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
Week After Win Over Northview, Trinity Christian Wins State Title
December 11, 2010
The Trinity Christian Conquerors — the school that beat the Northview Chiefs last week — won the Class 1A state title Friday night at the Citrus Bowl.
Andrew Buie had 31 carries for 242 yards as the Conquerors beat Delray Beach American Heritage 27-10. It was the third state championship in the past eight years for Trinity Christian (12-2), which ended their year with an 11-game winning streak.
The Northview Chiefs’ state championship dreams were crushed a week ago by the Conquerors of Trinity Christian in Jacksonville, 49-14, in the Class 1A State Semifinals. It was first ever Semifinal appearance for Northview (11-2). In 1979, the Eagles of Ernest Ward High School last brought the only modern time Class A football championship back to the area Ernest Ward would later merge with the Century Blackcats to create Northview.
Pictured top: Trinity gains yardage against Northview December 3 in Jacksonville. NorthEscambia.com photo by Will Dickey, the Florida Times Union, click to enlarge.
NHS Girls Weightlifting Team Competes In Ft. Walton
December 11, 2010
Friday, Northview’s Girls Weightlifting Team participated in the Emerald Coast Invitational at Choctawhatchee High School in Ft. Walton. There were 10 teams, with Northview placing eight overall.
The following girls placed in the top 10 in their weight class:
- Ariel Holland- 7th
- Laneicia Gomez-3rd
- Sarah Killiam -10th
- Audra Martin-9th
- Naomi Cooler-7th
Pictured top: The Northview’s Girls Weightlifting Team participated in the Emerald Coast Invitational at Choctawhatchee High School in Ft. Walton Friday afternoon. Pictured below: Laneicia Gomez (center) placed third in her weight category. Submitted photos for NorthEsambia.com, click to enlarge.
Lady Chiefs Weightlifting Team Places In West Fla. Meet
December 10, 2010
Several members of the Northview High School girls weightlifting team placed during their first meet of the season at West Florida High School.
The Northview girls competed in bench press and clean and jerk. West Florida High School placed first overall, followed by Northview in second and Washington High in third.
The following Northview girls placed in their weight class:
- Georgia Geotter, sophomore -4th
- Kasie Braun, freshman -3rd
- Laneicia Gomez, senior -1st
- Mallory Bell, senior -4th
- Sarah Killam, senior -1st
- Audra Martin, freshman -4th
- Brittany Peebles, senior -1st
- Naomi Cooler, senior -2nd
- Te’Andreia Knight, sophomore -3rd
For more photos from the meet, click here.
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com
Wins For NHS Girls, JV Boys Against Baker
December 10, 2010
The Northview Chiefs split games with the Baker Gators Thursday evening, with wins for the Chiefs’ varsity girls, and junior varsity girls.
Varsity Boys
Baker 47, Northview 45
The Northview varsity Chiefs and the Baker Gators were tied 45-45 headed into the final minutes of their game Thursday night in Bratt. But with a couple of free throws, the Gators pulled out a 47-45 victor.
Varsity Girls
Northview 43, Baker 37
JV Boys
Northview 29, Baker 23
JV Girls
Baker 30, Northview 13
Ernest Ward Basketball Player, 13, Airlifted After Game Injury
December 9, 2010
A 13-year old Ernest Ward Middle School girls basketball player was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital after suffering an apparent head injury during a Thursday night game.
Brianna Parker was transported by LifeFlight to Sacred Heart Hospital. She was released from the hospital Thursday night after being treated for a concussion.
Pictured above: LifeFlight lands at the Walnut Hill Fire Station to transport an injured Ernest Ward Middle School girls basketball player. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Local Football Players Honored At Challenger Awards Banquet
December 7, 2010
The 42nd annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Challenger Awards banquet Monday night honored high school football players for their spiritual leadership.
The players from across the area heard inspirational stories from four University of Alabama players — running back Trent Richardson, offensive lineman Barrett Jones, wide receiver Hardie Buck, and wide receiver Earl Alexander.
The players honored from the North Escambia area were Austin Arrington from Northview, Zach Mitchell from Tate, Tanner Kirk from Escambia Academy, Jonathon Stallworth from Escambia County (Ala.), Brian Ross from Flomaton and Kevin Stanton from Jay.
Pictured: Northview’s Austin Arrington and Jay’s Kevin Stanton were honored during the 42nd annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Challenger Awards banquet Monday night. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Pensacola’s Johanna Long Wins The Snowball Derby
December 6, 2010
Pensacola’s Johanna Long became the second, and the youngest, female to win the Snowball Derby Sunday in one of the wildest finishes short-track racing’s most prestigious event has seen.
Long, 18, shed tears of joy after hoisting the Tom Dawson trophy to celebrate a historic victory in the 43rd annual Snowball Derby.
Two North Escambia area residents placed in Sunday’s race. Brandon Carlson finished 33rd, while Eddie Mercer placed 37th.
Long joins Mercer (2005), Dickie Davis (1971, 1973) and Wayne Niedecken Sr. (1968) as hometown heroes to find Victory Lane at the Derby.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” Long, 18, said. “I can’t believe I did it. We worked so hard on this.”
Long shifted into another gear late when several of Sunday’s 16 cautions began to wave as the Derby neared its completion and drivers got antsy.
Fresh tires allowed her to pass Landon Cassill on Lap 316 for a lead she never relinquished, but not before Cassill went for a spin on the back straightaway and an ugly collision ensued behind him.
“She had new tires and was way faster than us,” said the 21-year-old Iowan, who finished fourth. “To run fourth here is a great accomplishment. I know I can win this.”
Five Flags’ asphalt is notorious for chewing up tires and spitting them out. This edition of the Derby was no different.
“(Cassill) understood,” said Long, who led 23 laps Sunday, including the final 13. “I had good tires and he didn’t.”
Several leaders lost their shot at racing immortality by foolishly believing their tires would hold up.
Chase Elliott, leading at the time, saw an unprecedented Snowflake 100-Derby weekend sweep fall by the wayside when Cassill spun him on Lap 298.
Before a green-white-checkered finish could be determined, the tower’s official ruling was that the drivers had to complete five total laps under green. Long sat outside the top five.
“I was nervous,” she said. “I was very concerned.”
She blew past Casey Smith and followed Cassill by then-leader Donnie Wilson on Lap 313.
Wilson was a terrific story Sunday. With Freddie Query, Long’s old crew chief, in his tower, Wilson made a valiant run playing the dark-horse role Sunday.
“Our track position was real good,” he said. “It was just our pit stops put us in a bad position. We still finished in the top five, so I’ll take it. I’m not gonna complain.”
Long finally won’t have to either. She was perfect on the green-white-checkered restart, pulling away from Wilson and never having to sweat in the final two laps.
Long stuck her fist outside the window into the cool air and pumped it as the checkered flag swayed in the wind.
A sometimes frustrating season was erased in a blink Sunday.
She came into the Derby win-less this year. Long gained invaluable experience while competing in seven NASCAR’s trucks series races, but her million-dollar smile paid the price for it.
Her confidence never wavered, though.
“I knew the team was working hard,” Long said. “They wanted to win just as much as I did. We finally did it.”
The home-schooled senior has faced many challenging tests this year. In her final exam, though, Long passed with flying colors.
“There’s been a lotta learning this year. It’s been tough,”said Donald Long, Johanna’s father and car owner. “We’ve made a few mistakes here and there, but we wanna race for a living. Hopefully, this gets us to that point.”
Video Highlights: Northview’s Playoff Game Against Trinity Christian
December 6, 2010
Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s Friday night playoff game on the road against Trinity Christian.
(The video is in three parts below.)
For game details and photos, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story.