Sports Archive

If an example is needed of the will and determination of Navarre’s flag football, halftime of last week’s regional semifinal is it.

The Raiders trailed Fleming Island 7-0 on the road. Their dream of keeping this storybook playoff run going teetered on the brink of extinction.

Only three Navarre athletes are headed to the 4A state meet Saturday in Jacksonville.

But all three, Rachel Leggett, Talin Griffin and Tyson Morgan, are in a position to contend for a championship after soaring to new heights at the regional meet over the weekend.

The wait is over. Michael Carter is headed to the NFL.

Projected to go in the third round Friday night, Carter finally heard his name called shortly after Noon Saturday when he was announced as a fourth-round pick of the New York Jets.

Three Navarre Raiders are expected to contend for regional championships at the Region 1-4A meet Saturday at Flagler Palm Coast.

Talin Griffin, Rachel Leggett and Devin Wright are in that position and poised to punch an automatic bid to next week’s state meet in Jacksonville. But several other athletes competing in the regional are in the running as well.

Pressure stared Navarre’s flag football team in the eyes, and the Raiders didn’t blink in their first regional tournament appearance in program history.

Down by a point with under a minute to go, Mackenzie England hauled in a game-winning touchdown catch to lift Navarre to a 12-7 victory over Fleming Island Wednesday night.

Thomas Leggett has always had his doubters.

As he prepares for the NFL Draft this weekend, he hears them talking again. Many experts expect the former Navarre standout to go late in the draft or to end up as an undrafted free agent.

Navarre is seeking to make a little more history in flag football tonight when it plays in the 2A regional for the first time.

The Raiders are in Fleming Island to take on the Golden Eagles in a 6 p.m. semifinal game.

Michael Carter said he loves football so much that he would play the game for free.

But soon enough, Carter will be getting paid to play the game he has long excelled in.

It’s the summer of 2015. It’s hot and humid. The sun is unforgiving as it bakes the football practice field behind Bennett C. Russell Stadium.

I’m here to watch the Raiders put in work at one of their trademark intense summer workouts, and my focus is locked in on two players in particular. Michael Carter and Thomas Leggett.

Navarre is playing its best softball at the right time of the year. The Raiders have won three consecutive games and hope to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s District 1-6A semifinal against Tate in Niceville.

Game time is 5 p.m. The winner plays Niceville or Crestview for the district title on Thursday.