Northview Beats Vernon, Earns Playoff Berth
November 6, 2010
With a powerful 47-19 win over Vernon, the Northview Chiefs earned a playoff berth Friday night.
The Chiefs (8-1, 7-1), as runner ups in District 1-A, will travel during the first round of the playoffs to face Blountstown (8-1, 5-0) on November 19. Freeport (7-2, 7-1) took the district championship despite a 21-6 loss Friday night to Holmes County (5-4, 4-4).
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
It’s a great feeling,” Northview Head Coach Sid Wheatley said after the win Friday night in Bratt. “They seized the moment.”
“It was like a playoff game where the winner goes on and the loser goes home. It was huge. It meant a lot to this kids, and I am proud of the win,” he said.
Sophomore Roderick Woods had four touchdowns for the Chiefs Friday night, rushed 107 yards on 16 carries and completed two passes for 29 yards. The Chiefs racked up a total of 327 yards on 49 carries, and had 99 yards in the air from quarterback Brandon Sheets who completed 4 of 12 passes.
After a scoreless first quarter, Woods’ first TD came with 11:54 on the clock in the second on a one yard run. A good kick from Lance Bushaw, and the Chiefs were up 7-0.
La’Mikal Kyles added an 11-yard touchdown run with 5:51 to go in the half. Another good Bushaw kick, and the Chiefs expanded their lead to 14-0.
With 2:47 remaining in the half, the Yellow Jackets had a 21-yard touchdown pass and a good point after to narrow the score to 14-7 headed to the lockers.
Ahead by just seven at the half, Wheatley said he told the Chiefs in the locker room that they had to focus on the win, not the fact that the were up on the scoreboard.
“I told them we had to treat it like it was zero to zero,” he said. “We knew everything hinged on this ballgame. It was cut and dry.
In the third quarter, the Chiefs scored on a 28-yard quarterback keeper from junior Brandon Sheets and a two yard run from Woods. The Yellow Jackets also scored in the third, with a 73-yard kick off return. Headed into the fourth, it was 27-13 Chiefs.
Northview scored three consecutive touchdowns — a 13-yard pass to Woods from Sheets, a 12-yard run from Montaio Mitchell and a 24-yard run from Woods. Vernon, trailing 47-13, scored the final TD of the game with 4:06 to go on a 24-yard pass. Vernon’s two point conversion failed with stop by senior Tyler Brooks.
Northview will host West Florida High School next Friday night at 7:00 in a non-district game.
For a photo gallery from the game, click here.
Pictured top: Roderick Woods (#25) had four touchdowns Friday night at the Northview Chiefs beat Vernon. Pictured bottom: La’Mikal Kyles (#17) gains yardage for the Chiefs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Kart Racer Wins Big In National Event
November 5, 2010
Molino’s Jarrett Parker continues to burn up the track in the world of kart racing, taking a top spot in one of the nation’s top events in Georgia and a big win at Talladega.
At the Triple Crown in Talladega, junior racer Parker drove in the senior classes. He struggled to qualify in the teens for all three events. Parker had two third place finishes and a crowd-thrilling win, dominating the final race of the night of the Talladega Triple Crown.
At the Dawgwood Speedway in Chatsworth, Georgia, Parker looked to dominate the Chasen’ Racen’ Pro Kart Tour, the largest kart event of the year. The best junior drivers from all over the U.S. arrived with their sights set on the much hyped Pro Junior $5,001 for the winner.
Parker, the defending champion, qualified in third, just 0.076 behind the pole sitter in a field of 40 drivers trying to make the 25 kart field.
At the start of the race Parker quickly took the second place spot trailing Nolan Pope of Harrisonville, Missouri. Parker took the lead on lap 20 with Jonathon Hinson of Lancaster, South Carolina, on his bumper. With Parker leading the race to the checkered flag, Hinson hooked Parker on the last lap in turn three and four sending Parker sailing towards the fence. Parker managed to save his kart and recovered to finish the race in third earning him a top spot at the national event.
Parker drives a Todd Miller powered 2010 Phantom Seraph and pits with MB Motorsports. He won three state titles in 2010.
Jarrett Parker, a sophomore at Northview High School, is the son of Scott and Tammy Parker of Molino.
Pictured top: Jarrett Parker (left, black kart) at the Chasen’ Racen’ Pro Kart Tour in Chatsworth Georgia. Pictured inset: Parker finished the national event in third place. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Results: Jay’s 5th Annual J.D. Mac Invitational Cross Country Races
November 1, 2010
The following are results from the 5th Annual J.D. Mac Invitational held Saturday in Jay.
High School Boys — Team Scores
- Navarre 41
- Escambia 86
- Pine Forest 92
- Milton 102
- Tate 135
- Catholic 156
- Jay 197
- Northview 199
- Central 273
- East Hill 279
High School Boys — Individual Scores
- John Davis (Milton) — 16:47
- Dominique Dalton (Pine Forest) –16:48
- Trent Beck (Navarre) –16:50
- Cody Haden (Navarre) — 16:59
- Nick Mascardo (West FL) — 17:06
- Aaron Neal(West FL) — 17:07
- Deke Blum (Escambia) — 17:24.11
- Micah Kemp (Jay) –17:24.38
- Seth Nydam (Navarre) — 17:53
- Michael Melendez (Milton) — 18:03
Northview — Individual Scores
- Josh Scott — 18:50
- AJ Lambert — 20:00
- Dustin Lewis — 20:22
- Dillian Crutchfield — 24:35
- Justin King — 27:55
High School Girls — Team Scores
- West Florida High 29
- Pine Forest 55
- Jay 79
- Navarre 90
- Milton 136
- Escambia 172
- Northview 208
- Tate 246
High School Girls — Individual Scores
- Darroneshia Lott (Pine Forest) — 18:09
- Crystal Wachob (Pine Forest) — 19:15
- Kaysi Roberts (West FL) — 19:42
- Elle Crouse (Navarre) — 20:16
- Jeronda Stringfield (West FL) — 20:24
- Bria Upsher (West FL) — 20:27
- Kyundra McCastle (West FL) — 20:34
- Jasmyne Branch (West FL) — 20:36
- Robin Blackman (Jay) — 20:45
- Taylor Gosseen (Pine Forest) — 20:59
Jay — Individual Scores
- Robin Blackman — 20:45
- Leely Trevino — 21:12
- Jessica Thornton — 21:21
- Allison Blair — 21:27
- Jenna Thornton — 23:52
- Ally Settle — 24:04
- Crystal Brown –27:03
Northview — Individual Scores
- Georgia Goetter — 21:39
- Sarah Killam — 24:38
- Misty Doran — 27:44
- Jazzlyn Franklin — 29:09
- Julia Thorpe — 29:10
- Kelsey Taylor — 30:20
- Madalyn Coon — 30:45
- Ashley Gunter 32:18
- Taylor Hubbard 32:47
Open Runners (5K for all ages)
- Jeff Oliver 16:13
- Jesse Lucio, 17:32
- Sam Cobb, 17:33.25
- Alec Clark, 17:33.95
- Austin Fortino, 18:18
- Hunter Sport, 18:36.
- Bryan Barrett, 19:24
- Drew Kennedy, 19:30
- Micah Kemp, 19:31
- Isaiah Kala, 19:39
Pictured top: Jay’s Leely Trevino (left) and Robin Blackman (right) during the 5th Annual J.D. Mac Invitational held Saturday in Jay. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Sneads
October 30, 2010
With a 28-0 shutout of the Sneads Pirates Friday night, the Northview Chiefs are still in position for a post-season playoff spot.
The Chiefs (7-1, 6-1) will host Vernon next Friday night in Bratt in a game that will determine which team has the number two berth in District 1A behind top-ranked Freeport.
La’Mikal Kyles returned the opening kickoff from Sneads 80 yards for a Northview touchdown just 14 seconds into Friday night’s game. With 11:46 to go in the first quarter, the Chiefs were up 7-0.
With 51 seconds on the clock in the half, Northview scored again, this time on a 10-yard pass from Brandon Sheets to junior Sim Brown. A good kick, and Northview held a 14-0 lead headed to the lockers.
At 7:13 on the clock in the third, the Chiefs expanded their lead over Sneads to 21-0 on a 15-yard touchdown run from Montaio Mitchell. With another good kick, the Chiefs were up 21-0.
Sheets found Kyles again for an 18-yarder with 3:08 in the third. Lance Bushaw’s kick was good for a 28-0 final.
The Chiefs finished with 261 yards rushing, including 46 yards from Roderick Woods. Sheets was complete 6 of 10 passes for just 96 yards.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview hosts Vernon at 7 p.m. next Friday in Bratt before wrapping up their season at home November 12 in a non-district game against West Florida.
Molino’s Lady Astros Finish Winning Season
October 28, 2010
Molino’s Lady Astros were runner-ups in the recent GulfSouth Fall State Finals.
After losing their third game against Extreme Velocity to fall into the loser’s bracket, the Lady Astros came back with three state wins to make the championship game. In a close game — with seven scoreless innings — the Lady Astro’s fell to Southern of Troy 1-0.
“We played great offense and defense hitting two home runs and one grand slam against Velocity,” Coach Donnie Nicholson said.
The Lady Astros of Molino finished their summer and fall season with a 25-11 record.
The Lady Astros include local players from area schools.
Pictured: (front, L-R) Kayla Rosario (WFHS), Maggie Swinford (Washington), Cat Tucker (Tate), Kiana Rosario (PJC), Jessi Ujvari (Tate), (back, L-R) Coach Nick Rosario, Rachuel Zampino (Tate), Brook Waters (Tate), Piehden Courtney (Escambia), Ronni Renfroe (Tate), Nikki Cody (Pace), Misty Doran (Northview), and Jami Ujvari (Tate). Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Coach Elijah Bell Stepping Down
October 27, 2010
Elijah Bell, athletic director and head football coach at Jay High School, will step down at the end of the year.
Bell has led the Royals’ football program for 21 years, with a 108-93 record. This year, Jay is without a win at 0-7. They have been outscored 262 to 47 points this season, including three shutouts.
The Royals have made the state playoff series seven times under Bell’s leadership, most recently the quarterfinals in 2007.
Bell was a major player in the formation of a new rural school classification for small schools like Jay in an effort to make the chances at a state playoffs more equitable for smaller schools like Jay. He advocated such a plan since about 1990.
“I’m very ecstatic,” Bell said after the new classification was approved this summer by the Florida High School Athletic Association. Bell served on the FHSAA Urban/Rural Committee that drafted the proposal. “We’ve been working on this a long time in the pursuit of equality for small, rural schools.”
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
JV Football: Northview Beats Escambia County
October 26, 2010
The junior varsity Northview Chiefs defeated the Escambia County Blue Devils 14-8 Monday night in Atmore.
It was the second meeting of the Chiefs and Blue Devils this season; Northview beat ECHS earlier this season 24-20.
The JV Chiefs finished with a winning season record of 3-2. Northview’s losses were both to West Florida Tech — once 44-6 on September 6 and a much closer 20-16 on October 14.
Members of the Northview High School JV Chiefs are: Daulton Tullis, Justin Thompson, Brannon Freeman, Dalton Daniel, Tristan Montgomery, Kendrell Elliott, Nathan Shipps, Skyler Macks, Jody Bonner, Jeffery Taylor, Dillon Crutchfield, Phillip Myrick, Chris Madison, Danny Slay, Kevin Vaughan, Aaron Floyd, Kahlil Grice, Dy’shun White, Stetson Nash, Tristen Creamer,Dusty Spicer, Arkelle Elliott, Luke McDaniel, Tyler Gifford, Tyler Roley, Marvin Haynie, Layne Purvis, Chad Smith, Shane Bushaw and Jordan Bodiford.
Pictured below: Kevin Vaughan back to pass for the Chiefs against Escambia County (Atmore) NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview, Tate, Jay Run EscaRosa Cross Country Event
October 26, 2010
Washington High School hosted the recent EscaRosa Cross Country Championships at Sims Middle School, with teams that included Northview, Tate and Jay.
For a gallery of submitted photos from the event, click here.
Here are complete results:
Boys
- Washington — 18
- West Florida — 79
- Catholic — 86
- Navarre — 90
- Pace — 180
- Pensacola Christian — 204
- Pine Forest — 224
- Gulf Breeze — 234
- Milton — 234
- Escambia — 248
- Tate — 308
- PHS — 372
- Northview — 390
- Jay — 402
- Central — 438
Girls
- West Floida Tech — 33
- Pine Forest — 101
- Pace — 121
- Jay — 130
- Washington — 134
- Navarre — 145
- Gulf Breeze — 148
- Pensacola Catholic — 177
- Milton — 222
- PCA — 233
- Pensacola High — 276
- Escambia — 298
- Northview — 410
Two Jay High School runners placed in the top 15 — Leely Trevino at 11th with a time of 20:52 and Robin Blackman at 14th with a time of 21:21. The other top five runners for Jay were Allison Blair (22:02), Jessica Thornton (22:27), and Jenna Thornton (23:54).
The Royals will host the JD Mac Invitational this Saturday at Jay City Park.
For a gallery of submitted photos from the event, click here.
Submitted photos by Cathy Scott for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
EA Lady Cougars Finish Season At No. 2 In State
October 25, 2010
The Lady Cougars of Escambia Academy finished second in the state Saturday in AISA Class A volleyball, while the Cougars’ JV team is celebrating a season that ended with 16 straight wins.
The Lady Cougars defeated Edgewood Academy in semi-finals. In the state finals, Clarke Prep defeated EA 25-19, 25-20, 26-28, 25-16 for the Class A crown at Montgomery’s Faulkner University.
In the recent regional tournament, the Cougars were seventh seed, but easily knocked off second seed Marengo Academy and third seed Lowndes Academy.
“To go in as the last seed and to come away being one of only four teams left in the state is an unbelievable feat and a great job by the entire squad,” Coach Chad Weaver said of his Lady Cougars, who had previously won just one regional game during the regular season. “The varsity ladies were beaten up all year by the teams in our region, and then they stepped up their play in the regional tournament.”
“It would have been so easy to throw in the towel after the disappointing season we had, but you overcame and became the team we all knew you could be,” Weaver said. He said the state championship series was an opportunity of a lifetime for seniors Amber Huskey, Taylor Helton, Samantha Lee and Tory Rodriegus, as well of the rest of the squad.
With Weaver as the head coach, the EA Lady Cougars are also led by Assistant Coach Tammy Garrett and are “assisted” by Ronnie Huskey.
The JV Escambia Academy volleyball team at Escambia County also had a very noteworthy season. After losing their first match, the JV team went on a 16-game winning streak to finish the season at 16-1.
Pictured top: The Escambia Academy Lady Cougars (front, L-R) Niki Bryan, Lacie Flowers, Shelley Mothershed, Shyla Godwin, Maud Meacham, Brooke McGhee, (back, L-R) Coach Chad Weaver, Breann Rolin, Raven Weaver, Samantha Lee, Peyton Snider, Amber Huskey, Taylor Helton, Allie Brooks, Tori Rodriguez and Coach Tammy Garrett. Pictured inset: Tori Rodriguez and Amber Huskey. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Video: Northview Vs. Jay
October 24, 2010
Here are video highlights by Keith Garrison from Northview’s win Friday night over Jay.
For game details, click here for the NorthEscambia.com story. For a photo gallery, click here.