Linam Named Liberty Bowl MVP
January 3, 2011
An Atmore son was named the defensive MVP for the University of Central Florida Knights as they defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 10-6 in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.
Josh Linam, a junior middle linebacker for the Knights, grew up in Tavares, Florida, and Atmore. On Friday, he made his career interception, the tenth different Knight to make an interception this year but just the second linebacker.
What was going through Linam’s head during his MVP interception? “I was thinking just catch it and not fumble it so coach wouldn’t get mad,” he said.
The Knights tied the game up 3-3 just before the half, but even that score was tinged with a bit of disappointment. UCF got an interception from Linam and promptly moved the ball to the 6-yard line. But that’s where the drive stopped after a spiked pass, an incompletion and a stopped scramble.
Linam said there was a bit of disappointment in giving up six points to the Bulldogs.
“We thought we would give up zero. We knew it was going to be a tight ball game, and we prepared for that. We just came out and did our job,” he said.
Linam was named to the All Conference USA All Academic 1st Team, ESPN-nominated for Academic All American, ESPN All District 3 Academic 1st Team and Conference USA player of the week versus Houston with 17 tackles.
Linam finished season with 78 tackles, 9.0 tackles for losses and one interception.
Linam is the son of Dr. Kevin R. Linam of Atmore.
Pictured top: Josh Linam (#50) assisted with a tackle in the Autozone Liberty Bowl as UCF beat the Georgia Bulldogs 10-6. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
SEC Bowl Game Schedule
January 1, 2011
Here’s a look at this season’s remaining SEC team bowl games:
Tuesday, Jan. 4
Allstate Sugar Bowl
#8 Arkansas (10-2, 6-2) vs. #6 Ohio State (11-1)
Louisiana Superdome (72,000) • New Orleans, La. • ESPN • 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Arkansas in bowl games: 12-22-3 • Arkansas in Sugar Bowl: 1-4 (1962, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1980)
Friday, Jan. 7
AT&T Cotton Bowl
#11 LSU (10-2, 6-2) vs. #17 Texas A&M (9-3)
Cowboys Stadium (71,167) • Arlington, Texas • FOX • 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
Series Record: LSU leads, 26-20-3 • Last Meeting: A&M, 33-17 (Sept. 2, 1995 at College Station, Texas)
LSU in bowl games: 21-19-1 • LSU in Cotton Bowl: 2-1-1 (1947, 1963, 1966, 2003)
Saturday, Jan. 8
BBVA Compass Bowl
Kentucky (6-6, 2-6) vs. Pittsburgh (7-5)
Legion Field (71,594) • Birmingham, Ala. • ESPN • 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Kentucky in bowl games: 8-6 • Kentucky in BBVA Compass Bowl: First appearance
Monday, Jan. 10
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
#1 Auburn (13-0, 8-0) vs. #2 Oregon (12-0)
University of Phoenix Stadium (73,000) • Glendale, Ariz. • ESPN • 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Auburn in bowl games: 20-13-2 • Auburn in BCS National Championship Game: First appearance
Golf Tourney To Benefit Wounded Deputy Cassady
December 29, 2010
The Escambia Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police is hosting a benefit golf tournament to raise money to support Deputy Jeremy Cassady, who was injured in the line of duty in October. The tournament will take place Sunday, January 9th at Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola with a shotgun start at 11:00 a.m.
Golfers who are interested in participating in the tournament can download a registration form by visiting www.golf4cassady.wordpress.com. Registration fees are $75 per player or $250 for a four person team. The field is limited to the first 144 registrants.
Throughout the day there will be complimentary drinks and snacks available to participants as well as a post tournament luncheon. Individuals who are not interested in playing in the tournament can still attend the buffet luncheon for $20. There will also be a silent auction featuring items donated from local businesses.
For more information concerning the Jeremy Cassady Benefit Golf Tournament, visit www.golf4cassady.wordpress.com or contact Tournament Chairperson Robert Vose at (850) 637-7929.
Deputy Jeremy Cassady was shot in the line of duty on October 29, 2010, while responding to a home invasion that resulted in a hostage situation in Pensacola. Deputy Cassady is a four-year veteran of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
SEC Bowl Game Schedules
December 21, 2010
For the second straight season, the Southeastern Confernce has 10 teams participating in post-season bowl games. Here’s a look at SEC team bowl games:
Thursday, Dec. 30
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Tennessee (6-6, 3-5) vs. North Carolina (7-5)
LP Field (67,000) • Nashville, Tenn. • ESPN • 6:40 p.m. ET (5:40 p.m. CT)
Series Record: UT leads, 20-10-1 • Last Meeting: UNC, 22-21 (Nov. 4, 1961 at Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Tennessee in bowl games: 25-23 • Tennessee in Music City Bowl: First appearance
Friday, Dec. 31
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Georgia (6-6, 3-5) vs. #25 Central Florida (10-3)
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (61,737) • Memphis, Tenn. • ESPN • 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: UGA leads, 1-0 • Last Meeting: UGA, 24-23 (Sept. 25, 1999 at Athens)
Georgia in bowl games: 26-16-3 • Georgia in Liberty Bowl: 1-1 (1967, 1987)
Chick-fil-A Bowl
#20 South Carolina (9-4, 5-3) vs. #23 Florida State (9-4)
Georgia Dome (71,147) • Atlanta, Ga. • ESPN • 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: FSU leads, 15-3 • Last Meeting: FSU, 38-10 (Nov. 9, 1991 at Tallahassee, Fla.)
South Carolina in bowl games: 4-11 • South Carolina in Chick-fil-A Bowl: 0-1 (1969)
Saturday, Jan. 1
Outback Bowl
Florida (7-5, 4-4) vs. Penn State (7-5)
Raymond James Stadium (65,657) • Tampa, Fla. • ABC Sports • 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT)
Series Record: UF leads, 2-0 • Last Meeting: UF, 21-6 (Jan. 1, 1998 at Orlando, Fla.)
Florida in bowl games: 18-19 • Florida in Outback Bowl: 1-2 (2003, 2004, 2006)
Capital One Bowl
#16 Alabama (9-3, 5-3) vs. #9 Michigan State (11-1)
Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium (65,438) • Orlando, Fla. • ESPN • 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Alabama in bowl games: 32-22-3 • Alabama in Capital One Bowl: 1-0 (1995)
Gator Bowl
#21 Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4) vs. Michigan (7-5)
EverBank Field (73,000) • Jacksonville, Fla. • ESPN2 • 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Mississippi State in bowl games: 7-6 • Mississippi State in Gator Bowl: First appearance
Tuesday, Jan. 4
Allstate Sugar Bowl
#8 Arkansas (10-2, 6-2) vs. #6 Ohio State (11-1)
Louisiana Superdome (72,000) • New Orleans, La. • ESPN • 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Arkansas in bowl games: 12-22-3 • Arkansas in Sugar Bowl: 1-4 (1962, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1980)
Friday, Jan. 7
AT&T Cotton Bowl
#11 LSU (10-2, 6-2) vs. #17 Texas A&M (9-3)
Cowboys Stadium (71,167) • Arlington, Texas • FOX • 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT)
Series Record: LSU leads, 26-20-3 • Last Meeting: A&M, 33-17 (Sept. 2, 1995 at College Station, Texas)
LSU in bowl games: 21-19-1 • LSU in Cotton Bowl: 2-1-1 (1947, 1963, 1966, 2003)
Saturday, Jan. 8
BBVA Compass Bowl
Kentucky (6-6, 2-6) vs. Pittsburgh (7-5)
Legion Field (71,594) • Birmingham, Ala. • ESPN • 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Kentucky in bowl games: 8-6 • Kentucky in BBVA Compass Bowl: First appearance
Monday, Jan. 10
Tostitos BCS National Championship Game
#1 Auburn (13-0, 8-0) vs. #2 Oregon (12-0)
University of Phoenix Stadium (73,000) • Glendale, Ariz. • ESPN • 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT)
Series Record: First Meeting
Auburn in bowl games: 20-13-2 • Auburn in BCS National Championship Game: First appearance
Molino’s Kart King Finishes Season With 3 State Titles
December 19, 2010
Molino’s kart racing king Jarrett Parker recently finished his season with three state titles, 16 wins, 12 pole positions and 43 top five finishes out of 55 starts.
At the recent O’Reilly’s Indoor Kart Nationals, Parker had four top 10 finishes — third in FH Heavy, fifth in Jr. Lite, ninth in Junior Animal Heavy and tenth in Junior Pro.
He was involved in one of the many wrecks that occurred during the two-day event. Parker had no where to go and hit the kart of Nich Thrash, flipping Thrash completely over. Thrash walked away with just a minor knee injury. Parker’s teammate, Dee Paschal of Georgia, was involved in a serious wreck in his last race and was hospitalized.
“Thankfully our prayers have been answered and Dee was released from the hospital and is supposed to be resting back at home in Georgia.” Parker said. “The races were with out a doubt some of the roughest driving I have seen.”
Parker offered thanks to several people as he wrapped up the 2010 season.
“A big thank you to my dad. Many thanks to Dustin Dowdy of Dowdy Motorsports who helped wrench on my kart all weekend long. And to David Lynn, thank you for your help in our pits Saturday. I have to thank Mrs. Stacie Campbell for everything she does for our group at this event, Southern Speed. Thank you especially to Dee Paschal and Mark Bowers for all of your support throughout the year. I am very thankful,” he said.
Parker drives a Tod Miller powered 2010 Phantom Seraph and pits with MB Motorsports. Jarrett Parker, a sophomore at Northview High School, is the son of Scott and Tammy Parker of Molino.
Pictured top: Molino’s Jarrett Parker (second from right) in the Winner’s Circle at the O’Reilly’s Indoor Kart Nationals. Pictured inset: Parker (right) in action. Pictured below: Jarrett Parker. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pace’s Smith To Lead Jay Royal Football; Youngblood Athletic Director
December 16, 2010
Kent Smith was named the Royal’s new head coach Thursday, and Lance Youngblood will be the school’s new athletic director while remaining boys basketball coach.
Smith has 23 years of coaching experience, including the 22 years at Pace High School where most recently he was defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. The Pace Patriots finished this season at 7-3, just short of a playoff appearance.
The Royals finished their last season under Head Coach Elijah Bell at 0-10. Bell led the Royals for 21 years, with a 108-95 record. Jay made the state playoff series seven times under Bell’s leadership, most recently the quarterfinals in 2007.
Bell was a major player in the formation of a new rural school classification for small schools like Jay in an effort to make the chances at a state playoff more equitable for smaller schools like Jay. He advocated such a plan since about 1990.
Next season, under Smith’s leadership, the Jay Royals will join Baker, Freeport and Northview in the first year of District 1 of the new Rural Division.
Smith holds a B.S. in business administration from Auburn University.
Baseball, Softball Clinics This Weekend
December 16, 2010
A 2010 Winter Baseball Clinic will be held Tuesday and a 2010 Winter Softball Clinic will be held Wednesday at the Poarch (Ala.) Sports Complex.
The baseball clinic, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, will include instructors Steve Peterson- Middle Tennessee State University Head Coach; Ricky Patterson- Former Minor League Manager; Larry Thomas- Former MLB Player; Lance Johnson- Former MLB Player; Kyle Davis- Former College Player; Nate Espy- Washington High School Head Coach; Barry Dean- Executive Director of Alabama Baseball Association; and Ron Litier- Former USA Player and Coach.
The softball clinic, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, will include the staff from the University of South Alabama and former Troy University player Cassie Lassiter.
Registration fee is $25 for either clinic with lunch provided. Both clinics are for students ages 8 to 18.
For baseball registration information, click here.
For softball registration information, click here.
Football All Star Game To Feature Area Seniors
December 15, 2010
The Pensacola Sports Association has announced the rosters for the 2010 Subway High School All-Star Football Game Presented by the Andrews Institute. The 7th Annual All-star Game is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at the Woodham Middle School Stadium.
This year’s game features some of the best seniors from Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties (East) playing against the seniors from Escambia County (West). Choctaw Head Coach Greg Thomas is the head coach of the East team while Greg Seibert from Catholic will lead the West team.
Several North Escambia area players will be taking part. Participating on the West All-Star Team from Northview will be: Austin Arrington, SS; Taylor Martin, LB; Lonnie Gardner, DT. Team members from Tate will be DJ Johnson, DB; Bruce Hemphill, LB/SS; and Tyler Tymbes, OL.
On the East All-Star Team, Trent Sweeney of Jay (WB) will take part.
Tickets for the game will be $7, or $6 with a canned good to support Manna Food Bank.
FHSAA Announces New Districts For Area Schools In All Sports
December 14, 2010
The Florida High School Athletic Association has new classifications and district assignments for the 2011-12 and 2012-2013 school years, including the new Rural Division and a Pensacola powerhouse football district.
Class 1A-Rural
The new 1A Rural division includes 36 schools for football — 47 for other sports — among rural schools with a student population of 44 to 600. The football district aligns just four schools — Northview, Jay, Freeport and Baker — in District 1-1A Rural.
Northview, Jay, Holmes County, Freeport, Chipley and Baker will be grouped in District 3-1A Rural for baseball, basketball and softball. In volleyball, Northview, Jay, Laurel Hills, Freeport, Central and Baker will comprise District 1-1A Rural.
6A Pensacola Area Schools
In Pensacola, there will be lots of football competition in District 1-6A with all of the local big school powerhouse teams — Tate, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pensacola, Pine Forest and Washington.
In baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball, the Tate Aggies will be the only Pensacola area team in District 1-6A, joining Choctawhatchee, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville. Escambia, Milton, Navarre, Pace, Pensacola, Pine Forest and Washington will be grouped in District 2-6A in the non-football sports.
Appeals
Schools will have the opportunity to appeal their classification and district assignments. The appeals must be filed with the Florida High School Athletic Association by January 7, 2011.
FOOTBALL
Class 1A Rural
District 1
Baker
Freeport
Jay
Northview (Bratt)
Class 6A
District 1
Escambia (Pensacola)
Milton
Pace
Pensacola
Pine Forest (Pensacola)
Tate (Cantonment)
Washington (Pensacola)
BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, SOFTBALL, VOLLEYBALL
Class 1A Rural
District 3
Baker
Chipley
Freeport
Holmes County (Bonifay)
Jay
Northview (Bratt)
Class 6A
District 1
Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach)
Crestview
Fort Walton Beach
Niceville
Tate (Cantonment)
District 2
Escambia (Pensacola)
Milton
Navarre
Pace
Pensacola
Pine Forest (Pensacola)
Washington (Pensacola)
Jay Christmas Tournament: JHS, Northview, Central, PCA Results
December 14, 2010
Monday, Jay and Pensacola Christian picked up wins and a trip to the boys championship of the Jay Christmas Tournament, while Northview and Central are headed to the consolation game. In girls action in the Jay Christmas Tournament, Jay defeated Pensacola Christian, and Central defeated Northview to set up a Jay versus Central championship game.
Jay 54, Northview 47
Colton Sims paced the Northview Chiefs with 13, while LaDarion White added 12 Monday in Northview’s loss to the Jay Royals. Jay’s Todd Laney 19 had a game-high 19 points, and Chandler Burgess contributed 14 for the Royals.
Northview –Colton Sims 13, LaDarion White 12, Lance Bushaw 7, Devin Morrer 3, Derrick Portis 4, Austin Arrington 6, Roderick Woods 2
Jay — Todd Laney 19, Chandler Burgess 14, Tyler Prescott 9, Conner Weekes 8, Tate Upton 3, Keith Lisonbee 1.
Northview 12 11 12 12-47 — Jay 15 14 5 20-5
Pensacola Christian 38, Central 24
Central 2 7 8 7-24 — PCA 9 8 14 7-38
Central 28, Northview 24 (Girls)
Shaniqua Jones led the Lady Chiefs with a dozen points Monday, while Shaquanna Jones added half a dozen.
Northview 2 6 6 10-24 — Central 2 6 6 14-28
Jay 55, Pensacola Christian 20 (Girls)
Becca Calloway led the Lady Royals with 17, while Tessa Hendricks and Danielle Skaggs added 10 each as Jay breezed past Pensacola Christian 55-20 in the first round of girls action in the Jay Christmas Tournament.
Jay — Becca Calloway 17, Tessa Hendricks 10, Danielle Skaggs 10, Olivia Wright 2, Hilary Hendricks 8, Lauren Steadham 4, Emily Russell 4.
PCA 7 2 6 5-20 — Jay 14 12 19 10-55