West Defeats The East 26-16 In Subway All-Star Football
December 14, 2019
Test West beat Team East 26-16 Friday night in the 2019 Subway High School All Star Football game Friday night at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
JaKobi Jackson of Catholic High School started the scoring for the night off early in the first quarter. After a couple of powerful run, Northview High’s Trent Peebles was in, giving Team West an early 14-0 lead. Team East battled back for a TD in the second quarter by Trace Sears of Crestview High School, only to be matched by another touchdown by Team West’s Jackson. Curtis Jefferson of Pine Forest scored in the third to bring the score to 26-14. A two-point conversion rounded out the night, bringing the final score to 26-16, Team West.
Test West was the best high school senior football players from Escambia County, while Team East was the best from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in the 16th annual matchup.
Ballgame MVPs were:
East Offensive MVP: Trace Sears, Crestview High School
West Offensive MVP: JaKobi Jackson, Catholic High School
East Defensive MVP: Andrew White, Pace High School
West Defensive MVP: Eric Thomas, Jr., Washington High School
Pictured top: Northview Subway All Star seniors (L-R) Trent Peebles, who scored a touchdown for Team West, Wyatt Windham, Cameron Findley and Garrack Davis. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Aggie Soccer Beats Crestview 2-0
December 14, 2019
The Tate Aggies picked up the win 2-0 over Crestview at home Friday night.
Tate’s Player of the Game Matt Johnson scored both goals for the Aggies.
Tate, now 9-1 on the season, will host East Hill Christian on Saturday and host Navarre on Monday.
Pictured: Matt Johnson heading the ball as the Tate Aggies defeated the Crestview Bulldogs. Pictured below: Johnson celebrating a goal with teammates. NorthEscambia.com photos by Mitch Arnevik, click to enlarge.
UWF Will Travel To Ferris State In National Semifinal on Saturday
December 13, 2019
The 20th-ranked UWF football team will travel to Ferris State in the 2019 NCAA Division II National Semifinals as announced by the NCAA.
The game will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Michigan. It will be televised on ESPN3 and the ESPN app, and carried by the UWF Sports Network, ESPN Pensacola 1330 AM/99.1 FM.
For photos and game action recap from Saturday’s win over Ferris State, click here.
UWF (11-2) is making its second appearance in the NCAA Playoffs after reaching the national championship game in 2017. The program is 33-17 all-time after starting in 2016. The Argonauts are 7-1 in postseason games and with all seven victories coming on the road.
UWF claimed the Super Region 2 title with road wins over No. 16 Wingate (38-17), No. 1 and defending national champion Valdosta State (38-35) and No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne (43-38) this past Saturday. The wins over the Blazers and Bears ended the two longest home field winning streaks in Division 2.
Ferris State (12-0) is ranked second in the country and has won 12-consecutive games after falling to VSU in last year’s national title game. The Bulldogs are one of three teams at any level of college football to have won at least 11 games each of the last six seasons (Ohio State & North Dakota State) and have also won 14-straight at home.
The other semifinal game has No. 4 Minnesota State (13-0) at No. 8 Slippery Rock (13-0).
Former Tate Coach Ronnie Douglas Named New Pine Forest Football Head Coach
December 13, 2019
Former Tate High School coach Ronnie Douglas has been hired as the new head football coach at Pine Forest High School.
Douglas takes over at Pine Forest from Jason McDonald, who earned consecutive district titles the past two years and amassed a 21-13 record in his three years with the Eagles.
Douglas was head coach at Tate in 2013 and 2014, going 17-6. He took over the helm of an Aggie team that was a disappointing 4-26 in the three seasons prior to his arrival.
He led the Aggies on two trips to the playoffs in his two seasons with a 8-3 record in his first season and a 9-3 record in his second season. The back-to-back playoff appearances were the first for the Tate Aggies since the 1976 and 1977 seasons. FloridaHighSchoolFootball.com also named Douglas as the All-Panhandle Coach of the Year.
When Douglas announced his departure from Tate in March 2015, he said needed to spend more time on his outside car wash business. He returned to Tate since, serving as defensive coordinator.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Soccer: Win Over Escambia, Loss To Washington
December 12, 2019
Tate High School’s boys soccer defeated Escambia High School on the road 3 to 1 Wednesday night. The Aggies had two goals from Owen Jacobs with on a penalty kick goal by Logan Tyree and an assist by Calen Arnevik.
The Aggies were coming off a one point loss Tuesday night to Washington. An Aggie penalty allowed Washington to win with a single penalty kick goal.
Tate is 8-1 on the season, 2-0 in the district. The Aggies will host Crestview Frida night.
NorthEscambia.com file photo by Mitch Arnevik, click to enlarge.
FCA Challenger Awards Presented To Area High School Football Players
December 11, 2019
Area high school football players were honored this week at the 51st Annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Banquet at the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
Guest speaker for the event was Pat Nix, former Auburn quarterback and father of current AU quarterback Box Nix.
Challenger award winners were:
- Dean Hatcher, Tate High
- Trent Peebles, Northview High
- Chris Buddy Page, West Florida High
- Tucker Mandell ,Jay High School
- Khazyren McWilliams, Pine Forest High
- Robert Sherlock, Washington High
- Gabe Johnson, Escambia High
- Calvin McCreary, Pensacola High
- CJ Davis, Catholic High
- Carter Lees, Milton High
- Blake Bullock, Pace High
- Trevor Pugh, Gulf Breeze High
- Matt Morgan, T.R. Miller High
One Challenger Award is presented per team, chosen by a secret ballot with all players voting. The player must exemplify Christian values, sportsmanship and academic achievement.
Pictured top: With former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix are Trent Peebles from Northview High School (left) and Dean Hatcher from Tate High School (right). Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Cheerleaders Earn First Place In Red Nosed Reindeer Cheer Competition
December 9, 2019
The Tate Highs School varsity and junior varsity competition teams both earned first place in the 2019 Red Nosed Raider Reindeer Cheerleading Competition this past weekend. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Marches Into Semifinals With 43-38 Upset Over #6 Lenoir-Rhyne
December 8, 2019
The 20th-ranked UWF football team went back and forth with sixth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne before coming away with a 43-38 win in the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Championship quarterfinals at Moretz Stadium Saturday.
UWF (11-2) remained perfect in NCAA postseason playoff games on the road, winning its seventh in two appearances over the last three years. Additionally, the Argonauts ended the Bears’ 15-game home winning streak – the longest active streak in Division 2. Last week, UWF halted Valdosta State’s 14-game home field streak.
For a photo gallery, click here.
With the victory, UWF advances to the national semifinals where it will face second-ranked Ferris State (12-0) – on the road – next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Top Taggart Field in Big Rapids, Mich.
On Saturday, the Argos put up 454 yards of total offense which included 360 yards passing and three touchdowns from freshman Austin Reed. Senior Quentin Randolph had 114 yards on eight receptions and a score. It marked his fourth 100-plus yard game of the season. Junior Rodney Coates had three catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
The game had one of the stranger starts, with UWF recovering a muffed punt, fumbling on the 1-yard line and then getting a safety from graduate student Ian Bush – his second of the season – on LR’s first play from scrimmage for a 2-0 lead. The Argos extended the lead to 9-0 on the next possession when Reed had four completions to Randolph and junior Ka’Ron Ashley, with Ashley scoring on a 15-yard catch.
The Bears responded with a score of their own to trim the margin to 9-7 at the end the first quarter.
A Coates 42-yard reception put UWF deep in LR territory where Randolph reached up and pulled in a 13-yard Reed toss.
Senior Austin Williams made the first of two field goals to extend the lead to 19-7 before Dareke Young caught a Grayson Willingham pass midway through the second quarter.
Coates got his first score of the game two minutes later when he kept moving on a Reed scramble and hauled in a 47-yard pass before winning a race to the end zone. The Bears reached the end zone right before half to trim the UWF lead to 26-21 at the break.
There were only a pair of scores in the third quarter – a 20-yard Chase Albright field goal for the Bears and a Marcus Clayton 75-yard kickoff return on the following play – the first in UWF’s 50-game history.
Anthony Johnson opened the fourth quarter with an 8-yard burst to make it 40-24. He finished with 47 yards rushing and scored in his third-consecutive game.
LR (13-1) was led on offense by Jace Jordan’s 117 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. His 70-yard run in the fourth quarter setup the first of two Ryan Carter rushing touchdowns that saw the Bears get within 40-38 with 11 minutes to play.
After forcing LR into a turnover on downs, the Argos got a 33-yard field goal from Williams before a D’Anthony Bell interception iced the game.
Bell had a strong game, finishing with seven tackles, a fumble recovery on a muffed punt, two pass break ups, a break-up on a 2-point conversion and the game-clinching pick with 1:03 to play.
UWF is now 7-1 all-time in the Division 2 football playoffs and 7-0 in road games.
For a photo gallery, click here.
UWF photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Soccer Continues Perfect Season With Win Over Crestview
December 6, 2019
Tate High Boys Soccer continued their perfect season Thursday night with a 3-2 district win over Crestview in Crestview.
Gustavo Pineda had two goals for the Aggies, while Nathan Bailey had one goal. Owen Jacobs and Calen Arnevik each had one assist.
The Tate Aggies are now 7-0 on the season. They will be in action next Tuesday night as they host Washington High School at Ashton Brosnaham Park.
Pictured top: Junior goalkeeper Caleb Thompson elevating to knock away a Crestview corner kick. Pictured below: Celebrating a goal from Tate junior Nathan Bailey (#10), and a goal and celebration from senior Gustavo Pineda (#7). NorthEscambia.com photos by Mitch Arnevik, click to enlarge.
From Tate High To Alabama And Clemson: Woody McCorvey Of Atmore Named To Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame
December 5, 2019
Woody McCorvey of Atmore, a longtime college football coach that began his career at Tate High School, is one of eight people to be inducted into the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020.
McCorvey is currently the Clemson Associate Athletic Director of Football Administration.
“It’s very humbling,” McCorvey said. “For me, it’s very special for having grown up in that state. To be a part of a special recognition like being the in Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, it took a lot of people with me going back to my mom and my my dad, the support of my family — my wife, my son, Marlon, my daughter-in-law, Brooke, my grandson, Beau — but on top of that, the players. That’s why I got into this business. This recognition is really for them because I’m standing on those guys.
“The other thing that’s important to me is the staffs that I’ve worked with all down through the years, all the way going back to the kids I coached in high school and every stop that I’ve made and everybody here at Clemson. Clemson has been a big part of what I’ve been able to do, and it’s really special to be part of a great group of other honorees I’m going into the Hall with.”
Among those McCorvey will join in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney, who was inducted as part of the Class of 2018.
“I’m just so excited for Coach McCorvey,” Swinney said. “He’s so deserving of this honor. He’s in the Atmore Hall of Fame, and now to know that he’s going into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, I just think it’s something that’s so deserving.
“And for he and Sylvester Croom to be going in together I think is just beautiful. Obviously, Sylvester was the head coach at Mississippi State and Woody was the offensive coordinator. I think Sylvester was the first African-American head coach in the SEC and Woody was the first African-American offensive coordinator at Alabama, and I just think about their journeys and the lives that they’ve impacted. I can just tell you, I’m not where I am today if it’s not for Woody McCorvey. I know this, there’s nobody more deserving than Coach McCorvey. I’m super proud, super happy, and I can’t wait to be a part of the celebration.”
Born September 30, 1950 in Grove Hill, Alabama, McCorvey played quarterback at Alabama State from 1968-1971. After starting his coaching career in the high school ranks, he began his collegiate coaching career in 1978 with NC Central. He has held positions at the University of Alabama, Alabama A&M, Clemson, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Tennessee. During his 26 plus years in college football, McCorvey has been a part of five national championship teams and 31 bowl games.
A 42-year veteran of college football as a coach or administration, McCorvey returned to Clemson for the 2009 season, Head Coach Dabo Swinney’s first full year. He has worked with four national championship head coaches and three coaches who earned induction in the College Football Hall of Fame.
McCorvey serves as the primary liaison between Swinney and the athletic and IPTAY administrations. He also oversees the management of the football administrative offices. He supervises the football budget and works with the academic staff that has helped Clemson earn NCAA Academic Performance Public Recognition Awards in eight out of the last nine years.
McCorvey coached at the Division I level for 26 years and went to a bowl game in 17 of those seasons. He coached or signed 36 players who went on to a professional football career as well. From 1990-2008, he coached in the SEC every year, including each of the last five at Mississippi State, where he served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in addition to coaching the quarterbacks.
McCorvey coached at Tennessee for five years from 1999-03. With him heading the running game, the Volunteers had a 46-14 record. He helped guide Tennessee to the 2000 Fiesta Bowl, 2001 Cotton Bowl, 2002 Citrus Bowl, and 2002 and 2003 Peach Bowls. Tennessee won three consecutive New Year’s Day Bowl games from 2000-02 as well.
Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, McCorvey worked one season at South Carolina, where he served as the wide receivers coach in 1998 under former Tiger assistant coach Brad Scott. McCorvey took the South Carolina job following an eight-year stay at Alabama from 1990-97. He served seven seasons as its wide receivers coach and the 1996 campaign as offensive coordinator. He was the assistant head coach in 1997 as well.
Alabama had five top-25 final rankings in his tenure, including three seasons in the top five. The Crimson Tide won the 1992 national title with McCorvey serving as wide receivers coach and Swinney as one of his student-athletes. That season culminated with a 34-13 win over heavily-favored Miami (Fla.) in the Sugar Bowl. During the 1990-96 era, Alabama posted a 70-16-1 record and played in six bowl games. With McCorvey at the controls of the offense in 1996, Alabama finished 10-3, including a win over Michigan in the Outback Bowl.
From 1979-82, he served as an assistant coach at Alabama A&M and helped that program to the No. 6 rushing offense in Division II in 1981 after finishing 11th in the nation in scoring offense in 1980. McCorvey began his college coaching career at North Carolina Central in 1978.
McCorvey began his coaching career with a six-year stint (1972-77) at Tate High School. A quarterback at Alabama State from 1968-71, McCorvey earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama State in 1972 and a master’s degree from West Florida in 1977.
He was the recipient of the 2015 AFCA Outstanding Achievement Award for his contributions to college football. In 2010, the native of Atmore, Ala. was inducted into the Atmore Hall of Fame.
Other inductees in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 are Ronnie Brown, Sylvester Croom, Doug Kennedy, Q.V. Lowe, Jorge Posada, Duane Reboul and Steve Shaw.Starting with the first class in 1969, this will be the 52nd Class inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. The eight newly elected inductees will bring the total number of inductees to 369.
The 52nd Annual Induction Banquet and Ceremony will be held in Birmingham on May 2, 2020.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.