UWF’s Canterbury Earns GSC Defensive Player Of Week Honors
October 3, 2024
University of West Florida sophomore safety Kamrin Canterbury has been named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Canterbury led the Argos with a game-high 16 total tackles, including seven solo tackles and nine assists. The St. Petersburg native also forced the fumble that led to a scoop and score touchdown by Byron Puryear.
Walnut Hill Veteran Paul Entrekin Honored During Auburn Football Game
October 2, 2024
Veteran Paul Entrekin of Walnut Hill was honored Saturday during the Auburn game last Saturday against Oklahoma at Jordan -Hare Stadium
Entrekin described the day as “surreal” and “beyond humbling”.
“Semper Fidelis and War Eagle,” he exclaimed.
Entreking graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976.
Entrekin was commissioned as a U.S. Marine Corps officer in 1977 and designated a Naval Aviator in 1980. During his military career he became carrier qualified, flying both rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft. He was an instructor pilot until leaving active duty in 1986 and then retained reserve status with the Defense Intelligence Agency as a clandestine operative until retiring after Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1991.
No stranger to the air show world nor pushing boundaries, Entrekin soon was nicknamed “The Bandit,” after becoming the first civilian pilot to own and fly a Russian MiG aircraft. He founded Entrekin Aviation as a full-time air show pilot in 1986. He holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records and is recognized on the National Aviation and Space Exploration Wall of Honor.
He is a member of the prestigious Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has flown more than 30,000 hours in over 50 types of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, ranging from the UH-1N Huey and BD-5J microjet to the Boeing 777, and holds multiple U.S. and world airspeed records.
For 31 years, he has serve as the air boss of the Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show.
[Read more: Walnut Hill Man Was The Boss Of The Pensacola Beach Air Show. Here's A Behind The Scenes Look.]
A defensive back, he played football as one of head coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan’s “Amazin’s” that defeated Paul “Bear” Bryant’s number 2 ranked (10-0) Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1972 Iron Bowl, by the score of 17-16. It has become known in the annals of SEC college football as the “Punt Bama Punt” game. The Auburn Tigers went 9-1 that year and finished 5th in the nation, ending the season with a Gator Bowl victory over the University of Colorado Buffaloes.
Entrekin also flew for Delta Air Lines for 30 years before his retirement, and over the years has authored a number of books including, “Mighty Hands,” his bestseller “Mr. MiG,” and his most recent children’s book entitled, “Jasper and the Christmas Faeries” set at his Walnut Hill ranch.
[Read more: New Children's Book 'Jasper and the Christmas Faeries' Set At Walnut Hill Ranch.]
Pictured top: Veteran Paul Entrekin of Walnut Hill was honored Saturday during the Auburn game last Saturday. Pictured inset: Entrekin with Auburn mascot Aubie. Pictured below: Entrekin and his wife Lisa. Pictured second and third below: Entrekin with Coach Hugh Freeze and Charles Barkley. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Defeats Blacksher For The Second Time This Season
October 2, 2024
Tuesday, the Northview Chiefs traveled to Uriah, Alabama, and returned with a three-match sweep of the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs.
Northview won 3-0 by scores of 22-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-21 18-16. The Bulldogs pulled within two points in the last set, tying it at 16-16 before the Chiefs took the win.
In a previous meeting in mid-September, Northview also beat Blacksher 3-0.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs defeated Blacksher 3-0 in September. NorthEscambia.com file photos.
Tate Beats PHS In Three Straight Sets; Northview Sweeps L.E.A.D Academy In Three
October 1, 2024
Tate 3, PHS 0
The Tate High School Aggies defeated Pensacola High Tigers in straight sets in high school varsity volleyball action Monday afternoon.
The Aggies won by scores of 25-19, 25-23, 2-16.
The Aggies will host their annual Dig Pink game against Pace on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Northview 3 L.E.A.D 0
At home in Bratt Monday night, the Northview Lady Chiefs defeated he L.E.A.D. Academy Lions of Pace.
Northview won in in three straight sets, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17.
On Tuesday, the Chiefs will travel to Uriah, Alabama to take on the Bulldogs of J.U. Blacksher. Northview defeated the Bulldogs 3-0 in a previous contest on September 17.
Tate Girls Golf Wins Match Against Navarre, WFHS
October 1, 2024
The Tate High School girls golf team won their match last week against West Florida and Navarre.
The Aggies posted a team score of 195, a head of the Navarre Raiders (196) and West Florida (204).
Three Aggies occupied the top five spots on the individual leaderboard.
Talia Smith, a senior, leads the way with a score of 44 in third place.
Other top Tate players
5. - Kara Wine (SR): 47
6. – Jordan Smith (SR): 51
7. – Kinzlee Biggs (JR): 53
7. – Alessia Lloyd (SO): 53
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Boys Win Escambia County Golf Championship, Northview Places Second
September 30, 2024
The Tate High School Boys won the Escambia County Golf Championship last week as the Northview High School boys finished second at the Osceola Municipal Golf Course.
The Class 3A Aggies posted a team score of 150. The 1A Chiefs second place score wa 165. They defeated West Florida (169), Pensacola High (176), Washington (177) and Escambia (195.)
The top five scores from Tate were:
1. – Landon Ray (JR) – 37
1. – Baylor Touchstone (JR) – 37
3. – Jacob Drysdale (FR) – 38
3. – Ben Robinson (JR) – 38
8. – Parker Hassell (JR) – 41
And from Northview:
5. – Jayden White (SO) – 39
5. – Jack Boutwell (JR) – 39
Miles Smith (SO) – 43
Kelan Jurney (SR) – 45
Pictured top: The Tate High Schools boys golf team. Pictured below: the Northview High School boy golf team. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Florida Gas Prices Rise Over The Past Week, AAA Says
September 30, 2024
Florida gas prices increased nine cents on average over the last week, according to AAA.
The average price per gallon of regular unleaded Sunday night statewide was $3.22, up from $3.13 a week ago.
In Escambia County, the average price per gallon was $2.90, an increase of six cents from a week ago. In North Escambia.cim a low of $2.87 could be found at a station on Highway 29 in Cantonment Sunday night. Pensacola prices were as low as $2.67 on Pine Forest Road and $2.69 on East Nine Mile Road.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Win Bulldog Invitational In Five Straight Matches
September 29, 2024
The Tate High School Aggies volley team won five straight matches Saturday to win the Bulldog Invitational at Crestview.
The Aggies won all of their matches but one in two straight sets.
Tate defeated:
- Bay 2-0 (25-15, 25-13)
- Crestview 2-0 (28-26, 25-18)
- Fort Walton Beach 2-1 (25-11, 19-25, 15-3)
- Walton 2-0 (25-11, 25-11)
- Destin 2-0 (25-22, 25-22)
Pictured: The Tate Aggies won the Bulldog Invitational at Crestview Saturday in five straight matches. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Takes Road Loss to No. 2 Grand Valley
September 29, 2024
by Bill Violona
After sustaining its worst regular-season loss Saturday in six years, UWF’s football team finds itself in uncommon territory, searching for solutions.
No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State opened up a close game at halftime with 17 points in the third quarter and rolled to a 31-7 victory against the No. 21 Argos, turning a marquee matchup into a one-sided showcase, delighting a crowd of 10,458 at Lubbers Stadium.
“I’m disappointed with how we played, especially on offense,” said head coach Kaleb Nobles during the post-game radio broadcast aired on ESPN-Pensacola. “We have to get better. “It’s completely on us. I take full responsibility with this one. It’s frustrating. But we’ve got to bounce back.”
That opportunity awaits UWF (1-2) with two home games – against winless Mississippi College and fierce rival Delta State – the next two weeks at PenAir Field.
In perspective to how great UWF’s success has been, this is the Argos’ only losing record at any point in a season since the inaugural 2016 season.
It’s also the first back-to-back losses since 2018, which was followed by the 2019 historic national title season when Nobles was on the coaching staff.
Facing one of the most tradition-rich programs in NCAA Division II, one with four national titles and the most wins the past 52 years of any D-2 or FBS (formerly Division 1-AA) team in the country, the Argos struggled from the outset against Grand Valley State.
The unbeaten Lakers (4-0), who now have three consecutive wins against ranked teams, took their first possession and went 85 yards in seven plays for a touchdown and emotional edge they kept the whole game.
This game’s statistical summary reflected how difficult Saturday became for UWF. Grand Valley amassed 436 yards total offense, including 312 rushing yards. The Lakers entered No. 3 in D-2 for rushing offense with 312 yards.
Meanwhile, Grand Valley’s defense held the Argos to only 121 total yards that included minus-7 yards rushing and just 56 yards total offense at halftime.
The Argos offensive line was overwhelmed by Grand Valley’s defense, which entered ranked No. 4 nationally in D-2 for fewest yards allowed.
UWF quarterback Marcus Stokes was under siege the entire game. He was sacked eight times, knocked to ground multiple other times, forced into two interceptions and completed 10 of 27 attempts for 102 yards.
Nearly every time Stokes dropped back to pass, there were defenders charging him. Nobles indicated in the post-game radio interview the need to address things on the offensive line.
“We have to find who our best guys are and get them on the field,” Nobles said on the offensive line. “We think we know, but those guys did not play as well today. We got to keep pushing those guys to get better.”
The Argos defense kept UWF in the game the first half and produced the Argos longest play of the game when senior defensive lineman Byron Puryear picked up a fumble and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown with 2:27 left before halftime.
Unfortunately, Puryear was hurt during a pass rush tackle in the third quarter concluding a positive day for the senior that included three tackles.
The fumble was caused by sophomore defensive back Kamrin Canterbury, who jarred the ball loose from Grand Valley quarterback Avery Moore during a tackle in the backfield. The scoop and score tied the game at the time.
Canterbury had a sensational game as UWF’s top performer. He had 16 tackles including seven solo stops. Ralph Ortiz was UWF’s next highest tackler with nine.
After that defensive score, however, Grand Valley answered with an eight-play, 74 yard drive, aided by two pass interference penalties, to take a 14-7 lead before halftime.
There’s obviously some things we have to clean up on defense overall,” Nobles said. “And we have to stop the run better.”
When the Lakers got the opening kickoff to start the second half, their 80 yard drive pushed the lead two scores and forced UWF to try and make plays against Grand Valley’s stout defense.
Jamontez Woods was UWF’s leading rusher with just 15 yards on eight carries. Da’Moni Brown, who had a big game last week against West Alabama, was held to one catch for 26 yards.
Former Milton High standout Raymond Cotrell saw his first action late in the game and had two catches for 18 yards.
This was the first meeting between the teams, but not UWF’s first time to Grand Valley State. The Argos practiced at Lubbers Stadium during the 2019 run to the championship when beating Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan.
UWF is hoping to arrange a return trip by Grand Valley to Pensacola in a future season.
WHAT’S NEXT
WHO: Mississippi College (0-4) vs. UWF Argos (1-2).
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 5, 4 p.m.
WHERE: PenAir Field
Photo Jon Rose/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Navarre Upsets Tate For The Aggies’ First Loss Of The Season (With Gallery)
September 28, 2024
The Navarre Raiders upset the Tate Aggies 30-27 at Pete Gindl Stadium Friday night in Cantonment. It was the first loss of the season for the Aggies, now 5-1.
The Aggies started strong in the district game when quarterback Taite Davis found Carson Secchiari for a 23-yard touchdown on the opening drive for Tate. The kick was blocked, and the Aggies led 6-0 on Carl Madison Field. Navarre answered with a TD of their own.
Laquarius Bradford added a 30-yard touchdown for Tate with 3:30 to go in the first quarter. The PAT was again blocked, leaving Tate with a 12-7 advantage.
For a photo gallery, click here. Look for band, cheerleaders and other bonus photo by next week on NorthEscambia.com.
With 4:51 to go in the half, David threw to Elijah West with an impressive touchdown catch (pictured above). Carson Secchiari added a 4-yard touchdown run with 8:08 to go in the game.
“They had a good plan,” Tate head coach Rhett Summerford said. “I guess we did not play very well tonight but hats off to them. We lost one that we should have won. but that’s football. That’s high school football.
The Aggies will be off next week before returning to action October 11 at the Pace Patriots.
“It was a bye week, and then you are going to play a big one,” Summerford said. We’ve got two weeks to work on it. We’ve got to plan a little better. But we are not out; the season is not over.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
