Sunny, Nice Days; Clear Cool Nights Through The Weekend
November 16, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Showers. High near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 39.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Nobles Blocks Emotions As UWF Faces Showdown With No. 1 Valdosta State
November 16, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Argos correspondent
The hour-long drive south on Georgia Hwy-129 that UWF coach Kaleb Nobles made from the family home in Fitzgerald to Valdosta State’s campus became second nature.
He often travelled as a young fan with his father, Buddy Nobles, a high school football coaching legend, to watch Tucker Pruitt, son of then-Fitzgerald High coach Robby Pruitt, play as Valdosta’s quarterback.
More trips occurred when Kaleb was being recruited by VSU, then became the Blazers quarterback.
“I’ve beaten the streets from Fitzgerald to Valdosta on Highway 129 South,” said Nobles, laughing. “I still know all the back roads, so I am looking forward to getting back in that neck of the woods on Saturday.”
The proverbial landscape Saturday is now so different. And so are the stakes.
In a climactic season-finale, the No. 16-ranked Argos (7-2) face their defining game against the unbeaten, newly-minted, No. 1-ranked Valdosta State Blazers (9-0) in a 7 p.m. contest that will decide the Gulf South Conference champion.
It’s one of the biggest games and best matchups this season across Division II football.
For UWF, the Argos likely must win to qualify for the NCAA Division II postseason.
WHO: UWF Argos vs. Valdosta State Blazers
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m. (CST)
WHERE: Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta, Ga.
These teams have met before with a lot on the line, including twice in Valdosta in 2019 as UWF marched to its historic national championship. But this will be the first for Nobles to experience VSU’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as an opposing head coach.
Though he’s faced the Blazers before as UWF’s quarterback in their 2016 inaugural football season, then as an assistant coach through the 2019 season, Nobles acknowledged returning to a place that carried such emotional investment brings a different kind of feeling.
“I’d be liar to say no,” Nobles said. “There is obviously a lot of things going on, a lot of conversations going on. Anytime you’re playing somebody that you have worked for or played for previously, there will be conversations like that.
“It will definitely be cool to go back, this is my first time as a head coach. But we went there twice in 2019. It’s the first time I have been back as a coach, which is good for me, but having the ability to see it from a visitor’s perspective is good for me, because I know what to expect. I know the setup… I’m excited for it.
“Now, as I am getting older, growing up as a head coach, this is no different of a game. That field will be 120 yards long, 53 and one-third yards wide and we’re going to show up and play and we don’t care where it is. We’ll play in the parking lot of our hotel. We’ll be ready to go.”
Valdosta State is the No. 1 ranked team in the latest NCAA Super Region South rankings. That’s in addition to being ranked No. 1 overall in the coaches poll, No. 2 in the D-2 Football.com poll. In addition to their coaches’ poll ranking, the Argos moved back into the Top 25 in the D-2 Football.com poll at No. 21.
After winning its sixth consecutive game last Saturday, UWF moved up to No. 8 in the region rankings. Eight teams make the playoffs. That’s why UWF is in a virtual must-win situation for postseason.
“My message is going to be the same,” Nobles said. “It doesn’t matter who is across the sideline from us or who is across the field.
“At the end of the day, if we play our best and we give ourselves a chance to be in the game and win this in the fourth quarter, then I like our chances. We know what our best is and I think we are still discovering what our best is.”
These two teams have annually played thrillers. Last year, the Blazers won 31-28. In 2022, UWF prevailed in Valdosta 32-31. In 2019, the Argos avenged a 26-21 loss at No. 1 Valdosta State by beating the Blazers 38-35 in the second round of the NCAA D-2 playoffs, which helped propel UWF into the national championship game.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to play a really good team and have a lot on the table when we play ‘em,” Nobles said.
VSU holds the series edge at 5-3. The Blazers are No. 7 nationally in offensive yards per game (473.2), fourth in scoring per game (44.8), ninth in total points scored (403).
UWF leads the GSC in total defense (205.8 yds per-game) and rushing defense (70.3 yds per-game).
The Argos were in a dire situation after dropping two of their first three games – an overtime home loss to West Alabama and a blowout road loss at Grand Valley (Mich.) State.
But since the calendar switched to October, the Argos have not sweated the fourth quarter in any game.
“They have truly bought in to everything that we are trying to do, wanting to do,” Nobles said. “I sat on that plane on the way back from Grand Valley and just took note after note, writing down that, okay, we have to change this, we have to do this.
“Because we would be fools as coaches not to try everything. I am so proud of our guys. We talked the day after Grand Valley and said, ‘hey we’re going to change some things.’
“This is how things will be moving forward and you have to buy into this. If you guys buy into this, we think it can help us in the future.
“We haven’t done everything perfectly right since then as players or coaches, but we feel we’ve got a little bit of momentum and we feel we have to keep that rolling.”
Heading into the biggest game of his two-year, head coaching career, Nobles is confident in his players and blocking out any emotional flashbacks.
“What I draw upon is the 64 players in my locker room and the 10 coaches on my staff that have put in the work all week getting ready for it,” Nobles said.
“And knowing what we have gone through and pushed through. Once we get there, I will have my headphones in place, I’m going to be in game mode, because I’m ready to go to battle with my guys, the ones I have put the work in with.
“And I know they feel the same way.”
Photo: Jon Rose/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
What Channel? Here’s Where To Watch Today’s College Football
November 16, 2024
Here is this week’s college football schedule and where to watch the games.
All times are Central.
Week 12
11:00 a.m. Games
- No. 2 Ohio State at Northwestern (at Wrigley Field in Chicago) | BTN
- No. 3 Texas at Arkansas | ABC/ESPN+
- Utah at No. 17 Colorado | FOX
- No. 20 Clemson at Pitt | ESPN
- No. 25 Tulane at Navy | ESPN2
- Liberty at UMass | ESPN+
- Louisiana Tech at Western Kentucky | CBSSN
- Richmond at Hampton | FloSports
- Villanova at Monmouth | FloSports
- North Carolina A&T at Towson | FloSports
- Furman at East Tennessee State | ESPN+
- UNI at Youngstown State | ESPN+
- Presbyterian at Marist | ESPN+
- Valparaiso at Dayton | Facebook Live
- Princeton at Yale | ESPN+
- Columbia at Brown | ESPN+
- Delaware State at Norfolk State | ESPN+
- Robert Morris at Central Connecticut | NEC Front Row
- Wagner at Duquesne | NEC Front Row
- St. Francis (PA) at Long Island | NEC Front Row
- Sacred Heart at Merrimack | ESPN+
- Colgate at Lehigh | ESPN+
- Bucknell at Holy Cross | ESPN+
- Stonehill at Lafayette | ESPN+
11:45 a.m. Game
- UL Monroe at Auburn | SEC Network
12:00 p.m. Games
- Coastal Carolina at Marshall | ESPN+
- UAlbany at Rhode Island | FloSports
- Bryant at William & Mary | FloSports
- Campbell at Delaware | FloSports
- Stony Brook at New Hampshire | FloSports
- Charleston Southern at Eastern Illinois | ESPN+
- Illinois State at Indiana State | ESPN+
- South Dakota at North Dakota | ESPN+
- VMI at Western Carolina | ESPN+
- Morehead State at Drake | ESPN+
- St. Thomas (Minn.) at Bryant | FloSports
- Harvard at Penn | ESPN+
- Dartmouth at Cornell | ESPN+
- Georgetown at Fordham | ESPN+
12:30 p.m. Games
- Murray State at Kentucky | ESPN+/SEC Network+
- Samford at Chattanooga | ESPN+
- Tennessee State at Gardner-Webb | ESPN+
- The Citadel at Wofford | ESPN+
1:00 p.m. Games
- Mercer at No. 10 Alabama | ESPN+/SEC Network+
- Florida International at Jacksonville State | ESPN+
- Florida Atlantic at Temple | ESPN+
- Maine at Elon | FloSports
- Eastern Kentucky at Austin Peay | ESPN+
- Western Illinois at Southeast Missouri State | ESPN+
- Tennessee Tech at UT Martin | ESPN+
- Houston Christian at East Texas A&M | ESPN+
- McNeese at Northwestern State | ESPN+
- Northern Arizona at Northern Colorado | ESPN+
1:30 p.m. Game
- Michigan State at Illinois | FS1
2:00 p.m. Games
- Syracuse at Cal | The CW Network
- Sam Houston at Kennesaw State | ESPN+
- Hawai’i at Utah State | Spectrum Sports PPV
- Portland State at Montana | ESPN+
- Southern Illinois at South Dakota State | ESPN+
- Jackson State at Alabama State | ESPN+
- Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Southern | Jaguar Sports Network
- Bethune-Cookman at Texas Southern | SWAC Digital Network
- Alcorn State at Prairie View A&M | ESPN+
- UIW at Stephen F. Austin | ESPN+
2:30 p.m. Games
- No. 4 Penn State at Purdue | CBS
- Virginia at No. 8 Notre Dame | NBC
- Boston College at No. 14 SMU | ESPN
- No. 19 Louisville at Stanford | ACCN
- No. 22 LSU at Florida | ABC/ESPN+
- Oregon State at Air Force | CBSSN
- South Florida at Charlotte | ESPN+
- Missouri State at North Dakota State | ESPN+
3:00 p.m. Game
- Nebraska at USC | FOX
3:15 p.m. Game
- No. 23 Missouri at No. 21 South Carolina | SEC Network
4:00 p.m. Games
- Arkansas State at Georgia State | ESPN+
- Sacramento State at Cal Poly | ESPN+
- Southern Utah at Central Arkansas | ESPN+
5:00 p.m. Games
- Rutgers at Maryland | FS1
- No. 13 Boise State at San José State | CBSSN
- Arizona State at No. 16 Kansas State | ESPN
- South Alabama at Louisiana | ESPN+
- Southern Miss at Texas State | ESPN+
- Abilene Christian at Tarleton State | ESPN+
6:30 p.m. Games
- No. 1 Oregon at Wisconsin | NBC
- No. 7 Tennessee at No. 12 Georgia | ABC/ESPN+
6:45 p.m. Game
- New Mexico State at No. 15 Texas A&M | SEC Network
7:00 p.m. Games
- Cincinnati at Iowa State | FOX
- Wake Forest at North Carolina | ACCN
- UAB at Memphis | ESPN2
- Weber State at Idaho | ESPN+
- Montana State at UC Davis | ESPN+
8:30 p.m. Game
- No. 18 Washington State at New Mexico | FS1
9:15 p.m. Game
- Kansas at No. 6 BYU | ESPN
9:30 p.m. Game
- San Diego State at UNLV | CBSSN
Great Friday Weather: High Near 70 Before Dropping Into The 40s Overnight
November 15, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.
Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.
Wednesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Here Is Tonight’s Football Playoff Schedule
November 15, 2024
FLORIDA
REGION 1-6A
- No. 6 Oviedo at No. 3 Pace, 7:30 p.m.
- No. 8 Tate at No. 1 Nease (Ponte Vedra, FL), 6 p.m CST/7 p.m. EST
REGION 1-4A
- No 6. Riverside at No. 3 Escambia, 7 p.m.
- No. 4 Pine Forest at No. 5 Ed White (Jacksonville), 5:30 p.m. CST/6:30 p.m. EST
REGION 1-2A
- No. 7 Walton at No. 2 Pensacola Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
RURAL
- No. 12 Fort White at No. 5 Jay, 7:00 p.m.
ALABAMA
It’s the second round of playoffs tonight in Alabama.
4A
- Fairfield at W.S. Neal, 7 p.m.
3A
- T.R. Miller at Trinity Presbyterian (Montgomery), 7 p.m.
Picture top: Carson Secchiari scores a touchdown for the Tate Aggies against Crestview earlier this season. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Tropical Storm Sara Forms
November 14, 2024
UPDATE: Tropical Storm Sara is now forecast to dissipate over the Yucatán peninsula.
The latest information on Sara is in the image above.
Cold Front Bringing Sunny Skies, Cooler Temps
November 14, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Thursday: Gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
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 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Thursday Afternoon Update: CSX Railroad Crossing Closures
November 14, 2024
Here is a Thursday afternoon update on the CSX railroad crossing closures in Escambia County
According to Escambia County officials:
- 10 Mile Road — will reopen by Thursday night
- East Kingsfield Road — will reopen Friday morning, but will be closed again on Monday for what should be one day to complete work
- Old Chemstrand Road — will reopen early Friday morning.
Previous information:
Escambia County officials said temporary closures will be constructed on Woodbury Circle (the only entrance into Cantonment Heights), and Becks Lake Road (only entrance to that area). Officials said CSX has not yet committed to a temporary crossing for Countri Lane, which also has a single access point to those residences. A closure date for Woodbury, Becks Lake, and Countri has not yet been announced but is expected to be in the next few days.
Each CSX crossing in Escambia County will be, or has been closed. in project that started November 4. Each railroad crossing may be closed for approximately 24-72 hours depending on the required work. Maintenance across the county is expected to be completed in December 2024.
Note: One major east-west corridor, Quintette Road, was not on the original CSX closure list.
Any additional information will be published as it becomes available.
Pictured: The railroad crossing was closed on North Barth Road in February 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Showers And Thunderstorms Tonight
November 13, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 67. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the morning.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 49. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
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 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.
Mostly Cloudy Tonight
November 12, 2024
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 69. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am, then a slight chance of showers between 9am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 46. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 48. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75.