the next few weeks to take the initial steps to restructure the franchise. Their Trevor Lawrence-led, first-team offense played three solid series in the opening half and managed to produce 13 points. Lawrence looked crisp and confident on the Jag’s opening drive, highlighted by a smooth, 32-yard connection to wide receiver Zay Jones. But the second-year signal caller struggled in the red zone, and the Jags had to settle for a pair of field goals, one from Elliott Fry and another from Ryan Santoso. Yet, the Jags stormed out to a 13-0 lead, but then went scoreless the rest of the night. Lawrence finished his night, connecting on six of 12 ...

ORLANDO - Orlando City SC (8-10-6, 30 points) were defeated by the New England Revolution (7-7-9, 30 points) on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium by a scoreline of 3-0.  The Revolution were backed by three different goalscorers, as well a pair of assists from Tommy McNamara. The match saw winger Iván Angulo make his debut for City after being acquired by the Club on July 25.  The 23-year-old is currently on loan from Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras of Brazil’s Série A, joining the Lions for a 12-month spell with an option to extend an additional six months. City returns to action on Saturday, Aug. 13, traveling to take on the New York Red Bulls Kickoff set for 6 p.m.

  Photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports By Jeff Moeller When their game against the Raiders was delayed because of  a thunderstorm in Canton, I thought it was a sign of good luck for the Jaguars.  Well, it wasn’t.  In fact, the start of the game looked like a rerun of most of last year’s games. Some sputtering on offense, and gaps of yardage against the defense.  In reality, though, this was about filling out the roster and putting some rookies under the microscope for the Jags. This was about the cloud with the silver lining that the Jags desperately need.  You can get some reads on teams during the first half of these preseason games, but you have to be a diehard or a fantasy player to watch the second halves. They are as interesting as the NBA All-Star Game or the Pro Bowl. If you’re over 50, you know what I mean. In the end, the Jags dropped a 27-11 decision. There were some negatives, but mostly positives and the script started to flip from last year,...

Photo by Nancy Beecher/SportsDay JACKSONVILLE – Six strong innings from Matthew Kent and an eighth-inning RBI single from Jerar Encarnacion gave Jacksonville a 2-1 win over the Memphis Redbirds Friday night in front of 5,916 fans at 121 Financial Ballpark for their fourth win in a row. After five scoreless frames, Jacksonville (58-45) managed to push the go-ahead run across in the eighth inning against Memphis (54-48) reliever Zach McAllister (L, 4-2).  Brian Miller led off with a single and stole second (18). Jordan Groshans walked, and during Encarnacion’s at-bat Miller stole third. With runners at the corners, Encarnacion clubbed a single to score Miller and put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead 2-1. Memphis initially drew first blood in the top of the second. Luken Baker (19) blasted a solo home run to put the Redbirds on top 1-0. Jacksonville took no time in responding half an inning later. Willians Astudillo (9) walloped a solo home run off Memphis righty Jake Woodford, tying the game a...

Travon Walker (44) and Josh Allen (41) at training camp. Photo by Nancy Beecher/SportsDay By Mike Bonts CANTON, Ohio -  It was only preseason. But the Jaguars No. 1 pick, Travon Walker, made it count. He recorded his first sack and played 15 snaps in the first quarter during the Las Vegas Raiders’ first two possessions. "Man, I thought he did some really good things," Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson said after the game. "There was some early, good, quick pass rushes in there. He was very disruptive. Showed his length, his athleticism, his power. He's going to be fun to watch, I think, all season." The rookie outside linebacker drew a flag with a roughing the passer penalty. Other than that, the 6-foot-5 Georgia product displayed his power and ability. "I hadn’t hit an opponent in a while," Walker said. "It was definitely an exciting feeling. It was my first one, but plenty more to come." Outside linebacker Josh Allen didn't play. Th...

Photo by Jim Brady/SportsDay   JACKSONVILLE – Despite a late rally, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp held on for a 7-6 win over the Memphis Redbirds Wednesday night at 121 Financial Ballpark. Jacksonville (56-45) took the lead back in the bottom of the third inning. Brian Miller led off with a single and two batters later, Peyton Burdick walked to put runners on first and second. Payton Henry (1) smashed a three-run home run against Memphis (54-46) starter Tommy Parsons (L, 6-3) to put the Jumbo Shrimp ahead 4-1. The Redbirds climbed back with two runs in the top of the fourth. Pedro Pages singled and Cory Spangenberg doubled to put runners on second and third. During Evan Mendoza’s at-bat, a wild pitch scored Pages from third to cut the deficit to 4-2. Mendoza later walked and Roberto Baldoquin hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Spangenberg to cut the deficit to one, 4-3. The Jumbo Shrimp answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Jerar Encarnacion singled an...