UWF Suffers At The Hands Of North Alabama, 51-3
November 6, 2016
The seventh-ranked North Alabama football team scored the first 20 points and cruised past UWF for a 51-3 win at Braly Municipal Stadium Saturday, clinching the team’s fourth-consecutive Gulf South Conference regular-season title in the process.
UNA (7-1, 6-0) scored on the first play from scrimmage – a 63-yard pass from Jacob Tucker to Dre Hall – and defended UWF better than any team had done all season before compiling 528 yards to just 172 for the Argonauts.
“North Alabama is the number seven team in the country and they are starting 15 seniors, and they look like a playoff team,” UWF head coach Pete Shinnick said. “We were not able to match that and that’s really the end of it. Our guys were playing hard and they were working hard. I liked our preparation and liked where we were but North Alabama was just better than us today. All credit to them.”
UWF (5-5, 3-4) was unable to get its offense going beyond its lone scoring drive where it capped an eight play, 84-yard effort with a Austin Peffers 20-yard field goal. The Argos finished with 119 yards rushing and quarterback Kaleb Nobles was just 11-for-26 for 53 yards passing, while being sacked four times.
Daviante Sayles, who rushed 10 times for 76 yards, had the game’s longest play, breaking off a 58-yard scamper that put the team inside the UNA 10-yard line before Peffers’ kick late in the first quarter. Chris Schwarz carried the ball a career-high 17 times for 61 yards for a 3.6 yards per rush average.
But the Lions got big plays when they needed them and showed why they are ranked in the top 10 and appear ready to make a long run out of Super Region 2 in the NCAA Playoffs. On the kickoff following the UWF field goal, Jaylan Jackson returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. UNA converted six of its first eight third-down opportunities, including scoring runs of 41 and 21 yards to take a 48-3 lead into the locker room.
Tucker ended the game with 176 yards through the air and 52 yards on the ground, with a passing touchdowns and a pair of rushing touchdowns.
UWF will conclude its inaugural season next Saturday against West Georgia (6-4, 3-4). Kickoff at Blue Wahoos Stadium is set for noon.
Friday Night Football Final Scores
November 5, 2016
Here are Friday night football scores from around the area:
FLORIDA
- South Walton 56, Jay 27
- West Florida 31, Washington 12
- Trinity Christian Academy 45, Pine Forest 22
- PACE 41, Catholic 7
- Escambia 31, PHS 16
- Baker 49, Liberty County 0
- Gulf Breeze 37, Crestview 13
- OFF: Northview, Tate
ALABAMA
- Escambia Academy 49, Evangel Christian Academy 6
- Wicksburg 34, T.R. Miller 28
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
UWF Drops Home Game To West Alabama, 45-21
October 30, 2016
The UWF Football team dropped a 45-21 decision to a very strong West Alabama squad at Blue Wahoos Stadium Saturday.
UWF (5-4, 3-3 Gulf South Conference) finished with 349 yards of total offense and quarterbacks Kaleb Nobles and Grey Jackson combined to throw for 248 yards on 31-of-59 with two touchdowns.
The loss before another impressive crowd was the first in four home games during the inaugural 2016 season. Saturday’s attendance was 6,088, giving UWF an average of 6,388 with one home date remaining.
UWA (6-3, 6-1) scored 38 unanswered points to break a 7-7 tie and grab a 45-7 lead on its way to a fifth-consecutive victory. The Tigers outgained the Argonauts 536-to-349 and had 490 through the air. Austin Grammer was 41-of-56 for 493 yards and three touchdowns.
UWA got out to a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game when Grammer connected with Barnard McGhee from 20 yards. UWF knotted it up 2:29 later on a Nobles-to-Antoine Griffin strike from 32 yards.
The teams then failed to score on the next seven possessions before the Tigers grabbed the lead for good when Lakendric Thomas scored from three yards to cap a 12-play, 87-yard drive. Grammer found McGhee two more times for scores before the half to send the visitors in the locker room with a 28-7 advantage.
UWA scored 17 points in the third quarter while putting up 181 yards of offense in the frame.
UWF scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with Jackson leading both drives. He scampered 22 yards up the middle on the second play of the quarter before hooking up with Ishmel Morrow on a 14-yard pass to complete the scoring.
Griffin and Tate Lehtio led the Argo receiving corps with six catches for 59 yards apiece. Morrow caught four balls for 50 yards and Anas Hasic recorded five catches for 33 yards. Jackson was the team’s leading rusher, piling up 73 yards on five carries.
On defense, Leroy Taylor had a game-high eight tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass break up.
UWF will return to action next Saturday when it travels to Florence, Ala. to take on No. 7 North Alabama (6-1, 5-0) in its final road game of the year.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Heading To Playoffs After Win Over Pine Forest
October 29, 2016
The Tate Aggies defeated the Pine Forest Eagles 28-23 Friday night to give the Aggies a second place finish in District 1-6A.
The Aggies first points came on a Jack Henry to Raymond Freeman touchdown pass.
By the fourth quarter, the game was tied at 21 when a pass from Henry was deflected into the hands of Corey Young who ran it in from 45 yards out and the go-ahead score.
Tate (8-2, 3-1) has an open date next week for the final game of the regular season before heading into the playoff series on November 11 at the Gulf Breeze Dolphins.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Jennifer Repine, click to enlarge.
Baker Beats Northview; Chiefs Still In Playoffs
October 29, 2016
The Baker Gators beat the Northview Chiefs 38-0 Friday night in Baker. With the win, the Baker Gators claimed the 1-1A title, dropping the Chiefs into the runner-up spot.
The Chiefs earned consecutive district titles in 2012 with a 40-6 blowout over Baker, but the Gators have now claimed four straight titles from the Chiefs.
Friday night’s loss was not even a close one, with the Gators dominating the Chiefs in every aspect.
“It was not a good game in any phase of it,” Northview Head Coach Derek Marshman said. “We didn’t play good enough to win. We didn’t coach good enough, we didn’t execute good enough…there’s no excuses for it. They were the better team tonight in every facet of the game.
Next Friday night, the Chiefs have an open date for the final week of the regular season as they prepare for their shot at the road to Orlando.
“We have two weeks to go back and focus on us,” he said. “That’s the beauty of having a bye week right before the playoffs. We don’t have to worry about an opponent next week. It’s like having a faceless opponent that will allow us to focus on getting better at what we do.
In the first round of the playoffs on November 11, the Chiefs (6-4, 1-1) will travel to Graceville (6-3, 4-1) while Baker will host Cottondale. The two winners will face off on November 15, setting up a possible rematch between Northview and Baker.
Look for additional photos by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Football Star Trent Richardson Spotted At Girls Softball In Walnut Hill
October 29, 2016
Football star Trent Richardson was in Walnut Hill Friday night, enjoying girls softball action at Northwest Escambia’s Bradberry Park as the Diamond Divas hosted Perdido Key. Richardson was there cheering on his daughter who is playing her first year of softball for Perdido Key.
Richardson is pictured with Diamond Divas player Jamison Gilman.
Richardson, an Escambia High School grad, played college ball at Alabama where he was an All-American and member of two BCS National Championship teams. He went on to play for the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and signed with the Oakland Raiders before being released in August 2015. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in April 2016 but was waived in August 2016. He is currently a free agent.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
October 29, 2016
Here are final scores from Friday night’s high school football games around the North Escambia area.
FLORIDA
Baker 38, Northview 0
Tate 28, Pine Forest 23
West Florida 35, PHS 0
Gulf Breeze 31, Navarre 28
Escambia 36, Washington 10
Pace 35, Milton 34 OT
OFF — Jay, Catholic
ALABAMA
T.R. Miller 35, W.S. Neal 6
Luverne 29, Flomaton 28
Faith Academy 44, Escambia County (Atmore) 28
Bessemer Academy 21, Escambia Academy 14
Chiefs Name Players Of The Week
October 27, 2016
The Northview Chiefs have named Players of the Week from their game last Friday night against Walton. They are:
Impact Player of the Week
MJ Jones — 3 total tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU on defense; 2 rec., 16 yards on offense, 1 PR for 18 yards; 1 KR for 26 yards
Offense
Hunter Edwards (pictured top) — 6 carries, 90 yards; 1 catch, 9 yards, 1 TD
Defense
Justin Helton — 8 total tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FR
Special Teams
Hunter Edwards — Blocked FG *5 Special Force Points*
Dominator
Ohijie Elliott (pictured below) — Hit and sack on QB in 4th quarter to cause fumble on Walton’s final possession
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Cross Country Places At Districts, Headed To Regionals
October 25, 2016
The Northview Boy’s Cross Country team is headed to regionals after a third place finish Saturday during the district meet at Sims Middle School in Pace. Two Northview boys place in the top 15 — Brandon Korinchak was third, and Tanner Levins was sixth.
The girl’s team placed fifth with many members setting personal record times.
The regional cross meet will be held at the Pensacola Equestrian Center on Friday.
Pictured: The Northview boys and girls cross country teams last Saturday at the district meet in Pace. Pictured inset: Brandon Korinchak (left) placed third, and Tanner Levins was sixth. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Defense Grounds Hawks
October 23, 2016
A week after recording school records for total offense and scoring, the UWF defense put on a show by limiting Shorter to just 98 total yards in a 36-0 victory on Homecoming Saturday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With the offense struggling to get into a rhythm in the early going, the defense was as strong as it has been all season, forcing the visitors into four 3-and-out offensive series’, two turnovers on downs and an interception in the first 30 minutes. The second half saw more of the same with six punts and another interception.
UWF (5-3, 3-2 Gulf South) sacked two Shorter quarterbacks five times and pressured them into hurried throws on numerous occasions. Shorter (0-7, 0-5) was held to 98 yards of total offense – its third lowest total this season and it fewest since the third game of the year. The Hawks were shutout for the fourth time in 2016.
UWF held a 10-0 lead at the half before turning things up on offense after the intermission. The Argos used long scoring plays to stretch the lead to 23-0 near the end of the third quarter. Kaleb Nobles found Caleb Robinson on for a 42-yard touchdown before Kevin Grant outran the Shorter defense on a 56-yard strike.
The Argonauts had one of their strongest rushing attacks of the season, finishing with 143 yards on 36 attempts. The final two scores of the game came on the ground when Chris Schwarz reached paydirt from 20 yards out and Tim Bellinger closed out the scoring with a 15-yard run in the closing minutes. Schwarz finished with 32 yards and Bellinger had 38.
Daviante Sales led five Argo backs with 44 yards on 14 carries. No other tailback carried the ball more than five times in a balanced offense.
Nobles threw for 324 yards on 30-for-50 passing with three touchdowns and 19 yards rushing. On offense, UWF totaled 470 yards on 87 plays – one snap shy of a season high.
John Williamson led the UWF defense with six tackles, two sacks, another stop behind the line of scrimmage and a quarterback hurry.
UWF will be back in action next Saturday, Oct. 29 when it plays host to West Alabama (5-3, 5-1)