Friday Night Football Finals
November 14, 2015
Here are final playoff scores from around the North Escambia area tonight:
FLORIDA
- Vernon 8, Northview 7
- Tate 23, Navarre 22 2OT
- Rickards 42, West Florida 39
- Pine Forest 37, Gulf Breeze 3
- Trinity Christian 49, Catholic 3
- Baker 26, Graceville 0
ALABAMA
- T.R. Miller 49, Pike County 8
- Flomaton 49, Fayetteville 10
Lawmakers Pitch Regulations For Florida Fantasy Sports
November 12, 2015
Two Republican lawmakers are filing legislation that would regulate the daily fantasy sports industry, which is the subject of a federal probe and lawsuits in Florida and other states focused on whether the popular online games are illegal gambling. Sen. Joe Negron of Stuart and Rep. Matt Gaetz of Fort Walton Beach — both lawyers — issued a press release Tuesday with a draft version of their proposal.
The legislation would require all fantasy sports game operators to register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and impose restrictions on who can play the games.
Employees, family members and owners of the fantasy sports websites could not participate in the games, and employees also could not share confidential information that could affect fantasy game played with third parties until the information is publicly available.
Players, officials and others affiliated with real sports teams could not participate in any fantasy game that is determined by the performance of the player, the team or the accumulated statistics of the team or player. Three million Floridians currently play some sort of fantasy sports games, according to industry insiders.
“I do not believe that these Floridians should be at risk of criminal prosecution for doing nothing more than participating in the fantasy sports contests they enjoy. However, due to a dated attorney general opinion, there is a need to clarify in Florida law that fantasy sports are legal, as well as institute commonsense regulations that address consumers,” Negron, who is slated to become the next Senate president, said in the press release.
The fast-growing daily fantasy sports industry is under scrutiny by prosecutors in New York and Tampa, where the U.S. Attorney’s Office recently subpoenaed the Florida-based Fantasy Sports Trade Association. Daily fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel, and the association have hired some of the state’s most influential lobbyists, and the association contributed at least $70,000 to political committees led by Florida lawmakers in September.
Senate President Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, told The News Service of Florida last month that he’s asked his lawyers to check into the fantasy sports industry, in which players pay entry fees to draft “teams” that compete against each other for cash prizes based on the actual performance of athletes.
by The News Service of Florida
Molino 16U Lady Jaguars End Near Perfect Fall Season
November 12, 2015
The Molino 16U Lady Jaguars finished their fall season at 11-1. After losing their first game of the season, the team won 11 straight, coming from behind for the win in their last five games. Team members were Abigayil Mascaro, Jillian Gullahorn, Kaylee Bush, Ivy New, Kaylynn Swartzendriver, Jasmine Crabtree, Kristen Warlick, Alyssa Mcquaid, Lauren Metzler and Meredith Morgan. Coaches were Donnie Nicholson and Anthony Swartzendriver. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Student Athletes Honored At FCA Banquet
November 10, 2015
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Go the Distance” Awards were presented Monday night at a banquet hosted by the First Baptist Church of Pensacola.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Athletes from Escambia and Santa Rosa counties were honored for their participation in cross country, golf, swimming and volleyball.
Honored were:
Northview
Hannah Ging, Volleyball
Bethany Reynolds, Cross Country
Brandon Korinchak, Cross County
Tate
Shelby French, Swimming
Kelly Kennedy, Swimming
Kaylee Jackson, Golf
Earnest Morgan, Golf
Hope Tourney, Volleyball
Emma Shows, Cross Country
Kerry Avant, Cross Country
West Florida High
Alexis Tinker, Swimming
Jason Ogle, Swimming
Elizabeth Wright, Golf
Chase O’Conner, Golf
Miranda Taylor, Volleyball
MacKenzie Desposito, Cross Country
Von Little John, Cross Country
Jay High
RayAnne Free, Cross Country
Austin Gonzales, Cross Country
Pine Forest
Rachel Rudd, Golf
Daniel Taylor-Limerick, Golf
Alexis Lucas, Volleyball
East Hill
Kaylie Dickson, Volleyball
Ella Griffith, Cross Country
John Mobley, Cross Country
Pensacola High
Brittany Daigle, Golf
Jack Myslack, Golf
Ariel Noethlich, Volleyball
Carla Dias, Cross Country
Will Langhorne, Cross Country
Escambia High
Daniel Kelso, Golf
Laurie McCoy, Golf
Kallie Lewis, Volleyball
Washington High
Jenna Luth, Swimming
Pensacola Catholic
Caroline Sears, Swimming
Ryan Dockery, Swimming
Abigail Herrmann, Golf
AJ Panyko, Golf
Kiley Brady, Volleyball
Carson Montana, Cross Country
Grant Kemp, Cross Country
University of West Florida
Karisa Kostecki, Swimming
Autumn Day, Volleyball
Gulf Breeze High
Ally Post, Swimming
Carl Lehman, Swimming
Olivia Hepworth, Volleyball
Madison Thompson, Cross Country
Josh Thompson, Cross Country
Milton High
Amber Gilley, Swimming
Chase McLean, Swimming
Chloe Dawson, Golf
Beau Martin, Golf
Mallory Bramel, Volleyball
Becky Ward, Cross Country
David Brammer, Cross Country
Navarre High
Jordan Gilliard, Swimming
Patrick Keele, Swimming
Laurel Emerson, Golf
Pace High
Trevor Easley, Golf
Gillian Rabold, Cross Country
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Go the Distance” award winners in cross country and volleyball. Pictured below: Winners from golf and swimming. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Finals
November 7, 2015
Here are final Friday night football scores from around the North Escambia area, including playoffs in Alabama. (Additional scores will be added as games end.)
FLORIDA
- South Walton 59, Jay 26
- Trinity Christian 32, Pine Forest 22
- Arnold 44, Milton 29
- Pace 35, Catholic 13
- Navarre 35, Niceville 13
- Crestview 27, Gulf Breeze 24 OT
- Escambia 17, Pensacola 6
- Washington 56, West Florida 42
ALABAMA PLAYOFFS
- Lee Scott Academy 35, Escambia Academy 24
- Flomaton 26, New Brockton 20 FINAL
- T.R. MIller 67, Central Coosa 17
- Munford 20, W.S. Neal 0
Tate Lady Aggies Team Raises Over $12K In Making Strides Walk
November 4, 2015
In last Saturday’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Pensacola, the Tate High School Lady Aggies Softball team raised over $12,500, placing No. 2 among teams. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola Sports Association Wins State Award
November 1, 2015
Ray Palmer and the Pensacola Sports Association (PSA) are committed to enhancing the Pensacola sports scene, promoting health, fitness and sportsmanship and growing sports tourism in the Pensacola area. Their efforts were recognized recently by the Florida Sports Foundation as they were awarded the 2015 Florida Sports Leadership Award.
Florida Sports Foundation President John Webb made a special trip to Pensacola to attend the PSA’s monthly board meeting, during which he made a brief announcement and informed the board and Ray Palmer, PSA Executive Director, of the recognition. The Florida Sports Foundation, a Division of Enterprise Florida, supports 27 sports commissions in the state, awards this recognition once a year to a director and commission based on its ongoing success in the sports tourism industry.
“Just as Florida with the leadership of Visit Florida leads the nation in the tourism industry, the Florida Sports Foundation sets the bar nationally as the model in the sports tourism segment, said Ray Palmer on his recognition. “Florida is where the world comes to play and sports and recreation spending is responsible for $44.4 billion in economic output. The 27 sports commission’s directors and staffs are some of the most highly respected names in the entire industry. For the Pensacola Sports Association to be recognized with this award by the Governor of Florida and the Florida Sports Foundation is truly an honor second to none.”
“The Pensacola Sports Association has a long heritage of hosting a variety of amateur, leisure and collegiate sports in the Panhandle of Florida,” said FSF President John Webb. “Over the years, their sports tourism events have brought in a significant number of out-of-state visitors from the Gulf Coast region of the United States and the Southeast to enhance the quality of life of those living in Northwest Florida. Because of the professional efforts of Ray and the PSA the area will continue to experience sports tourism growth.”
“This honor is certainly well deserved,” said Steve Hayes, President of Visit Pensacola. “With each event that PSA brings to the Pensacola Bay Area, a new group of people are introduced to our beautiful destination. When they plan their vacations, we hope they remember the great time they had here in Pensacola.”
The PSA is one of the oldest sports associations/commissions in the United States, beginning in 1954. Today the PSA manages or assists in numerous events a year throughout the Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa county areas. Events include a high school all-star series, flag football, 5K-15K runs, marathons, triathlons, bicycle races, collegiate national championships, and annual awards and scholarships banquets.
File photo.
Pine Forest Win 1-6A Crown; Tate Still In Playoffs
October 31, 2015
It’s been 35 years…since 1980 when Carl Madison’s Aggies won state…since Tate has won a district championship. Friday night at home seemed like as good of a time as any to end that lengthy steak in Cantonment as the Aggies and Pine Forest Eagles put their perfect 2-0 district records on the line.
But in the end, Pine Forest claimed the District 1-6A championship 47-28 over Tate.
The Eagles were first on the board with a 7-0 lead with 5:23 to go in the first. A pass from Sawyer Smith to Aldondo Thompkins set up a Dee Thompson touchdown for a 7-7 tie just seconds into the second quarter. Pine Forest struck again to make it 13-7 with 6:03 in the half. Tate answered with a Madison Lockman touchdown, 14-13, with 5:01 in the second.
Headed into the final quarter, the game was tied 28-28, with Pine Forest going on a 19 point unanswered scoring spree.
Pine Forest will travel to Jacksonville Trinity Christian next Friday night before hosting the first round on the playoffs November 13 against the winner of a Gulf Breeze-Pace-Milton shootout.
The District 1-6A runner-up Tate Aggies will be on the road November 13 for a first round playoff game at e District 2-6A Navarre.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Keith Garrison, click to enlarge.
Baker Takes District Title From Northview; Chiefs Still In Playoff Hunt
October 31, 2015
The Northview Chiefs and the Baker Gators battled it out in Bratt Friday night for the District 1-1A championship, with Baker coming out on top 35-21.
The Chiefs were on the board first with a 2-yard touchdown run from junior Toney Harrison for a 6-0 lead with 4:43 to go in the first quarter.
Baker answered just inside the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead over the Chiefs with 11:03 on the clock with a 5-yard touchdown run. After a 72-yard run, Baker scored on the next down for a 13-6 lead over Northview with 8:54 to go in the first half.
And again, Baker would score with 6:07 in the half for a 21-6 advantage over the Chiefs.
The Chiefs added two to close out the half with a safety, still trailing Baker 21-8.
Baker increased their lead to 28-8 with 7:18 to go in the third. Gavon Grant found Jacob Dunsford for a 27-yard touchdown run to close the Gator gap to 28-15 following a good kick from Seth Killam..
The Gators gained another TD with 3:43 in the third, 35-15. Then with 7:21 in the game, the Chiefs worked to come back, adding a 44-yard touchdown run from Harrison for a 35-21 Gator advantage.
“Missed opportunities,” Northview head coach Wheatley said. “They break a couple of big runs, to their credit, and that was the difference in the game…I thought we were going to be able to cash it in late and cut it to one score, but we didn’t get it done.”
Baker (7-2, 2-0) took the District 1-1A championship with the win, while the Northview Chiefs (2-7, 1-1) are still in the hunt as the playoff series begins in two weeks. The Chiefs will begin round one of the playoffs on the road November 13 at District 2-1A champion Vernon.
For more photos, click here. (Senior Night, band, cheerleader and dance team photos will be posted by Monday)
NorthEscambia.com, click here.
Friday Football Finals
October 31, 2015
Here is a look at tonight’s high school football final scores:
FLORIDA
- Baker 35, Northview 21 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Pine Forest 47, Tate 28 [Read more, photo gallery...]
- Escambia 28, Washington 26
- Navarre 47, Gulf Breeze 7
- Milton 30, Pace 27
- West Florida 23, PHS 13
- OFF: Jay, Catholic
ALABAMA
- W.S. Neal 26, T.R. Miller 17
- Bessemer 20, Escambia Academy 8 (Thurs. pm)
- Flomaton 22, Monroe County 20