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
Northview And Jay Teams, Individuals Qualify For 1A Cross Country Regionals
October 29, 2015
Cross country runners from Northview and Jay qualified recently to for Class 1A FHSAA Regional Championships.
The Northview Boys finished third, qualifying the Lady Chiefs for the regional championship this Saturday in Lake City. Northview’s Moriah McGahan finished in the top 15 girls to qualify for regionals.
The Jay Girls finished third, qualifying the Lady Royals for the regional championship Saturday. Austin Gonzales finished in the top 15 boys to individually qualify for regions..
Results were as follows:
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Girls Cross Country Wins First Ever District Title
October 29, 2015
The Tate girls cross country team won the first girls’ cross country district championship in school history recently at Sims Middle School in Pace.
They outscored second place Gulf Breeze 40-53 for the victory.
Hannah Wellenkamp led the way individually with a 3rd place time of 20:54. Avery Royer (21:23) was 6th, Carley Pope (21:26) was 8th, McKenna Royer (21:43) was 9th, Emmas Shows (22:49) was 14th and Riley Orr (24:22) was 27th. They will compete in the Regional meet at Alligator Lake in Lake City this Saturday.
Friday Night Finals
October 24, 2015
Here are final scores from games across the North Escambia area Friday night.
For live scoring from select games beginning at 7 p.m., click here to like our Facebook page, or click here to follow @northescambia on Twitter.
- Walton 49, Northview 7
- Tate 35, Choctaw 28
- Jay 45, Rocky Bayou Christian 27
- West Florida 21, Arnold 18
- PHS 20, Mosley 7
- Washington 35, Catholic 7
- Niceville 42, Pine Forest 14
- OPEN: Escambia, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Navarre, Pace
- Flomaton 13, Sweet Water 7
- Escambia Academy 41, t Glenwood (Phenix City) 0
- T.R. Miller 42, Excel 6
- W.S. Neal 56, Southside 42
- Monroe County 14, Escambia County 6
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Walton Tops Northview
October 24, 2015
The 1A Northview Chiefs lost a road game Friday night to the unbeaten 4A Walton Braves.
The Braves jumped out to an early 7-0 lead over the Chiefs in the first quarter and rolled on to a 43-0 lead by the half. Walton added another touchdown in the third to make it 49-0.
Northview’s Luke Ward scored on an 18-yard touchdown run with six second on the clock to prevent a shutout. With a good Seth Killam kick, Northview went down 49-7.
The Chiefs will be back home next Friday night in Tommy Weaver Memorial Stadium in Bratt as they host the Baker Gators for the District 1-1A title.
Pictured top: Walton scores against the Chiefs. Pictured below: Hunter Edwards (#4) intercepts a pass. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Tops Choctaw
October 24, 2015
The Tate Aggies earned another win on the road Friday night as they beat the Indians of Choctaw 35-28.
Tate was first on the scoreboard with a 27-yard pass from Sawyer Smith to Cole Crews, and Choctaw answered with a 3-yard run to tie it up 7-7.
Smith scored again with a 5-yard run for a 13-7 Tate advantage. Alondo Thompkins expanded Tate’s lead to 19-7 with a 76-yard touchdown run. With another touchdown, the Aggies were up 26-7 at the half.
In the second half Choctaw scored on a 1-yard run, followed by a 33-yard Tate field goal from Evan Legassey, and another 1-yard run from the Indians to put the scoreboard at 29-21.
Thompkins added a 18-yard touchdown run and Choctaw scored once more for the 35-28 final.
Next Friday night, the Tate Aggies will host the Pine Forest Eagle for the District 1-6A championship. Both teams are 2-0 in the district.
Pictured: Tate at Choctaw. Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FWC: Stay Legal With These Hunting Tips For Bow Season
October 24, 2015
by Tony Young, FWC
Today is the first day of bowhunting season in Northwest Florida.
Hunting with a bow or crossbow is a great way to get a jump on the gun hunters. Bowhunters are allowed in the woods earlier and get that first crack at the deer. During archery season, you can also take antlerless deer, which really increases your chances of putting venison in the freezer.
Maybe that’s why bowhunting continues to be so popular in our state, accounting for more than 10 percent of all deer harvested, 15 percent of harvested does and 25 percent of the deer taken on wildlife management areas. Last year, more than 30,000 people bowhunted in Florida.
And along with hunting the rut, early bow seasons provide a great opportunity to take a trophy whitetail and arguably are among the best times to do so. In northwest Florida, it’s even better because bucks are still hangin’ out in their bachelor groups.
If you’re stealthy enough and have done your pre-season homework, you have a good chance of a nice one coming within shooting range of your bowhunting setup. In the early season, before the deer are under as much hunting pressure, they are more active during daylight hours. When gun season hits, you might not see that big ’un again for the rest of the year, except for maybe a picture of him taken from your trail camera in the middle of the night.
License and permit requirements
But, before you go, you need to make sure your license and required permits are up to date. To hunt during archery season, you’ll need a Florida hunting license and an archery permit. During crossbow season, you’ll need a hunting license and crossbow permit. If you’re a Florida resident, an annual hunting license costs $17. Nonresidents have the choice of paying $46.50 for a 10-day license or $151.50 for 12 months. Archery and crossbow permits are $5 each, and all deer hunters must have the $5 deer permit.
Anyone planning on hunting one of Florida’s many WMAs must purchase a management area permit for $26.50. And don’t forget to pick up the WMA rules and regulations brochure for the area you wish to hunt. You can get brochures at the closest tax collector’s office, or you can print them from MyFWC.com/Hunting under “WMA Brochures.”
You can obtain all the licenses and permits you’ll need at a county tax collector’s office, any retail outlet that sells hunting and fishing supplies, by calling 888-HUNT-FLORIDA or at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Legal to take
During archery season and that part of crossbow season that runs concurrent with archery, you can take legal-to-take bucks (as defined by the regulations for the deer management unit in which you’re hunting) and antlerless deer, which are does and bucks with less than 5-inch antlers. You may never take spotted fawns. After archery ends, during the remaining portion of the crossbow season, you may only take legal-to-take bucks according to the specific DMU antler rules. The daily bag limit on deer is two. Bag limits for deer on WMAs can differ, so check the specifics of the area before you hunt.
You can hunt wild hogs on private lands year-round with no bag or size limits. On most WMAs, there’s also no bag or size limits, and hogs are legal to take during most hunting seasons except spring turkey. But on a few WMAs, bag and size limits do apply, so to be certain, check the brochure for the specific area.
In addition to hunting big game, it’s also legal to shoot gobblers and bearded turkeys during archery and crossbow seasons, assuming you have a turkey permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents). You may take two turkeys in a single day on private lands, but the two-bird fall-season limit still applies, and the daily bag limit for turkeys is still one on WMAs. It’s illegal to shoot turkeys while they’re on the roost, over bait, when you’re within 100 yards of a game-feeding station when bait is present or with the aid of recorded turkey calls. In addition, it’s against the law to hunt turkeys in Holmes County in the fall.
If you’re hunting during the archery season, you may hunt only with a bow and you must have the archery permit. During crossbow season, you may use either a crossbow or bow, but you must have the crossbow permit. On WMAs, only hunters with a disabled crossbow permit are allowed to use crossbows during archery season. All bows must have a minimum draw weight of 35 pounds, and hand-held releases are permitted. For hunting deer, hogs and turkeys, broadheads must have at least two sharpened edges with a minimum width of 7/8 inch.
As far as legal shooting hours go, you’re allowed to let your arrow or bolt fly between a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset. Except for turkeys, you’re permitted to take resident game over feeding stations on private property. It’s against the law to use bait on WMAs.
You can’t use dogs to hunt deer or turkeys, but you are allowed to use a dog on a leash to help you trail any wounded game.