UWF Argos Earn No. 2 Seed For NCAA Playoffs In Super Region 2
November 17, 2025
The University of West Florida football team has earned a bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs receiving the No. 2 seed in Super Region Two which was announced during the selection show on Sunday.
UWF (9-1) will host North Greenville at PenAir Field on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 1 p.m. for the first round of the playoffs. The Trailblazers are the No. 7 team in the region and finished the year with a 7-4 overall record including winning the Conference Carolinas title on Saturday with a 34-20 win over UNC Pembroke.
The Argos and North Greenville already faced off once this season when UWF made the trip to South Carolina back on Sept. 20. The Argos walked away with a 25-17 win over the Trailblazers in a tightly contested game that came down a late defensive stop in the redzone by UWF.
The Argos were the No.1 team in the region leading up to the final home game of the regular season before dropping the regular season finale to Valdosta, 47-44 in overtime. Despite the loss, UWF and Valdosta share the Gulf South Conference title due to a loss being credited to the Blazers after using an ineligible player in a previous GSC contest.
Evacuated Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Personnel Head Home From NAS Pensacola
November 17, 2025
After nearly three weeks at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola during late October’s Hurricane Melissa and the subsequent recovery phase of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay from the storm, non-mission essential personnel temporarily relocated to the air station are returning to Cuba.
The nearly 900 Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel temporarily relocated to NAS Pensacola have been residing in installation accommodations and – as eligible beneficiaries – have been able to use air station resources such as the Jet Port Café; Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) facilities and services; and Navy Inn offerings.
“The dedicated and professional team at NAS Pensacola went above and beyond to ensure that these members of our Navy family were afforded every convenience we could provide,” said Capt. Chandra ‘Mamasan’ Newman. “The support of our air station and tenant command service members, civilian employees and other volunteers has been amazing during our increased operational tempo with our Guantanamo Bay guests, and I couldn’t be prouder of this team during what has been a challenging evolution.”
Newman said the activation of the Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC), a temporarily activated entity in response to an event causing relocation, was critical to the success of the nearly three-week operation. Controlled by NAS Pensacola’s Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), several installation departments and community mutual aid partnerships such as the Pensacola-area American Red Cross and the United Services Organization (USO) were involved in the ongoing evolution.
“Our FFSC personnel have manned the EFAC since we began this almost three weeks ago,” she said. “Their dedication, perseverance and resilience speak volumes of just how engaged and willing NAS Pensacola and our tenant commands are in ensuring we take care of our Navy family.”
Along with NAS Pensacola’s Unaccompanied Housing employees, staff from the Navy Lodge; Navy Inn; the Navy Exchange (NEX); MWR’s Child and Youth Programs; NAS Pensacola Religious Ministries and Public Works and the U.S. Army Pensacola Veterinary Readiness Activity Fort Eisenhower Pensacola Branch were integral parts of the EFAC. Additionally, organizations including the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) and USO as well as off-installation organizations such as the American Red Cross played a pivotal role in ensuring eligible beneficiaries were aware of available resources.
Newman added that the community support for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay non-mission essential personnel was overwhelming, referring to the significant donations of pet supplies, suggested outings and community engagements.
“Being part of a community which has embraced its service members and their families for nearly two centuries is awe-inspiring,” she said. “So many community organizations have reached out to provide assistance, to offer the opportunity to attend events, to just let these individuals displaced during a difficult time know that they care. The City of Pensacola and the surrounding communities are so much a part of our Navy, and we appreciate all they do.”
The non-mission essential personnel movement allowed Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to minimize operations during Hurricane Melissa and expedited recovery operations. An estimated 5,500 personnel and families live and work onboard Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
NAS Pensacola, the only Navy installation in the Gulf with both a deep-water port and active airfield, previously received non-mission essential personnel during 2016’s Hurricane Michael, and also serves as a safe harbor for numerous U.S. Coast Guard and USNS ships during extreme weather situations.
story by Lt.j.g. Jonathan Pitts and Lt.j.g. Jonathan Merced
Photo by Bruce Cummins for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High School Names Hall Of Fame Members
November 16, 2025
Tate High School has announced its Hall of Fame for 2025-2026.
These distinguished seniors exemplify the highest standards of character, leadership, and dedication to the Tate Aggie community.
The 20 students named to the Tate High School Hall of Fame are:
- Lauren Armstrong
- Willow Beachner
- Kinzlee Biggs
- Conner Bignell
- Aiden Bramblett
- Edwin Ciesla
- Maegan Coleman
- Garrett Groff
- Carter Hayden
- Carson Hindsman
- Brooke Holland
- Ava Jacobi
- Lawson Killingsworth
- Anna Lippitt
- Lena Litton
- Kaven Powell
- Emma Touchstone
- Linh Tran
- Tre Wells
- Rubing (Ruby) Wu
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Beulah Middle Digital Discoveries Academy Students Make School Board Presentation
November 16, 2025
Students from Beulah Middle School’s Digital Discoveries Academy highlighted their program for the Escambia County School Board.
The young professionals shared their programs and the many opportunities for growth: academic, professional, and personal. These students utilize numerous digital tools to learn real-life skills.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Commissioner Proposes Efficiency Study to Cut Tax Burden, Streamline County Operations
November 16, 2025
Escambia County District Four Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger has introduced a proposal aimed at addressing fiscal accountability and operational effectiveness across county departments. The initiative calls for a comprehensive organizational efficiency study, with the ultimate goal of reducing the tax burden on residents.
The District 4 commissioner’s proposal is scheduled for consideration at Monday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. If approved, it would direct county staff to solicit proposals from qualified consulting firms to conduct the in-depth review.
The selected firm would evaluate all county departments, engaging directly with managers and employees to identify opportunities for reorganization, resource optimization, and improved service delivery.
“This initiative is about making government work smarter for the people it serves,” she said. “My goal is to create a clear roadmap that ensures Escambia County operates efficiently and responsibly. Some departments are stretched too thin, while others may not be achieving the impact our taxpayers expect. Across-the-board cuts don’t work — critical areas like roads, infrastructure, and public safety need strategic investment, not reduction. The key is to reallocate resources where they make the greatest difference for our residents.”
She said the proposal follows strong community advocacy for adopting the property tax rollback rate and reflects growing public demand for more efficient government spending.
“If this evaluation had been conducted last year, the county could have saved an estimated $11 million,” she stated. “An independent, third-party review will bring transparency and objectivity to the process — free from internal bias or favoritism — so we can make data-driven decisions that truly benefit taxpayers.”
The BOCC will hear Hofberger vision during a regular meeting on Monday, November 17 at 9 a.m.
“No one has ever emailed me asking to raise their property taxes,” Hofberger added. “Our residents expect us to do everything possible to reduce the tax burden while maintaining essential public services. This study is a step toward that goal.”
Winning $3.75 Million Florida Lotto Ticket Sold On Nine Mile Road
November 16, 2025
The $3.75 million winning ticket in Saturday night’s Florida Lotto game was sold on Nine Mile Road.
The quick pick ticket was sold at the Circle K at 3225 West Nine Mile Road at I-10. It was the only winning sold in the state.
The winning numbers Saturday night were 2-14-27-29-45-53.
Northview Tribal Beat Members Take Part In UWF’s Band Day
November 16, 2025
Members of the Northview High School Tribal Beat Band took part in the UWF Arto Marching Band’s Band Day 2025 on Saturday at UWF’s PenAir Field.
The high school band member that took part from schools across the area had a chance to experience the action and excitement of a UWF gameday
Olivia Doyle, Daivyd Wallace, Elizabeth Coleman, Brynlie Shaw, Donavan Szuch, Chloe Edwards, Felicity St. Louis, and Kayleigh Young were the participating Tribal Beat members.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: First Baptist Church Of Bratt Holds Fall Festival
November 16, 2025
The First Baptist Church of Bratt held its Fall Festival on Saturday.
Festivities included a chili lunch, bounce house, games and more.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No. 3 UWF Argos Fall In Heartbreaking OT Loss To Valdosta
November 16, 2025
The hopes carried by UWF’s football team Saturday to celebrate an unbeaten regular season and first outright Gulf South Conference title before a record home crowd were dashed in a stunning end.
After the No. 3-ranked Argos (9-1) tied the game in the final minute, they whiffed on an overtime possession and Valdosta State kicker Matt Rolader drilled a 37-yard field goal, giving the Blazers a walk-off 47-44 upset win at PenAir Field that will reshape the seeding and NCAA Division II playoff picture.
It was an emotion-numbing experience for UWF and the 5,754 fans who watched a wild, back-and-forth game of big plays, big mistakes and emotional swings.
“Obviously a little frustrated with how we played,” said UWF coach Kaleb Nobles. “We didn’t play our best, but we still gave them everything we had to take it to overtime. We’ll let this hurt for 24 hours and see how we respond. We still have a chance to make a run in the playoffs and we’ve got to get a lot better.”
In another riveting game in this rivalry, it featured a combined 948 yards total offense by the teams and five times when the score was tied.
The Blazers (6-4) won their fourth straight game and captured their 12th GSC title after starting the season 2-4. It was Valdosta State’s first overtime game since UWF beat the Blazers 32-31 in 2022. Each team has produced big wins on the other team’s home field.
On Saturday, UWF’s downfall was committing three turnovers, missing three field goals and an extra point. UWF also had some crucial penalties and could not get enough defensive stops in the final three quarters.
“I was on the players a bunch about it in the locker room and the nice thing is they are saying the same thing I”m saying now,” Nobles said. “We’ve got to get better, we gotta get more disciplined.
“We are going to get those things fixed. We’ll coach them up and if guys can’t do it, they won’t be on the playoff roster.”
Had they won, the Argos would have been the No. 1 seed in their eight-team Super Region bracket with a home-field advantage through the first three rounds. Now, it’s anyone’s guess how the pairings will shake out when the entire NCAA Division II playoff field is revealed at 5 p.m. Sunday on the selection show that will be live streamed on NCAA.com.
UWF is assured a first-round home game, but it gets dicier after that. Valdosta State was cited Friday by the GSC for using an ineligible player for its first eight games. That player did not play in the upset wins against Delta State or UWF in the final two games, but the Blazers’ win against West Alabama was declared a conference loss by the GSC.
It will be up to the NCAA football selection committee to determine how that affects the region pairings. Winning the GSC was set to bring an automatic spot in the playoffs.
“We’re in the playoffs and did our job getting that far,” Nobles said. “I know that we’re probably going to have to go on the road in the maybe the second or third round, but our guys have to be ready. Doesn’t matter about location, we have to be ready to play and I will do my job to get them ready to play.”
Here’s how Saturday’s game unfolded.
FIRST HALF
After missing a field goal on their second possession, the Argos produced a pair of touchdowns on a big play and a long drive to jump to a 13-0 lead.
Facing 3rd-and-12 from the UWF 40, quarterback Marcus Stones threw a deep pass under pressure that receiver Corey Scott outleaped a VSU defender for the ball inside Blazers territory and ran the distance for a 60-yard touchdown and the game’s first points.
After another defensive stop, the Argos scored again when Jayon Swinton caught a 21-yard scoring pass with 3:52 left in the quarter. But the extra point was blocked by the Blazers and returned for a 2-point play at the other end zone.
On their next possession, UWF was poised to expand the lead, but ball was punched loose. The Blazers recovered and this became a pivotal moment.
Valdosta State scored a pair of touchdowns less than two minutes apart, following another UWF fumble to take a 16-13 lead and turn the game into a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way.
The Argos tied the game on freshman kicker Brogan Woeber’s field goal and regained the lead on TJ Lane’s 10-yard score, following a big hit on VSU quarterback Jameson Holcomb and fumble recovery.
But the Blazers answered to tie the game with 1:55 left in the half.
Undaunted, UWF answered right back with Stokes finishing a 75-yard scoring drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Scott with 28 seconds left before halftime. It gave UWF a 30-23 halftime lead.
SECOND HALF
After UWF failed on a fourth-down conversion through a penalty, VSU tied the game with a 75 yard drive in three plays. A personal foul penalty followed a long pass completion and led to the tying score.
The Argos went up 37-30 after an interception by Chester Fearon and return to the Blazers 7. After Stokes’ run was nullified by a taunting penalty against him, he made amends two plays later with a TD pass to Tyree Holloway.
But this is where another big sequence unfolded. The Blazers reeled off more big plays to set up touchdown run and tied the game 37-37 with 1:56 left in the third quarter.
They took a 44-37 lead after Stokes threw an interception the end zone early in the fourth quarter, then another chance was missed when UWF smothered a botched punt at the Blazzers 27. UWF’s offense failed to deliver and Woeber missed a 44-yard field goal.
This time, VSU answered with six play drive where Holcomb made three big pass plays to set up the go-ahead scored.
The game reached its dramatic point in the final three and a half minutes.
UWF failed to convert a 4th-and-1 situation at the Valdosta 21 with 3:29 left when tailback Jay Sharp was ruled down inches short of the mark.
The Argos used their remaining timeouts, got a defensive stop and the ball back with 2:26 remaining at their own 43. They tied the game with 28 seconds left when Stokes connected with Holloway on a 35-yard pass that had the crowd screaming in delight.
Nobles signaled for a two-point conversion try and bold move to try and take the lead and win the game. But it never happened. The Argos were cited for a delay of game penalty following a late substitution and were forced to kick the extra point.
“We had a little miscommunication on something,” Nobles said. “I’m not going to go into detail about it, but we had played a lot of plays and I felt like (players) were tired on both sides, so I felt let’s go win the thing right now.”
OVERTIME
The Blazers won the coin toss. That proved pivotal. They elected to play defense first.
UWF lost a yard on its first play, after Lane was smothered on a running play. The next two plays were incomplete passes by Stokes. That forced a 41-yard field goal attempt by Woeber that was deflected and fell way short.
“Four bad plays in a row to end the game will definitely keep me up (Saturday night),” Nobles said. “Not very happy about it. We didn’t really do what we were supposed to do on any of those plays.
“So our guys have to improve on it, they have execute what we’re trying to do and we’ve got to do better as coaches in preparing them.”
The Blazers gained five yards on their possession from the 25, but had the ball right in the center of the field, easing the field goal attempt that split through the uprights to win the game.
Ice Flyers Continue Winning Ways With 4-1 Victory Over Marksmen
November 16, 2025
The Ice Flyers continued their winning ways on Small Dog Race Night sweeping the weekend series with a 4-1 victory over the Fayetteville Marksmen in front of 5,595 fans at the Hangar.
After a scoreless first period that saw both teams trade chances, Sam Rhodes broke through in the second to give the Ice Flyers a 1-0 lead. Tim Kent evened the score for Fayetteville midway through the frame, but Rhodes answered back late in the period to restore the Ice Flyers’ advantage. Tyler Burnie added another goal before the end of the second, sending Pensacola into the final period with a commanding 3-1 lead.
The intermissions brought their own entertainment as 96 dogs competed in races on the ice, with tons of cute chaos delighting the crowd throughout the night.
The second period featured multiple fights that electrified the crowd and set the tone for the rest of the game. Shane Bull capped off the night with the lone goal of the third period to seal the 4-1 win.
Rico DiMatteo was once again outstanding in net, following up his shutout performance from the previous night with a 31-save effort, stopping all but one of Fayetteville’s 32 shots.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
