East Tops West 3-0 In All-Star Volleyball Action (With Gallery)
November 18, 2024
The East topped the West 3-0 in the 2024 Pensacola Sports All-Star Volleyball game.
The west team was comprised of the top seniors from high schools in Escambia County; the east team was players from Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
Team members and coaches were:
WEST
Head Coach: Ashley Young – Pensacola High School
Assistant Coach: Sean Flynn – Escambia High School
- Olivia Johnson – Tate – setter/DS
- Carlyn Henley – Tate – libero/DS
- Kadyn Austin – Tate – middle/outside hitter
- Kamryn Langham – Northview – right side/outside hitter
- Jaden Gentry – West Florida – left side/outside hitter
- Kayla Anderson – West Florida – middle/right side
- Avery Varias – West Florida – setter/DS
- Hahhan Bradley – Washington – outside hitter
- Reagan Smith – Washington – opposite/middle
- Susanna Snyder – Catholic – setter/right side
- Bella Lambert – Catholic – DS
- Grace Dickin – Escambia – setter/outside hitter
- Brianna Williams – Escambia – setter/outside hitter
- Berkeley Morris – Pensacola – libero/DS
- Anita Surratt – Pensacola – right side
- McKenna Hughes – Tate – middle/right side
- Silvia Leos – Pine Forest – outside hitter/DS
- Chrisshonna Bargaineer – Pine Forest – middle/outside hitter
EAST
Head Coach: Melanie Marchena, Ft. Walton Beach High School
Assistant Coach: James Kerrell, Crestview High School
- Taegan Baggett – Central – libero/DS
- Kaelin Martin – Laurel Hill – outside hitter/DS
- Chesney Caraway – LEAD Academy – setter/DS
- Bella Satterwhite – Gulf Breeze – outside hitter/right side
- Sarah Frazee – Gulf Breeze – libero/DS
- Brighton Watson – Ft. Walton Beach – libero/DS
- Camille Reeves – Crestview – setter/DS
- Kaleigh Moss – Baker – outside hitter/middle
- Madolyn Mills – Baker – middle/outside hitter
- Addison Cudney – Choctawhatchee – outside hitter/libero
- Sophia Hull – Choctawhatchee – middle
- Morgan Barrow – Jay – setter
- Harper Cooley – Milton – libero/DS
- Audryana Colon – Niceville – outside hitter
- Elise Smith – Niceville – outside hitter
- Whitleigh Walsh – Niceville – libero
- Kinsley Hines – Pace – setter
- Addison Danforth – Navarre – libero/DS
- Emma Gross – Navarre – middle
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Four Takeaways From Tate’s 6A Quarterfinal Game At Nease (And 40 Photos)
November 17, 2024
The Tate Aggies fell 42-14 to Nease Friday night in a Region 1-6A quarterfinal game Friday night on the road near Jacksonville.
Here are five key takeaways:
- Tate scored on a 12-yard passing touchdown from Taite Davis to Elijah West (pictured top). Tate fought to the very end. The last Aggie touchdown came with just seconds remaining in the game on a Davis quarterback keeper.
- Tate entered the game at No. 8 in the region, while Nease was No 1. Nease was also ranked No. 1 statewide.
- Tate’s season ended at 7-4, making their first playoff appearance since 2020.
- The 2024 season for the Tate Aggie was their first winning season since they also went 7-4 in 2017.
For more photos from Friday night, click here.
Pictured: Tate took on No 1. Nease Friday night near Jacksonville. NorthEscamia.com photos by James Vernacotola, click to enlarge.
UWF Argos Close Out Season In GSC Title Game Loss To No. 1 Valdosta
November 17, 2024
by Bill Vilona, Argos correspondent
A season of promising expectations for the UWF football team ended Saturday night with a final roadblock.
Unbeaten, top-ranked Valdosta State jumped to a 21-0 lead in the third quarter and cruised its way to a 28-7 victory against the No. 16-ranked Argos to clinch the Gulf South Conference title and No. 1 region seed for the NCAA Division II playoffs.
After six consecutive wins that followed a 1-2 start, the Argos (7-3) will likely miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
UWF hoped it could recapture some road magic at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium where the Argos beat the Blazers in 2022 to help seal a playoff berth, then in 2019 in post-season on way to UWF’s historic national championship run.
But after a scoreless first quarter, the Blazers (10-0) seized control on their senior night. They scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the second quarter for a 14-0 halftime lead. They added a third TD midway through the third quarter to further solidify a grip on the game.
“Didn’t play well,” said UWF coach Kaleb Nobles, who returned to his alma mater for the first time as a head coach. “We just didn’t do enough. I take full responsibility. I didn’t do enough, personally. Our guys gave everything they had. We have to find ways to keep getting better.”
The Argos gained a brief surge of hope when quarterback Marcus Stokes broke free on a 31-yard touchdown run with 4:53 left in the third quarter.
After UWF’s defense forced a stop, the Argos drove near midfield and faced 4th-and-5 from the 48. But on the conversion attempt, running back T.J. Lane was stuffed two yards shy of the first down.
VSU then methodically drove nine plays, 50 yards and ate up 5:18 on the clock to score on Alfonso Franklin’s 1-yard run to put the game away. The drive was part of the Blazers’ 204 yards rushing, led by Blake Hester who had 118 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown.
“They ran the ball pretty well, did stuff in the run game that I don’t think they’ve done all year and we didn’t answer the call,” said Nobles, a 2015 Valdosta State graduate, who then used his post-grad year in 2016 to be the Argos quarterback in their inaugural season.
The Blazers produced 358 yards total offense in the game. UWF’s defense entered ranked No. 2 nationally in Division II, yielding just 205.9 total offense yards per-game.
VSU senior quarterback Sammy Edwards completed 14 of 20 passes for 154 yards and two scores. Neither team had a turnover Saturday.
Edwards was one of 30 seniors that VSU honored before the game.
“I’ll give (VSU) offensive line credit. They’re a good team and do a lot of things well,” Nobles said. “This one definitely hurts.”
Meanwhile, the UWF offense struggled the entire night. Stokes completed 11 of 24 passes for 129 yards. He was sacked twice.
Javon Swinton was UWF’s leading receiver with three catches for 47 yards, including the longest pass play for UWF on a 33-yard reception.
Stokes became the Argos leading rusher with 57 yards on nine attempts. The Blazers held the Argos’ tailback tandem of TJ Lane (33 yards) and Jay Sharp (16 yards) in check.
“We didn’t win some down-field throws and had a couple missed blocks on our offensive line that really affected us,” Nobles said. “When you do those things against a good team, those things get exposed. We know we can’t do that against a good team like Valdosta State.”
The Argos returned home following the game Saturday and will have post-season meetings beginning Monday as they now plan for the 2025 season.
UWF was seeking its first outright GSC title Saturday. The Argos would have won the tiebreaker with a win.
The Blazers celebrated their 12th outright GSC title and first since getting back-to-back conference championships in 2018 and 2019 seasons. The win elevated VSU to its fifth undefeated regular season in school history.
UWF ends with its seven consecutive winning season in the program’s eight-year history. The Argos have won seven or more games in six of those years.
“The message is, I’m just proud of them,” Nobles said. “Everybody wrote us off and didn’t think we had a chance to do anything after we lost to Grand Valley State (on September 28). I told the team I’m proud of them for how they responded, giving themselves to be in this game. I told the seniors how proud I am of them, and how excited I am to be their head coach.”
Photo: Emily Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Star Wars Night: Ice Flyers Fall To Huntsville Havoc
November 17, 2024
The Pensacola Ice Flyers faced off against the Huntsville Havoc on Saturday night to finish off their weekend series. The Ice Flyers started strong, with Natan Vertes energizing the crowd of 6,341 by scoring just four minutes into the first period. The momentum continued when Matt Wiesner scored a short-handed goal, his fifth of the season, giving the Ice Flyers a 2-0 lead.
However, the Havoc responded. Huntsville’s Austin Alger found the back of the net with 1:19 left in the first period, narrowing the gap to 2-1. The second period saw Cayden Cahill extend the Ice Flyers’ lead with his second goal of the season. The period ended with some tension as Tim Faulkner and Giovanni Procopio engaged in a heated exchange.
For a photo gallery, click here.
The third period proved to be the Ice Flyers’ undoing. Despite physical efforts from Sam Dabrowski, the Havoc seized control of the game. They capitalized on two power-play opportunities, with Austin Alger scoring his second goal to tie the game. Giovanni Procopio then gave Huntsville the lead with just 2:44 left in the game.
In a last-ditch effort, the Ice Flyers pulled their goalie, but the Havoc took advantage. With 58 seconds remaining, they sealed their victory with an empty-net goal, silencing the once-jubilant crowd.
Despite the loss, the night had its highlights. Fans were also treated to entertaining blindfolded light-saber battles, adding a lighthearted touch to the evening.
The Ice Flyers will now set their sights on their upcoming weekend series in Peoria.
What’s Next?
Next Game: Friday, November 22 at Peoria
Next Home Game: Wednesday, November 27
Tate Falls To Nease In Playoff Opener (With Photo Gallery)
November 16, 2024
The No 8 Tate Aggies fell to the No. 1 Nease Panthers 42-14 Friday night in the Region 1-6A quarterfinals Friday night in Ponte Vedra, Florida.
It was the first playoff appearance for Tate since 2020.
With a season ending at 7-4, 2024 was the best for the Aggies since they also went 7-4 in 2017.
For a photo gallery, click here.
In other Region 1-6A quarterfinal action Friday night, Pace defeated Oviedo 49-21. The Patriots will travel to Buchholz in Gainesville next Friday night.
NorthEscamia.com photos by James Vernacotola, click to enlarge.
High School Football Playoffs Scoreboard
November 16, 2024
FLORIDA
REGION 1-6A
- Pace 49, Oviedo 21
- Nease 42, Tate 14 [Story, photos...]
REGION 1-4A
- Escambia 29, Riverside 28
- Ed White 26, Pine Forest 13
REGION 1-2A
- Walton 28, Pensacola Catholic 24
RURAL
- Fort White 23, Jay 2
ALABAMA
4A
- Fairfield 23, W.S. Neal 22
3A
- T.R. Miller 21, Trinity 7
Pictured: The Tate Aggies fell to Nease Friday night. NorthEscamia.com photos by James Vernacotola, click to enlarge.
Eagles Vs. Eagles: Ernest Ward Middle Falls To W.S. Neal
November 15, 2024
The Ernest Ward Middle Eagles boys and girls basketball fell to the W.S. Neal Eagles Thursday night.
In boys actions, Neal defeated EWMS 42-23, the Neal girls won 20-19.
Up next, Ernest Ward will travel to Central on Monday, November 18 with the girls at 5 p.m. to be followed by the boys.
NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate High Softball’s Kara Wine Signs With The University of South Alabama
November 14, 2024
Tate High School senior Kara Wine on Wednesday signed to play Division 1 Softball at the University of South Alabama Jaguars. A standout player at Tate, Wine has played on the varsity team since her freshman year. S
During the first three years of her career at Tate, she broke numerous records including most homeruns in a single season with nine, the career homerun record with 20, slugging percentage, and career RBI’s.
For a photos gallery, click here.
Kara is the president of the senior class and has excelled academically with a 4.55 GPA. She was named to the Tate High School Hall of Fame. She also participates in Beta Club, National Honor Society, FCA, SEB, and has played volleyball and golf at Tate.
She was joined for her signing Wednesday by her fellow Lady Aggies, her travel ball team the “Showstoppers”, former and current coaches, teachers, family, and friends.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Texas Longhorns Take SEC Soccer Title; Officials Say Escambia County Wins Big
November 11, 2024
The Texas Longhorns won the SEC Womens Soccer Championship Sunday at Escambia County Ashton Brosnaham Park, and officials say the tournament was a big win for Escambia County.
Mia Justus made seven saves and Carly Montgomery scored the game-deciding goal in the 80th minute to secure a 1-0 victory over South Carolina for the Texas Longhorns’ first-ever SEC title.
Thousands of fans attended the tournament at the park off 10-Mile Road, including a huge crowd that filled the stands for Sunday’s final, despite rain.
The even was preceded by a free Fan Fest with games, music and other activities for soccer fans before the championship game.
This marked the third consecutive year that Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park has served as the location for the tournament, generating millions of dollars in local economic impact, according to local officials.
For soccer championship action photos, click here.
For Fan Fest photos, click here.
“We are incredibly proud to once again host the SEC tournament, and we hope the teams and fans enjoy their time in Escambia County,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said. “This is an exciting event not only for District 5 and Escambia County, but for all of Northwest Florida. I appreciate the continued partnership with Pensacola Sports and the SEC, along with the countless staff members and volunteers who work behind the scenes to make an event like this possible.”
Escambia County Parks and Recreation has completed significant improvements to continue to make the Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park a first-rate sports complex, including a new multi-use facility that opened just in time for the 2023 SEC Tournament. The new facility serves as additional locker room space for the SEC Soccer Tournament, along with other sporting events including local youth, high school and college soccer. Parks and Recreation staff also repaved the parking lot and completed significant upgrades to the field turf at Ashton Brosnaham.
Pensacola Sports President and CEO Ray Palmer lauded the strong partnership between Pensacola Sports, Escambia County Parks and Recreation, and the SEC, also highlighting the positive impact that a tournament like this creates for Escambia County and the greater Pensacola area.
“Every year, we get a little better at it,” Palmer said. “We just keep raising the bar, because we want to show the SEC that we want them here. And for these players, they’re going to be deciding where they live after they graduate, where they may start their families, where they’ll come and go to work or start their own businesses, or where they’ll vacation for years and years. It gives our community a chance to show up and show off. It’s just such a golden opportunity, and the economic impact just the week they’re here is significant.”
For soccer championship action photos, click here.
For Fan Fest photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
NO. 17 UWF Earns Sixth Straight Win
November 11, 2024
The way September ended placed UWF’s football team in a precarious position.
Ever since, however, the Argos have earned their way into a welcome opportunity.
With their defense as the main force, the No. 17-ranked Argos won their sixth consecutive game in a resounding 35-14 victory against North Greenville in the season’s final home game on Senior Day at PenAir Field.
It puts UWF (7-2) into a defining moment when facing unbeaten, No. 1 ranked Valdosta State (9-0) next Saturday in a game at Valdosta, Ga. that will determine a league champion and shape the NCAA Division II playoff picture for teams in the South region.
“As a coach, when you grow up around football like I have since I was born, this is what you coach for,” said UWF coach Kaleb Nobles, who played his final season in 2016 at UWF after transferring from Valdosta State. These are the games you coach for. We are going to put everything in front of us and try to play our best football. We know a victory against a really good Valdosta team would be sweet as sugar, so we are excited to have an opportunity.”
The Argos seized on opportunities Saturday for a fast start against North Greenville (4-5), which has often played UWF tough. The Argos have twice won games decided by just three points against the Trailblazers in the past four seasons.
On the game’s second play Saturday, UWF junior defensive lineman Collin Shaw knocked the ball free from North Greenville quarterback Dylan Ramirez. The Argos Donovan Barnes scooped up the fumble and raced 25 yards for a touchdown just 49 seconds into the game.
Just a minute later, on a 3rd-and-1 play, the Argos defense again forced a fumble, this time recovered by sophomore linebacker Kode Lowe at the North Greenville 35. An excessive celebration penalty pushed the ball back to midfield.
But no matter, the Argos went up 14-0 on a 10-play, 50 yard drive that T.J. Lane finished with 2-yard run for the first of his two rushing touchdowns.
“It’s really big (to get that kind of start), because it shifts the momentum of the game and once that happens, then anything can happen at any time. And we’re on top of the game.”
The momentum shifted midway through the second quarter when UWF quarterback Marcus Stokes was intercepted by North Greenville’s R.J. Glasgow, who returned it 40 yards for a touchdown to halve the deficit.
It began a stretch of four touchdowns in the final seven minutes of the half.
The Argos opened a 21-7 lead following a 69-yard kickoff return by Jay Sharp to the Trailblazers 31. Four plays later, Stokes made a nice underneath pass to Da’Mani Brown for a 28-yard score.
On that ensuing kickoff, the Trailblazers Jerrick Foster returned the kick 99 yards for a score to again cut the deficit to seven points.
Another strong kickoff return, this one by Anthony Ballard put UWF in business again at the Trailblazers 29.
The game’s biggest play then ensued. On a third-and-16, Stokes found Corey Scott slashing across the end zone for a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the half.
It was easily Stokes’ biggest play on a day where he had some struggles with completions, going just 10 of 23 for 125 yards.
From that 28-14 halftime lead, the UWF defense was suffocating in the second half, barely allowing North Greenville a first down.
The Argos yielded just 74 yards of total offense on 47 plays and just six first downs against the Trailblazers in the entire game.
They limited North Greenville’s ultra-talented wide receiver, Dre Williams, one of the nation’s best D-2 receivers, to just three catches for 22 yards.
“Number one for them (Williams) is one of the best players in the country and so we were trying to keep him in check… and they’ve got a lot of really good players so we did a good job limiting them,” Nobles said.
“Our defense rose to the challenge again,” he said. “They are doing a great job of chasing the football. What I am excited about is that there’s a lot of depth… guys that didn’t get as much playing time earlier in the year and now they are getting a lot of playing time.”
Lane gained 71 yards as UWF’s top rusher and Sharp had 69 yards plus the kickoff return. Collin Shaw led UWF’s defense with six tackles.
After a 1-2 start that included an overtime home loss to West Alabama and a road loss at Grand Valley State in Michigan, the Argos have rallied back.
“Since we got off the plane from Michigan, I told them that every game is a playoff game,” Nobles said. “We have no choice. Our backs are against the wall. We knew this game coming up against Valdosta would be a big one all season, so in order to make this a big game, make it a playoff game, then every other game was a playoff game. We came back from Michigan. Revaluated a lot of things. I’m proud of the coaches for coming up with a lot of good ideas, changing practice, changing things. Our players have done a phenomenal job of buying in.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: UWF Argos vs. Valdosta State Blazers
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 16, 6 p.m. (Central Time)
WHERE: Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta, Ga.
Photo: Emily Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.