Baker Outpaces Northview (With Gallery), Tate Tops Milton
January 19, 2018
Baker 71, Northview 60
The Northview Chiefs lost to the Baker Gators 71-60 Thursday afternoon in Bratt.
The Gators only outscored the Chiefs by two to hold an 18-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Baker outpaced Northview in the second to take a 40-27 by the half. Baker scored a basket more than Northview in the third, while Northview outscored Baker by four in the fourth.
Up next, the Northview Chiefs varsity will host Pensacola Christian Academy at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday and Freeport next Thursday at 6:15 p.m. The JV boys will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and 5 p.m. Thursday.
Tate 68, Milton 54
The Tate Aggies beat the Milton Panthers 68-54 Thursday in Cantonment.
The Aggies to a 15-9 lead by the end of the first quarter and were up 33-26 by halftime. Tate outscored Milton by seven in the third, while both teams scored 23 points each in the fourth.
The Tate Aggies (10-6, 4-0) were led by Love Bettis with 21 points.
The Tate Aggies will travel to Fort Walton to take on Choctawhatchee High School at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Pictured: Baker at Northview Thursday afternoon. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Weightlifting Girls Move On To Regionals
January 15, 2018
The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting team placed fourth overall at districts with 12 girl advancing to the regional meet.
The following Northview girls placed as listed in their weight class:
Lynnsey Holzapfel, sixth
Emily Stabler, third
Crystal Douglas, fifth
Destiny Braddock, fifth
Lexxi Broadhead, second
Lexxi Baggett, fourth
Hailie Harigel, fifth
Abigail Nelson, fourth
Aubree Love, fifth
Savannah Roley, sixth
Natasha Walker, second
Rayshawanna Davidson, sixth
Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Girls Weightlifting Team Advances To Regionals
January 14, 2018
The Jay High School Girls Weightlifting team has advanced to the regional meet next Friday in Baker.
Alexa Pabo placed sixth in the 110 division, Hailey Grenier placed sixth in the 139 division, Haylee Watson was the District 1 Champion in the 139 division, Carlyn Watson placed sixth in the 154 division and Sarah Barnhill placed third in the unlimited division. The team is coached is Melvin Kersey.
Editor’s Note: The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting team also advanced to regionals. Details will be published in an upcoming story.
Pictured: The Jay High School Girls Weightlifting team advanced to regionals. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Ballpark Spring Registration Saturdays In January
January 12, 2018
It’s time to register to play ball at the Molino Ballpark.
Registration will be held at the park every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Practices will begin February 5, so players must register by Saturday, January 27 in order to play this year.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Football Playoff Series Changes Considered For 1A-4A Teams
January 11, 2018
The Florida Athletics Directors Advisory Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended a playoff change for 1A-4A high school football, including Northview and Jay high schools.
If approved at a future date by the Florida High School Athletic Association, six teams would qualify for state series play from each region in class 1A-4A beginning with the 2018 season.
The first and second seed would receive a bye to the second round. In the first round, the third seed team would host the sixth seed and the fourth seed would host the fifth seed.
Currently four team from each region qualify for the playoffs. There is no district play, forcing teams to often play much tougher schedules. This change would allow the top 50 percent of each region to have a real playoff.
According to the Athletics Directors Committee, there is a built-in extra round for Class 1A-4A and allowing more teams to earn a playoff spot would not affect the current playoff structure. This would also allow the third and fourth seed teams to host a playoff game, earning more revenue for those schools.
“I think there are positives and negatives,” Northview High School Coach Derek Marshman said. “Obviously, more teams will be allowed to participate in the post season. The reason the FHSAA eliminated districts was to eliminate blowouts in the first round. I could see fifth and sixth place teams struggling. That is obviously a case-by-case situation. I do think overall that it is a good thing to allow more teams in the post season.”
“The most beneficial thing is eliminating the bye week the week before the championship games. It could definitely throw a kink into the rhythm of a team if they have the bye week immediately before the state championship game,” Marshman continued.
The proposal was previously unanimously approved by the 1A-4A coaches council and must next be approved by the FHSAA board of directors.
Pictured: Action from last year’s Northview at Jay game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Northview Tops Jay, Tate Beats Niceville
January 10, 2018
Tuesday high school basketball results:
BOYS
Northview 41, Jay 38
Northview 26, Jay 24 (JV)
Tate 67, Niceville 58
Tate 54, Niceville 41 (JV)
GIRLS
Pine Forest 37, Tate 20
Pictured: Northview at Jay. Photos by Ellen Helton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF’s Shinnick Named National Coach Of The Year
January 10, 2018
UWF head football coach Pete Shinnick was named the Division II National Coach of the Year, as announced by the American Football Coaches Association during the live broadcast of the American Football Coaches Awards®, presented by Amway, at the Charlotte Convention Center Tuesday.
Shinnick led the Argonauts to an 11-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game in their second season of competition. UWF went 5-3 in the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference to finish tied for second. The Argonauts won a school record six-consecutive games which included five against nationally ranked teams en route to the title game appearance.
UWF was ranked second in the final AFCA Top 25, marking its first-ever ranking after receiving votes twice during the 2017 season.
The Argos had the nation’s 20th-ranked defense and were among the top 20 in sacks, turnovers gained, interceptions, fumbles recovered, fourth down defense and defensive touchdowns.
UWF had a number of exciting events transpire in 2017. Among the highlights in the regular-season were: A goal line turnover in the final seconds to secure a win at Missouri S&T in the season opener; The team tied a school-record with 51 points in a win over Chowan; Austin Williams kicked a field goal as time expired in a wild road win over Florida Tech to claim the Coastal Classic for the second-consecutive year, Marvin Conley had a 98-yard pick-6 in the last minute to preserve a 28-14 win over Mississippi College; the Argos defeated North Alabama 30-7 on Senior Day; UWF erased a 16-0 deficit to defeat WestGeorgia 34-29 and earn a berth into the postseason, becoming the fastest startup to reach the playoffs in Division II.
The postseason run proved to be just as exciting, captivating the nation as the team knocked off one top-25 opponent after another, beginning with a dominating 31-0 win at No. 16 Wingate. A 17-14 win at No. 25 West Georgia followed before winning the Super Regional 2 championship at No. 17 West Alabama. The national semifinals saw another dominating defensive performance as the Argonauts outlasted top-ranked and undefeated Indiana (Pa.), 27-17 to advance to the title game.
The award is the first for Shinnick, who is 16-10 in two years at UWF and 129-56 in 16 seasons as a head coach.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Proclaims UCF Knights Football National Champions In Florida
January 9, 2018
Governor Rick Scott issued a proclamation Monday declaring the University of Central Florida Knights football team as national champions in Florida after their undefeated, 13-0 season. The UCF Knights beat the Auburn Tigers 34-27 in the Peach Bowl on New Years Day. This season, the Auburn Tigers beat both the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are playing in the last game of the College Football Playoff.
“Florida is home to the country’s best college football, and this season, UCF proved to the world that they can beat any team. By having a perfect season and beating the only team that defeated both Alabama and Georgia this season, the UCF Knights are clearly champions,” Scott said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
PR Guro Wants To Declare UCF Football Dominance
January 8, 2018
Tallahassee public-relations guru Kevin Cate has pushed Florida lawmakers the past couple years to acknowledge the existence of his alma mater, Alabama’s Auburn University, through a specialty license plate.
Now he is trying to round up legislators to proclaim the University of Central Florida as college football national champions after the Knights beat Auburn last Monday to complete an undefeated season.
“I think a resolution by the Florida Legislature declaring @UCF Football national champions is in order this #flsession.” Cate tweeted after UCF’s 34-27 win in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Rep. Amber Mariano, a Hudson Republican and 2017 UCF grad, replied “Let’s do it!!”
Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, along with Rep. Kionne McGhee, D-Miami, and Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, have also offered to back the proposal — although, McGhee added a caveat to his support.
“If Alabama wins the Championship, we will begin the debate that @UCF_Football is our National Champ!” McGhee tweeted, referring to the championship game between SEC rivals Alabama and Georgia.
Undefeated and unacknowledged is apparently something Auburn fans know all too well, having twice finished with perfect records — in 1993 and in 2004 — without landing a No. 1 national ranking.
“I’m normally an apologist for the #SEC, but my last football season at @AuburnU, we were undefeated and denied a shot at the national title,” Cate tweeted. “Not fun.”
But this love for the Knights could also be a ploy, as Cate hasn’t given up on the Auburn specialty license-plate dream he shares with Rep. James Grant, a Tampa Republican and fellow Auburn alum.
“Late filed amendment: require @CFBPlayoff to include 10 teams, plus we still get our @AuburnU license plate,” Cate tweeted.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pete Shinnick Named D2 National Coach of the Year
January 6, 2018
University of West Florida head football coach Pete Shinnick was named the D2Football.com National Coach of the Year, while standouts Marvin Conley and John Williamson were recognized as part of the organization’s All-America Team.
Shinnick led the Argonauts to an 11-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game in their second season of competition. UWF went 5-3 in the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference to finish tied for second. The Argonauts won a school record six-consecutive games which included five against nationally ranked teams en route to the title game appearance.
The Argos had the nation’s 20th-ranked defense and were in the top 20 in sacks, turnovers gained, interceptions, fumbles recovered, fourth down defense and defensive touchdowns. Much of that was due to first-year defensive coordinator Darian Dulin’s group, including Conley and Williamson.
Conley was one of the top defensive backs in the country, finishing with a team-high 104 tackles, four interceptions, six pass break ups, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. The junior from Tampa had at least five tackles in 11 of 15 games this season, in addition to a pair of interception returns for a touchdown.
Williamson had 70 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. He established a new Gulf South Conference single-season record for sacks as well. The junior from Stockton, Alabama had at least one sack in each of the last seven games with 12 total over that time frame.
Both players were voted onto the honorable mention list after earning second team All-America accolades last month from the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association.