UWF Argos Seek First Playoff Win In Two Seasons On Saturday
November 21, 2025
Two months ago in Tigerville, South Carolina the University of West Florida football team walked away with a 25-17 win over North Greenville to improve their season record to 4-0. It was the first tight game the Argos had played in all season, needing a fourth quarter scoring drive to widen their lead to eight points. The Argos defense then needed a stop which they got by the graze of a knee in the redzone. The call was controversial at the time as NGU’s quarterback Dylan Ramirez found an open receiver in the back of the endzone to score what was thought to be touchdown, setting up a two-point conversion to tie the game. But the refs blew the play dead and credited Eli Webb with a sack to end the game.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins for the Argos this season but they got the job done and faced some much needed adversity in a game to help the team march forward to a 9-1 record.
The Argos will now face that same North Greenville team at home on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. for the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The Trailblazers are coming into the game on a three-game win streak including a 34-20 win over UNC Pembroke to win the Conference Carolinas title. UWF is entering the game following a regular season finale loss to Valdosta State in overtime.
With a win-or-go-home mindset, coming off a loss and the adversity faced in the previous NGU matchup, the Argos are hungry and prepared to win their first NCAA playoff game in two years.
The first round game features two of the top quarterbacks in the country. Marcus Stokes is a legitimate Harlon Hill Award nominee and has led the Argos to a prominent offense all season. The redshirt sophomore was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year this week. He’s thrown for 2,886 yards and 28 touchdowns. Ramirez was named the Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year following a season throwing for 2,747 yards and 21 touchdowns.
The Argos’ defensive front will be a major factor in the outcome of the game with getting pressure on Ramirez. UWF has registered 34 sacks this season – tenth most in NCAA DII. The defense also boasts the top run defense in the nation, allowing just 48.9 rush yards per contest. The defensive unit is led by GSC Defensive Player of the Year Ja’Kobe Clinton who led the conference in tackles for loss and sacks.
A victory on Saturday will head coach Kaleb Nobles first playoff win at the helm with UWF.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN + which does require a subscription to watch. Tickets to attend the game are still available.
Fog Again Overnight, Low In The Mid 60s
November 21, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 63.
Thursday Night Playoff Scoreboard And Friday Night Matchups
November 21, 2025
Here are Thursday playoff scores and Friday night matchups from around the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
Region 1-6A
No. 3 Pace at No. 2 Mandarin (Jacksonville) — Friday, 6:30 p.m. EST
Region 1-3A
No. 5 West Florida at No. 1 Raines (Jacksonville) — Friday, 6:30 p.m EST.
Region 1-2A
No. 3 South Walton at No. 2 Pensacola Catholic — Friday, 7:30 p.m. CST
FIT 4A-7A Regional Final
Tate 21, Bartram Trail 19 (Thursday) [Read more, photos...]
FIT Rural Regional Final
Port St. Joe 37, Central 0
ALABAMA
AISA State Championship
Macon-East Montgomery Academy 34, Escambia Academy 14 (Thursday)
AHSAA 4A Third Round
W.S. Neal at Jackson — Friday, 7 p.m. CST
Pitured: The Tate Aggies beat Bartram Trail 21-19 Thursday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Woman Injured In Bratt Pine Barren Road Crash
November 21, 2025
One person was injured in a single vehicle rollover crash Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. on North Pine Barren Road about one-third of a mile north of Breastworks Road.
The driver of a Nissan car was southbound when her vehicle left the road, struck a small ditch and overturned into woodline. She was able to walk out of the vehicle after first responders removed the windshield.
The adult female was transported by Escambia County EMS to Sacred Heart Hospital with injuries that were not considered to be serious.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
William Theodore ‘Bill’ Staff
November 21, 2025
Mr. William Theodore “Bill” Staff, aged 87, sadly passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2025, in Atmore, Alabama, surrounded by his loving family. He was a lifelong resident of Atmore and dedicated his life to his faith as a devoted Catholic. Bill was an active member of Saint Roberts Bellarmine Catholic Church, where he found community and support throughout his years. His warm spirit and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
He had a true passion for fishing, whether it was deep sea or inshore, and he loved passing that joy on to his children and grandchildren, teaching them how to drive the boat. His favorite moments were spent at the Beach House in Fort Walton Beach, where laughter filled the air and memories were made. He enjoyed relaxing while watching westerns and was a big fan of Alabama football, never missing a game. After a long and dedicated career at Staff Chevrolet, working in the service department for seventy-three years, he also found time to cheer on his favorite NASCAR drivers, always eager to follow the races.
Preceded in death by his parents, Edmund Adam and Nell Yearwood Staff; wife of sixty-five years, Ann Staff; brothers, Edmund Adam Staff, Jr.; sister, Susan Staff Calvert.
Mr. Staff is survived by his two sons, Bill Staff Jr. and his wife Tina from Orange Beach, Alabama, and Speer Staff and his wife Cindi from Ocean Springs, Mississippi; two daughters, Suzanne McGill and her husband Mark from Atmore, Alabama, and Leslie Brand and her husband Doug from Senoia, Georgia; two brothers, Jim and Myrtle Staff, of Atmore, Alabama, Chipper and Wanda Staff, of Atmore, Alabama, one sister Catherine Tims, of Atmore, Alabama, along with nine grandchildren Shayna, Mandy, Ashleigh, Arielle, Anna Marie, Haden, Haleigh, Cayleigh, Christen, Ashley; eight great-grandchildren Will, Corbin, Thatcher, Norah, Evvie, Charlie, Nicholas, Ella.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM at Saint Roberts Bellarmine Catholic Church with Father Joji Chacko officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, November 24, 2025 from 2:00 PM until service time at 3:00 PM at Saint Roberts Bellarmine Catholic Church.
Pallbearers will be Hayden McGill, Will Strawbridge, Corbin Strawbridge, Johnny Simpson, Jim Harrison.
Although flowers will be accepted, donations may be made to Saint Roberts Bellarmine Catholic Church.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangements
Bob Sweeney
November 21, 2025
Bob Sweeney, 92, lived an active live energized by his faith in Jesus Christ, his devotion to family, and his creativity in his vocation of construction. He died peacefully at VITAS Hospice on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.
Born June 18, 1933, at Sanders Beach in downtown Pensacola, Bob was the youngest of five children of Ivan Joseph and Mary Kathleen Murphy Sweeney. He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers and sister.
Bob attended J.M. Tate High School where he met his first wife of 57 years, Shirley Pace Sweeney. Bob and Shirley married Feb. 17, 1951. They soon found a church home in Olive Baptist Church, where Bob made a profession of faith in Jesus as his Savior and followed in believer’s baptism. Bob and Shirley made Olive their church home for 54 years.
Bob said he “found” a stray horse at age 9 and began riding it to school daily. Thus began his lifelong affection for equines that led to his owning a 10-acre homestead in Cantonment for 60 years. Known to his grandchildren – Clayton and Melody – as PawPaw, he passed down his love for horses by teaching them to ride. He used his horseback riding skills in the 1960s and 1970s as a member of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Posse, performing search and rescues and representing the community in parades riding his Palomino “Peaches.”
Professionally, Bob was a Florida General Contractor and built well over 100 custom homes in the Pensacola area, including some of the first on Pensacola Beach’s Sabine Island. Then he transitioned to commercial construction. He built about 200 KFC stores across the Southeast and lastly was in charge of building some 20 churches and family life centers as superintendent for Jerry Toler Construction.
The last custom home Bob oversaw was the construction of his and his second wife Sue’s personal residence. Sue and Bob were married Jan.10, 2009, at East Brent Baptist Church where he has been a member the past 16 years. They moved into the new home in spring 2023. He personally built all the cabinets for this house!
Bob is survived by his wife, Carolyn Sue Pugh Sweeney; his daughter, Julie Gay (David) Sweeney Cameron; his youngest son, Clayton Thomas (Candy) Sweeney; his grandson, Clayton Thomas Sweeney II; his granddaughter, Melody Kathleen Cameron; his daughter-in-law, Susan Barber Sweeney; two stepsons, Jason and Jerel Pugh; and a stepdaughter, Kalyn Pugh. Bob was preceded in death last Nov. 22, 2024, by his oldest son, Stephen Robert Sweeney.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Pensacola Habitat for Humanity.
Luther Joseph ‘Joey’ Croley
November 21, 2025
Mr. Luther Joseph “Joey” Croley, age 67, passed away on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Pensacola, Florida. A native of Crestview, Florida, Joey’s life journey led him through the charming towns of Fairhope and Daphne, Alabama, before he ultimately settled in Castleberry, a community that embraced him for the past forty years. Known for his warm spirit and kind heart, Joey touched the lives of many with his genuine nature and infectious smile. His legacy will undoubtedly live on in the memories of those who were fortunate enough to know him. As friends and family gather to celebrate his life, they will remember not only his contributions to the community but also the love he shared with everyone around him.
He had a deep passion for the great outdoors, always excited about hunting and fishing whenever he could. Riding motorcycles gave him a thrill, and he loved the freedom it brought. A devoted Alabama football fan, he would cheer loudly during the games, sharing those moments with family and friends. He enjoyed watching westerns, finding joy in their stories and adventures. His work took him traveling to many places, but he always treasured the time spent with loved ones. Food was another of his loves, with carrot cake being his absolute favorite treat.
Mr. Croley is survived by his sisters, Mary Abbott of Brewton, Alabama and Janet Croley of Brewton, Alabama; niece and nephew, Tracey Parr (Tracy) of Baytown, Texas and Amanda (Gene) Carpenter of Brewton, Alabama; great niece and nephew, Zack (Crystal) Williams of Brewton, Alabama and Allie Parr of Baytown, Texas.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Mary Lois Wright Croley; sister, Sarah Mae Croley.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 24, 2025 at 12:00 PM at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC. with Reverend Michael Wright officiating.
Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday, November 24, 2025 from 11:00 AM until service time at 12:00 PM at Petty Funeral Homes, LLC.
Pallbearers will be Michael Ballard, Tracey Parr Cameron Ballard, Gene Carpenter, Louis Tharp, Zack Williams.
Honorary pallbearer Jed Brooks.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC Atmore, Alabama is in charge of all arrangement
PSC Approves FPL Rate Schedule Increase
November 20, 2025
Thursday morning, the Florida Public Service Commission approved a Florida Power & Light comprehensive four-year rate settlement agreement with state regulators. The agreement reduces FPL’s original revenue request by nearly one-third.
The agreement uts FPL’s four-year revenue request by approximately 30%, keeping Northwest Florida rates nearly flat for a couple of years. The agreement, developed in collaboration with a broad coalition of customer groups, sets rates for 2026 through 2029.
In Northwest Florida, the typical residential customer bill will drop nearly $2 next year, going from the current $143.60 to $141.36 in 2026. In the ret of Florida, the typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill will increase by $2.50 a month, or about 2%, from the current $134.14 to $136.64.
The settlement significantly scales back FPL’s initial rate request.
Beginning in 2027, FPL customers in NorthWest Florida will pay the same rates as the remainder of the state. Panhandle customers will see an overall average monthly increase of $6.79 by the end of the four-year agreement, while the rest of the state will have increased by $14.01.
“We appreciate the Florida Public Service Commission’s thorough review of our rate plan. Today’s vote enables FPL to continue to deliver some of America’s most reliable electric service and meet the needs of our fast-growing state—and we project will keep customer bills well below the national average through the end of the decade,” said FPL President and CEO Armando Pimentel. “As we begin our second century of serving Florida, approval of this plan is a win for our customers and a win for the entire state.”
Sunny And Warm Today; Slight Chance Of A Scattered Shower Friday
November 20, 2025
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 77.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
Sheriff’s Dive Team Recovers Car From Bluff Springs Lake
November 20, 2025
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team recovered a vehicle from a lake Wednesday evening in Escambia County.
The unoccupied Honda Civic was found in a gravel lake in a remote area of the Escambia River Wildlife Management Area off Bluff Springs Road near the Escambia River about two miles south of Century.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Witnesses told authorities that the driver got out of the vehicle at a boat launch, accidentally leaving the vehicle in neutral. The vehicle rolled down the boat launch into the lake and then floated slowly until it sank nearly 100 feet from shore.
With the assistance of a boat and crew from the Cantonment Station of Escambia County Fire Rescue, the ECSO located the vehicle using sonar in about 15 feet of water.
The Sheriff’s Office dive team assisted a wrecker company in hooking to the sedan. The vehicle was slowly winched to the shore, where it was confirmed that no one was inside.
Preliminary information indicated the vehicle, which had a Colorado license plate, had not been reported stolen.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the incident as a traffic crash.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
