Sports Archive

Vinny Villanova woke up immediately at the sound of his alarm Friday morning, ready to play football that counts for the first time in 2024.


For the senior linebacker, the season opener against the Pensacola Catholic Crusaders meant a little more, especially after he missed last week’s preseason game with an injury.

Austin Reed might be an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears, but he showed Thursday night against the reigning Super Bowl champions that he can play quarterback in the NFL.

Thursday’s home opener against Pensacola Catholic was a little too close for comfort at the end, but then again, maybe that kind of situation wasn’t such a bad thing for the Navarre Raider volleyball team after all.


Once ahead by a handful of points in the third set, the Raiders trailed 24-23 and felt the pressure rising before responding to close out the Crusaders in three sets with a 27-25 victory.

Navarre’s own Dante Wright will be wearing a familiar number on the football field for the Temple Owls this year.


Wright is one of eight Temple players who gets to be part of the single-digit tradition at the school and will wear No. 5, which is what he wore in high school.

Week one is here for Navarre’s football team. And to call the first game a test is an understatement.


The Raiders take on Pensacola Catholic in the opener Friday night at Gorecki-LeBeau Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Navarre didn’t win its season-opening swim meet against Gulf Breeze Monday at the Pullam YMCA, but the Raiders did produce some strong performances.


Among them were first place finishes by Zoe Miller, Lily Byard, Ayven Fields and Tyler Lewis on a hot and sunny afternoon at the Raiders’ home pool.

Two years ago Josh Wilson was still a relative unknown on the local football landscape.


Those first hints, however, of how good he might were visible after he attended a camp at the University of Alabama with a few of his teammates in the summer of 2022.

Marisa Turner had a pretty eventful summer, qualifying for the Junior Olympics in North Carolina in the 800 and 1500.


Now, her attention is on her high school cross-country season with the Navarre Raiders.

Football season kicks off for real Friday night and it will be an opportunity for area athletes to showcase their skills.


The Panhandle never has a shortage of talent, and this year won’t be an exception. While there are a lot of great players in our coverage area, here is a look at some to keep your eye on in the season ahead.

EZ Gaska and his defensive teammates on Navarre’s football team know they will be looked upon to lead this season because of their experience.


Friday night against Pensacola in a Kickoff Classic at Jim Scoggins Stadium, the Raider defense consistently got after it while providing the leadership expected of it.