Man Catches New State Record 69.9 Pound Flathead Catfish In Santa Rosa County
September 1, 2020
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has certified a new state record flathead catfish caught in Santa Rosa County.
The fish weighed in at 69.9 pounds, measured 48.5 inches long and had a girth of 38.25. Angler Lavon Nowling caught the fish on a rod and reel using live bait in the Yellow River.
“I’ve caught some good ones before this fish, but none of them were more than 54 pounds,” said Nowling. “I’ve been fishing since I was old enough to hold a pole and have been fishing on Yellow River as long as I can remember.”
Nowling brought his catch to the FWC’s Blackwater Hatchery near Holt, where biologists weighed it on a certified scale. The last state record flathead catfish was caught in 2019 on the same river. That fish was caught by Marvin Griffin and weighed 69.3 pounds.
“I’ve been deep sea fishing to creek fishing and I never expected to catch a state record fish,” said Nowling. “That day I was fishing for channel catfish and can’t believe I caught a huge flathead. I was in the right place at the right time.”
Flathead catfish are a nonnative fish found in many northwest Florida Panhandle river systems. Flatheads prefer long, slow flowing, moderately turbid rivers. Their solitary lifestyle makes them more difficult to catch than other catfish. Adult flathead catfish feed primarily on live fish, crawfish, freshwater clams and mussels.
“A state record catch is a once in a lifetime achievement for an angler,” said Jon Fury, FWC’s Director for the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. “We are pleased to award this state record to Mr. Nowling.”
To properly certify a new freshwater Florida state record, an FWC employee must witness its weighing on a certified scale and a biologist must identify the species.
What’s Better In 1A Football Than Northview Vs. Jay? Doing It Twice In One Season.
August 31, 2020
What’s better than 1A football than the rivalry battle between Northview and Jay? That would be doing the Battle of Highway 4 twice in one season.
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals have scheduled a second game during this year’s abbreviated eight-game season. They’ll face off October 23 at Jay and two weeks later on November 6 at Northview.
Here’s the updated Northview High Chiefs football schedule for 2020:
- Sept. 18 at Baker
- Sept. 25 vs. Holmes County (*Senior Night)
- Oct. 2 at Escambia Academy (AL)
- Oct. 9 at Walton
- Oct. 16 vs. South Walton
- Oct. 23 at Jay
- Oct. 30 vs. Chipley (*Homecoming)
- Nov. 6 vs. Jay
Here is the Jay High School Royals schedule:
- Sept. 25 vs. Flomaton
- Oct. 2 vs. Baker
- Oct. 9 at Chipley
- Oct. 16 at Freeport
- Oct. 23 vs. Northview
- Oct. 30 vs. Lighthouse Christian
- Nov. 6 at Northview
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated the Jay Royals 40-7 on November 1, 2019. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
August 29, 2020
Here are Friday night high school football scores from across Escambia County, Alabama:
- T.R. Miller 29, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
- Glenwood 24, Escambia Academy 22
- Flomaton 29, Ariton 20
- W.S. Neal (Off)
Local high schools in Florida begin play on September 18.
Pictured: Flomaton High School’s “Caniac”. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Announce New 2020 Football Schedule
August 26, 2020
The Northview High School Chiefs have announced their new 2020 football schedule.
The Chiefs will begin the season at the road at Baker on September 18 before returning the next Friday night for senior night.
- Sept. 18 at Baker
- Sept. 25 vs. Holmes County (*Senior Night)
- Oct. 2 at Escambia Academy (AL)
- Oct. 9 at Walton
- Oct. 16 vs. South Walton
- Oct. 23 – OPEN
- Oct. 30 vs. Chipley (*Homecoming)
- Nov. 6 vs. Jay
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated the Jay Royals 40-7 on November 1, 2019. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Announce New 2020 Football Schedule
August 20, 2020
The Tate High School Aggies have announced their new 2020 football schedule.
The Aggies will kick off their 2020 season at home on September 18 they host the Pine Forest Eagles. All of the teams the Aggies will face in the eight game regular season are from Escambia or Santa Rosa counties.
- 9/18 Pine Forest
- 9/25 @ Washington
- 10/2 @ Pensacola
- 10/9 Pace
- 10/16 Escambia
- 10/23 @ Pine Forest
- 10/30 Pensacola Catholic
- 11/6 @ Gulf Breeze
All games are at 7 p.m.
The Escambia County School District announced on Tuesday that the first practices allowed for fall sports will be Monday, September 7 with the first games a mere 11 days later on September 18.
Spectators will be allowed at sports in Escambia County, but football game attendance will be limited to allow adequate social distancing.
“Face coverings will be worn in district facilities as directed by staff and instructional leaders,” the Escambia School District said in a statement. If a situation arises whereas a student, member of staff, or a visitor is not wearing, or is incapable of wearing a face covering, such individual may be assisted or guided by appropriate authorities within the district to undertake alternative, reasonable, and accommodating actions to protect self and others.” The face mask requirement will include football stadiums.
Pictured: The Tate Aggies and the Washington Wildcats in October 2019. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Practices Begin Sept. 7 For Fall Sports In Escambia County, First Games Sept. 18
August 19, 2020
The Escambia County School District will allow practices for fall sports to begin September 7, with the first games as early as September 18.
Tryouts for student athletes will be conducted the week of August 31 through September 4.
School athletic directors are will work together to create game schedules, with as little travel out of the area as possible, said Escambia County School Athletic Director Roger Mayo.
It’s not known yet if schools will take part in the state playoff series or if an small regional conference might be formed.
Mayo said a Panhandle regional conference has been discussed For Escambia, Santa Rosa and other Panhandle counties. The possibility is still in play presently.
“It’s just too early to tell right now,” Mayo said Monday.
Spectators will be allowed at sports in Escambia County, but football game attendance will be limited to allow adequate social distancing.
“Face coverings will be worn in district facilities as directed by staff and instructional leaders,” the Escambia School District said in a statement. If a situation arises whereas a student, member of staff, or a visitor is not wearing, or is incapable of wearing a face covering, such individual may be assisted or guided by appropriate authorities within the district to undertake alternative, reasonable, and accommodating actions to protect self and others.”
Mayo said the face mask requirement will include football stadiums.
SEC Announces Football Schedule (With Complete Team Schedules)
August 18, 2020
The Southeastern Conference has announced the new football schedules for all 14 SEC schools for the 2020 season.
Last month, the SEC established September 26 as the new kickoff for its 2020 football season to allow its universities to focus on the healthy return of their campus communities and the gradual re-introduction of athletics, as the 14 members of the SEC continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19.
The 2020 SEC football season is comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule and the SEC Football Championship Game will be played December 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of December 5. The schedule includes one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all schools.
Each SEC team will play 10 conference football games to include six games against division opponents and four games against non-division opponents.
The season is scheduled to begin on September 26 and will culminate with the SEC Championship Game. It will be the 29th edition of the game and the 27th in the city of Atlanta.
The complete schedule by week is below, followed by the complete scheduled by team.
SCHEDULE BY WEEK
WEEK ONE
September 26
Alabama at Missouri
Georgia at Arkansas
Kentucky at Auburn
Mississippi State at LSU
Florida at Ole Miss
Tennessee at South Carolina
Vanderbilt at Texas A&M
WEEK TWO
October 3
Texas A&M at Alabama
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Auburn at Georgia
South Carolina at Florida
Ole Miss at Kentucky
LSU at Vanderbilt
Missouri at Tennessee
WEEK THREE
October 10
Alabama at Ole Miss
Arkansas at Auburn
Florida at Texas A&M
Tennessee at Georgia
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Missouri at LSU
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
WEEK FOUR
October 17
Georgia at Alabama
Ole Miss at Arkansas
Auburn at South Carolina
LSU at Florida
Kentucky at Tennessee
Texas A&M at Mississippi State
Vanderbilt at Missouri
WEEK FIVE
October 24
Alabama at Tennessee
Auburn at Ole Miss
Missouri at Florida
Georgia at Kentucky
South Carolina at LSU
WEEK SIX
October 31
Mississippi State at Alabama
Arkansas at Texas A&M
LSU at Auburn
Kentucky at Missouri
Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
WEEK SEVEN
November 7
Tennessee at Arkansas
Florida vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
Texas A&M at South Carolina
WEEK EIGHT
November 14
Alabama at LSU
Arkansas at Florida
Auburn at Mississippi State
Georgia at Missouri
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
South Carolina at Ole Miss
Texas A&M at Tennessee
WEEK NINE
November 21
Kentucky at Alabama
LSU at Arkansas
Tennessee at Auburn
Florida at Vanderbilt
Mississippi State at Georgia
Ole Miss at Texas A&M
Missouri at South Carolina
WEEK TEN
November 28
Auburn at Alabama
Arkansas at Missouri
Kentucky at Florida
Georgia at South Carolina
LSU at Texas A&M
Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Tennessee at Vanderbilt
WEEK ELEVEN
December 5
Alabama at Arkansas
Texas A&M at Auburn
Florida at Tennessee
Vanderbilt at Georgia
South Carolina at Kentucky
Ole Miss at LSU
Missouri at Mississippi State
December 12
Open Date
December 19
SEC Football Championship (Atlanta)
SCHEDULES BY TEAM
Alabama Crimson Tide
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Missouri
Oct. 3 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 10 at Ole Miss
Oct. 17 GEORGIA
Oct. 24 at Tennessee
Oct. 31 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 at LSU
Nov. 21 KENTUCKY
Nov. 28 AUBURN
Dec. 5 at Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 GEORGIA
Oct. 3 at Mississippi State
Oct. 10 at Auburn
Oct. 17 OLE MISS
Oct. 24 Open
Oct. 31 at Texas A&M
Nov. 7 TENNESSEE
Nov. 14 at Florida
Nov. 21 LSU
Nov. 28 at Missouri
Dec. 5 ALABAMA
Auburn Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 KENTUCKY
Oct. 3 at Georgia
Oct. 10 ARKANSAS
Oct. 17 at South Carolina
Oct. 24 at Ole Miss
Oct. 31 LSU
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 at Mississippi State
Nov. 21 TENNESSEE
Nov. 28 at Alabama
Dec. 5 TEXAS A&M
Florida Gators
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Ole Miss
Oct. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 10 at Texas A&M
Oct. 17 LSU
Oct. 24 MISSOURI
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 Georgia (Jacksonville)
Nov. 14 ARKANSAS
Nov. 21 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 28 KENTUCKY
Dec. 5 at Tennessee
Georgia Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 7 (Mon.) vs. Virginia (Atlanta)
Sept. 26 at Arkansas
Oct. 3 AUBURN
Oct. 10 TENNESSEE
Oct. 17 at Alabama
Oct. 24 at Kentucky
Oct. 31 OPEN
Nov. 7 vs. FLORIDA (at Jacksonville)
Nov. 14 at Missouri
Nov. 21 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 28 at South Carolina
Dec. 5 VANDERBUILT
Kentucky Wildcats
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Auburn
Oct. 3 OLE MISS
Oct. 10 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 17 at Tennessee
Oct. 24 GEORGIA
Oct. 31 at Missouri
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 VANDERBILT
Nov. 21 at Alabama
Nov. 28 at Florida
Dec. 5 SOUTH CAROLINA
LSU Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 3 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 10 MISSOURI
Oct. 17 at Florida
Oct. 24 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 31 at Auburn
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 ALABAMA
Nov. 21 at Arkansas
Nov. 28 at Texas A&M
Dec. 5 OLE MISS
Ole Miss Rebels
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 FLORIDA
Oct. 3 at Kentucky
Oct. 10 ALABAMA
Oct. 17 at Arkansas
Oct. 24 AUBURN
Oct. 31 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 21 at Texas A&M
Nov. 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Dec. 5 at LSU
Mississippi State Bulldogs
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at LSU
Oct. 3 ARKANSAS
Oct. 10 at Kentucky
Oct. 17 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 24 Open
Oct. 31 at Alabama
Nov. 7 VANDERBILT
Nov. 14 AUBURN
Nov. 21 at Georgia
Nov. 28 at Ole Miss
Dec. 5 MISSOURI
Missouri Tigers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 ALABAMA
Oct. 3 at Tennessee
Oct. 10 at LSU
Oct. 17 VANDERBILT
Oct. 24 at Florida
Oct. 31 KENTUCKY
Nov. 7 Open
Nov. 14 GEORGIA
Nov. 21 at South Carolina
Nov. 28 ARKANSAS
Dec. 5 at Mississippi State
South Carolina Gamecocks
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 TENNESSEE
Oct. 3 at Florida
Oct. 10 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17 AUBURN
Oct. 24 at LSU
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 14 at Ole Miss
Nov. 21 MISSOURI
Nov. 28 GEORGIA
Dec. 5 at Kentucky
Tennessee Volunteers
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at South Carolina
Oct. 3 MISSOURI
Oct. 10 at Georgia
Oct. 17 KENTUCKY
Oct. 24 ALABAMA
Oct. 31 Open
Nov. 7 at Arkansas
Nov. 14 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 21 at Auburn
Nov. 28 at Vanderbilt
Dec. 5 FLORIDA
Texas A&M Aggies
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 VANDERBILT
Oct. 3 at Alabama
Oct. 10 FLORIDA
Oct. 17 at Mississippi State
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 ARKANSAS
Nov. 7 at South Carolina
Nov. 14 at Tennessee
Nov. 21 OLE MISS
Nov. 28 LSU
Dec. 5 at Auburn
Vanderbilt Commodores
DATE OPPONENT
Sept. 26 at Texas A&M
Oct. 3 LSU
Oct. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 17 at Missouri
Oct. 24 Open Date
Oct. 31 OLE MISS
Nov. 7 at Mississippi State
Nov. 14 at Kentucky
Nov. 21 FLORIDA
Nov. 28 TENNESSEE
Dec. 5 at Georgia
FHSAA: Fall Sports Can Begin; Escambia County Schools To Announce Plan Next Week
August 15, 2020
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) voted Friday to allow fall sports to go ahead — with the caveat that districts can made their own, different decisions.
Escambia County’s decision won’t happen until next week.
The first allowable practice date will be August 24 for football, cross country, volleyball, swimming and bowling. The earliest date for regular season contests will be September 4. The option approved by FHSAA basically keeps fall schedules mostly intact. For football, it eliminates scheduled kick-off classics and week one for most schools.
The FHSAA board also voted to allow schools or districts to opt out of the state series in a sport by September 18. That will allow schools and districts to create their own fall sports calendar with the possibility of regional schedules under FHSAA guidance. It also allows schools to follow guidance from local governments and the health department.
“Today FHSAA made the right choice in giving school districts in Florida the option of beginning fall sports as early as August 24th,” Sen. Marco Rubio said. “Each district can now decide when & how they want to start. It should be a careful and phased approach.”
Under the plan, the first Friday night under the lights for high school football in Florida will be September 4.
The FHSAA board approved the plan on an 11-5 vote over plans that would have delayed the start of the season to October 23 or December 11.
Photos by Jennifer Repine for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Football, Other Fall Sports Postponed Until At Least January Due To Pandemic
August 12, 2020
The Gulf South Conference is postponing fall sports — including football, basketball, soccer and volleyball — until at least January 2021.
These sports are identified as high contact risk sports by the NCAA and are subject to significant testing requirements for all student-athletes and “inner bubble” personnel.
For the University of West Florida, it means the Argos will remain the reigning national champions a longer before facing an opponent.
“As a team we are disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to play in front of our great fans at Blue Wahoos Stadium and defend our national championship this season,” said UWF Head Football Coach Pete Shinnick. “As we move forward we look forward to having an opportunity to compete this spring. And as a program, we plan to continue to seek Arete daily.”
In the sports of football, soccer and volleyball, the conference will evaluate options for spring competition that provide meaningful competition for these student-athletes. A spring season may not feature the use of traditional formats for regular season play or tournaments.
“When some organizations see these kinds of events as setbacks, we will look at this time as a great opportunity,” said UWF Head Women’s Soccer Coach Joe Bartlinkski.
In basketball, the GSC will work over the next several weeks to outline a calendar for this year’s basketball schedule and tournament. Further, the conference will work through the NCAA governance process to advocate for additional weeks of competition in the spring semester.
“Postponing the start of basketball season is the right decision to be made at this time,” remaked Stephanie Lawrence Yelton, UWF’s head women’s basketball coach. Pushing the start of the season to January gives us a bit more time to train our athletes in a healthy and safe manner before competition. We look forward to our athletes arriving on campus later this month after not seeing them for six months since the COVID-19 outbreak.”
“We are very disappointed for our players but we understand these are challenging times. We will use the fall semester to improve individual skills and to work hard on academics. We look forward to playing games in January and look forward to things getting back to normal,” Jeff Burkhamer, UWF men’s basketball coach added.
Cross Country and Golf competition will be permitted during the fall semester with the GSC Cross Country Championship date potentially moved to better accommodate the calendar. Designated as low contact risk and medium contact risk, these sports feature more manageable testing and monitoring requirements per NCAA medical guidance as well as limited competition opportunities.
All practice, strength and conditioning, team meetings, and other countable athletic related activities will be subject to NCAA rules, NCAA health and safety requirements, and institutional discretion.
Photos Morgan Givens/ UWF Athletics for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
New Flomaton Head Baseball Coach Coy Campbell Indicted On Forged Instrument, Theft, Ethics Charges
August 5, 2020
New Flomaton High School head baseball coach Coy Campbell, Jr. has been arrested after being indicted on multiple counts.
An Escambia County (AL) grand jury indicted Campbell, 50, on seven counts of possession of a forged instrument, one count of theft of property third degree and one count of an ethics violation/using position for personal gain. He surrendered to the Escambia County (AL) Sheriff’s Office and was released on a $25,000 bond.
“The charges stem from a criminal investigation into the handling of money that was collected during sporting events that took place for the school year of 2019-2020,” Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said.
In April, the Escambia County (AL) School Board approved Campbell’s transfer from W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton to Flomaton High School as a physical education and driver’s education instructor. He was also named head baseball coach.
At W.S. Neal, Campbell served as head baseball coach since 2001. He was also assistant principal at the time of his transfer.