Class 1-A Playoff Brackets
November 29, 2010
Northview will face Trinity Christian at 6:30 Central time Friday night in Jacksonville in the Class 1-A State Semifinals.
Video Highlights: Northview Beats Freeport For Regional Title
November 28, 2010
Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s win Friday night over Freeport.
For game details, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story.
(If you don’t see the video, it is because a setting at your home, work or school firewall or computer is blocking YouTube videos.)
Northview Chiefs Win Regional Championship
November 27, 2010
The Northview Chiefs made school history Friday night as the only team to ever bring home a Regional title. And for the Chiefs, the victory was also sweet revenge over Freeport, the only team to beat the Chiefs this season.
In the Regional 1-A finals, Northview (11-1) defeated Freeport (9-3) 21-12 to advance to the state semi-finals next week in Jacksonville.
“I can’t put into words how proud I am of this group,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said. “They went on the road to a tough place to play and a tough place to win. It was a huge win, a huge win for this football program.”
Less than a minute into the game at Freeport Stadium, Northview’s Taylor Martin picked off a Bulldog pass, returning it 35 yards. With a good kick from Lance Bushaw, the Chiefs held 7-0 lead with 11:12 to go in the first quarter.
“Taylor Martin’s interception was really, really big for us,” Wheatley said. “It was a really big boost for us and a good way to start a game.”
Freeport answered with a four-play, 70 yard drive that ended with a 16-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs missed the extra point kick, and the Chiefs held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first.
In the second quarter, the Chiefs drove hard on 16 plays for 62 yards, all the way down to fourth and goal from the Freeport four. Roderick Woods, who ended the night with 80 yards on 17 carries, plowed in for the touchdown. Bushaw put the pigskin through the uprights again, and the Chiefs held a 14-6 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, La’Mikal Kyles was in the end zone in the fourth on a 43-yard dash through the Bulldog defense. Bushaw’s kick was once again good, and Northview was up 21-6 with 10:40 in the ballgame.
Freeport managed a two-yard touchdown run with 9:03 to go in the fourth.
Neither team could find the end zone on the following downs, and Northview sealed win with a big interception by Kyles with 1:49 remaining in the game. Kyles finished the game with 86 yards on a dozen carries.
“I thought we played extremely well on both sides of the ball. The defense made stops when we needed to, and the offense was able to produce enough points,” Wheatley said.
Northview will be on the road next week in the state semi-finals in Jacksonville to take on top-ranked Trinity Christian at 6:30 p.m. Central time. The winner of that game will be in the Class 1A state championship game in Orlando on December 10.
“It’s going to get tougher,” Wheatley said. “But we are in a routine, and we will continue to work to stand up to the challenge.”
Trinity Christian earned their trip to the semis with a 42-41 triple overtime win over Providence of Jacksonsville Friday night.
Pictured top: Northview defender Tyler Brooks closes in on the Bulldog’s quarterback Friday night in Freeport. Pictured top inset: La’Mikal Kyles scored a fourth quarter touchdown for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter. Pictured bottom inset: Taylor Martin returns an interception 35 years to put Northveiw on the board. Pictured below: The Chiefs score. Submitted photos and courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Fans Welcome Their Region 1A Champion Chiefs
November 27, 2010
A crowd of Northview Chiefs fans gathered early Saturday morning to welcome the Region 1-A Champions back to Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
EA Cougars Win Thanksgiving Tournament
November 27, 2010
Escambia Academy opened their season by winning the Lowndes Academy Thanksgiving Tournament in Lowndesboro, Ala.
The EA Cougars (2-0, 0-0) won their first games against Evergreen’s Sparta Academy Warriors 57-54. The Cougars took the championship game 41-40 over the Longhorns of Marengo Academy from Linden, Ala.
Escambia Academy’s Darron McGhee finished as the Lowndes Academy Thanksgiving Tournament MVP. McGhee, Tanner Kirk and Keaton Maher were named to the All-Tournament team.
Pictured top: The Escambia Academy Cougars (front, L-R) Brandon Goddard, Jaylen Henry, Dillon Anderson, (back row) Tanner Boatwright, Tanner Kirk, Blake Quimby, Chris Macks, Keaton Maher, Jordan Sasser, Darren McGhee, coach Kevin Woods. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Honors Volleyball Players
November 24, 2010
Several members of the Northview Lady Chiefs volleyball team were honored during the team’s annual banquet this week.
Receiving awards were:
Best Offensive Award
- JV – Lana Clayton
- JV – Paeton Hadley
- Varsity – Ashley Digmon
Best Defensive Award
JV – Danielle Steadham
Most Improved
- JV – Danielle Steadham
- Varsity – Morgan Payne
Coaches Award
- Varsity -Ashley Digmon
Best Attitude Award
- JV – Ali Martin
- JV – Danielle Steadham
- Varsity – Sarah Killam
- Varisty – Katie Wieborg
Effort Award
- JV – Paeton Hadley
- Varsity – Raylin Spence
Special Thanks!
- A special award was given to Kara Hardin for her continuous hard work for the volleyball team.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FHSAA 1A Rural Division Approved, To Include Northview And Jay
November 22, 2010
The Florida High School Athletic Association’s new rural school division to include Northview and Jay high schools was approved Monday.
The new 1A Rural division includes 36 schools for football — 47 for other sports — with among rural schools with a student populations of 44 to 600.
“When the FHSAA originally went up to six classifications in team sports in 1999, we had 517 member schools, with 480 of those playing team sports. Now that we have 670 member schools and 650 of those in team sports, the number of teams in individual districts is too large,” said FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing. “Moving to eight classifications allows for fewer teams in each district, which allows for more flexibility in scheduling for the season.”
District 1-1A Rural includes Jay, Baker, Freeport and Northview, plus Central and Laurel Hills for volleyball only. For boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball, Northview and Jay joins Baker, Freeport, Holmes County and Vernon in District 3-1A.
With 549 students, Northview is the largest school in the two districts. Jay has a student population of 286.
The FHSAA plan approved Monday also includes an Urban Division 1A composed of the state’s small schools in larger cities across Florida.
Dearing recommended the approval of the new classifications for the 2011-2013 school years, allowing for schools to appeal between November and January with the final classifications to be approved in January, 2011. Every two years, the classifications would be restructured based upon student enrollment.
The invitation deadline for the new classification was September 15 for schools with students populations under 600 and located in areas designate rural by the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development.
Pictured above and below: Action from Northview’s 34-0 defeat of Jay earlier this season. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Runners Place In State Cross Country Finals
November 21, 2010
The Jay Lady Royals finished 20th in the the state Girls 1A Cross Country Finals Saturday in Dade City, while Jay’s sole male runner finished 85th in the boys final.
Jay’s average time was 22:20.47 on the girl’s 5K course. Top runners for Jay’s Lady Royals were:
- Emerlee Trevino, 83rd, 21:31.76
- Robin Blackman, 92nd, 21:54.16
- Jessica Thornton, 97th, 22:05.37
- Allison Blair, 119th, 22:43.45
- Alexandria Settle, 140th, 23:27.59
- Jenna Thornton, 144th, 23:37.34
- Caristyn Golden, 162nd, 24:27.95
Jay’s only runner in the boy’s finals, Micah Kemp, finished at 85th in the state with a time of 18:10.53. Kemp is an eighth grader that competed at the high school level.
Pictured top: (L-R) Jay’s Leely Trevino, Micah Kemp and Robin Blackman. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Chiefs Beat Blountstown 20-7 To Advance To Round 2
November 20, 2010
The Northview Chiefs beat Blountstown 20-7 Friday night to advance to the regional finals of the state playoffs.
“I told the kids all week what an opportunity this was to make history for the school,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said. “It was a really big win.”
It was a big night for all of the Chief’s history-making team, including sophomore Roderick Woods with 149 yards on 28 carries and three big touchdowns.
“We are really proud about the performance of the offensive line. Roderick Woods had just a phenomenal night,” Wheatley said, quick to also give credit to the Northview defensive line. “The defense played great. They’ve allowed just three touchdowns in five games. Coach Steve McCord has done really good things with the defensive line.”
The Tigers (9-2) could only manage 14 yards in the second half on their home field.
With the win Friday night over Blountstown, the Chiefs advance to round two of the playoffs at 7:30 Friday night on the road against Freeport. Freeport is coming off a 27-14 win Friday night over Liberty County.
For the Chiefs, it will be a chance to seek revenge — Freeport handed Northview their only loss of the season back on October 15.
“The kids are excited, they want another opportunity at Freeport. It will be a very physical game. It will be good,” Wheatley said.
Friday night the first quarter was scoreless in Blountstown. In the second, the Tigers scored on a 17-yard touchdown run with 4:26 to go in the half.
Roderick Woods put the Chiefs (10-1) at first and goal with 1:55 in the half. Two plays later, Woods was in on a 9-yard run. With a good kick from Lance Bushaw, the game was tied 7-7 at the half.
With 5:15 on the clock in the third, Woods scored again on a 1-yard run. A good kick from Bushaw, and the Chiefs took a 14-7 lead.
The Chiefs added another Woods TD in the fourth on a 3-yard run. Bushaw’s kick was good, and the Chiefs took round one of the playoffs, 20-7.
For more photos from the game, click here.
Pictured top: Northview defeats Blountstown Friday night in round one of the state playoffs. Pictured bottom inset: Cheerleader Caroline Prater. Pictured below: The Chiefs celebrate their victory. NorthEscambia.com photos by Heather Leonard, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Loses Playoff Bid 35-13
November 20, 2010
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils lost to Bibb County tonight, 35-13 in the 4A quarterfinals in Atmore.
Bibb County held a 35-0 lead going into the fourth, when the Blue Devils scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Chris Johnson to Nick Flowers. Then Cedric Tolbert scooped up a Bibb County fumble and returned it 40 yards for the second Blue Devil TD of the fourth quarter. The extra point attempt failed.
Escambia County finished the first season under Head Coach Mark Heaton at 9-4, improving from 3-7 last season.
Pictured top: Escambia County High school lost a quarterfinal playoff bid to Bibb County Friday night in Atmore. Pictured inset: Cedric Tolbert in for a Blue Devil touchdown. Pictured below: This Bibb County fumble set up a ECHS touchdown. Photos courtesy WEAR TV 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
