More Than A Dream: Northview Grad Very First To Sign With UWF Argos
December 16, 2017
The University of West Florida Argo football team fell in the national championship game on Saturday. Not a bad way at all to cap just the second ever season for the team..
Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the national championship game.
And for Northview High School graduate Blake McCall, the game marks the end of a three year dream. McCall made history in December 2014 as the very first student athlete to sign with the new University of West Florida football team during the NCAA midyear transfer signing period.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to be here,” McCall told NorthEscambia.com from Kansas City, KS, Friday afternoon, just over 24 hours ahead of kickoff of the NCAA Division II National Championship game against Texas A&M-Commerce. “I’m not sure anybody really thought we’d be here right now; it’s taken some of us by surprise.”
“I knew we would do well; it’s just unreal,” the UWF senior remarked.
Putting it all on the line in a championship game is not new to McCall. It wasn’t the national stage, but a first-ever state title for the Northview Chiefs in 2012.
McCall helped lead Northview to an 11-3 overall record and a 4-0 district record as a senior. Northview averaged 42.9 points per game and took the Florida Class 1A state championship with a 42-21 win over Trenton High School during his senior year. McCall was a three-year starter and played all five positions in the offensive line.
“That was a crazy senior year,” said Mccall, who grew up in Bratt about a mile away from Northview. “I keep telling the guys now about being in a championship game, even though it was on a smaller scale.”
In 2013, he redshirted during his freshman year at Division I Jackson State. And during the 2014 season, he saw playing time as a redshirt freshman at Jackson State. On the offensive line, McCall helped lead the team to 25.8 points and 376.1 total yards per game.
Then he met a coach named Pete Shinnick who was working to build a brand new team at the University of West Florida.
“He is one of the most genuine guys I ever met. He was selling a new team when he recruited me, and I have learned that he does what he says,” McCall said.
Perhaps partially due to the inspiration instilled by Shinnick, McCall hopes to coach college football when he graduates.
But in the here and now, he knows that folks back home in Bratt and North Escambia will be rooting for their hometown boy as they watch the game on ESPN2 beginning at 5:00. (The game is also available on the WatchESPN app.)
“I love that community,” he said. “I have received so many Facebook messages and texts from people back home. It means a lot.”
Now, he’s focused on Saturday evening as the DII national championship game kicks off.
“Knowing that you are here in the national championship game will take your breath away,” McCall said as he nears his final football game. “Man what a way to go out. It’s surreal.”
Pictured top: Blake McCall, John Williamson and Devin Gibson at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, KS — site of today’s NCAA Division II National Championship. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Bloodworth Signs With Southern Union
December 13, 2017
Tate High School’s Ethan Bloodworth has signed to play baseball for Southern Union State Community College in East Alabama. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Jay Sweeps Northview
December 12, 2017
In high school basketball action, Jay swept four games across the board against Northview Monday in Bratt.
BOYS
Jay 42, Northview 38
Jay 38, Northview 22 (JV)
GIRLS
Jay 46, Northview 23
Jay 43, Northview 3
Both varsity teams will take part in the Jay Christmas Tournament later this week.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Madisen Nelson Commits To Pensacola State
December 12, 2017
Tate High School senior Madisen Nelson has signed her commitment to play softball at Pensacola State College. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Major Leaguer Caleb Gindl To Hold Baseball Clinic In Molino
December 11, 2017
A baseball clinic with Caleb Gindl will be held on Saturday, December 16 from 8 a.m. until noon at the Don Sutton Ballpark in Molino.
The clinic for ages 7-13 will cover hitting, base running, in-fielding, pitching and outfield skills. Registration is $40 the day of the event (registration opens at 7:30 a.m.).
Gindl was selected in the fifth found of the Major League Baseball Draft in 2007. He has played for affiliates of the Milwaulkee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago White Sox, and currently plays for the San Francisco organization. Gindl has prior Major League experience with the Milwaukee Brewers. He batted .242 with five home runs and 14 RBI for Milwaukee in 2013, hitting a walkoff home run against the Miami Marlins.
For more information, call (850) 712-6206 or (850) 572-9484.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Honor Cheerleaders, Football Players
December 11, 2017
The Northview Chiefs honored their football players and cheerleaders at a recent banquet.
The following awards were presented:
Football
- Top Newcomer: Johnny Windham
- Highest Academic Achiever: Seth Killam
- Most Outstanding Wide Receiver: Tim Bush
- Most Outstanding Defensive Back: Seth Killam
- Most Outstanding Offensive Back: Trent Peebles
- Most Outstanding Linebacker: Lance McLaughlin
- Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Justin Helton
- Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman: Jason Fischer
- Chief Award: Hunter Spence
- Most Valuable Defensive Player: Lance McLaughlin
- Most Valuable Offensive Player: Jayden Jackson
Varsity Cheerleaders
- Senior Awards. Anna Nelson, Bailee Hinote, Celeste North
- Team Player – Celeste North
- Best All Around – Madison Sherouse
- Dependability Award – Gabrielle Kline
- Strength of Character – Shelby Bashore
- Most Improved – Karlee Criswell
- Most Spirit – Cloe Smith
- Most Determined – Madicyn Bell
- Best Showmanship – Olivia Seals
- Coach’s Award – Dalton Hamilton (mascot)
JV Cheerleaders
- Team Player – Briana White Spruill
- Coach’s Award – Abigail Nelson
Photos By Genia Bashore for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FCA Challenger Awards Presented To Area Football Players
December 7, 2017
Area high school football players were honored Monday and Tuesday nights at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Banquet.
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.
Monday Night Winners (pictured above)
- Jason Fischer – Northview High
- Trae Melton -Tate High
- Connor McLemore – West Florida High
- Kwadetrius Fountain – Pine Forest High
- Caleb Ward – Washington High
- Isaiah Boyle – Escambia High
- De’Andre Thurman – Pensacola High
- Luke Selogy – Gulf Breeze High
- Patrick Richardson – Catholic High
Tuesday Night Winners (pictured below)
- Patrick McGhee – Escambia Academy
- Logan Hanks – Flomaton High
- Eric Godfrey – Jay High School
- Todd Watson – T.R. Miller High
- Justin Campbell — Milton High
- Sam Faulknet – Pace high
- Mike Beaudry – University of West Florida
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High Wrestling Places At ‘Border Wars’
December 7, 2017
The Tate High School Wrestling Team had an outstanding weekend at Border Wars in Santa Rosa Beach with four wrestlers placing in the Top 4.
Jacob Cochran, 113 lbs — 1st place
Matthew Blalock, 132 lbs – 2nd place
Nate Golmon, 152 lbs — 2nd place
Juan Alvarez ,160 lbs — 4th place
Cochran was named the Outstanding Lightweight Wrestler of the tournament. Blalock and Cochran both achieved their 100th high school career win, breaking the school record held since the 1990’s.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF’s Pete Shinnick Named AFCA Region Coach Of The Year
December 6, 2017
UWF head coach Pete Shinnick has been named the Region 2 Coach of the Year as announced by the American Football Coaches Association on Tuesday.
Shinnick has led UWF to a 10-3 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Semifinals in just the second year of the program’s history. The Argonauts have gone 6-1 away from Pensacola this season, marking the second-most road wins in the country.
Shinnick was hired at UWF on February 6, 2014. After 18 months of building the program from scratch, UWF opened play in 2016 and went 5-6, marking the most wins by a first-year Division II program in a decade. The Argonauts also collected the school’s first win over a ranked opponent, defeating No. 16 Florida Tech at home before a sellout crowd on national television. UWF played before capacity crowds at Blue Wahoos Stadium three times and ranked 18th in the NCAA with a 6,328 average.
2017 has been even more impressive. UWF went 7-3 in the regular season and tied for second in the Gulf South Conference at 5-3. The team earned votes in the top 25 on two occasions for the first time ever and became the fastest Division II start-up program to qualify for the postseason when the Argonauts grabbed the No. 6 seed in the Super Regional 2 bracket. Since that announcement, UWF has won three-consecutive road games over ranked opponents to win the Super Regional 2 Championship.
UWF will play at No. 1 Indiana University of Pennsylvania this Saturday in the national semifinals at 11 a.m. Central Time.
This marks the first time he has won the award. Shinnick has a career record of 118-55 and is 15-9 at UWF. He spent eight years – seven playing seasons – starting the program at UNC Pembroke prior to arriving in Pensacola and seven years as the head coach at Azusa Pacific.
The AFCA will announce the 2017 National Coaches of the Year winners in FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III and NAIA at the American Football Coaches Awards, presented by Amway, broadcast live on the USA TODAY Sports Facebook page on Tuesday, January 9, at 8 p.m. EST. The Regional winners in each division are finalists for the National Coach of the Year.
The AFCA began recognizing district coaches of the year following the 1960 season. The awards were established the same year Eastman Kodak agreed to sponsor the AFCA Coach of the Year award. Prior to 1960, the Scripps-Howard newspaper chain had sponsored the program, which recognized one national Coach of the Year.
Girls Basketball: Milton Cruises Past Northview
December 5, 2017
The Milton Lady Panthers defeated Northview in varsity and junior varsity basketball action Monday in Bratt.
Milton 43, Northview 8
The Milton Panthers defeated the Northview Chiefs 43-8 Monday night. Milton took a 5-0 lead in the first period and increased their advantage to 14-2 at the conclusion of the second period. The Lady Chiefs varsity (0-4, 0-2) will host Baker on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Milton 35, Northview 3 (JV)
In junior varsity play, Milton defeated Northview 35-3. Northview remained scoreless in the two periods, down 20-0 at the end of the second. The Chiefs scored three points in third period. The MV Lady Chiefs (0-3, 0-1) will host Baker on Thursday.
For more game action photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
