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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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’
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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.
FWC Seeks Comments On Proposed Rule Changes
October 28, 2022
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is soliciting feedback on proposed rule changes for 2023-24 hunting seasons and FWC-managed lands.
To provide input, click or tap here.
Proposed statewide rule changes include shooting hours for dove and changes to the approval process for setting the annual number of limited entry and special-opportunity quota permits and antlerless deer permits.
In the Escambia River Wildlife Management area, the rule changes will establish an additional 3-day wild hog-dog hunt each month from May – September; establish a trapping season opening Dec. 1 and closing March 1; and close the general gun season during the 2-day family hunt to allow hunting with dogs throughout the area during the 2-day family hunt.
In the Blackwater WMA, the rule changes will expand the field trial area (FTA) using a portion of newly acquired acres; extend the archery season in the FTA by allowing archery hunting during the general gun season dates (except during existing FTA quota hunts); prohibit take of antlerless deer and wild turkey during the proposed extended archery season dates; and increase the antler point restriction in the FTA from 3 points or a 10-inch main beam on a side to 4 points or 14-inch main beam on a side.
Tate Football Field To Be Dedicated As ‘Carl Madison Field’ Friday Night
October 26, 2022
The football field at Tate High School will be officially dedicated Friday night as the “Carl Madison Field” in honor of the legendary coach that led the Aggies to a 1980 state championship and is one of the all-time winningest high school coaches in the nation.
The event is slated to begin on the field at 6:30 p.m., just before the Aggies take on the Escambia Gators. The ceremony will feature Madison, his family and former players from Tate, Pine Forest, Milton, the former Ernest Ward High, and Jackson (Ala.) Academy.
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.
The Escambia County School Board officially voted to name the field in Madison’s honor in January 2021, and the name took effect immediately.
“Coach Carl Madison taught his players about the game of life, how to compete successfully as a team, and ultimately, how to win,” stated the school board resolution. “His teams were successful in part because of the vision he cast for his players. The fruits of his labor cannot just be measured in the games won, football championships or the players fortunate to earn scholarships, but in the lives of the players, turned men, he coached over the years; men who have established and grown businesses, led corporations, developed into successful high school and college coaches, schoolteachers & administrators, lawyers, community difference makers, charitable leaders and professionals from all walks of life.”
Pictured top: Carl Madison was inducted into the Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in September 2021. Picture below: Carl Madison. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Anthony Pleasant Defines Success For The Northview Chiefs
October 25, 2022
The Northview Chiefs are motivated as they are just two games away from an undefeated season with their eyes set on state championship rings.
But there’s something about wearing that football uniform and holding two Super Bowl rings that provides extra motivation.
Two-time Super Bowl champion and Century native Anthony Pleasant spoke to the Chiefs Monday in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt as they passed around his rings. Pleasant, a 1986 graduate of Century High School, played defense for the New England Patriots when they won two Super Bowls.
Pleasant told the Chiefs that it does not matter that they attend a small school and live in small towns. He said success in football — and life — is about a willingness to work hard and be dedicated.
“No matter what background you come from, from the suburbs, from the hood, wherever you come from,” he said, “didn’t have a dad, grew up in poverty, rich. At the end of the day, it’s how can we come together at one time to win a championship. That’s all that matters.”
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“If you want to be successful in life, hang around with successful people,” he said.
But he was quick to caution the Chiefs about how they measure success.
Pleasant said he was deemed successful with two Super Bowl wins and a career in the NFL because he was on national TV and in the media for years.
But just as successful in life, he said, is a man like Anthony Robinson of Century who also present for Monday’s event.. We introduced you to Robinson last week as the Century Blackcats youth football program is looking to provide their players with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education during the off season.
“He was an electrical engineer,” Pleasant said about Robinson. “He’s also from Century, but he’s successful. You see me being successful because of what the media puts out there, but you don’t see what he’s doing.”
“He made it; well then we all can make again. Again, what I just do for a living is glorified is because you see me on national TV. But this man right here he coached a little league football; what they don’t see is that that he’s preparing those young kids to play for the coach right here to make this job easier,” he added, pointing to Northview head coach Wes Summerford.
“So, no matter what you do in life, you are doing something positive, no one may not see it but you may not get the attention but you are also successful because you’re doing something positive to give back to the community. It’s now you’re making a difference.”
Anthony Pleasant’s visit with the Northview Chiefs football team was facilitated by NorthEscambia.com.
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Tate Baseball Holds Fall Halloween Costume Game
October 25, 2022
Tate Baseball held their annual Fall Baseball Halloween Game Monday evening.
Kids were able to trick or treat with the players before watching them compete in costumes. Kids also had a chance to compete in games for prizes between innings.
There was also plenty of food and sweet treats.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
McElhaney Wins Century Lions Club Cross Country 5K (With Results)
October 24, 2022
James McElhaney won the Century Lions Club Cross Country 5K recently with a time of 17:23.
Top finishers were:
- James McElhaney — male runner — 17:23.0
- Jeff Word — male runner — 28:44.7
- Alan Ash — male runner — 30:45.6
- Audrey Hammac — female runner — 33:39.6
- Miles Hammac — male runner — 33:40.0
- Steve Campbell — male runner — 38:37.0
- Michelle Criswell — female walker — 39:32.1
- Susan Campbell — female runner — 41:19.8
- Dale Ash — female walker — 41:30.0
The 5K was held at Anthony Pleasant Park as a fundraiser for the Century Lions Club
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No. 9 UWF Runs Over Mississippi College, 45-17, On Homecoming
October 23, 2022
The first half of the season has steadily molded UWF’s football team.
What has now emerged is resembling the Argos’ sought-after definition.
The ninth-ranked Argos (6-1) celebrated their first on-campus, Homecoming game amid spectacular weather and a matching performance in a 45-17 rout of Mississippi College, before the largest crowd (5,505) of the season at Pen Air Field.
“We are playing really good football,” said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. “We are getting close to where we need to be. We gave up some plays we shouldn’t give up and I think we can clean up some things in the kicking game, but our guys are starting to see it.
“Our seniors, our players are getting it. Everybody understands the significance of us playing great football at this time.”
The superlatives begin with UWF’s defense. They held the nation’s most prolific rushing attack in NCAA Division II to 211 yards, which was 145 yards under Mississippi College’s average. A week ago, the Choctaws exploded for a school-record 598 yards rushing in a 49-40 win against Valdosta State.
The Argos defense also forced three fumbles, recovering one of those, and snared the first interception this season thrown by Choctaws quarterback John Henry White.
On offense, the Argos scored points on seven of their first nine possessions until late in the fourth quarter. They amassed 334 yards rushing, led by dynamic tailbacks Ra’veion Hargrove (139 yards) and Shomari Mason (137 yards).
It’s the first time in Argos’ team history to have a pair of running games gain 100 or more yards in the same game. Hargrove got his game-leading yardage of just 10 carries for a 13.9 average.
“I haven’t done anything like that since high school,” said Hargrove, who grew up in Ohio. “It all starts with the offensive line. They were doing a great job creating lanes and we took what the defense gave us.
“Right now I feel like we are hitting that stride. We are at a good point right now.”
The third member of this backfield trio, C.J. Wilson, had seven carries for 33 yards, but three of those carries resulted in touchdowns.
“This was an amazing team effort and just a fantastic job by all our guys of what needed to take place,” Shinnick said. “We got the ball on the ground, had sacks, an interception. Just a tremendous job by our defense to put us the situation we were in.
“Then, offensively, any time you can outrush a rushing team, you really have a great thing going.”
Quarterback Peewee Jarrett started slow in passing, but finished with 133 yards and three touchdown throws. The Argos did not commit a turnover in the game.
“Peewee just did a fantastic job,” Shinnick said. “Almost every run we called had a pass option for him. And he just did a fantastic job of putting the ball in the right guys hands and not really forcing anything.”
The cumulative effort has the Argos in sole possession of second place in the Gulf South Conference with a 4-1 record. The Argos play their final home game next Saturday (Oct. 29) against West Alabama, then have the final two games on the road against Valdosta State, following by a schedule-ending rematch (Nov. 12) against Mississippi College.
“I think we are starting to see what our best can look like,” Shinnick said. “One of the things we talked about around here is when we play our best we are very, very difficult to beat. This is the time to play great.”
In addition to the team’s play was the game atmosphere. The crowd began forming early for a variety of tailgating areas. The players were able to celebrate with the band and fans afterward.
“You could hear it, you can see it,” Shinnick said. “There is just a different vibe when you are not going downtown (at former home Blue Wahoos Stadium) to play your games. We have our team meeting four hours before the game, then go eat our pregame meal and you come out and you’ve got people everywhere.
“It’s like this is a whole different experience. What (UWF president) Doctor (Martha) Saunders has done to create this atmosphere and what (athletic director) Dave Scott has done to put this together, really makes our place a very unique place to play and one that is only going to get better and better.”
The Argos started the day fast. They came out in a no-huddle offense and scored on their first possession, after Wilson completed an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. All seven of the positive yardage plays were running plays.
They took a 14-3 lead in the second quarter on Jarrett’s 20-yard touchdown pass to Jared Smith.
A pivotal sequence in the game followed. Mississippi College got a big-play through the air – a 41-yard completion – that set up a 10-yard rushing score with 2:35 left.
The ensuing kickoff was a touchback. After Jarrett threw a 26-yard strike to David Durden, a holding penalty set UWF back. But the Argos used four rushing plays from Hargrove and Mason to get a first down at the Choctaws’ 25. On the next play, Jarrett found Larry Rembert with a laser throw in the middle of the end zone with 25 seconds left in the half.
From that point, UWF kept a double-digit lead.
“We were in a two-minute (offense) mode, but at same time we had been running the ball so well,” Shinnick said. “So, (Choctaws) kind of gave us some looks we haven’t seen. We had two or three runs that were pretty good. But that was huge. A 10-point swing and our defense took care of it from there.”
The Argos defense did not allow a running play longer than 16 yards from the Choctaws backfield until their backup quarterback rushed late in the fourth quarter for 18 yards.
Defensive coordinator Darian Dulin had the Argos lineman and linebackers staying on assignments and holes never opened.
“Darian did a fantastic job. I thought his gameplan was awesome,” Shinnick said. “You really have to have your D-line dialed in. They have to be 100 percent committed to what their job is. This was a full week commitment. When you do what we were able to do, that is every guy being dialed and every guy being committed.”
By Bill Vilona, GoArgos.com Senior Writer. Photo: Morgan Givens.