Sports
Orlando City Jumps to Sixth in East with McGuire’s Game-Winner vs. Nashville
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – In front of 20,516 fans at Inter&Co Stadium, Duncan McGuire’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory for Orlando City SC (14-7-9, 51 points) over Nashville SC (15-11-5, 50 points) on Saturday night. The win lifted the Lions above Nashville in the Eastern Conference standings into sixth place, with just four regular-season matches remaining.
Ojeda’s Record-Breaking Brace
Midfielder Martín Ojeda stole the spotlight in the first half, scoring twice in two minutes. His curling free kick in the 30th minute not only opened the scoring but also set a new club record for career goal contributions across all competitions (73), surpassing former star Facundo Torres. Two minutes later, he extended the record to 74 with a composed one-touch finish off assists from Kyle Smith and Luis Muriel. That goal also tied Orlando’s single-season scoring record at 20 goals, highlighting Ojeda’s historic campaign.
Nashville Fights Back
Nashville responded just before halftime with Hany Mukhtar’s strike in first-half stoppage time, cutting the lead to 2-1. Early in the second half, they equalized through Jacob Shaffelburg, who tapped home Daniel Lovitz’s cross in the 51st minute. The visitors appeared to be pushing for a winner, controlling possession (57.7%) and limiting Orlando’s rhythm in midfield.
McGuire’s Late Heroics
As the match neared its end, Orlando City found their moment. Substitute Tyrese Spicer surged down the left wing and delivered a precise cross, which McGuire flicked into the net at the near post in the 95th minute. The goal, his second of the season, ignited the home crowd and secured all three points. Head Coach Óscar Pareja praised both Ojeda’s record-breaking night and the fans’ energy, saying the final minutes “felt like the playoffs.”
With the win, Orlando City now sits just two points behind third place and heads on the road next Sunday to face second-place FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium.
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Javier Garcia | Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0) stayed perfect on the season with a thrilling 29-27 victory over the New York Jets at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. Kicker Chase McLaughlin drilled a 36-yard walk-off field goal to secure the win, making Tampa Bay 3-0 for the first time since 2005 and just the fifth time in franchise history. In each of their previous four 3-0 starts, the Buccaneers went on to make the playoffs.
Historic Clutch Start to the Season
The Buccaneers continued their remarkable streak of late-game heroics, becoming the first team since the NFL merger in 1970 to record a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation in each of their first three games of a season. Tampa Bay is also just the third team in league history—joining the 1994 Giants and 2017 Steelers—to string together three straight games with a go-ahead score in the final minute.
Dominant Defense Shines Again
The Buccaneers’ defense once again proved suffocating. They held the Jets to just 99 rushing yards, marking their 11th straight game of holding opponents under 100 yards on the ground. The defense also came up big on key downs, limiting New York to 3-of-11 (27%) on third down and just 1-of-3 (33.3%) on fourth down. Tampa Bay’s pass rush delivered a season-high four sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and nine tackles for loss. Cornerback Jamel Dean added a highlight play, intercepting Tyrod Taylor and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown—the Bucs’ first pick-six since 2023.
Mayfield, Offense Deliver Under Pressure
Quarterback Baker Mayfield stayed sharp, completing 19-of-29 passes for 233 yards and one touchdown, finishing with a 101.7 passer rating and adding 44 rushing yards. Through three games, Mayfield has thrown six touchdowns with no interceptions, joining Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as the only quarterbacks with at least five TDs and zero picks this season. Rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka led the way with six receptions for 85 yards, while Sterling Shepard chipped in 80 yards, and Mike Evans recorded four catches—including his 106th career touchdown, now ninth-most in NFL history.
McLaughlin Seals the Victory
Chase McLaughlin’s right leg was the difference, as he went 5-for-6 on field goals, including makes from 28, 33, 36, 54, and 55 yards. His two makes from 50+ yards pushed his career efficiency on long-distance kicks to 82.9%—the second-best mark in NFL history (min. 40 attempts). McLaughlin’s game-winner capped off a final drive led by Mayfield, who completed two key passes for 47 yards to set up the decisive kick.
Tampa Bay now sits atop the NFC South at 3-0 and will look to continue its historic run next week when they travel for their Week 4 matchup.
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J Willie David, III | Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) secured a hard-fought 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans (0-3) on Sunday at EverBank Stadium. The game marked Jacksonville’s first AFC South matchup of the season, with most of their divisional schedule packed into the second half of the year.
First-Half Defensive Battle
Houston’s kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 52-yard field goal in the first quarter, opening the door for Jacksonville. The Jaguars capitalized with a 1-yard touchdown run by Bhayshul Tuten and an extra point from Cam Little, giving them a 7-0 lead at the end of the quarter. Fairbairn redeemed himself in the second quarter with a 27-yard field goal, but both defenses held firm, keeping the halftime score at 7-3 in favor of Jacksonville.
Photo: Mike Brodsky | Florida National News
Momentum Swings in the Third Quarter
Jacksonville extended its lead in the third when Little converted a 39-yard field goal after a Texans penalty erased his earlier 52-yard make. That gave the Jaguars a 10-3 advantage. Later in the quarter, Little missed from 47 yards, leaving Houston within striking distance heading into the fourth.
Etienne’s Clutch Run Seals the Win
The fourth quarter brought plenty of drama. Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis intercepted C.J. Stroud, only for Houston to respond with a pick of Trevor Lawrence. Stroud immediately hit Nico Collins on a 50-yard strike, tying the game at 10-10 after Fairbairn’s extra point. Jacksonville’s defense answered again when linebacker Devin Lloyd recovered a fumble, setting up an 83-yard drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown run from Travis Etienne Jr. With just 1:48 left, the Jaguars regained control at 17-10. Houston’s final drive ended when Joshua Hines-Allen tipped a Stroud pass into the hands of safety Antonio Johnson, sealing Jacksonville’s win.
Photos: Mike Brodsky | Florida National News
Trevor Lawrence finished with 222 passing yards, while Etienne led the ground attack with 56 yards and a touchdown. Brenton Strange paced the receivers with 61 yards. Attendance at EverBank Stadium was 58,161.
The Jaguars now turn their attention to a Week 4 road game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, September 28, with kickoff at 4:05 p.m. Their next home game will be a primetime matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, October 6 at 8:15 p.m.
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Mike Brodsky | Mike.Brodsky@FloridaNationalNews.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The UCF Knights hosted the North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Bounce House Stadium in a nationally televised matchup. Coming off a bye week, UCF looked fresh and focused, securing a commanding 34-9 victory to remain undefeated at 3-0.
UCF Knights vs North Carolina Tar Heels in Orlando, Florida. Photos: Harry Castiblanco | Florida National News
Strong Start for UCF
Despite having not played in two weeks, UCF showed no rust. Quarterback Tayven Jackson capped off the Knights’ opening drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. Jackson finished the day an efficient 25-for-32 with 223 passing yards and one touchdown. Defensively, UCF struck early when Horace Lockett tipped a pass at the line that Nyjalik Kelly intercepted. It was the first of two interceptions for the Knights’ defense in the first half, which limited North Carolina to just three points by halftime.
Offensive Momentum Before the Break
Late in the first half, UCF engineered an impressive scoring drive, aided by two Tar Heel penalties. Jackson then connected with tight end Kylan Fox, who was left wide open in the endzone, extending the Knights’ lead to 20-3 at the half. North Carolina’s struggles continued as UCF’s defense applied constant pressure, while the offense capitalized on nearly every opportunity.
UCF Knights vs North Carolina Tar Heels game in Orlando, Florida. Photos: Harry Castiblanco | Florida National News
Second-Half Statement and UNC Setback
The Tar Heels opened the second half with a quick three-and-out. UCF responded by marching downfield for another touchdown, building a 27-3 lead. The game took a concerning turn for North Carolina when quarterback Gio Lopez suffered a right leg injury on a 4th-and-1 conversion at their own 42-yard line. Lopez was helped to the sideline and later carted to the locker room. Head Coach Bill Belichick offered no post-game update. Backup QB Max Johnson finished the game, but North Carolina managed only one touchdown before UCF sealed the 34-9 win.
The Tar Heels head into their bye week at 2-2, while UCF remains unbeaten at 3-0. The Knights will travel next week for their first road test of the season against Kansas State.
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Marcus Richardson | Sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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