UWF’s Dream Season Comes To An End in National Title Game
December 17, 2017
UWF saw its amazing postseason run come to an end in a place few envisioned when the season kicked off in early September. The Argonauts finished as the Division II National Runner Up following a 37-27 loss to No. 8 Texas A&MCommerce in the championship game at Children’s Mercy Park.
UWF (11-4) grabbed the attention of the nation with its postseason run that saw it reach the title game in just its second season of competition – and its 26th all-time game.
But on Saturday night, the winners of Super Regional 2 were unable to contain the Lions and Harlon Hill Trophy winner Luis Perez. He had 323 yards on 23-of-30 passing with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
A&M Commerce (14-1) had 477 yards of total offense and never trailed, leading by as many as 17 midway through the fourth quarter.
“First off, congratulations to A&M Commerce on a fantastic game,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “They had an amazing year, really played one heck of a game, well deserving of today’s win. Extremely proud today of our guys. Just how they’ve continued to fight and continued to play, throughout the course of the whole season.
“These guy have worked extremely hard to put a second year program in the National Championship. Our offensive line coach, Steve Sauliner said, ‘You know if we would have lost to West Georgia, people would have patted us on the back and said nice job for going 6-4 in your second season.’ From that point we put ourselves into the national championship.
For UWF, Mike Beaudry was 22-of-48 for 252 yards with a touchdown and interception. He was also sacked five times. The redshirt freshman ended the season with 3,215 passing yards and 29 touchdowns – both UWF single-season highs.
Antoine Griffin led all players with 112 yards on eight receptions, in addition to his first career interception on a Lion fake punt in the first quarter.
The Argos got the ball at midfield following the turnover and tied the game at 7-7 ten plays later on a Chris Schwarz 1-yard run. But the momentum swung back to TAMU-C when Reggie Kincade returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a lead they never relinquished.
The Lions stretched their lead to 20-7 with a pair of Kristov Martinez field goals before the Argos ended the half with one of their patented end of half drives. This was a 10-play, 77-yard march in 2:54 that ended with a 20-yard Beaudry-to-Griffin connection, pulling the Blue and Green within 20-14 at the intermission. It was the 11th time in 15 games to score before the buzzer.
UWF’s Johnathan Coleman came up big with a forced fumble that Austin Dukes returned to the five. The Argos moved to the one on two rushes before a sack had them settle for a 27-yard Austin Williams field goal.
Commerce converted a pair of third down plays on its next possession that stretched the lead to 27-17, before another Williams field goal – this one from 47 yards – made it a 27-20 contest.
The Lions got another quick score, going 61 yards in four plays late in the third and a Martinez 19-yard field goal with 7:41 left in the game to lead 37-20.
The Argonauts cut it to 37-27 on Schwarz’s second score with 4:45 on the clock. They got the ball one more time and moved it to near midfield but turned the ball over on downs as the Lions were able to get one first down and run out the clock.
The Argonauts had 276 yards of offense and a season-low 24 net rushing yards. Coleman had a game-high 14 tackles for his third double-digit effort in the last five games.
The future is definitely bright for the third year of the program in 2018. UWF’s starters for the majority of the playoff run had just three seniors on defense, one on offense and zero among the specialists.
Photos courtesy UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Taking The ‘Journey Through Bethlehem’ In Bratt (With Gallery)
December 17, 2017
The First Baptist Church of Bratt presented a live nativity event Saturday evening — Journey Through Bethlehem.
Visitors were able to walk the road through Bethlehem and experience the Christmas story come to life as they were able to see the shepherds in the field, learn from the villagers, be turned away by the innkeeper that had no room and see the Holy Family in the stable.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Cheerleaders Win Cheer Nation Competition
December 17, 2017
Dedria’s Gift Provides Christmas Presents For Nursing Home Residents
December 17, 2017
Local charity Dedria’s Gift presented Christmas donations Saturday to the residents of Westgate Village in Brewton , the Atmore Nursing Care Center and Century Health and Rehabilitation Center.
During the year, Dedria’s Gift has also provided scholarships and school supplies for needy students. The organization honors the memory of Dedria Robinson who was killed in a 2005 automobile accident at age 11.
Pictured: Dedria’s Gift presentations at Century Health and Rehabilitation Center (above) and Atmore Nursing Care Center (below). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Christmas Toys Giveaway Held In Cantonment
December 17, 2017
PCS Outreach Ministries held their 12th annual Toys Giveaway Saturday at Carver Park in Cantonment. The event, sponsored by Willie Kirkland, Jr. and Rev. John Powell of Truck for Youth, also included free hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and popcorn. Escambia Fire Rescue Engine 4 crew members also took part in the day’s events.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Senior Citizen Christmas Banquet Held At Quintette Community Center
December 17, 2017
The annual Senior Citizen Christmas Banquet was held Saturday at the Quintette Community Center. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Seventh Bulb: House Burns, No Smoke Detectors
December 17, 2017
A structure fire on the 5700 block of Wickford Lane represents the seventh red bulb on the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety wreath. Escambia County Emergency Communications received a call reporting the residential structure fire at 4:12 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Crews arrived on scene to find flames and heavy smoke coming from the single-story home.
Escambia County Fire Rescue called the fire under control at 4:37 a.m. No one was injured in the fire. Three adults and seven children were able to escape the fire by climbing out the windows. The home sustained smoke and fire damage, and all occupants were displaced and are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The Florida State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Navy Fire Department also provided assistance.
There were no working smoke detectors in the residence, and a child alerted the family to the fire.
If your home doesn’t have a working smoke detector, please call Escambia County Fire Rescue at 850-595-HERO (4376) or 850-436-5200 for city of Pensacola residents.
Santa’s New Ride: Jolly Old Elf Tours Beulah On Fire Truck
December 17, 2017
Santa Claus was spotted in the Beulah area Saturday. He traded his sleigh for a fire truck ride through the neighborhoods with the volunteer members of the Beulah Station of Escambia Fire Rescue. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Middle School Students Learn About Cotton, Timber In North Escambia
December 16, 2017
Seventh grade students from Workman Middle School visited North Escambia Thursday to learn about the cotton and timber industries. The students learned about cotton from producers Brett Ward and Heath Ward in Walnut Hill and forestry from landowner John Russell and Escambia County Forester Cathy Hardin in Oak Grove. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
More Than A Dream: Northview Grad Very First To Sign With UWF Argos
December 16, 2017
The University of West Florida Argo football team fell in the national championship game on Saturday. Not a bad way at all to cap just the second ever season for the team..
Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the national championship game.
And for Northview High School graduate Blake McCall, the game marks the end of a three year dream. McCall made history in December 2014 as the very first student athlete to sign with the new University of West Florida football team during the NCAA midyear transfer signing period.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to be here,” McCall told NorthEscambia.com from Kansas City, KS, Friday afternoon, just over 24 hours ahead of kickoff of the NCAA Division II National Championship game against Texas A&M-Commerce. “I’m not sure anybody really thought we’d be here right now; it’s taken some of us by surprise.”
“I knew we would do well; it’s just unreal,” the UWF senior remarked.
Putting it all on the line in a championship game is not new to McCall. It wasn’t the national stage, but a first-ever state title for the Northview Chiefs in 2012.
McCall helped lead Northview to an 11-3 overall record and a 4-0 district record as a senior. Northview averaged 42.9 points per game and took the Florida Class 1A state championship with a 42-21 win over Trenton High School during his senior year. McCall was a three-year starter and played all five positions in the offensive line.
“That was a crazy senior year,” said Mccall, who grew up in Bratt about a mile away from Northview. “I keep telling the guys now about being in a championship game, even though it was on a smaller scale.”
In 2013, he redshirted during his freshman year at Division I Jackson State. And during the 2014 season, he saw playing time as a redshirt freshman at Jackson State. On the offensive line, McCall helped lead the team to 25.8 points and 376.1 total yards per game.
Then he met a coach named Pete Shinnick who was working to build a brand new team at the University of West Florida.
“He is one of the most genuine guys I ever met. He was selling a new team when he recruited me, and I have learned that he does what he says,” McCall said.
Perhaps partially due to the inspiration instilled by Shinnick, McCall hopes to coach college football when he graduates.
But in the here and now, he knows that folks back home in Bratt and North Escambia will be rooting for their hometown boy as they watch the game on ESPN2 beginning at 5:00. (The game is also available on the WatchESPN app.)
“I love that community,” he said. “I have received so many Facebook messages and texts from people back home. It means a lot.”
Now, he’s focused on Saturday evening as the DII national championship game kicks off.
“Knowing that you are here in the national championship game will take your breath away,” McCall said as he nears his final football game. “Man what a way to go out. It’s surreal.”
Pictured top: Blake McCall, John Williamson and Devin Gibson at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS — site of today’s NCAA Division II National Championship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.