Northview Cruises To 9-0 With 57-14 Rout Of Atmore (With Gallery)
October 29, 2022
The Northview Chiefs powered to a 57-14 senior night win over the Escambia County Blue Devils of Atmore Friday night in Bratt.
With the win, Northview is 9-0 as they look for that elusive perfect season next week. In 2006, the Chiefs went 9-1 overall under coach Cody Keene, dropping the final game of that season at home 20-14 to Chipley. In 2012 when they won the only football state championship in school history, the Chiefs opened at 1-1, losing their second game to Marianna. They finished 2012 at 11-3.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
The Chiefs were a little slow out of the gate as the lead teetered back and forth, but they soon floored it on the way to the win.
“We’ve to fix that,” head coach Wes Summerford of the slow start. “When we get to the playoffs, we can’t make those mistakes. We’ve got to start fast.”
He said the offense “didn’t miss a beat”.
The Blue Devils were first on the big board at 8-0 with a 40-yard pass with just under 10 minutes to go.
A couple of minutes later Northview QB Kaden Odom found Wyatt Scruggs from 48-yards, and Odom was in for the two point conversion and an 8-8 ballgame. Northview moved on top with an 11-yard run touchdown rush from Jamarkus Jefferson.
ECHS returned the kickoff for a 72-yard touchdown, and Jefferson added another touchdown to round out the first quarter with a 22-14 Chief lead.
In the second quarter, Jefferson had touchdowns of 35, 34 and 2-yards. In the third, the Chiefs scored when Odom hit Scruggs for a 29-yard score, and Odom was in from 6-yards out. Kicker Brandon Ferguson was 7-7 on point after attempts Friday night.
The Escambia County Blue Devils season came to an end at 4-6.
The Chiefs (9-0) will host Bay next Friday night.
“It’s not going to be much different than Atmore,” he said.
The Chiefs will likely out the first week of the playoffs with a bye before starting their postseason trip toward Tallahassee on November 18.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
The Legend: Tate Football Field Dedicated As ‘Carl Madison Field’
October 29, 2022
Friday night, the football field at Tate High School was dedicated in honor of high school sports legend Carl Madison.
The field inside Pete Gindl Stadium is “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the man that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
“The best advice you can give people is play clean and hard, and be ready to back the next day,” Madison said shortly before tossing the coin for the Aggies Friday night game against Escambia.
Madison was surrounded at the ceremony by former players from his nearly five decades coaching, including members of the Aggies 1980 state championship team.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
Madison, who turns 92 in January, sits at number two on Florida’s all-time football coaching victories list with a 326-129-7 record and is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
In addition to winning a state title at Tate, he took the Pine Forest Eagles to two state championships in 1987 and 1988. The 1988 Eagle team was named as national champions by USA Today, and Madison earned the title of the National High School Football Coach of the Year. All in all, he coached at five different Florida High Schools including Ernest Ward, plus three out of state schools.
His football days began early at Escambia County High School in Atmore where he played tailback under Coach Herbert Barnes from 1945 to 1947, making him one of Atmore’s semi-famous “Barnes Boys” with 30 straight wins. After a stint in the Army, from 1950 to 1952, Madison played college ball for Texas Tech and Troy State Teachers College in the mid-1950s.
Fresh out of college, Madison coached for four years beginning in 1957 at Ernest Ward High School in Walnut Hill. He moved to Milton High in 1961, coaching them to a state championship and 34 straight victories. He then took a coaching job at a Georgia High School, losing a state championship game in 1968.
Madison joined the coaching staff at Tate in 1971 on his way to winning that 1980 state championship. He left Tate in 1983, heading to Pensacola High for a couple of years. Then it was off to Pine Forest and those back-to-back state championships. He coached at an Albany, Georgia, school, another 10 years at Milton High and another short period at PHS during the period from 1989 until 2002.
In 2002, he took the head coach job at the small Jackson Academy in Alabama. The then 71-year old took over a team that had gone 0-10 prior to his arrival. He lost his first two games at Jackson, but he went on to win the state championship. The following year, Jackson was undefeated and won another state championship.
In 2009, Madison briefly came out of retirement to once again take to the field at Tate, this time as an offensive consultant.
For a photo gallery, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
SEC Soccer Tournament Brings Top 10 Women’s Teams To Ashton Brosnaham
October 29, 2022
The top 10 Southeastern Conference women’s soccer teams will be competing for the SEC Championship title from Sunday, Oct. 30 through Sunday, Nov. 6 at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Escambia County.
On Sunday, No. 7 LSA will face No 10. Ole Miss at 1 p.m., followed by No. 8 Mississippi State and No. 9 Texas A&M at 3:30. Winners advance to face undefeated No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 South Carolina, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Arkansas, No. 5 Vanderbilt and No. 6 Georgia in games that begin at noon on Tuesday. The bracket is below (click here for a printable pdf).
Tickets are on sale at secticketoffice.com. All-tournament passes are $25. Individual game tickets for first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are $7 for adults and $5 for students/military. Tickets for the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 6 are $10 for adults and $7 for students/military. Kids 12 and under wearing a soccer jersey get in free with a paying adult. A service fee is applied to all ticket purchases. A clear bag policy is in effect for this event.
A free Fan Fest will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. before the championship game on Sunday, November 6. There will be music, food and interactive activities for all ages to enjoy. Pensacola will host the SEC Soccer through 2024, with an option to extend the agreement through 2026.
“We are thankful to Escambia County and Pensacola Sports for providing a tremendous venue to conduct our SEC Soccer Championship,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “Their commitment to this event promises to provide
lasting memories for our student-athletes and an outstanding experience for SEC soccer fans from across the region.”
Sunday, October 30
- 1 p.m. Match 1: No. 7 LSU vs. No. 10 Ole Miss
- 3:30 p.m. Match 2: No. 8 Mississippi State vs. No. 9 Texas A&M
Tuesday, November 1
- 12 p.m. Match 3: No. 2 South Carolina vs. Winner of Match 1
- 2:30 p.m. Match 4: No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Georgia
- 5 p.m. Match 5: No. 1 Alabama vs. Winner of Match 2
- 7:30 p.m. Match 6: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt
Thursday, November 3
- 5 p.m. Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6
- 7:30 p.m. Match 8: Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4
Sunday, November 6
- 1 p.m. Championship Match
Atmore Woman Dies In Pickup Truck Crash
October 29, 2022
A single vehicle crash has claimed the life of an Atmore woman.
Patricia Allen Helton, 57, was fatally injured when the 2006 Chevrolet Silverado she was driving left the roadway, struck a ditch, and overturned about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
She was ejected and pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash on Bell Fork Road north of Robinsonville Road, or about eight miles outside Atmore. Troopers said she was not wearing a seat belt.
State troopers are continuing to investigate.
Adoption Fees Waived Monday At Escambia Animal Shelter
October 29, 2022
Adoptions are free Monday at the Escambia County animal shelter.
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center will be open Monday from 12-5 p.m.
Adoptions were free and license fees were waived for the entire month of October.
Pictured: Charlie, one of our kitties at NorthEscambia.com, was adopted earlier this year from the Escambia County animal shelter. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Escambia Gets Past Tate 38-31 (With Photo Gallery)
October 29, 2022
The Tate Aggies fell to the Escambia Gators 38-31 Friday night on the newly dedicated Carl Madison Field.
For more photos, click or tap here.
The Aggies were first on the board when Taite Davis found Diego Dukes for a 29-yard touchdown to give the Aggies a 7-0 advantage with 6:50 to go in the first quarter. Escambia was back with a score of their own to tie it up 7-7 with 4:13 on the clock in the first.
Andre Colston was in for the Aggies, 14-7 with 10:17 remaining in the second. In about a minute, the Gators answered for a 14-14 ballgame. With another touchdown, the Gators were on top 38-31 at the half on their way to the win.
The Tate Aggies (1-8) will round out their season next week as they host Washington (4-5).
Related: The Legend: Tate Football Field Dedicated As ‘Carl Madison Field’
For more photos, click or tap here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
High School Football Score Recap
October 29, 2022
Here are Friday night football scores from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Northview 57, Escambia County (Atmore) 14 [Story, photos...]
- Escambia 38, Tate 31 [Story, photos...]
- West Florida 38, Pensacola Catholic 14
- Pine Forest 50, Booker T. Washington 0
- Walton 45, Pensacola High 35
- J.U. Blacksher (Uriah, Ala.) 41, Jay 20
- Pace 42, Milton Milton 35
- Navarre 28, Gulf Breeze 24
ALABAMA
- Fort Dale Academy 35, Escambia Academy 19
- Flomaton 56. Marengo County 0
- T.R. Miller 29, W.S. Neal 0
Pictured: Northview beat Escambia County (Atmore) 57-14 Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Man Wanted For Bank Robbery
October 28, 2022
Police are searching for a bank robbery suspect.
Tanner Richard Morgan, 36, is wanted for the October 21 robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank on Bayou Boulevard. He is a 5-foot-10-inches that weighs about 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Pensacola Police (850) 435-1901 or Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.
Detectives were able to develop Morgan as a suspect from citizen tips after local media coverage.
Century May Strip Power From The Mayor, Hire Town Manager With Charter Change
October 28, 2022
The Town of Century may strip power from an elected mayor and put a town manager in charge, reversing the course set by three years of work by a citizen charter review committee.
That was the key takeaway from a nearly two hour meeting Thursday evening between the town council and town attorney to discuss a proposed charter change.
The town charter — the document that establishes the town — outlines its powers and spells out how it should operate. The current charter has not been updated in almost 40 years.
The Century Charter Review Committee worked about three years, including pandemic delays, to create a new charter that was submitted to the town council to review and possibly place on an upcoming ballot.
The Charter Review Committee spent a great deal of their time deciding on a form of government for Century, ultimately settling on a strong mayor – town council.
But Thursday night, attorney Matt Dannheisser and consultant Buz Eddy suggested that the council instead look at a charter that has a town manager – town council form of government. A mayor might still be elected, but it would mostly be a ceremonial position with no real power. Dannheisser said the mayor would hold the title, but actually be one of the five members of the town council.
“It really makes the title of mayor obsolete,” council member Dynette Lewis said of the potential change.
“The mayor is no longer a separate office; it’s part of the council. So the five members of the council, one of them is the mayor,” Dannheisser said.
“You can’t think of the mayor as a separate entity. He is a member of council, has no more voice in the decision that any other member of the council,” he added.
Unable to take a vote because the meeting was just a workshop, the council reached the consensus that they would give official direction to Dannheisser at a future meeting. He said several more meetings would need to be held focusing on specific topics, such as the form of government, finance and other subsections of the charter.
During those discussions, he said that flexibility is the key to developing a charter that can serve Century for decades to come.
“Flexibility…don’t handcuff yourself and all future councils to one specific thing that might be solving a current problem that may not be a problem 20, 30, 40 years from now,” Dannheisser told the council.. “Rather, require that the subject be addressed, but then have it addressed in a manner that can be fluid and changed as circumstances change.”
Here’s a look at some of the major highlights of the draft created by the Charter Review Committee :
- Establishes a consecutive two-term, or eight-year limit for the mayor. A mayor that has reached the term limit may then seek election as a council member. There are no term limits in the current charter.
- A consecutive two-term, or eight-year limit is established for council members. A council that has reached the term limit may then seek election as mayor. There are no term limits in the current charter.
- The mayor and council members will not be paid if they miss a meeting, unless it’s due to an emergency. With two or more unexcused absences per quarter from consecutive meetings, the council can determine with a fourth-fifths vote that the council member or mayor has abandoned their seat.
- The town council shall conduct all meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order.
- The town will create the position of town clerk/finance director, along with a public works director position that reports directly to the mayor. Both will be hired by the mayor with approval by the council. With the approval of the mayor — not the council — the town clerk/finance director and public works director will hire, fire and supervise the employees in their respective departments. (Currently, the council must approve all hires, from the highest to lowest positions in the town.)
- The charter establishes the right of the town clerk/finance director to take part in town council discussion. The clerk has no guaranteed right to take part in discussions under the current charter.
- The mayor will establish an agenda for all council meetings.
- The mayor will provide quarterly reports on finances, administrative activities, and actions of various departments. The mayor will also present an annual budget to the town council.
- The mayor will be able to authorize expenditures up to $5,000, or up to $10,000 in a declared emergency, without town council approval.
- The council will request and receive bids and award contracts for expenditures of $5,001 or more.
- To be eligible to seek election as a council member, one year residency in the town will be required. (There is currently no length of residency requirement for council members, and a 6-month requirement for the mayor.)
- Before being sworn in as mayor or town council member, the individual must agree to complete any state-mandated training or orientation, and complete Sunshine Law and public records law conducted by the town attorney.
Any portion of the draft charter could be altered or removed from a final charter. The town council also has the option to reject the charter or never place it on the ballot.
Pictured top: Town attorney Matt Dannheisser (right) and consultant Buz Eddy addressed the Century Town Council during a Thursday night workshop. Pictured inset: Council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson listen s to Dannheisser speak. Pictured below: Council members Luis Gomez, Jr., and Dynette Lewis listen. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Peanut Butter Challenge Is Continuing. Have You Made Your Donation?
October 28, 2022
The Peanut Butter Challenge in Escambia County is continuing, and there’s still time to make your donation.
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.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.