‘This Is Football’ — Tate’s Markus Baxley Scores Touchdown Of A Lifetime
October 8, 2016
Friday night was an emotional dream come true for Tate High School senior Markus Baxley, his football brothers and the entire Aggie Nation.
Markus has cerebral palsy and has spent his high school career as an honorary member of the Aggies team. He’s never scored a touchdown, made a tackle or even played a single down. But he embodies that Aggie spirit, and has always provided the support his team needs. Now his team has stepped up to make his dream of playing a reality.
Friday night, he was out of his wheelchair leading his team onto the field as he’s done before. But it was a night like never before at Pete Gindl Stadium. Markus played a special pre-game down, running with help from his team for a 10-yard touchdown. That sent his Aggie teammates rushing onto the field to celebrate the play, which will earn Markus his letter in football. (Video below.)
Click here for a photo gallery.
Not bad for a young man that doctors said would never walk and never talk.
“It was awesome,” Markus said after the play that left thousands with tears in their eyes.
Before the Aggies took the field, and before his big play, Markus fired up his teammates in his usual fashion.
“This ain’t about me,” he said in a pre-game huddle. “It’s a family effort. I’ve known you for God knows how long. Y’all don’t stop until those quarters are done. After the quarters are done, then we can celebrate…This ain’t no pretty girl pageant…This is football. Go out there and show them boys we have more heart than they do.”
Click here for a photo gallery.
For a game summary, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Tate Pounds Pace
October 8, 2016
The Tate Aggies beat the Pace Patriots riday night, 55-34.
On the first play of the game, senior running back Corey Moorer was in on a 65-yard touchdown run for a quick 7-0 Aggie lead.
On the next possession for Tate, quarterback Jack Henry found Corey Young for a 35-yard touchdown, 14-0 Aggies with 9:36 in the first. And Henry put the Aggies up 21-0 on a 21-yard quarterback keeper. The Patriots were on the board in first as the Aggies answered with another touchdown from Henry to end the first quarter 24-6. By the half, Tate was up 31-6.
The Tate Aggies (6-1, 1-0) will host the Escambia Gators (3-5, 2-0) next Friday night at Pete Gindl Stadium.
For a story, photos and video from Markus Baxley’s big touchdown, click here.
A photo gallery from Friday night’s game will be posted by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Ends Road Series With Win Over Liberty County
October 8, 2016
The Northview Chiefs were back in Florida Friday night wrapping up three weeks and near 1,000 miles on the road with an Eastern time zone 34-15 win over the Liberty County Bulldogs in Bristol.
Liberty County surged to a 15-0 lead in the first quarter before the Chiefs rallied to score 34 unanswered points.
Last year, Liberty County spoiled Northview’s homecoming 37-14.
The Chiefs were under the leadership of temporary head coach Glenn Weber for Friday night’s game. Coach Derek Marshman was sitting out a one game suspension by the Florida High School Athletic Association following a forfeiture last week to Maplesville, AL. [Read more...]
Northview (4-3) will open district play next week as they host the Jay Royals (0-7) for the Chiefs’ homecoming in Bratt.
NorthEccambia.com file photo.
Friday Night Football Finals
October 8, 2016
Here are final scores from around the area Friday night:
FLORIDA
- Tate 55, Pace 34
- Northview 34, Liberty County 15
- Cottondale 48, Jay 36
- Navarre 17, Escambia 13
- Crestview 34, Milton 21
- Gulf Breeze 49, Walton 0
- West Florida 56 , Catholic 7
- Baler 35, South Walton 9
ALABAMA
- T.R. Miller 35, Flomaton 21
- Escambia Academy 35, Clarke Prep 0
- UMS Wright 37, W.S. Neal 37
- Thomasville 62, Escambia County (Atmore) 0
FHSAA Hands Down Punishment To Northview Chiefs For Forfeiting Game
October 7, 2016
The Florida High School Athletic Association has handed down punishment to Northview High School for forfeiting a game in the third quarter last Friday night against Maplesville High School in Alabama.
The FHSSA action states that Northview High School’s varsity football team is not permitted to travel outside the state of Florida to compete in a contest until after the 2018-2019 school year. Northview, however, remains eligible to compete in the state championship series in Florida.
A FHSAA rules states that a team that forfeits a contracted game for any reason other than weather shall become ineligible to participate in the state playoffs; however, the FHSAA chose not to implement that penalty according to a Thursday email.
According to Principal Gayle Weaver, Northview Head Coach Dereck Marshman has also been suspended for one game, which will be Friday night’s contest at Liberty County in Bristol. She said assistant coach Glenn Weber will lead the team.
In making their ruling the FHSAA reviewed statements and game film provide by Northview, the contest official’s game report, spoke to the game official and spoke to the athletic director at Maplesville High Schoool.
After the game at Maplesville, Weaver told NorthEscambia.com that after Marshman was ejected for two consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, she made the call to end the contest with 1:40 to go in the third because “it was no longer a safe environment”.
“The officiating got out of hand,” she said Friday night. “They were trash talking, and they were not officiating. They were not providing a safe environment and it was a danger to our team, everyone on the sidelines and our fans. Someone could have been hurt badly.”
Weaver said Marshman was attempting to get an explanation for a penalty flag when he was ejected. Weaver said the head referee would not provide any explanation or talk to anyone from Northview.
The Maplesville Red Devils are the defending Alabama 1A state champions and were 4-0 headed into Friday night’s game, outscoring opponents 211-14 this season. Friday night, the Red Devils were only up 6-0 headed into halftime against the Northview Chiefs. They had increased their lead to 21-0 by the third quarter, when the game came to halt in the third.
“At that point, it was no longer a game,” Weaver said.
NorthEscambia.com photos.
Ernest Ward Beats TR Miller (With Photo Gallery)
October 7, 2016
Ernest Ward Middle School beat T.R. Miller 28-22 Thursday night. Ernest Ward will wrap up their season next week as they host Atmore in Walnut Hill.
For a photo gallery click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Volleyball Celebrates Senior Night Win
October 7, 2016
The Northview Lady Chiefs volleyball team celebrated senior night with a win over the Escambia Gators Thursday.
The varsity Chiefs defeated Escambia 24-26, 25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7. In junior varsity action, Escambia defeated the Chiefs 25-13, 15-25, 15-17.
Northview seniors honored Thursday night were Courtney Grim, Gabrielle Hawkins, Jamia Newton, Victoria Amerson and Brittanie McLemore.
The Chiefs will travel to West Florida next Tuesday before wrapping up their regular season Thursday night at 4:00 with a special Dig Pink event for breast cancer awareness along with Flomaton, Escambia County (Atmore) and W.S. Neal.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Chiefs JV volleyball action from Thursday night. Pictured below: Northview senior volleyball players are honored. NorthEcambia.com and Kayleen Amerson photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cross Country: Northview, EWMS, Flomaton
October 6, 2016
Northview High School, Flomaton High School and Ernest Ward Middle School took part in a cross country meet Tuesday at Northview High School in Bratt.
Results were as follows:
Top Girls Team
- Northview
- Flomaton
- Ernest Ward
Fastest Girl- Charley Boutwell from Flomaton 27:06
Top Boys Team
- Flomaton
- Ernest Ward
Fastest Boy- Dwayne Hamby from Flomaton 19:43
TOP FIVE RUNNERS FROM EACH SCHOOL
Northview Girls
- Jasmine Elliott 28:18
- Marissa Rothrock 29:15
- Hannah McGahan 30:12
- Lydia Smith 31:03
- Rebekah Amerson 33:37
Northview Boys
- Tanner Levins 20:17
- Oscar Rodriguez 21:50
- Josiah Stilwell 23:56
- Adrian King 24:09
Ernest Ward Middle Girls
- Leah Anderson 29:42
- Emily Levins 33:43
- Kacy Knable 3549
- Autumn Williams 35:51
- Hadassah Mascaro 35:58
Ernest Ward Middle Boys
- Dakota Bryan 26:30
- Levi Kirkpatrick 27:46
- Braedan McGhee 29:05
- Kole Stewart 29:12
- James McElhaney 30:42
Flomaton Girls
- Charley Boutwell 27:06
- Makenzie Morrison 32:34
- Cheris Rogers 32:35
- Shea 34:48
- Sarah 33:58
Flomaton Boys
- Dwayne Hamby 19:43
- Dustin Reaves 22:04
- Dylan Patterson 22:05
- Dustin Martin 27:15
- Noah 29:20
Volleyball: Baker Tops Northview
October 5, 2016
The Baker Gators defeated the Northview Chiefs in high school volleyball action Tuesday afternoon in Baker.
JV 14-25, 7-25 Baker wins
Varsity 13-25, 8-25, 18-25 Baker wins
Thursday is senior night for the Chiefs as they host Escambia High School. The JV plays at 4:30 followed the varsity at 5:30.
Photos by Gary Amerson for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Middle Cross Country Team Faces T.R. Miller Challenge
October 4, 2016
The Ernest Ward Middle School Cross Country team recently took part in the T.R. Miller Challenge. EWMS top finishers were:
EWMS GIRLS (3K)
- Leah Anderson 16:15.2
- Kacy Knable 16:48.7
- Emily Levins 19:32.9
- Hadassah Mascaro 19:42.4
- Autumn Williams 20:28.2
EWMS BOYS (3K)
- Dakota Bryan 13:35.8
- Levi Kirpatrick 15:00.7
- Kole Stewart 15:04.6
- James McElhaney17:37.3
- Andrew Denton 17:54.4
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.