UWF Rolls Past Chowan, 51-23, In Home Opener
September 17, 2017
The University of West Florida football team clicked in all three phases Saturday night, as the Argos defeated Chowan 51-23 in their home opener at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
UWF improved to 2-0 on the season after having an off week due to Hurricane Irma. The Argos finished with 305 yards of total offense, with 133 on the ground and 172 through the air. UWF tied the school record for points in a game and surpassed the 40-point plateau for the sixth time in 13 all-time contests.
UWF also scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in the same game for the first time in program history.
Mike Beaudry passed for 149 yards on 11-of-22 with a career-high three touchdowns. Antoine Griffin had a team-best three receptions for 78 yards, while Ka’Ron Ashley made two spectacular scoring catches in the first half as UWF built a 21-10 halftime advantage.
The Argonauts jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when senior defensive back Josh Marshall corralled his second interception of the year, picking off Hawks quarterback Bryce Witt and taking it 31 yards to the end zone.
It didn’t take long for Chowan to fire back as the Hawks capitalized on a West Florida kick-catch interference on the kickoff, allowing Witt and company to start their next drive inside the Argos 36-yard line. On the fifth play of the drive, Witt would connect with wide receiver Edwin Thomas from eight yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
West Florida responded right back, as Marcus Clayton raced 65 yards on the ensuing kickoff to set up the go-ahead touchdown. On the third play of the drive, Beaudry found Ashley from 18 yards out for his first score of the night.
With just under 10 minutes remaining in the half, Chowan linebacker Antuwan Hicks picked off Beaudry, putting the Hawks in great field position on their own 48-yard line. That set up an eventual 20-yard field goal for Connor Killeen, making it a one possession game.
As they did all night, West Florida answered right back. Forty-one seconds is all the Argos would need, as Beaudry connected with Griffin for a gain of 55 yards on the first play of the drive. That set the stage for another Ashley score, this one from nine yards out.
With under four minutes remaining in the third quarter, sophomore kicker Austin Williams converted on 38-yard field goal to extend the Argonauts lead to 24-10. Chowan would respond with a 6-play 75-yard drive, to pull within seven at 24-17.
But UWF responded with 27 unanswered points to build a 51-17 lead late in the fourth. Beaudry scored from a yard out and he completed a 23-yard strike to Rodney Coates, with Chris Schwarz finishing his night with a 2-yard run and Quadavis Battle scoring when he recovered a blocked punt that Johnathan Coleman took off Killeen’s foot.
Chowan remained winless in three games and finished with 335 yards of total offense. Witt had 242 yards passing and three touchdowns on 21-of-35.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Beat PHS 27-13 (With Photo Gallery)
September 16, 2017
Looking to bounce back from loss to West Florida last week, the Tate High School Aggies beat the visiting Pensacola High School Tigers 27-13 Friday night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The Aggies were first on the scoreboard on a Hunter Riggan quarterback keeper from nine yards out. A missed point after, the Aggies were on top in Cantonment 6-0 with 2:13 remaining the first quarter.
PHS answered with a short TD run with 7:18 to go in the half. Then with a good kick, Pensacola High was on top 7-6.
But Aggies were not about to head to the lockers at halftime on the downside. Senior Ladarrel Page was into the endzone next on the outside to make it 13-7 for the Aggies at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Aggies scored again. Following a long run from Shermari Jones, Page was in from 27 yards out to make it 20-7 as Tate went on to a 27-13 win.
The Aggies are now 2-1, while PHS fell to 1-3.
The Tate High School will host Milton next Friday night for homecoming.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Friday Night High School Football Scores
September 16, 2017
Here are final high school scores from around the area Friday night:
FLORIDA
- Blountstown 59, Northview 13 [Read more...]
- Tate 27, Pensacola 13 [Read more...]
- Jay 39, Wewahitchka 6
- West Florida 22, Mosley 14
- Pine Forest 20, Gulf Breeze 19
- Lincoln 28, Escambia 20
- Pace 37, Washington 26
ALABAMA
- Escambia County 26, Monroe County 8
- Escambia Academy 35, Jackson County 0
- Clarke County 50, Flomaton 14
- W.S. Neal 41, Satsuma 32
- T.R. Miller 18, Hillcrest 15
Pictured top: Action under the Friday night lights as Northview hosts Blountstown. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Chiefs Suffer Tough 59-13 ‘Self-Inflicted’ Loss To Blountstown (With Gallery)
September 16, 2017
The Blountstown Tigers defeated Northview 59-13 Friday night in Bratt. The Chiefs, 1-3, have now lost three straight games.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“It was a tough night,” Northview head coach Derek Marshman said. “That was a great football team we played tonight. Make no mistake about it but a lot of our wounds tonight were self-inflicted.”
The Chiefs were first on the board with a touchdown from Ontario Minor with 9:09 on the clock in the first quarter, with Blountstown answering with a touchdown of their own.
“You know I thought we came out on the first drive and did what we thought we could do and marched right down the field and scored. They responded with a touchdown and then we started kind of self-inflicting some things. We had a blocked punt, multiple turnovers, multiple big plays. They had a fake punt for a touchdown,” Marshman said.
The Chiefs’ only other score of the night came at 5:49 on the clock in the second on a pass from Seth Killam to Ray Bush.
Blountstown was on an unstoppable roll scoring 21 in the first quarter and 30 in the second to make it 51-13 at the half. The Chiefs held the Tigers to just eight points in the third before a scoreless fourth quarter.
“We are an improving football team but we are not good enough to hedge the other team out especially a team like Blountstown. A lot of things here were self-inflicted but like I said a lot of credit goes to them too,” the coach said.
Next week, Northview hits the road to Blountstown to take on the Blue Devils of Holmes County (2-1).
“We will get back to the drawing board next week. We’re not going to quit. We are going to keep fighting. I know this coaching staff is going to fight for these guys day and night. We will be back up here this weekend getting ready. Holmes County is a really good football team as well. We are going to keep fighting. There’s no quitting this program. There’s no quitting this team. There’s no quitting this coaching staff so we are going to keep fighting,” Marshman said.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Eagles Defeat W.S. Neal Eagles
September 15, 2017
In their home opener in Walnut Hill, the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles defeated the W.S. Neal Eagles Thursday night, 16-14. Next week, the Ernest Ward Eagles will host Perdido (AL) Middle School at 7 p.m. Ernest Ward’s Eagles are the only middle school football team in Escambia County, FL.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Register Now For Lil Aggies Cheerleading Camp
September 15, 2017
The Tate High School Cheerleaders are hosting their annual Lil Aggie Fall clinic on Saturday, September 23. The Lil Aggies will be able to cheer the first quarter of the Aggies’ home game against Washington on Friday, September 29.
The Lil Aggies will learn proper stretch techniques, cheers, chants, and jumps. The clinic is open from kindergarten to eighth grade. There will be a traditional and elite camp to serve all levels of cheerleaders.
The deadline to register is Monday, September 18th. Visit Tatehighcheer.com for a form or email tatehighcheer@gmail.com.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
September 13, 2017
In a park where hundreds of Escambia County area athletes play baseball, softball and t-ball every year, one set of baseball diamonds stands out from the rest. A rubber surface covers what would normally be clay and grass on three of the fields at the county-owned John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Complex on Nine Mile Road, providing a safe, fun place for everyone who wants to play ball.
And for the Miracle League of Pensacola, “everyone” truly means everyone.
It’s a place where every player plays, hits, gets on base, scores and wins – every game. Operating out of the John R. Jones Jr. Athletic Complex, the Miracle League of Pensacola provides physically and mentally challenged children and adults an opportunity to play baseball, softball and t-ball just like anyone else, all in a spirited and secure environment.
“The most exciting thing is getting to see the kids,” said Miracle League of Pensacola President and Co-Founder Larry Thompson, who started the program in 2002 with his late wife Donna. “In a sense, we’ve watched them grow up. They’re more than just players to us – they’re part of our family, too.”
Thompson said the program has grown from 28 players at its inception to about 250 for the current fall season.
The Miracle League of Pensacola relies on its many volunteers or “buddies” to keep the program going, along with community partners including the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department.
In addition to Escambia County donating the land at the park for the Miracle League to use, the Parks and Recreation Department has assisted with sidewalks, bleacher areas and perimeter areas to the newest Miracle League field. Recently, the department also coordinated with Miracle League to provide additional field safety netting and enhanced parking options.
Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said the Miracle League of Pensacola has been a great community asset, and the county is honored to be able to support the organization’s mission.
“I’ve witnessed the joy on their faces and the sense of accomplishment on players’ faces over my years at the county,” Rhodes said. “I’ve witnessed the feeling of inclusion by those players when they’re getting to play a game that some probably thought they’d never get to play.”
District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry also spoke to the organization’s positive impact.
“The success and growth at the Miracle League is a fantastic example of a volunteer board and nonprofit organization changing the lives of not only our players, but also their families and all of our player buddies and our coaches,” Barry said. “Many of our volunteers, buddies, and their families have given thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to support our players and I thank them.”
And while Escambia County Parks and Recreation plays a role in Miracle League, Rhodes said the real credit belongs to the Miracle League volunteers who work hard on a daily basis to keep the program going.
“We’re happy to do the part that we can to provide the park, to provide the location and to assist with improvements at the facility, but the volunteers that provide assistance at the Miracle League provide such a key element to that organization’s mission and the success they’ve had over the years,” Rhodes said.
Commissioner Lumon May, who represents District 3 where the park is located, agreed that the county is pleased to support Miracle League and what it brings to the community.
“Miracle League of Pensacola provides an opportunity for all athletes to participate in the great game of baseball, which can be life-changing for those who might not have been able to play otherwise,” May said. “Youth sports are such a fundamental part of childhood, and nobody should be excluded from participating based on their ability.”
Thompson said one of the most rewarding parts of Miracle League is getting to witness the smiles on the players’ faces and watching them overcome physical limitations to achieve things they may have once considered impossible.
“I’ve seen kids come in with cerebral palsy that can’t hit a pitched baseball,” Thompson said. “We used to use a tee 90 percent of the time when we started, and now you may see us use a tee 10 percent of the time. It’s amazing to think you can take the same group of kids and see them hit a pitched ball – people who didn’t think they could even play ball.”
The Miracle League of Pensacola strives to facilitate a sense of inclusion for all who play, Thompson said, with the age of participants ranging from 3 years old to 61 years old.
“The Miracle League is built at a regular baseball park,” he said. “It’s not where I play ball – it’s where we play ball.”
To learn more about the Miracle League of Pensacola or how to become a volunteer, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Reschedule Homecoming
September 12, 2017
The Tate Aggies have rescheduled their “Music Fest” Homecoming to next week.
The Aggies will face Milton on Friday night, September 22 in their homecoming game.
There will be no dress up days this week, and the Homecoming Dance has been moved to Saturday, September 23.
Homecoming Events
The Pep Rally will be Friday, September 22 at 8:50 a.m. with float parade, games and a skit by a special guest. The parade will be Friday, September 22 at 6 p.m. with floats, candy, Senior Court parade, underclassmen Homecoming Court presentation and, for the first year, the Showband of the South.
The game, Tate versus the Milton Panthers, will kickoff at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $5 at lunches, $7 at the gate. The Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime.
The Homecoming Dance will be Saturday, September 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale during lunches, $20 per student. Forms for non-Aggies are located outside room 422.
Theme Days
- Monday, Sept. 18 – Mathlete vs. Athlete
- Tuesday, Sept. 19 — Tacky Tourist Tuesday
- Wednesday, Sept. 20 — Woodstock Wednesday
- Thursday, Sept. 21 — Music Fest Character Day
- Friday, Sept. 22 — Battle of the Classes Class Color Day: 12 – Blue, 11th – Red, 10th – White, 9th – Pink
Pictured: Gloria Jones was crowned homecoming queen last year at Tate High School. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
ERC Football Scores
September 10, 2017
Here are week 2 scores from ERC youth league football:
Senior scores:
- NWE- 32, Jay- 8
- Excel- 56, Flomaton- 6
- Straughn- 21, Neal- 0
- Baker- 2, Poarch- 0 (forfeit)
- Brewton- 2, Uriah- 0 (forfeit)
Junior scores:
- NWE- 27, Jay- 6
- Excel- 25, Flomaton- 6
- Straughn- 26, Neal- 0
- Poarch- 19, Baker- 7
- Brewton- 20, Uriah- 0
Sophomore scores:
- NWE- 19, Jay- 6
- Flomaton- 12, Excel- 6 OT
- Neal- 31, Straughn- 0
- Poarch- 25, Baker- 0
- Brewton- 25, Uriah- 13
Freshman scores:
- Jay- 6, NWE- 0
- Flomaton- 33, Excel- 0
- Neal- 20, Straughn- 0
- Poarch- 32, Baker- 0
- Brewton- 27, Uriah- 0
Northview Toppled By South Walton
September 9, 2017
The 1-A Northview Chiefs fell 23-18 on the road at the 4-A South Walton Seahawks Friday night.
The Chiefs were coming off a 41-14 home opener loss last week against Escambia Academy of Canoe, AL.
Northview took the lead Friday night with 4:51 to go in the first quarter on a quarterback keeper from junior Seth Killam. With a miss on the point after kick, the Chiefs were up 6-0 in Santa Rosa Beach.
The Seahawks answered with three passing touchdowns of their own in the second quarter to take a 21-6 lead over the visiting Chiefs as they headed into the locker room at halftime.’
But Northview was out to dominate the scoring in the second half.
The Chiefs added another touchdown on a pass from Killam to Tim Bush with 6:30 on the clock in the third.
With 9:27 left in the fourth quarter, freshman Jayden Jackson ran 83 yards to score another Northview touchdown. The Chiefs missed their two point conversion attempt.
The Seahawks went on to win it 23-18.
The Northview Chiefs (1-2) will be back home in Bratt next Friday night as they host the Blountstown Tigers (1-1) next Friday night at 7:00.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
