Auburn Fans Rule In High School Fundraiser

November 24, 2012

Auburn fans dominated in a recent fundraiser held at Northview High School.  The Student Government Association held a “Cash of the Rivals” fundraiser in which Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Florida State fans competed to see which team was tops at Northview. The students cast votes costing 10 cents each for the their favorite team. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Northview Looks For Regional Win Over Freeport (With Admission, Noisemaker Info)

November 23, 2012

The Northview Chiefs will play tonight for their third straight regional title tonight in Bratt.

The Chiefs (8-3, 3-0) will host the Freeport Bulldogs  at 7:30 p.m. in Bratt in what will be Northview’s final home game of the season. With a win, the Chiefs will advance next Friday night to the state semifinals on the road against the winner of tonight’s Blountstown (7-4, 3-1) at Liberty County (9-2, 4-0) game.

For the Chiefs, it’s the third consecutive playoff appearance under head coach Sid Wheatley. The previous two trips along the state series came to an end at the state semifinal level, just one game short of a state championship game in Orlando.

The Chiefs have been nothing short of dominating in 1A play this year. Ranked No. 4 in the state, Northview has destroyed all 1A opponents this season by an average of five touchdowns. Last week, Northview whipped Cottondale in the regional seminfinals, 57-6. Their only losses have come at the hands of much larger schools with strong programs — Class 5A  West Florida (10-1), Class 5A Gulf Breeze (7-4) and Class 4A Marianna (8-2).

The Freeport Bulldogs are are 6-5 overall, 2-1 in 1A play. Their only loss was 42-0 at the hands of the Chiefs back in October.

Last year, the Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 43-13 in Bratt in the regional finals.

Tonight’s Game: Admission Info

Northview hosts Freeport, 7:30 p.m. in Bratt. Admission is $8 (set by the FHSAA, not the school). There are no student discounts, no elementary discounts, no free admission for employees and no passes. Donations accepted for parking.

From The Quarterback Club

“The Northview Quarterback Club would like to remind Chiefs fans that Friday night’s regional championship will be the final home game of the season, regardless of outcome.   Fans are encouraged to come out and show your support by bringing your noisemakers, signs, and most of all, your enthusiasm.   We would like to duplicate the atmosphere we had at the state semi-final game last year against Chipley.  Come out and support your Northview Chiefs and remember to get especially loud when you hear “the bells”.  Go Chiefs!”

Pictured top: Action earlier this season as the Northview Chiefs beat Freeport 42-0 in Freeport. Pictured below: Action from last year’s regional final in which Northview beat Freeport 43-13. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.

All Americans: Local Cheerleaders Take Part In Walt Disney Thanksgiving Parade

November 23, 2012

Three North Escambia cheerleaders were among 1,800 chosen to take part in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Parade.

Brandy Wooten from Ernest Ward Middle School, Jadlyn Agerton from Northview High School and Danielle Robinson from Northview, marched through the Magic Kingdom in Orlando Thursday during the annual event. Three Jay High School cheerleaders — Alaina Smith, Leslie Kinder and Launa Burkhead –  also took part in Thursday’s parade.

The girls were chosen this past summer at Auburn University by the Universal Cheerleader Association to represent their schools and Florida as All American Cheerleaders. They spent the last week at Walt Disney World preparing for the event.

“The best part of this experience was representing my school, making new friends and memories,” Agerton said Thursday. And Robinson said she enjoyed “spending time with girls from across the nation and representing our NHS cheerleaders.”

Pictured top: Local cheerleaders taking part in the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday were (L-R) Jadlyn Agerton from Northview, Brandy Wooten from Ernest Ward and Danielle Robinson from Northview. Pictured inset: Robinson and Agerton pose at the Magic Kingdom. Pictured below: All American Cheerleaders from Florida, including Jadlyn Agerton from Northview (fourth from left, bottom row), Brandy Wooten from Ernest Ward (third from left, second row) and Danielle Robinson (second from right, second row). Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Deer Gun Season Open

November 22, 2012

Deer gun season opened Thursday in Northwest Florida — for a few days.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:

Antlered deer may be taken Thursday to Sunday, November 22-25, by all legal centerfire rifles and pistols, shotguns, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows. Deer gun season reopens December 8 to February 17.  Antlerless deer may be taken only December 26 to January 1.

Antlered deer my be taken only by crossbow or bow November 26-30, and only by muzzleloader, crossbow or bow December 1-7 and February 18-24.

A hunting license is required in Florida. A license for a resident is $17.50 per year. A non- resident can choose between a 10-day license for $46.50 or a one year license for $151.50. Everyone deer hunting must also have a $5 deer permit.

A hunting safety course is required for those born on or after June 1, 1975.

Tate Fires Head Coach

November 20, 2012

Tate High School head football coach Brad Naggatz has reportedly been fired after his first season at the 6A school.

Naggatz was 1-8 with the Aggies, winning only the last game of the season against Washington. The win snapped a 20-game losing streak; the last previous win for the Aggies was in October 2010.

Naggatz had been at Tate since 2006 where he has served as both offensive and defensive coordinator. He previously worked as offensive coordinator for Pensacola High School, and head coach at Catholic High School for about a decade.

Naggatz replaced Ed Rigby who had been at Tate for six seasons before leaving in January.

Local Volleyball Players Named To All-Star Team

November 20, 2012

The 2012 Subway High School Volleyball game will be played tonight, featuring several local players.  The game will take place at UWF beginning at 6 p.m.

WEST GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS
Head Coach: Giulio Simonelli, Catholic

Ashley Griffits – PCA
Kara Heintzelman – West Florida
Kaitlin Johnson – West Florida
Alexis Lugo – Escambia
Brianne Kuhnhausen – Escambia
Kimlyn Bethea – Escambia
Misty Doran – Northview
Shelley Mothershed – Northview

Erin Smithies – Washington
Brooke White – Tate
Jordan Barnette – Tate
Heather Thomason – Tate

Julian Laird – Catholic
Courtney Deason – Catholic
Hana Flurry – Catholic
Aleecia Ybarra – Pine Forest
Lamia Miller – Pine Forest
Sara Goolsby – East Hill
Maia Nguyen – Pensacola

EAST GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS
Head Coach: Nicole Adarme, Choctaw

Haley Meeks – Laurel Hill
Haleigh Hollinhead – Crestview
Olivia Wright – Jay
Krisena Gall – Milton
Kayla Carr – Niceville
Kimy Sarra – Niceville
Katie Wickery – Baker
Sarah Elizabeth Harrell – Pace
Taylor Campbell – Choctaw
Ashley Quackenbush – Choctaw
Allison Freer – Navarre
Kelly Barrett – Navarre
Caitlin Chapman – Gulf Breeze
Ally Hurd – Gulf Breeze
Brittney Forsythe – Central
Rachel Dehlinger – FWB
Jennifer Bazlyak – FWB
Rachel Mosley – Rocky Bayou

Former Flomaton High Coach Passes Away

November 20, 2012

A former Flomaton High School coach passed away on Saturday.

Donald “Don” Thornton, 65, was a 1965 graduate of Sulligent High School and a 1969 graduate of Livingston University. He coached and taught at Kennedy High School, Carrollton High School, and Millry High School. For the next 18 years, he moved into the insurance business, but his passion for coaching continued, leading him back to the field in 1992 at T.W. Martin High School.

He then moved to Flomaton High School in 1994 and taught and coached there until his retirement in 2007 when he moved  to his hometown of Vernon, Ala.

Thornton became a volunteer coach for the Lamar County High School Bulldogs from 2008 to the present season. He also served on the Vernon City Council.

Funeral services were scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday.

For the complete obituary, click here.

Marathon Runners Raise $10K For Wounded Warrier Project

November 19, 2012

Over six months ago, Brad King and Alan Moses began training for the Pensacola Marathon as an effort to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.  They did not run in normal running attire, rather they ran the 26.2 marathon while wearing a 50 lb. ruck sack and military boots.  The pair received donations totaling over $9,000 for their effort at the 2012 Pensacola Marathon.

The Pensacola Marathon and Pensacola Sports Association has announced it will donate $1,000 to their effort, pushing them over the $10,000 threshold.

“What these young men did was nothing short of remarkable,” commented Ray Palmer, executive director of the Pensacola Sports Association, the management organization of the Pensacola Marathon.  “The event saw record growth this year and this was one aspect of the race, I believe, that contributed to the success.  This is our small way of saying thank you and congratulations to these guys for what they did.”

The Pensacola Marathon, a Boston Marathon Qualifier, saw a record field of more than 1,900 entrants for the race.

Additional on-course support for King and Moses came in the form of the Phat Girlz, a local Pensacola women’s running group.  Members from the club each “sponsored” a mile in which they ran a similar weighted pack alongside both men.

The pair plans to continue to run various events and challenges to raise the awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.  Their goal is to reach $30,000.

People can continue to contribute to the fundraiser by visiting the events website at www.marathonpensacola.com or by e-mailing Brad King at bradwick.king@yahoo.com.

Pictured top: Charlie Sherrill, PSA President Brad King, Alan Moses and Ray Palmer. Pictured inset: Brad King and Alan Moses. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

State Cross County Results: Jay, West Florida, Central, Pensacola Christian

November 18, 2012

Area schools Jay, West Florida, Central and Pensacola Christian competed in the state cross country finals in Tallahassee on Saturday.

Individual and team results from area schools were as follows:

CLASS 1A GIRLS

63. Jorja Agrait, Jay — 21:08.79
83. Jessica Thornton, Jay — 21:39.48
111. Savannah Brown, Jay — 22:14.33
119. Lauren Cochran, Pensacola Christian — 22:23.26
146. Jenna Thornton, Jay — 23:25.19
167. Alexis Mitchem, Jay — 24:31.66
173. Kendra Weekes, Jay — 25:25.69
174. Danielle Free, Jay — 26:08.12

CLASS 1A GIRLS TEAM

22. Jay — average 22:35.89

CLASS 1A BOYS

30. Jeremy Carlson, Pensacola Christian — 17:04.15
44. Joshua Balentine, Pensacola Christian — 17:12.62
51. Micah Kemp, Jay — 17:23.30
69. Justin Jekel, Pensacola Christian — 17:42.74
92. Kody Johnson, Pensacola Christian — 18:09.55
101. James Parker, Pensacola Christian — 18:18.75
128. John Crist, Pensacola Christian — 18:54.07
141. Christopher Peterson, Pensacola Christian — 19:09.20

CLASS 1A BOYS TEAM

11. Pensacola Christian — average 17:41.57

CLASS 2A GIRLS
16. Kaysi Roberts, West Florida — 19:27.95
63. Charlene Sanchez, West Florida — 20:47.63
83. Raleigh Nesbitt, West Florida — 21:04.37
94. Jordan Sortino, West Florida — 21:16.42
124. Miranda Wiley, West Florida — 21:56.65
139. Hanna Moore, West Florida — 22:23.12
169. Lynn Arthur, West Florida — 24:13.15

CLASS 2A GIRLS TEAM

12. West Florida — average 20:54.61

CLASS 2A BOYS

7. Alec Clark, West Florida — 16:15.68
89. Alexander Bullock, West Florida — 17:43.02
98. David Wright, West Florida — 17:54.47
105. Dylan Wakefield, West Florida — 17:58.31
120. Diamond Garrett, West Florida — 18:11.34
144. Seth Modin, West Florida — 18:34.51
165. Mark Sortino, West Florida — 18:56.38

CLASS 2A BOYS TEAM

14. West Florida — average 17:36.55

Northview Chiefs Destroy Cottondale To Advance To Region Final

November 17, 2012

The Northview Chiefs destroyed the Cottondale Hornets Friday night to cruise into the Region 1-1A final game next week.

“It’s a great win; it’s a great way to start the playoffs,” Northview head coach Sid Wheatley said. “We were able to get some big plays when we needed it.”

For a photo gallery, click here. (Band and cheerleader photos will be published Sunday.)

The Chiefs opened the scoring just 21 seconds into Friday night’s game  with a 46-yard run from La’Mikal Kyles. A good kick, and at 7-0 Northview was just warming up the scoreboard on a cold night in Bratt.

Cottondale’s Sheldon Vann scored on a one-yard run. The Hornets failed a on a two-point attempt, 7-6 with 5:49 in the first.  “We got off to a little bit  of a slow start,” Wheatley said. But with a few adjustments, the Chiefs defense shut down Cottondale.

In the second quarter, sophomore LaDarius Thomas was in for a TD with a four-yard run, 17-6 with 3:51 in the half. The Chiefs followed up with a 21-yard run from Kevin Vaughan, 22-6. And with less than five seconds to go in the half, the Chiefs scored again with a 92-yard interception return by Neiko Robinson, 36-6.

With 8:00 in the third, Northview scored again with a 14-yard Vaughn dash, 43-6. That kicked in the mercy rule and a started a running clock to make an inevitable loss a little easier on the Hornets.

With just under three minutes in the third, Neino Robinson returned a Cottondale punt 48-yards for a touchdown, 50-6.  And the Chiefs scored again when Cameron  Newsome recovered a fumble in the end zone after a 75-yard by sophomore Jaron Myles, 57-6.

Despite totally dominating every 1A opponent this session by average of just over five touchdowns, Wheatley said the Chiefs won’t be resting on that confidence headed into the Region 1-1A final game next Friday night at home against Freeport. During regular season, Northview beat Freeport 42-0.

“We’ve still got to go to work , and we’ve got to get a little better next week.  It only gets tougher as each week rolls by,” Wheatley said. “Freeport is always tough. They are well coached. They are going to get after you; you have to be very disciplined.”

For a photo gallery, click here. (Band and cheerleader photos will be published Sunday.)

NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

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