Fish Story: Santa Rosa Man Catches Florida’s Largest Catfish
October 19, 2011
A Santa Rosa County man now holds the distinction of having landed the largest flathead catfish ever caught with a rod and reel in Florida waters.
Eric Auston Jr., 33, was fishing with his good friend October 9 at 2:30 a.m. in the Yellow River when he caught a flathead catfish weighing 55.05 pounds. He used a rod and reel with 25-pound-test line and a small bluegill as bait, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.
His fish was substantially larger than the existing Florida record flathead – a fish that weighed 49.39 pounds, caught in the Apalachicola River in 2004. Auston said he fishes for flatheads only a few times each year. His biggest flathead prior to last weekend weighed 42 pounds, but that fish was caught on a bush hook.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) maintains records for most species of freshwater fish. The FWC will present Auston with a certificate of his record catch for display.
Go Little Chiefs: Northview Plans Mini Cheerleading Clinic
October 18, 2011
The annual Northview Mini-Cheerleading Clinic will be held Thursday evening, giving area girls the chance to cheer at an upcoming Northview Chiefs game.
The clinic will be from from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m Thursday in the school gym. The clinic is open to children three-years old through the eighth grade. Cost is $10 per person, and t-shirts will be available for purchase the at the clinic.
The girls will perform during the October 21st Northview Chiefs football game at home against Freeport High School. They girls will receive free admission to the game,ribbon and a megaphone filled with goodies.
For questions, call Anna at Northview at (850) 327-6681.
Pictured: Mini-cheerleaders perform last year at Northview High School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
District Battles Heating Up
October 17, 2011
There are two big district battles brewing for Friday night as we head into week 8 of the Florida high school football season.
The top of District 1-6A will come down to Friday night’s matchup between Pensacola High (5-1, 3-0) and Pace (5-2, 3-1). Meanwhile, the only North Escambia area team in the district is out of the title hunt for sure, with Tate winless at 0-7, 0-4.
Northview (3-2, 1-0) and Freeport (5-1, 1-0) both had last Friday night off as they prepare to face off against each other this Friday night in Bratt for the top spot in District1-1A.
Meanwhile, West Florida High School remains at the top of District 1-5A with a (6-0,2-0) record. Short of a a major upset, the WFHS best-ever season will continue Friday night as the Jaguars travel Rutherford (1-4, 0-1), the worst team in the district standings.
PHS Spoils Tate Homecoming
October 15, 2011
Homecoming was for the Tate Aggies was spoiled Friday night by Pensacola High School 63-13.
Tate’s only scores of the night came early in the third quarter and late in the fourth. David Moorehead passed to Tay Samuel for a 39-yard touchdown with 10:15 on the clock in the third. With Hagen Mancuso’s good kick, the Aggies were down 54-7.
Hagen Mancuso scored on a one-yard run with 2:35 remaining in the game.
Tate (0-7, 0-4)) will host Pace (5-2, 3-1) next Friday night in a district game.
For more photos — including Homecoming Court pictures, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Carnley, click to enlarge.
Jay Beats Cottondale
October 15, 2011
The Jay Royals stung Cottondale 32-12 Friday night to spoil the Hornets’ homecoming.
The Royals took the lead with 4:30 to go in the first quarter on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Tate Upton to Sammy James. A good extra point, and the Royals were up 7-0. Then, with just over 30 seconds to go in the first, Dakota Smith punched it in from 6-yards out.
The Royals scored again in the second on a 13-yard scramble from Upton to increase their lead to 20-0 over Cottondale.
Upton and Smith led the Royals with a combined total offense of 335 yards.
The Jay Royals (3-4, 0-1) will travel to Baker (5-2, 0-1) in a district game next Friday night.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Beats Millry
October 15, 2011
The Flomaton Hurricanes bounced back from a loss last week to beat Millry Friday night in Flomaton, 28-7.
The night’s touchdowns were split two each between Neiko Robinson and Hunter Bonds. Robinson scored in the first half on 41 and 5-yard runs, racking up 113 yards on seven carries. Bonds scored with a 10-yard run and returned an interception 55 yards.
The Flomaton Hurricanes (7-1, 5-1) will travel to Choctaw County next Friday night.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
JV Football: Northview Beats West Florida
October 14, 2011
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs ended their season with a 36-32 thriller against West Florida High School Thursday night.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
West Florida jumped out to a 12-6 lead over the Chiefs in the second quarter. Then, with 2:18 in the half, freshman Jaron Myles was in for the Chiefs. A good two point conversion, and Northview held a 14-12 lead. But West Florida managed an 18-14 halftime lead with a touchdown with 1:15 to go in the second.
The Jags increased their lead to 26-14 in the third, then Myles scored again for the Chiefs to narrow the score to 26-22.
The last two minutes of the fourth quarter were worth the price of admission. With 1:41 to go in the game, Myles scored another TD for the Chiefs. Jeffrey Taylor was in on the two point conversion, and Northview held a 25-26 advantage.
West Florida regained the lead with 52.6 seconds to go in the game, 32-30 Jags. Then, with 34.7 seconds on the clock, Northview’s Myles struck again. A missed two point conversion, and Northview took the lead 36-32.
West Florida’s dash for the end zone ended with a Northview interception with 6.2 seconds in the game.
With the win, the JV Northview Chiefs ended their season at 4-1.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured top: Brannon Freeman gains yardage for the Northview Chiefs Thursday night against West Florida High School’s Jaguars. Pictured inset: Jaron Myles heads for a Chiefs touchdown. Pictured below: Kahlil Grice (#63) makes a stop for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Cross Country: Northview, Ernest Ward, Central High Results
October 13, 2011
Northview High and Ernest Ward Middle took part in a cross country meet at Sims Middle School in Pace, while Central High won a meet at Paxton.
For a photo gallery with Northview and Ernest Ward runners, click here.
Northview High School
Northview’s cross country team placed eighth out of eleven teams at Sims Middle School in Pace.
- Top 5 female NHS runners: Georgia Goetter, Lakelynn Parker, Zaccara Davis, Jazzlyn Franklin and Julia Thorpe
- Top 5 male NHS runners: Isaac McGahan, Jarrett Parker, Dakota Craft, Joesph Baldwin, and Jack Floyd
Ernest Ward Middle School
Ernest Ward did not have enough runners to place at a team during the Sims Middle School meet.
- Top EWMS female runners: Bethany Reynolds, Moriah McGahan and Jessica Barrows
- Top EMMS male runners: Zach Calloway, Gavin Coon, Logan Calloway, and Jarred Townley
Central High School
At Paxton, Central High School’s boys and girls finished first. Freshman Kyle Fuller (pictured) was first overall in the cross country meet and broke a school record with a time of 18:03. The top Central female runner was Kennedy Fuller, who is Kyle’s sister. She ran a 21:30 and came in second overall.
- Top 5 male Central High runners: Kyle Fuller, Keifer Boyett, Nick Pooley, Dylan Peacock and Morgan Givens
- Top 5 female Central High runners: Kennedy Fuller, Beth Smith, Erica Waters, Brandi Bradley and Allaina Morrow
Submitted photos by Tammy Parker and Betty Coon for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Ernest Ward Beats Excel
October 12, 2011
The Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles ended their 2011 season with a down to the wire win over the Excel Panthers Tuesday night, 20-14.
The Eagles took an early lead over the Panthers with a Desmone Knight touchdown. With a missed two point conversion pass to Warren Suggs, Ernest Ward held a 6-0 lead with 7:18 to go in the first quarter.
Excel held the lead with just four seconds on the clock as the Eagles drove to down to the Panther’s six yard line. On the last play of the game, Knight was in for a 6-yard touchdown and an Ernest Ward win.
The EWMS Eagles (4-2) were scheduled to travel to Baker next week to take on the Gators, but that game has been canceled.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Agrait Finishes Third In Triathlon
October 12, 2011
Jorga Agrait of Jay finished third in the recent Sea Turtle Triathlon Loggerhead Divison on Opal Beach near Navarre.
Each of the girls in her 11-12 year division swam 150 yards, biked three miles and ran one mile. Coming out of the water after the triathlon opening swim, Agrait was at the back of the pack. She caught a few competitors in the three mile bike, but poured it on and gained serious ground in the one-mile run. In the one-mile, she had the fastest time, allowing her to finish before all but two of 17 competitors.
Agrait is a member of the Jay High School Lady Royals Cross Country team.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.