Century Camp Fire Kids Learn About Fire Safety With Escambia Fire Rescue
October 22, 2023
Students at the Camp Fire Century Youth Learning center recently learned about fire safety during a visit from Escambia County Fire Rescue Engine 5.
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No. 16 UWF Stuns No. 5 Delta State
October 22, 2023
Since the start of summer, UWF knew Saturday’s game at Delta State would be a defining one for the entire football season.
After another remarkable, second-half comeback at DSU’s McCool Stadium, the Argos now have a signature win they needed.
Trailing 21-10 at halftime and struggling from their own mistakes, the 18th ranked Argos rallied with a pair of touchdowns and had their defense play lights out in the second half to pull off a stunning 24-21 upset of the No. 5 ranked, previously unbeaten Statesmen.
Another magic act at this stadium, another big-time comeback in UWF’s impressive road history, and a win that first-year coach Kaleb Nobles can cherish in his new role.
“I challenged them at halftime and told them, ‘Hey it’s a 60-minute game, okay? We have every reason to believe in ourselves and play at a high level.’ And I am proud of these guys because they answered the call. I am really proud of them,” said Nobles, who was part of some of UWF’s big upsets as a player, then assistant coach.
Think about this: In their last three games at Delta State, the Argos trailed 30-10 in 2021, 24-10 in last year’s NCAA Division II playoffs, then Saturday’s 11-point deficit.
And UWF won them all.
“That is testament to our players and how well they have played in these games and how well they played (Saturday),” Nobles said.
The comeback, pressure-packed win Saturday put the Argos (6-2, 4-1 in Gulf South Conference) in a position to control their destiny in the conference championship race. They can win the league by winning out in the final three games, beginning with next Saturday’s showdown with rival Valdosta State (7-1, 4-1) in Pensacola at Pen Air Field.
UWF would own the tiebreaker against Delta State (7-1, 5-1) if both win out. The same holds true against West Georgia (5-2, 4-1). That could also bring a home-field playoff game in mid-November.
UWF’s defense, which entered ranked No. 8 nationally in D-2 in scoring defense, 18th in total defense, held a Delta State team averaging 46.6 points to less than half of that output.
That is what essentially won the game, after the Argos followed a late third quarter touchdown with the go-ahead score on their next possession early in the fourth quarter.
Five of Delta State’s six offensive possessions in the second half either resulted in a punt or stop on downs.
“Our defense played well in the first half,” Nobles said. “I don’t know how many plays we played on offense, but a lot of this was testament to our defense and how well they played.”
The Argos overcame 15 penalties for153 yards, along with a fumbled punt in the first half that contributed to Delta State’s lead.
UWF quarterback Peewee Jarrett, who was sacked four times and under duress on other plays, completed 13 of 21 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed an astonishing 27 times for a net 63 yards.
C.J. Wilson led UWF with 70 yards on 19 carries as Nobles crafted a gameplan that was heavy on ball-control and knowing Delta State’s defense was set on trying to prevent big plays from UWF star receiver John Jiles.
But in the second half, Jiles made a terrific catch on a 19-yard TD pass from Jarett with 1:18 left in the third quarter that completed a 56-yard drive and trimmed the Statesmen lead to 21-17.
“We knew we had to come out and execute and that’s what we had to do in the second half,” Jiles said. “The offense did give an internal (halftime) speech, because we knew our backs were against the wall.”
When UWF got its next chance, the Argos drove 65 yards on 10 plays, capped by another 19-yard pass from Jarrett to Jiles into the corner of the end zone.
“I really just wanted the ball,” Jiles said. “I saw (Delta State) was in a cover two (defensive formation) and Peewee and I just did what we have done all season – make plays.”
The game-sealing sequence came when UWF got the ball at its own 33 with 3:49 left. The Argos had a pivotal third-down conversion pass from Jarett to Caden Leggett near midfield and were able to run out all but the final six seconds of the clock following a punt.
The Argos trailed 21-10 at halftime, after a first half where penalties and a fumbled punt led to 14 of Delta State’s points.
This first quarter began well for the Argos.
After going three plays and punt on their first possession, the Argos’ offense had its best sequence and finish the next time the group got the ball.
An 80-yard, 8-play drive ended with Leggett catching a short throw from Peewee Jarrett, breaking a tackle and diving into the end zone on a 26-yard scoring pass. It gave UWF a 7-0 lead midway through the quarter.
But from that point, the Argos had self-inflicted mistakes that proved costly.
On a Delta State punt that Virgil Lemons chose to try and catch inside his 10, the ball bounced off his shoulder pads and right into a diving Delta State defender at the Argos 8.
Two plays later, Statesmen quarterback Patrick Shegog connected with Jaylen Green on a 7-yard score with 1:06 left in the quarter.
That emotion turning moment led into another. On a third-down Delta State play that would have been an incompletion, the Argos were flagged for rouging Shegog on the pass.
With new life, Shegog then hit Jaylen May in stride on a deep route and with a UWF defender trailing, May finished a 56-yard touchdown play.
The Argos missed a chance to tie the game late in the quarter. Jarrett connected with Jiles for a 29-yard gain to the Statesmen 10. But on a second down play, the Argos committed a holding penalty. That led to Griffin Cerra’s 34-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 14-10 with 3:43 left.
Both teams exchanged possessions. After failing to convert, UWF punted. Delta State took over at its 20 with 1:14 left.
In less than 60 seconds, Delta State was in the end zone. A 44-yard completion from Shegog to Green set up a play where tight end Tycen Gray was left wide open in the end zone for 4-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left.
At that point, all of the emotion, all the game’s future seemed in Delta State’s favor. The Statesmen got the ball to start the second half, but UWF’s defense produced one of its many stops.
That was a moment that helped changed the game’s direction.
“A lot of self-inflicted wounds and that’s a really good team we just played,” Nobles said. “There was a reason they were undefeated.
“We know we have a lot of work left to do…a lot of football left… and we still haven’t’ played our best. But I know if it’s in our heart we can do it.”
Blountstown Tops Northview 18-7
October 21, 2023
The Northview Chiefs fell to the Blountstown Tigers 18-7 Friday night at Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt.
While it was a loss. Northview head coach Wes Summerford said he was proud of his team’s effort.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
” I thought we had numerous opportunities, gave them some short fields, The defense played a great game tonight,” Summerford said. We had some injuries that got in the way, and I think it sputtered our offense.. I think it sputtered our team at a bad time in the game.
The Chiefs forr the Chies was a a 25-yard touchdown run from Devin Kelley for a 7-6 lead with 6:21 to to in the first quarter
“Extremely proud ofof the guys, I felt like they fought hard, it ain’t on the kids, you know, they fought their tails off and played good, played good,” He said, “I thought we played well enough to win. I’m just proud of them and for four quarter they gave me effort, so I”m really proud of hat.
The Northview Chiefs will sit out next week with a bye before traveling to Walton on November 3.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Reimagine Cantonment Saturday At Carver Park
October 20, 2023
Reimagine Cantonment is going on today, Saturday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Carver Park on Webb Street in Cantonment.
The faith-based event will include a 20,000 pound food giveaway, lunch, fishing lessons with free fishing rods, free tablets, baby diapers, HIV testing, clothing, free laundry detergent and more. Absolutely everything is free. There will also be free children’s activities, including train rides, inflatables, face painting, games, popcorn, and a coloring contest with three participants winning a new bicycle.
ReImagine Cantonment is a project of Doers of the Word Ministry and is sponsored by numerous churches and other organizations, including NorthEscambia.com.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Upcoming Beulah Master Plan Meetings Canceled
October 19, 2023
Beulah Master Plan public meetings that were scheduled for October 24-25 have been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts.
The meetings will be rescheduled and the new dates, times and location will be announced soon.
Thursday Night Molino Crash Claims Life
October 19, 2023
A traffic crash Thursday night in Molino claimed at the life of a Cantonment motorcyclist.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 68-year old Cantonment man was traveling north on Highway 95A when he left the roadway and lost control of his motorcycle, causing it to overturn. He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the 8:45 p.m crash near Highway 196.
There were no other vehicles involved and no other injuries. FHP no longer releases names of traffic crash victims.
File photo.
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Friday Night Football Scoreboard
October 19, 2023
Here are Friday night’s football scrores from around the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
- Blountstown 18, Northview7 [story..Photos]
- Tate at Gulf Breeze,
- Choctaw at Booker T. Washington
- Escambia at Pine Forest 14. Escambia 7
- Jay 42, Lighthouse Private Christian Academy 8
- Crestview at Milton
- Catholic 42, Muroe 7
- Navarre 25, Pace 24
- Gulf Breeze 27, Tate 20
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ALABAMA
- South Choctaw Academy 36, Escambia Academy 34
- Escambia County (Atmore) at Bayside Academy 38, Atmore 14
- T.R. Miller 42, Satsuma 0
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview High Names Students Of The Month
October 18, 2023
Northview High School recently named their Students of the Month for September. They are Cody Geneux and Hallie Emmons, pictured with Principal Michael Sherrill. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Have You Donated In The Peanut Butter Challenge?
October 18, 2023
The annual Peanut Butter Challenge is now underway in Escambia County to help families in need.
The Peanut Butter Challenge, UF/IFAS Extension’s annual jar collection for local food pantries, first launched in the Florida Panhandle in 2012. It has since launched statewide, giving counties the chance to compete for most jars of peanut butter donated. The challenge serves a way to feed hungry families ahead of the holidays and also promotes peanuts grown in Florida.
Unopened, unexpired jars of peanut butter can be donated at the following locations through October 31:
- Escambia County Extension, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Escambia County Farm Bureau, 153 Highway 97, Molino
- Escambia County Public Safety, 6575 North W Street
- Gilmore Services, 31 East Fairfield Drive
- Escambia County Administration, 221 Palafox Place, 4th Floor
- Holy Spirit Catholic, 10650 Gulf Beach Highway
In addition to the community donations, the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Florida Peanut Federation (FPF) have partnered with the project for years. These organizations are based in the northwest and northeast peanut-producing regions of the state and will again contribute to the totals distributed to food pantries in those regions.
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Escambia County Celebrates Ribbon Cutting at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park
October 18, 2023
Escambia County Parks and Recreation and Pensacola Sports celebrated a new facility at the Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, just in time for the Southeastern Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament scheduled to kick off at the park Oct. 29.
Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry welcomed attendees and kicked off the ribbon cutting ceremony, joined by County Administrator Wes Moreno, Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes, Pensacola Sports President and CEO Ray Palmer, and SEC Assistant Director of Competition Marcus Bishop.
“Ashton Brosnaham Park is a major asset to District 5 and our entire region, and I’m excited to bring even more amenities to this already incredible sports complex,” Barry said. “Thank you to Parks and Recreation staff, Pensacola Sports, and everyone who worked together to make this possible. I look forward to welcoming the SEC again in the heart of Escambia County and District 5.”
The Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park will serve as the location for the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament for the second year in a row, running Oct. 29 through Nov. 5. The 2022 event saw record-breaking attendance numbers and generated $2.5 million in local economic impact.
District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, District 4 Commissioner Robert Bender, county staff, and numerous community partners and citizens joined Escambia County to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the new two-story facility at Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park. The new facility will serve as additional locker room space for the SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament, along with other sporting events including local youth, high school and college soccer.
Features at the facility include restrooms and showers for team sports use, an open space with sliding walls on the first floor, and meeting and office spaces on the second floor. The open space on the first floor will be available for rent and can be used for meetings, birthday parties and other community events.
“Recreation plays such an integral role in creating a high quality of life in our community,” Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said. “We’re proud to be able to provide facilities like this that not only attract large sporting events to Escambia County, but also benefit our local teams that use Ashton Brosnaham every day. I’m excited to continue to provide quality recreational opportunities and additional amenities like this for Escambia County residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park is a 103-acre regional park located at 10370 Ashton Brosnaham Drive. In addition to being heavily used for soccer and softball, its many facilities include a dog park, covered pavilion, picnic area and 13 soccer fields.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
