UWF Argos Get Bounce-Back Win Over Shorter 45-23
October 24, 2021
by Bill Vilona
The stadium had quieted, the game reached a first-half lull and a spark was needed.
That’s when University of West Florida quarterback Austin Reed lit a fuse and dropped a bomb on a 3rd-and-20 play with 31 seconds left.
For a photo gallery, click here.
He threw a textbook pass to fast-emerging, freshman receiver Jared Smith for a 78-yard touchdown that padded the lead and pronounced the Argos eventual 45-23 victory Saturday against the Shorter Hawks at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
One week after an emotion-deflating loss on this field against West Georgia, the No.6-ranked Argos (6-1) felt good again with a bounce-back win. They expanded a 28-9 halftime lead into 38-9 after three quarters to seal the easy win.
“That sequence right there is probably every emotion you can have as a football coach,” said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. “We’re sitting there thinking, ‘Oh my gosh we’re at third-and-20, this is unbelievable.’
“You go from, oh my goodness, we’re going to punt the ball back and we had everything going… to, okay, touchdown this is great. That is the ups and downs you go through.”
It may have been the lone peak-and-valley moment in the game.
Saturday’s win followed a loss that snapped UWF’s 11-game, two season, winning streak. The streak matched the longest in NCAA Division II.
In five of UWF’s first six games, the Argos have allowed the opponent an opening possession touchdown. In all six previous games, opponents scored in the first quarter.
Both those trends ended Saturday.
In just 53 plays, the Argos amassed 495 yards total offense. They averaged an eye-opening 9.3 yards per-play, which set a school record.
“Obviously Shorter is not in the top end of the conference, but then our offense handled it the way we should handle a team that is at the lower end of the conference,” said Reed, who completed 18-of-30 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a 29-yard touchdown for the Argos final score.
“I’m really proud of our guys… how hard they worked and how they really bounced back after a tough loss and the way they went into practice and stayed focused.”
The Argos obviously have bigger sights, but Saturday’s win clinched another winning season, the fourth in UWF’s five-season history. It’s a feat that few start-up college football teams have attained.
“This is a process. Things aren’t always going to look phenomenal,” Reed said. “And part of that process is getting to where you are playing your best football around week 10 or 11.
“I love the progression of this team. I don’t want to be the best team in the country after six weeks, I want to be the best in the country after Dec. 18 (Division II championship game).”
The Argos also love how quickly Jared Smith has emerged. With leading receiver David Durden out Saturday with a groin injury (he is expected back next Saturday), it was Smith’s chance to shine.
The Enterprise, Alabama native delivered with four catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. He followed the 78-yard splash play with a 9-yard scoring catch on UWF’s first possession of the third quarter.
“Just super proud of this kid just getting open,” Reed said. “He’s been solid since he got here on campus and is just getting more and more comfortable with the offense. He has added an extra dimension to our offense that we didn’t know we had.”
The Argos began the game with the ball and set a tone. Shomari Mason finished a five-play drive, following a 63-yard kick return by Marcus Clayton, with his 2-yard touchdown plunge. Mason rushed for 85 yards on just six carries.
Rodney Coates made it 14-0 with his 11-yard pass from Reed on the team’s third possession. UWF scored touchdowns on four of its five offensive tries in the first half. The exception was a Reed interception.
But the play Smith made, after UWF was pinned deep, following a holding penalty late in the first half, helped put the game away.
“It’s a great feeling,” Smith said. “But this man (pointing to Reed) had a lot of trust in me just to go run and catch the ball. We do it in practice, so it just comes natural in the game.”
Said Reed: “We feel like with any amount of time left on the board with a timeout we can go score. Thankful that Coach Shinnick had the trust in us to go out there and let us just roll. Third down, just called a deep shot and thought maybe they wouldn’t be expecting us to throw it that far.”
The final three games on UWF’s schedule will level up in challenges. The Argos travel to Clinton, Miss. next Saturday to play Mississippi College.
The Choctaws were thumped 41-14 Saturday by unbeaten Valdosta State, but it’s a lengthy road trip, an evening game (6 p.m.) and Mississippi College’s homecoming game.
The focus will then turn to West Alabama (on road) and the finale against Valdosta State which will shape UWF’s post-season fate.
Before all that, however, UWF knows it will need to shore up some issues on defense. All four of Shorter’s scoring drives Saturday were longer than 70 yards, albeit two against the Argos’ reserves on defense.
“Defensively, there is some frustration there, just getting off the field,” Shinnick said. “I think we are very close. But we just allowed some drives to go. And we need to do a better job closing out. At some point in time we need to get off the field and we really didn’t do that.
“I’ll take 45-23 after a loss. Now we have to go on the road for two weeks and keep playing well.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
Photos: Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Byrneville Elementary Students Learn About Fire Safety
October 24, 2021
Kindergarten students at Byrneville Elementary School learned about fire safety Friday with Escambia Fire Rescue’s Engine 5 from Century and other emergency services representatives.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pen Air Permanently Closing Century Branch, The Only Financial Institution In The Town
October 23, 2021
The Pen Air Federal Credit Union branch in Century will permanently close, leaving Century without a financial institution.
The lobby of the Pen Air location will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, according to an email sent to Pen Air members. A “Pen Air LIVE” interactive video ATM will remain open.
“Thank you for letting us be a part of your community all these years. We look forward to serving your banking needs, today and for many more years to come,” Pen Air Century Branch Manager Angie White said in the email.
“I hate they are closing,” said Sandra McMurray-Jackson, longtime Pen Air members, a Century business owner and member of the Century Town Council. She joined Pen Air in the late 1990s with her late husband, with both of her sons becoming members as they grew older.
“I consider Pen Air to be part of my family,” Jackson said. “We need Pen Air in Century.”
In their email to members, Pen Air said banking behavior has changed, with a dramatic shift in the past year. The credit union said an “overwhelming majority” of members now use online banking, a mobile app and other digital services when possible.
Pictured: The Pen Air Federal Credit Union branch in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
By The Numbers: Quantity Of Materials Needed For Highway 29, Nine Mile Road Projects
October 23, 2021
Ever wonder how much of of what it would take to complete a big road construction project.
The Florida Department of Transportation has released some interest graphics that detail exactly what went into the Highway 29 and Nine Mile Road widening projects.
Northview Beats Marianna 21-14 (With Photo Gallery)
October 23, 2021
The Northview Chiefs beat the Marianna Bulldogs 21-14 Friday night in Bratt.
Northview was coming off a tough 45-13 loss on the road last week at Catholic, and head football coach Wes Summerford told the Chiefs they would turn it around against the Bulldogs.
“I told them before the game, I said we just got to get back on the winning track. It’s a good time, not better time than the present, to get back to winning football,” he said. And it wasn’t just about the win, it was about the RPI.
With playoff determinations a few weeks away, the 1A Chiefs needed the win over 4A Marianna to earn the points needed for a postseason berth. In Class 1A, playoff spots are not determined by district wins; it’s the Rating Percentage Index (RPI). RPI rankings are based upon a mathematical formula based upon a team’s current record, current Winning Percentage (WP), Opponents Winning Percentage (OWP), and their Opponent’s Winning Percentage (OOWP). Basically, beat better teams and rank higher.
“I think our back was kind of against gets the wall as far as the RPI. You know we started slipping a little bit and I think our kids just fought their butt off, they knew it,” Summerford said Friday night.
For an action photo gallery, click or tap here. (Look for a photo gallery by Monday with cheerleaders, band and fans!)
The Chiefs opened the scoring with a Luke Bridges touchdown from fourth and long from about the 25. With a good kick from sophomore Brandon Ferguson, the Chiefs were on top 7-0.
The ensuing kickoff was recovered by Northview’s Aron Chavira at about the 40-yard line.
Jamarkus Jefferson was in for a touchdown, but it was called back due a Northview block in the backfield flag. Jefferson made another trip into the end zone with 4:50 remaining in the half. With another good Ferguson kick, the Chiefs were in the lead at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium.
Jefferson added another TD with 47 seconds in the half. Ferguson nailed the kick through the uprights for a 21-0 Northview lead. But the Bulldogs were determined not to head the locker room scoreless and added a TD at 36.9 seconds to make it 21-6 at the halftime buzzer.
The Bulldogs added the only touchdown of the second half in the third for the 21-14 final.
Next week, it’s a 150 mile road trip for the Chiefs as they travel to Panama City to face the Bay High Tornadoes.
The road hasn’t been kind to the Chiefs this year. Northview, 3-4 overall, is 3-0 at home and 0-4 away. Bay is 2-6 this season, with their only two wins coming at home.
“I know the road (is tough),” Summerford said. “This is thing we’ve got to know is where we’re at. Seed-wise, we’re probably going to be on the road for the playoffs, so no better time like the present to get ready.”
For an action photo gallery, click or tap here. (Look for a photo gallery by Monday with cheerleaders, band and fans!)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Long Range Winter Forecast: Warmer And Drier
October 23, 2021
If you’re hoping for a real cold winter, you may just be out of luck, according to a long range winter outlook.
Above average temperatures are favored across the South, according to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National Weather Service.
Drier than average conditions are also in the long range outlook for the entire Southeast as La Nina climate conditions have emerged for the second winter in a row. However, drought conditions are not in the forecast.
“Using the most up-to-date observing technologies and computer models, our dedicated forecasters at the Climate Prediction Center produce timely and accurate seasonal outlooks to help communities prepare for the months ahead,” said Michael Farrar, Ph.D., director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
Friday Night High School Football Scoreboard
October 23, 2021
FLORIDA
- Northview 21, Marianna 14 [Story, photo gallery]
- Port St. Joe 50, Jay 13
- West Florida 50, Pensacola High 6
- Pine Forest 44, Gulf Breeze 14
- Washington at Pensacola Catholic
- Escambia 35, Milton 34
- Niceville 31, Navarre 9
- Crestview 27, Pace 26
- Blountstown 30, Baker 14
- Tate (bye week)
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 41, Southern Academy 15
- Jackson 57, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
- T.R. Miller 30, Flomaton 29
- Opp 34, W.S. Neal 8
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Marianna at home Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Kingsfield Elementary’s Hartley Named Escambia County’s SHAPE Florida Winner
October 23, 2021
Kingsfield Elementary Schools’ Cristen Hartley has been selected as Escambia County’s SHAPE Florida PE Teacher of the Year.
SHAPE Florida is the Society of Health and Physical Educators. Their mission is to enhance knowledge, improve professional practice and increase support for high quality health and physical education, nutrition programs and physical activity.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia Reports 207 New COVID-19 Cases In Last Week
October 23, 2021
There were 207 new COVID-19 cases reported Escambia County over the last week by the Florida Department of Health.
Baptist, Ascension Sacred Heart and West Florida hospitals reported a combined 47 COVID-19 hospitalizations as of Friday.
Here is the latest data:
Escambia County cases:
Total cases: 53,492 (+207)
Positivity rate last week: 4.9%
Current total hospitalizations: 48
Over age 18 and over hospitalizations: 47
Under age 18 hospitalized: 1
Total deaths reported last 7 days: less than 10 (CDC data)
Escambia County Vaccinations
People vaccinated: 153,355 (+846)
Total Population of Escambia County Partially Vaccinated: 55.3%
Total Population of Escambia County Fully Vaccinated: 47.6%
*These numbers are the percent of total Escambia County population vaccinated. Not the percentage of hospitalized individuals.
Santa Rosa County cases:
Total cases: 32,310 (+157)
Positivity rate last week: 7.0%
People vaccinated: 89,3261 (+484)
Partial vaccination rate (age 12+): 56%
Total deaths last 7 days: 0 (CDC data)
Statewide cases:
Florida resident cases: 3,635,126 (+15,314)
Case positivity rate: 3.4%
Deaths: 58,803 (+106)
FDOH has moved from daily to weekly reports and removed the COVID-19 dashboard. The state is now releasing a weekly report with local data limited only to number of cases and positivity rate The number of deaths by county or cases by local cities and communities is no longer provided by FDOH.
Final Two Ladarius Clardy Murder Suspects Have Been Arrested
October 22, 2021
The final two named suspects in the murder of football standout Ladarius Clardy have now been arrested.
Timothy Donail Knight, Jr. and Terrell Taquez Parker Jr., were arrested Friday on charges of principal first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and one count of attempted murder
Kobie Lashun Jenkins, Jr. is being held without bond on multiple charges including first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder he turned himself in at the county jail October 15. . Jenkins was the alleged triggerman.
Amos Dehontiguan Snowden Jr. and his brother Da’Quavion Snowden, Jr. were earlier charged with first degree principal to murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Both remain in the Escambia County Jail without bond.
