Barrineau Park Fall Gathering Held Saturday
September 15, 2019
The Barrineau Park Historical Society held its annual Fall Gathering Saturday at the Barrineau Park Community Center. There event featured arts and crafts, vendors, activities for the kids, live music by the Southern Revival Band, food and fellowship. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Beats Shorter With Reed’s Record Setting Day
September 15, 2019
Austin Reed turned Barron Stadium into his own playground Saturday, throwing for 364 yards and accounting for all six touchdowns in a 42-14 road victory over Shorter in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams.
The redshirt freshman from St. Augustine made his first career start and didn’t disappoint, completing 24-of-35 passes while putting up the sixth-most passing yards by an Argonaut in program history. Additionally, his six touchdowns responsible for tied the school record set by current quarterbacks coach Kaleb Nobles against Missouri S&T in 2016.
UWF (1-1, 1-0 GSC) finished with 556 yards of total offense, including 140 on the ground. The total yards were the third-most in the school’s 39-game history.
The Argos came out on fire in the second half, led by Reed who completed all seven passes in the opening two possessions as UWF took command of the game. After halftime he was 13-for-16 for 217 yards with four passing scores on the first four possessions.
Quentin Randolph had a career day as well, hauling in four balls for 117 yards and a touchdown. His catches went for 44, 51, six and 16 yards apiece. Rodney Coates made seven catches to lead UWF as 10 different players caught at least one ball.
The running game was also strong, led by Anthony Johnson, Jr. who carried the ball 14 times for 72 yards with five of his touches resulting in first downs. UWF finished with 26 first downs.
Chanler Ferguson led a swarming defense with five tackles and an interception. Kedrick Bradley, Trent Archie, Terry Limehouse, Ty Cox and Ian Bush had four stops each.
Shorter (0-2, 0-1) managed just 93 yards of total offense in the second half to finish with 314. The Hawks have not won a game since midway through the 2015 season – a span of 41-consecutive games.
After the Argos held the Hawks on the first possession of the contest, the teams traded scores over the next four times. UWF’s touchdowns came on runs of one and six yards by Reed, while Shorter got a 65-yard run from Tupac Lanier and a 46-yard pass from Tyler Pullam to Andrew Warren to send the teams into the locker room tied at 14-14.
Reed connected with Kevin Grant from eight yards, Randolph from 51, Ka’Ron Ashley from 16 and Coates from 20 as UWF outscored Shorter 28-0 in the second half.
UWF will have three-consecutive games at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, beginning next Saturday against Virginia-Lynchburg. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Stop Sign Highway 29 At Nine Mile
September 15, 2019
The Florida Department of Transportation is reminding drivers that there is a new stop sign installed at the end of the southbound off-ramp from Highway 29 to westbound Nine Mile Road. A full stop is now required before merging onto Nine Mile Road westbound. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ransom Middle Students Get Tropical Lesson From Tate Grad Hurricane Hunter
September 14, 2019
Students at Ransom Middle School learned a lesson about hurricanes Friday from member of the Hurricane Hunters who is a Ransom and Tate High School graduate.
Maj. Christopher Dyke is n aerial reconnaissance weather officer (ARWO) in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, better known as the “Hurricane Hunters”. For him, Friday was speaking to his former teacher Louis O’Rear’s class before flying out to the Atlantic on Saturday.
The squadron conducts primarily two types of tropical cyclone missions: low-level invests and fix missions. A low-level invest mission is flown at 500 to 1,500 feet to determine if there is a closed circulation. Once a close circulation exists, they fly at higher altitudes, ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. Aircrews fly through the eye of a storm four to six times per mission to locate the low-pressure center and circulation of the storm. During these missions, the aircrews transmit the weather data by satellite to the NHC.
Dykes and his family moved to Cantonment when he was 13.
Before he became part of the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, Dyke served as a meteorologist in the Air Force from 2005 to 2008. His first assignment was at Keesler. He reported to the Weather Officer Course, with his first month being one many on the Gulf Coast he will never forget — Hurricane Katrina.
He eventually left the base, reporting to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, where he completed his weather training and began his first permanent duty assignment.
When Dyke isn’t flying, he is also the Air Force Reserve Command interim weather career field manager. He manages the weather specialists’ career paths, and is also responsible for organizing, training and equipping weather units.
Whether he is working issues to improve the unit or flying into the world’s most powerful storms to gather life-saving data, Dyke has a passion for his profession.
Friday was not the first time Dykes as taken the time to speak at Ransom. Last year, he spoke to Mr. O’Rears class on a satellite phone from the middle of Hurricane Olivia over the Pacific Ocean.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Baker Barely Gets Past Northview (With Photo Gallery)
September 14, 2019
A Friday the 13th full moon in Bratt turned out to be unlucky for the Northview Chiefs as they lost a hard fought battle 14-12 to the Baker Gators.
Baker was forced to punt it away, and Northview’s Jayden Jackson took it to the house to give the Chiefs a 6-0 lead with 19.8 seconds to go in the first quarter. It was first of two big touchdowns for Jackson, a Boston College recruit, on the night.
With less than 14 seconds to to in the half, Baker answered with a touchdown and a good kick for a 7-6 lead over the Chiefs.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In the third, Joe Brunson, son of Baker coach Joe Brunson, was in from the 2 to expand the Gator’s lead to 14-6. But the Chiefs were quick to answer as Jackson added a 61-yard TD for the Chiefs. A critical two-point conversion was no good, 14-12 Baker on top.
With under two minutes to go in the fourth, the Chiefs recovered a fumble in the endzone for a touchback. On their final drive, quarterback Ben Wilson found Jackson on passes of 24 and 34 yards as the clock ticked down. But with just seven seconds remaining, another Wilson pass was picked off by Baker to seal a win for the Gators.
“There are a not a lot of words honestly,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “We had opportunities, but didn’t capitalize. The defense played a heck of a game. The defensive staff did a heck of a job, kudos to them. We didn’t score enough points; we didn’t run the ball well enough. That’s really what it boils down to. Like I said we had opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize.”
Friday night was the 32nd straight win for the Baker Gators (3-0), their eighth straight win over the Northview Chiefs. Northview (1-2) has not beat the Gators since 2012 when the Chiefs won the 1A state championship.
But the story of the Chiefs and the Gators may not be over for 2019. Both teams were ranked in the top 10 in state in class 1A headed into Friday night. Baker was the runner-up for state last year, and the Chiefs other loss was to Flomaton, the defending 3A Alabama state champions. Baker and Northview could easily meet again this season in the playoffs.
In the meantime, Northview will be on the road next Friday night at Holmes County in Bonifay (1-4).
For a photo gallery, click here. (Look for a cheerleader, band and fan photo gallery in the next few days.)
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Splash Pad Could Be Coming To Beulah Park
September 14, 2019
Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh says he is interested exploring a possible splash pad for Beulah Park.
“I have been asked about the feasibility of bringing one of these amenities out to the residents that live near Beulah Park,” he wrote on his blog Friday. “so I have had some staff looking into this.:
Bergosh said that initial research shows the cost would be between $75,000 and $90,000, but there are other costs to be considered. He said a system that uses a continual supply of potable water would have a lower construction cost but a higher water bill. Or a system that recirculates the water would need to be monitored and checked to assure cleanliness, but that might could be done by county staff at the nearby Equestrian Center.
“If it is deemed feasible and practical, I will set aside some of my discretionary LOST (local option sales tax) funds to construct this amenity,” Bergosh said. “I hope we can get this done–it would be great for the county to have one of these for the many children who do not have access to pools or other bodies of water in the heat of our summer.”
Pictured: A splash pad that opened in Atmore last year at a cost of $150,000. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tallahassee Leon Downs Tate
September 14, 2019
Tallahassee Leon defeated the Tate Aggies 31-16 Friday night.
It was the second road trip in a row to Tallahassee for the Aggies, thanks to the FHSAA’s new district alignments.
The Aggies took an early lead thanks to a Keaton Solmonson 64-yard touchdown run, 7-0 Tate. Leon tied it up a few minutes later, but the Aggies were on top 10-7 in the first quarter with a 25-yard field goal from senior kicker Matthew Johnson.
Tate’s other score for the night came as time expired on a 43-yard pass from senior quarterback Ethan George to junior Kesean Williams.
The Aggies (1-3, 0-2) will finally be back in their house at Pete Gindl Stadium next Friday night as they host Crestview.
NorthEscambia.com file photo by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Opens Regional Play With Win Over Excel
September 14, 2019
The Flomaton Hurricanes opened regional play with 30-8 win over Excel Friday night.
Da’quan Johnson punched it in for a short touchdown to give the Canes an early 8-0 lead with a good two point conversion. After a 56-yard run to inside the 5-yard line by Alex Cash, Flomaton expanded their lead with short touchdown run from Travon Brown. With another good two point conversion, the defending 3A state champions were up 16-0 on their home turf.
Excel added a TD and a 2-pointer in the second to make it a 16-8 ballgame. Johnson added another Flomaton touchdown, for a 22-8 Hurricane lead on their way to a 30-8 win.
The Flomaton Hurricanes are now 3-0 on the young season. They will travel to Fairhope to take on St. Michael Catholic next Thursday at 7 p.m. before hosting Escambia County High School on September 27.
Also Friday night, Flomaton Varsity Cheer announced the Hurricane Strong Spirit Scholarship. It will be awarded a graduating 2020 senior in memory of Kelsie Padgett. In 2018, Kelsie passed away after a battle with brain cancer.
Photos for Sheridan Rowell for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
September 14, 2019
Here are Friday night finals from around the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
Baker 14, Northview 12 [Details, photo gallery...]
Tallahassee Leon 31, Tate 16 [Game details...]
Lake City Columbia 21, Pine Forest 13
West Florida 55, Arnold 14
Catholic 34, St. Stanislaus (Miss.) 26
Washington 35, Gulf Breeze 29
Choctaw 50, Pensacola High 22
Milton 21, Fort Walton Beach 7
Mosley 8, Pace 6
Tallahassee Lincoln 35. Navarre 20 (Thursday)
Jay – Off
Escambia – Off
*District game
ALABAMA
Escambia County (Atmore) 19, Hillcrest 15
Escambia Academy 38, Clarke Prep 0
Flomaton 30, Excel 8 [Details, photos...]
T.R. Miller 44, St. Michael Catholic 21
Clarke County 21, W.S. Neal 0
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Early Morning Fire Damages Structure In Jay
September 14, 2019
Fire damaged structure on in Jay early Saturday morning.
The fire was reported about 1:40 a.m. in the 3800 block of Williams Avenue between Spring Street and Alabama Street. The building was unoccupied.
There were no reports of any injuries, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Responding units included the Jay Volunteer Department, Berrydale Volunteer Fire Department and the Century Station of Escambia Fire Rescue.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.