Brewton Sweeps Two From Ernest Ward Middle Basketball (With Gallery)
November 19, 2021
The Brewton Middle School Tigers swept two from the Ernest Ward Middle School Eagles Thursday night in Walnut Hill.
In girls action, BMS won 42-20, and the Brewton boys defeated the Eagles 54-12.
Boys game photo gallery, click or tap here.
Girls game photo gallery, click or tap here.
After the Thanksgiving break, the EWMS boys will travel to Pollard McCall at 5:30 p.m. on November 29. Both the Ernest Ward boys and girls will be in action at home against Flomaton beginning at 5:30 p.m. on November 30.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Payton Gilchrist Inks With Huntingdon College
November 18, 2021
Northview High School’s Payton Gilchrist has signed to play softball with Huntingdon College. She played four years for the Northview Chiefs as a catcher, third base and shortstop. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
The Heroes Of Fall: Northview Chiefs Visit Byrneville Elementary
November 18, 2021
When you are an elementary school kid, you look up to the boys of fall that take the field on under those Friday night lights.
Members of the Northview Chiefs football team paid a special visit to the Braves of Byrneville Elementary School Wednesday morning. The players helped out in the car ride line and visited classrooms. The students cheered on their favorite Chiefs and presented them with homemade signs and cards supporting them in their regional semifinal game Friday night at Baker.
Many of today’s Northview Chiefs are Byrneville Elementary graduates.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Playoffs: Community Pep Rally Thursday For Northview Chiefs, NWE Chiefs
November 16, 2021
A community Chiefs pep rally will be held Thursday for the Northview Chiefs and the Northwest Escambia Chiefs.
It will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill.
The pep rally is for the Northview Chiefs as they travel to Baker Friday night for the regional semifinals and the NWE Chiefs as they work to bring home an Escambia River Conference league championship in all four age divisions. The NWE cheerleaders will also be recognized as they prepare to compete in the ERC cheer championships.
This event is not sponsored or sanctioned by Northview High School.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
UWF Earns #3 Seed in NCAA Playoffs, Awarded First-Ever Home Playoff Game
November 16, 2021
The UWF football team was awarded the No. 3 seed in Super Region 2 of the 2021 NCAA Division 2 Football Championship.
UWF will face Newberry at Blue Wahoos Stadium at 1 p.m. Saturday.
UWF is 9-1 on the year and shared the Gulf South Conference championship at 6-1 following Saturday’s 61-42 win over Valdosta State. The Argos have one of the top offenses in the country, ranking fourth with 497.4 yards of total offense and seventh in passing offense at 331.2 yards per game. Their 45.9 points per game are second nationally.
The Argonauts are making their third appearance in the NCAA Playoffs and have a 9-1 all-time record, making them the winningest team in D2 history at .900.
Newberry went 9-2 this year and won the South Atlantic Conference title with a 7-1 record. UWF has never faced the Wolves but is 3-0 in postseason play against SAC schools, defeating Wingate twice in first round games and Lenoir-Rhyne in the 2019 region final.
TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices are $25 for Argo Club and Priority 1 seating, $20 for Priority 2 seating and $15 for Priority 3 in the sideline bleachers.
Tickets will go on sale Monday morning. UWF season ticket holders will have until Wednesday at Noon CST to purchase their existing seat(s) before they are released to the public. Contact the UWF Ticket Office at (850) 474-ARGO (2746) for more information.
Blue Wahoos Stadium gates will open at Noon and parking lots will open at 9 a.m.
PARKING INFORMATION
Fans can use their Valdosta State (Game 5) Parking Pass for all 2021 NCAA Playoff Games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. Lots 4 & 5 across the street from Community Maritime Park will still be $10 per vehicle at home games similar to the regular-season. Recreational vehicles can park in Lot 5 for $30. Handicapped parking is available in Lot 3 for $10.
Photo: Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay High’s Alayna Lowery Has Signed With UWF Softball
November 16, 2021
Jay High School’s Alayna Lowery has signed a softball scholarship with The University of West Florida Argos. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Bonus Gallery: Northview Chiefs Band, Cheerleaders And More
November 15, 2021
The Northview Chiefs defeated Bozeman Friday night in Bratt.
For a bonus photo gallery with the band, cheerleaders and more, click or tap here.
For an action photo gallery, click or tap here.
And click here for a game summary.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No. 3 UWF Claims First Conference Title With 61-42 Win Over No. 2 Valdosta State
November 14, 2021
Another grand mountain was scaled Saturday by the University of West Florida football team.
Before a record crowd of 7,193 at Blue Wahoos Stadium — in a game they long-awaited — the No. 3-ranked Argos overpowered and outwilled their way into a signature 61-42 victory against No. 2-ranked, previously unbeaten Valdosta State in a pair of NCAA Division II football elites.
The win provided UWF (9-1) with their first Gulf South Conference football championship trophy and assured a first-ever home playoff game when the NCAA D-2 playoffs begin Nov. 20.
“I feel we matched that moment and played really well,” said quarterback Austin Reed, who passed 311 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two touchdowns. “We scored 61 points against the No. 2 team in the country who has been stopping everyone.
“It was an awesome game to be part of, and obviously for conference championship implications, it was special.”
Yes, a lot to unpack for a team which has already delivered so many feats in its five-year history.
“What a great night for Pensacola, what a great night for Blue Wahoos Stadium, UWF athletics and UWF football,” said Argos coach Pete Shinnick. “Amazing crowd, tremendous energy.
“And we needed every bit of it. We had a lot of support building this thing in a way where we could be this type of team. So extremely proud of our team and really honored to be part of this community and play for a conference championship.”
Now, of course, the sights turn on repeating as national champions. This time, the Argos for certain won’t have to sweat the details when the NCAA announces Sunday the 28-team field for the regional playoffs.
After winning nine road playoff games, including the 2019 championship game, UWF will start their next quest at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“It means a lot to have some playoff games for our fans,” said offensive guard Mike Dilla, who was one of 26 seniors honored before their final regular-season home game. “Our fans are awesome.
“We like playing on the road in the playoffs, but much rather play at home instead. Really looking forward to playoffs coming through Pensacola.”
They made it happen in record setting ways. Here are Saturday’s feats.
- The Argos set a single-game rushing record 347 yards. It was part of a whopping 658 yards total offense.
- Six rushing touchdowns were scored, another team record. Three of those by senior Anthony Johnson Jr., a Pace High grad, who is that school’s all-time rushing leader. In addition to Reed’s two rushing scores, team-leading rusher Shomari Mason added another and finished with 195 yards.
- Reed produced the longest rushing touchdown by a quarterback in team history with his 44-yard run early on the opening possession of the second half.
- The crowd surpassed the Oct. 16 crowd against West Georgia – the Argos first game in Blue Wahoos Stadium since 2019 – as the largest home attendance in team history.
- Against a Valdosta State defense which ranked No. 6 nationally in D-2 for fewest points (12.9) allowed per-game, the Argos hung 60-plus on the Blazers (9-1) and ended their nine-game win streak – tied for best nationally. It also snapped VSU’s 23-game win streak against GSC opponents in the regular season.
“This ranks up there,” said Shinnick in assessing the meaningful rating of the win. “And to be able to get what we did against one of the top scoring defenses in the country… I could not be happier for our guys. We felt if they gave us the right combination we would be able to run the ball.”
It happened and it was essential.
Five times in Saturday’s game UWF opened a double-digit lead, only to have Valdosta State answer with a touchdown to close the margin in a one-score game.
One of those happened right before halftime. UWF followed a touchdown to go up 24-14 by thinking it recovered the ensuing kickoff that bounced out of a VSU returners’ hands.
But a GSC official had inadvertently blown his whistle before the catch and fumble. That nullified the recovery and forced the kickoff to happen again. This time, VSU got the ball and drove 75 yards, aided by a pass interference call that incensed UWF’s sideline, to get a touchdown on the final play of the half.
“We just talked and said, we can’t worry about anything that has already taken place and we can’t worry about what the officials do or don’t do,” Shinnick said. “So let’s just go out and find our way in the second half.
“Offensively, we were just trying to make sure we were staying ahead of the curve a little bit,” Shinnick said.
It was followed by more back-and-forth between the teams until UWF pulled away for good with 17 points in the fourth quarter.
“Coach Shinnick instills in our team to keep having faith,” Mason said. “We knew we just had to make plays and everyone made plays.”
Ka’Ron Ashley, one of the members of UWF’s inaugural 2016 team, caught a pair of touchdown passes and finished with 82 yards. Though he didn’t catch a TD pass, David Durden had five receptions for 120 yards.
Johnson, who came into the game with five touchdowns this season, produced two in the second half Saturday. The best of his three scores was a 66-yard burst for the game’s final points with 7:13 left in the game. He finished with 96 yards in the game.
“Honestly, I came out of the hole stumbling,” Johnson said, breaking into a big smile. “My main thing was, I need to get first down for my team.
“I picked my knees up and that was the fastest I’ve ran in years — I’m not going to lie. My legs got a little heavy but we got there.”
Said Shinnick jokingly: “I was hoping no one would catch him. I was thinking where is the guy from Pace, who was running all over the place (in high school).”
While Valdosta State amassed 599 yards on 83 plays, UWF’s defense did help put the game away with stops in the fourth quarter, including Shannon Showers’ interception at the Argos’ 12 to thwart a drive.
“It was a perfect scenario,” Dilla said. “You couldn’t really ask for a better game on a better night on our last regular season game.”
By Bill Vilona. Photos:Morgan Givens/UWF for NorthEscambia.com.
QB Odom Gets Four Defensive Interceptions As Northview Beats Bozeman 27-21 In Regional Quarterfinal
November 13, 2021
Number four, four interceptions including a pick six. It was a pretty incredible Friday night, especially for a junior quarterback that also had an offensive touchdown as the Northview Chiefs beat the Bozeman Bucks 27-21 in Bratt.
Northview quarterback Kaden Odom slipped onto defense Friday night — something he’s done only a few times this year.
With just seconds to go in the game and Bozeman in the red zone, Odom intercepted a Bozeman pass to seal the win as Northview’s Jon Michael Ward held the pressure on the Bucks.
For a photo gallery, click here.
“I knew I had to make a play one way or another, but I seen the ball tipped,” Odom said. “I knew if I if I picked it right, it was over with. So I tried to make a big time play, and we come out on top.”
“Our defense stepped up made some huge plays tonight, thanks to this guy (Odom),” Summerford said. “You know, quarterback, cornerback, it doesn’t matter. He’s gonna make plays, and he’s a good great playmaker for us. Came up big four times tonight. I mean, huge because I think if we don’t have one of those picks maybe this game goes different way.”
Odom was quick to give credit to the support of the community, the crowd and his teammates.
“I can’t do without these boys though, these boys,” he said. “We come to work every single week, and we lay it all on the line. We’ve got a great coaching staff and we’re ready for next week.”
Northview’s Jamarkus Jefferson, also a junior, finished the night with somewhere north of 150 yards, Summerford estimated, and two touchdowns.
“You’ve got to either run the football, or you’ve got to pass the football,” Summerford said. “With him (Jefferson) in the backfield, it’s a no brainer for us. We’re going to try to run it all that we can.”
The Northview Chiefs (6-4) will travel next Friday night in the regional semifinals to take on the top ranked Baker Gators (6-2).
“Oh, I’m ready. That’s the one we wanted. That’s the one we want,” Odom said about Baker. “We can have fun over weekend, celebrate. But come Monday, we’ve got to work. We’ve got to work. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
In September, Baker defeated Northview 43-42 in overtime.
Summerford said that will be a learning experience for the Chiefs as they look for the little ways they could have played better in that close loss.
“It’s all those things we learned the first time about them,” he said. “Then we’ll throw in some new wrinkles.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos by William Reynolds, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Advances To State Championship Game – For The Sixth Straight Time
November 13, 2021
The Escambia Academy Cougars are headed to the AISA-AA state championship game — for the sixth straight time.
The Cougars beat defending state champion Chambers Academy 37-13 Friday night in the state semifinals on the road in Lafayette, Alabama.
The No. 2 ranked EA Cougars will take on No.1 Autauga Academy at 3:30 p.m. Friday at Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl.
Escambia Academy beat Autauga for the state title in 2017, but lost to Autauga in 2018 and 2019.
Photos: Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
