Baker Downs Northview For District Championship; Chiefs Still Get Playoff Ticket
November 2, 2013
The Baker Gators won the District 1-1A championship Friday night by beating Northview 24-20, but the defending state champion Chiefs are still headed into the playoffs.
The Gators held the lead throughout most the night, up 17-6 at the half and 24-6 in the third.
“Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes. We dug ourselves a hole,” head coach Sid Wheatley said. “It was 24-6. I thought our kids were resilient they way they come back. The defense came back and got important stops.”
But a comeback to 24-20 just wasn’t enough for the Chiefs as the final seconds ticked away in Bratt.
“Ultimately, it turned out to be the turnovers,” he said. “We moved the ball well…it sounds like last week when we moved the ball between the 20’s but we did not punch it in.”
For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader, band and Senior Night photos will be published Sunday and/or Monday.
The Gators were up first on the board with a 25-yard field goal early in the first. Northview then scored on a 21-yard run from Ladarius Thomas with about six minutes into the game, giving the Chiefs their first, and last, lead for the night.
Northview’s Neino Robinson caught a Daulton Tullis pass in the end zone with no time on the clock in the second. It was first ruled a touchdown, but called back to the 23 on a flag. The Chiefs and the Gators headed to the lockers at 17-6, Baker.
Baker made it 24-6 with 10:10 on the clock in the third. At the 5:06 mark, Brannon Freeman scored for the Chiefs on a 17-yard pass from Tullis. A failed two-point attempt, and Baker was up 24-12.
With 7:01 to go in the game, Keondrae Lett scored on a 3-yard run for the Chiefs. With a good pass from Tullis to Freeman, the Chiefs closed in at 24-20.
“Ours kids fought. I know they are hurting right now. I’m hurting for them,” he said. “Baker has got a good football team. But we are going to bounce back, play Blountstown next week and get going in the playoffs.”
Northview (3-5, 2-1) will be on the road next Friday in a non-district game against Blountstown (9-0, 4-0).
The playoffs get underway on November 15. The Northview Chiefs will travel to play Vernon, while Baker will host Sneeds. That sets up a potential rematch between the Chiefs and Baker in the round two of the playoffs.
Wheatley is looking forward to starting on the road back to Orlando. “Our kids still have a lot of fight in them; we are still excited about the future.”
For a photo gallery, click here. Cheerleader, band and Senior Night photos will be published Sunday and/or Monday.
Pictured top: The Baker Gators downed the Northview Chiefs 24-20 Friday night in Bratt. Pictured top inset: Northview’s Neino Robinson catches a Daulton Tullis pass in the end zone for a touchdown called back on a flag. Pictured bottom inset: Northview assistant Coach Derek Marshman reacts to a play. Pictured below: An official goes down. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Beats Freeport
November 2, 2013
Jay sent Freeport’s Bulldogs running back home with their tails tucked Friday night as the Royals poured it on for a 47-14 win at Merle North Stadium.
Jay improved to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in District 1-1A, while Freeport remained winless at 0-9 overall, 0-3 in the district. The Jay Royals will wrap up their season next Friday night as they host 3A Maclay High School (3-6) of Tallahassee.
Braden Cross had a couple of TD’s for the Royals in the first, and A.J. Nash Nash added another touchdown.
Photos by Michele Gibbs for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Three NWE Teams Advance To Escambia River Conference Finals
October 29, 2013
Three of four Northwest Escambia teams will play in the Escambia River Conference football championships this Saturday at Jay High School.
In action last Saturday:
The NWE Sophomores beat Baker 40-6.
Arquavian Smith had two long touchdown runs, TJ Wright had one touchdown and Kaden Odom had two touchdowns and two extra points. Nolin Godwin and Damius Wesley each had an extra point.
Kaden Odom made several key tackles on an interception he ran in for a touchdown. Cooper Martinez had one sack and several tackles, and Damius Wesley chased down a Baker running back on a long run and tackled him on 1-yard line to stop a Baker touchdown.
The Eagles Sophomores defense recovered two fumbles, made several stops in the backfield and shut down Baker’s offense on several key plays. The NWE Sophomores will take on Poarch Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Jay.
The NWE Juniors shut out Neal 49-0.
Jayden Jackson, Jaheem Durant and Dariontae Richardson all had multiple touchdowns for the Eagles. Michael Merchant and Jaden Cunningham both scored one touch down each and multiple extra points.
The NWE defense played a hard game forcing three fumbles — two recovered by Durant and one by Ki-Jauna Carter.
Da’Marion Findley, Merchant, Richardson all made stops in the back field. Jackson stripped the ball from a Neal player late in the game and ran it in from 40 yards out for a touchdown. Jackson and Durant both ran for over 100 yards.
The NWE Juniors will take on Jay at 4:00 Saturday.
The NWE Seniors shut out Jay 33-0.
Aunterio Minor scored two rushing touchdowns for NWE. Trent Kite scored one touchdown, Cameron Cloud threw a pass to Seth Killam for a touchdown, and Killam added a 25 -yard field goal.
The defense played hard to shut out Jay. The NWE seniors have played tough all season, leaving opponents scoreless in six games.
The NWE Seniors will take on Flomaton Saturday at 6:00 in Jay.
High School Football District Standings, Schedules
October 28, 2013
Here is a look at local high school football district standings, scores from last week, and Friday night’s schedule for Florida schools:
NWE, Jay, Flomaton Advance Teams To Escambia River Finals
October 27, 2013
The Northwest Escambia Eagles swept three games Saturday with teams advancing to next Saturday’s Escambia River Conference’s league championships in Jay.
Saturday’s championship matchups, times to be announced, are as follows:
- NWE Sophomores vs. Poarch
- NWE Juniors vs. Jay
- NWE Seniors vs. Flomaton
Here are select playoff results from Saturday:
- Flomaton Seniors 27, Poarch 20
- NWE Seniors 33, Jay 0
- NWE Juniors 49, Neal 0
- NWE Sophomores 40, Baker 6
- Jay Juniors over Excel
Results of other games were not submitted for publication.
Pictured top: NWE Senior’s Trent Kite gains yardage as he faces a Jay defender Saturday in Walnut Hill. Pictured below: The NWE Seniors shutout Jay 33-0 Saturday. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Winning Season Continues
October 26, 2013
After winning a tough game against Crestview last week, Tate traveled again to Okaloosa County to play Fort Walton Friday night. The game was a defensive battle, but Tate dominated on both the offense and defense in the fourth quarter to win 24-13.
Tate started out their first series by trying to go for it on fourthand short, but was unable to get the first down.
Fort Walton took possesion on Tate’s 21 yard line after the turnover on downs. Tate’s defense faced a big test early and held Ft Walton to just a field goal to make the score 3-0. That would be all the scoring in the first quarter, as the defenses for both teams proved to be strong.
In the second quarter, the Aggies’ Taylor Brown intercepted a Vicking pass and returned it for a touchdown. Tate took the lead 7-3. Tate again fumbled the ball deep into their own territory and Fort Walton recovered. The Aggies’ defense was up to the challenge again and held the Vikings to just three points. Tate still held a 7-6 advance. Fort Walton scored late in the second quarter on a 20 yard run to lead at the half 13 – 7.
The second half would be all Aggies. Tate’s defense would not allow the Vikings to score any more points for the night.
Tate’s Dylan Mancuso kicked a 40- yard field goal in the third to make the score Tate 10, Fort Walton 13. Early in the fourthquarter, Sawyer Smith scored on an 18ard run to regain the lead 17-13.
Later in the fourth, Diamonte Thompson intercepted a Viking pass and would run it all the way back for a apparent touchdown. But Tate was penalized for holding and the touchdown was nullified and the ball was brought out to the 20 yard line. A few plays later, Tay Samuel ran it in for another Aggie touchdown.
Tate’s defense faced many challenges during the game and held strong throughout. There was only one series that the defense were not able to stop the Vickings and allowed a touchdown. The two field goals that Fort Walton scored were on offensive turnovers deep in Aggie territory and the defense kept them from scoring a touchdown.
Tate improved their season record to 7-2 for the year. Tate has a bye next week before facing Escambia High on November 8th at Emmitt Smith Field at 7:30 p.m.
Walton Tops Northview
October 26, 2013
Turnovers certainly hurt the 1A Northview High School Chiefs Friday night in their 20-12 loss to 4A Walton on the road in Defuniak Springs. And then there was the whistle-happy referee.
“It really was two evenly matched teams,” Northview Coach Sid Wheatley said. “I don’t think the final score was a true indicator of how the two teams played.”
The Chiefs were plagued by turnovers, with three interceptions and two fumbles.
A pass to a Chief in the end zone was batted up and then caught by a Brave, resulting in a defensive touchdown. And during an 80-yard punt return by Neino Robinson for a touchdown, a referee attempting to call a penalty for a block in the backfield inadvertently blew his whistle, calling back the TD.
“Overall, our offense played well; our defense played well,” Wheatley said. Offensively, the Chiefs earned over 330 yards Friday night, about 175 in the air and 160 rushing. The Chiefs scored on a 1-yard dash from junior Ladarius Thomas and 19-yard pass from Daulton Tullis to senior Neino Robinson.
Now, the Chiefs are turning 100 percent focus to next Friday night in what will be their biggest regular season game as they host the undefeated Baker Gators in a district matchup.
“We are ready,” Wheatley said Friday night. “I saw the effort in our guys tonight. We’ll practice hard and work on improving. But we are ready.”
The Northview Chiefs (3-4, 2-0) will host the Baker Gators (8-0, 2-2) with kickoff set for 7:00 in Bratt. Northview’s Senior Night activities will precede kickoff.
NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge
Jay Beats Cottondale
October 26, 2013
The Jay Royals beat The Cottondale Hornets Friday night 39-28 in a non-district game.
Tate Upton was 7-for-14 for three touchdowns and 169 yards. Braden Cross gained 168 yards for the Royals.
The Royals (4-4, 0-2) will host the Freeport Bulldogs (0-8, 0-2) next Friday night in Jay in district matchup. The Royals will wrap up regular season play the following Friday night as they host Maclay of Tallahassee in Jay.
Pictured: The Jay Royals beat Cottondale Friday night. NorthEscambia.com photos by Michele Gibbs, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Finals
October 26, 2013
Here is a look at Friday night games from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
- Walton 26, Northview 12 [Read more...]
- Tate 24, Fort Walton 13 [Read more...]
- Jay 39 Cottondale 28 [Read more...]
- West Florida 55, Arnold 3
- Pace 56, Escambia 42
- Milton 28, Pine Forest 20
- Baker 54 Franklin County 13
- Pensacola 45, Washington 0
- South Walton 35, Freeport 21
- Catholic 35, Gulf Breeze 7
ALABAMA
- Millry 40 ,Flomaton 38
- T R Miller 28 , W S Neal 0
- Andalusia 48, ECHS 32
- Escambia Academy 40, Southern 0
Outta’ The Woods: Hunting Season Is Here
October 26, 2013
Finally, the time of year we’ve been waiting for is here.
From Escambia and Santa Rosa east to about Leon County, you’re in Zone D, where archery and crossbow seasons began October 26 on private lands.
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 will cost $17. Nonresidents have the choice of paying $46.50 for a 10-day license or $151.50 for 12 months. Archery and crossbow permits cost just $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 brochure for the area you wish to hunt, because hunting season dates on many of the areas are often different from what the zonal dates are. You can pick up a copy of these WMA brochures at your local tax collector’s office or read them at
During archery season and that part of crossbow season that is concurrent with archery, you can take deer of either sex, regardless of antler size (except for spotted fawns). After archery ends, during the remaining portion of the crossbow season, only legal bucks (having at least one antler that is at least 5 inches long) may be taken. 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. On a few WMAs, bag and size limits do apply, so be sure to check the brochure for the specific area to be certain.
It’s also legal to shoot gobblers and bearded turkeys during archery and crossbow seasons, given you have a turkey permit ($10 for residents, $125 for nonresidents). You can take only one turkey per day, and there’s a two-bird fall-season limit. It’s against the law to hunt turkeys in Holmes County in the fall, and it’s illegal to shoot them 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.
On private property, if you’re hunting during the archery season, you may hunt only with a bow, and you must have the $5 archery permit. During crossbow season, you may use either a crossbow or bow, but you must have the $5 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.
Tony Young is the media relations coordinator for the FWC’s Division of Hunting and Game Management. He can be reached with questions about hunting at Tony.Young@MyFWC.com.