UWF Football Beats McKendree 38-6 In Season Opener

September 6, 2024

by Bill Vilona, Argos correspondent

For openers, UWF’s football team produced a desired performance.

The nationally ranked Argos quickly jumped to a sizable lead, got a shutdown effort from their defense, shined on special teams and cruised their way to a 38-6 win Thursday night against the Mckendree Bearcats at PenAir Field in the season’s first game for both teams.

A crowd of 4,305 got an early start with a massive turnout by students in a pregame tailgate and also featured UWF’s expanded marching band, which has doubled in size.

“Very excited about the team and what we did (Thursday),” said UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles, after starting his second season at the helm. “Doing some really good stuff in all three facets of the game. I thought we played pretty well on offense… and defense? I thought we played lights out. I thought we finished the game really strong. I didn’t want to give up a touchdown there at the end. McKendree had the ball at the UWF 4, which we didn’t. But there are so many things to clean up. Obviously as a head coach, I wrote a whole list of things down.”

The good news for UWF is there is plenty of time to shore up that list.

The Argos, ranked No. 12 in American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II coaches poll, No. 14 in the D2 Football.com poll, won’t play their next game until Sept. 21 when hosting West Alabama in their Gulf South Conference opener.

It’s the longest gap between games in UWF’s eight-year history.

“It will be something new that we’ve never done before at UWF,” Nobles said. “But we kinda set this up on purpose to make sure we could try and get a good win (Thursday) and then give ourselves a really good chance to start prepping for teams like West Alabama.”

Thursday’s game was a return half of UWF’s series with McKendree, located in Lebanon, Illinois, just east of St. Louis, and a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Argos traveled there in 2023 and got a 35-3 win in their second game of the season.

Part of the rematch intrigue was which UWF quarterback would start the game.

Redshirt freshman Marcus Stokes from St. Augustine-Nease High School, earned his way to the top of the depth chart and was solid in his first start. He completed 20 of 27 passes for 231 yards.

Both of his interceptions were on tipped passes and he was sacked twice. Backup Michael Rich Jr. made his only play count when he rushed on 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

“I thought he played very well, I thought he played pretty efficient,” Nobles said. “Two hundred some yards passing in his first college game win (start). I thought he handled himself very well. He was very calm, very composed. He’s a high energy guy, but he was very relaxed, very calm, which I think is great for him.”

The Argos first two touchdowns came on one-play drives, following outstanding punt returns by senior defensive back Virgil Lemons, who finished with 147 yards on two returns, one of those 86 yards to the 1-yard line that was advanced by teammate McGrew Fortune.

The first one of 61 yards midway in the first quarter resulted in Jamontez Woods rushing in from the 4-yard line. Woods then finished the second one on a hand off from the one. He finished as UWF’s leading rusher with 38 yards on 13 carries.

“We have iPads on the sidelines now and we get to watch (punt returns) what happens and I watched both of them and said, wow, this is phenomenal blocking. This is what it should look like,” Nobles said. “I told Virgil, if you can give me every offensive possession starting inside the (opponents) 5, I become the best player caller in the world. I’m excited about how we performed on special teams and think we have a lot of momentum moving forward.”

Said Lemons of his two returns, “Heart stopping. Thank God. I was just happy. I just had trust in my guys. This is my second year returning and I got two of my corners out there blocking.”

Three of UWF’s first four offensive possessions resulted in touchdowns. Jay Sharp’s 1-yard run in the second quarter finished a 13-play, 90 yard drive that was UWF’s best offensive sequence.

A 21-0 halftime lead was further expanded on Cade Lombardo’s 29-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Rich’s touchdown run answered McKendree’s only score of the game on a short run that capped a 14-play 74 yard drive.

Linebacker Ralph Ortiz, one of the team’s best defensive players, had a big night. In addition to six solo tackles and a pass breakup, he returned an interception 27 yards late in the fourth quarter for the game’s final points.

Defensively, UWF kept forcing punts early in the game. The Bearcats longest play went for 35 yards. They were limited to just 49 rushing yards and 5-of-15 on third down conversions.

“We had a good start, but we still have a lot of work to do,” Lemons said.

WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: West Alabama Tigers vs. UWF Argos.
WHEN: Sept. 21, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Pen Air Field.
GAME THEME: Family Weekend
TICKETS: www.goargos.com/tickets

Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Wahoos Silenced by Carela, Barons in 4-1 Loss

September 6, 2024

written by Erik Bremer

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos saw their newfound momentum halted on Thursday night, falling 4-1 to the Birmingham Barons in their first loss of the series.

After 5-1 wins on Tuesday and Wednesday, Pensacola managed only one run on six hits as Juan Carela (W, 2-3) led a dominant performance from the Birmingham pitching staff.

With the loss, the Blue Wahoos lost ground to the Biloxi Shuckers in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot. The Blue Wahoos trail the Shuckers by 3.5 games and the Mississippi Braves by 2.0 games with nine to play in the regular season.

Jacob Miller (L, 1-1) was perfect through two innings, but ran into trouble in the third. Five singles, including RBI knocks from Rikuu Nishida and Wilfred Veras, gave the Barons a 2-0 lead. All eight of Birmingham’s hits in the game were singles.

The Blue Wahoos got a run back in the fourth when Nathan Martorella doubled off the top of the right field wall and scored on Graham Pauley’s RBI single. That would be all the damage done against Carela, who worked 5.0 innings of four-hit, one-run ball.

Terrell Tatum added to the Birmingham lead with an RBI single in the fourth, and Jason Matthews scored on a wild pitch from reliever Nigel Belgrave in the seventh to bring the score to 4-1.

Caleb Freeman (S, 4) worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn a save and lock down the Barons win.

The series continues Friday in Birmingham, with a 7:00 CT first pitch at Regions Field.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Northview Chiefs Boys Golf Defeats West Florida, Washington And Escambia

September 5, 2024

In high school golf action on a wet Wednesday afternoon, the Northview High School Chiefs boys defeated West Florida, Washington and Escambia high schools at the Osceola Golf Course in Pensacola

Four Northview golfers placed individually:

1st place: Jack Boutwell, with a score of 38 overall.
2nd place: Jackson Bridges, finishing with a score of 39.
4th place: Luke Godwin, with a 41.

Pictured: The Northview High School golf team: Luke Godwin, Jack Boutwell, Kelan Jurey, Jackson Bridges, Jayden White, Miles Smith, and Coach Nicholas Shivers. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Here’s Where To Watch College Football This Weekend

September 5, 2024

Here is this week’s college football schedule and where to watch the games.

All times are Central.

Week 2

Thursday, Sept. 5

South Dakota Mines at Michigan Tech | 5 p.m. CST | FloSports
Central State (Ohio) at Grand Valley State | 5 p.m. CST | FloSports

Friday, Sept. 6

Saturday, Sept. 7

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Wahoos Gain Ground With 5-1, 10-Inning Win Over Barons

September 5, 2024

written by Erik Bremer

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos continued to chip away at their wild card deficit with a 5-1, 10-inning win over the Birmingham Barons on Wednesday night.

With the game deadlocked from the fourth inning on, the Blue Wahoos finally pulled ahead in the top of the 10th when a wild pitch from Eric Adler (L, 2-2) scored Johnny Olmstead from third base. Nathan Martorella followed with a booming three-run homer, adding insurance and continuing the Pensacola first baseman’s hot streak at the plate.

With the win, the Blue Wahoos gained ground on both the Biloxi Shuckers and Mississippi Braves in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot. The Blue Wahoos trail the Shuckers by 2.5 games and the Braves by 1.5 games with 10 to play in the regular season.

The game began with command issues for Blue Wahoos starter Evan Fitterer, who walked in a run in the second inning before wriggling out of a bases-loaded jam. Fitterer settled into a groove, ultimately working 5.0 innings of one-run ball.

The Blue Wahoos tied things up in the fourth on an Olmstead two-out RBI infield single, and kept the game tied with effective relief from Tyler Eckberg and Justin King.

After Woo-Suk Go (W, 2-1) sent the game to extras with a scoreless ninth, the Blue Wahoos quickly mounted a threat against Adler. The placed runner, Olmstead, advanced to third on a wild pitch before Shane Sasaki walked and stole second. Andrew Pintar drew a walk to load the bases before another wild pitch brought home the go-ahead run. Martorella then unloaded with a three-run homer, his 13th of the year and ninth since August 4.

Go worked around Birmingham’s placed runner to work a scoreless bottom of the 10th and seal the win.

The series continues Thursday in Birmingham, with a 7:00 CT.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Century Approves Tax Rate, $10.6 Million Budget But Details Shrouded In Mystery

September 4, 2024

Tuesday night, the Town of Century approved a tax rate and a $10.6 million budget for the next fiscal year. But the details of how they will spend the money remains a bit of a mystery that we can’t report due to unfulfilled public records requests.

Century approves tax rate (but makes mistakes on the details)

The town council approved a resolution establishing a final millage rate for 2024-2025, but made some apparent mistakes on the details.

The resolution read aloud by administrative assistant Mallory Walker before the vote differed from the resolution that was included with the agenda emailed August 30 to town council members and officials, along with local media. The email version stated the millage rate will be “.9204 mills (correct amount), which is greater than the rolled-back rate of 0.2423 mills (incorrect) by 290.66% (incorrect based upon actual amount)”.

According to the resolution read aloud before the affirmative vote, the “operating millage rate is .9204 mills, which is greater than the rolled-back rate of 0.9781 mills by 5.900%.”

While the council voted to approve the resolution read as a property tax increase of 5.9%, that’s not actually the case. In math, 0.9204 is not greater than 0.9781. Under the state’s definition, the town did not raise taxes.

State law establishes a procedure for correcting for mere typographical or inadvertent mistakes (also known as a“scrivener’s error”). Since the written version of the approved resolution was not provided in the agenda packet nor at the town hall Tuesday night, we can’t verify what it actually stated in writing compared to the verbal statements.

The Mystery: Where’s documentation on how millions will be spent?

Since August 30, NorthEscambia.com has asked for a copy of the complete tentative budget for 2024-2025, which provides details supporting the income and expenditures in a one-page summary that the town sent us (pictured above). For example, Century’s 2023-2024 complete budget contains 14 pages of small print with great detail on how they arrived at the budget, plus a 5-year historical comparison.

When we asked at the meeting, we were told by council members that they had received a copy of the complete budget before the vote. The complete budget was not available to the public at the meeting or on the town’s website.

“Why was there no copy available to the public before tonight? You’re approving numbers. The public has no idea what you’re approving,” NorthEscambia.com Publisher William Reynolds asked during the meeting.

Mayor Luis Gomez, Jr. said NorthEscambia.com had provided everything the council has. But that information was never sent, leaving us and the public without any detailed explanation of how the town plans to spend millions — from water wells to salaries and everything in between. We will further explore the mayor’s comments and our public records requests in an upcoming story.

Century approves $10.6 million budget

The Century Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a tentative $10.6 million budget for fiscal year 2024-2025, which starts October 1.

The budget summary states, “The proposed operating budget for this fiscal year is 43%greater than the previous year’s budget due to additional grants.”. Without a complete budget, we can’t tell you what those grant funds are that were included in the budget, or if any of monies were part of the approximately $15.6 million in grants the state terminated, which also included $12.8 million the state pulled from the town “due to financial and fiscal solvency issues the Town is facing“, according to that state agency FloridaCommerce in an email.

The 2024-2025 budget includes an increase of $2,434,114 in both the total budget and the total expenditures of $10,607,009 this fiscal year compared to $8,172,895 last fiscal year. (Mathematically, that’s actually a 29.78% increase, not the $43% stated in writing by the town.)

The town is budgeting for roughly the same amount of income from franchise fees ($170,000) and from licenses, reviews and permits ($10,700), and an increase of $30,937 from “miscellaneous revenue” into the general fund. No explanation of increase is available without the complete budget documentation.

The new budget shows $7,891,884 in income from the “Enterprise Fund” into the general fund, and increase of over three million in additional estimated revenue over last year… In past years, the Enterprise Fund has been comprised of the bills paid by residents for natural gas and sanitation services, along with additional grants. Without a copy of the full budget, we can’t provide complete details.

The town plans to transfer $691 ,503 into their budget from their reserve funds — $554,449 from the “Special Revenue Fund” and $137,054 from the CRA. In October 2018, the council approved a Tax Increment Financing plan for their redevelopment area, allowing the CRA to receive property tax revenues each year in excess of an established base rate. The appraised value of the property within the designated district was “frozen” in 2018, with that amount of tax revenue generated still designated for the town’s general fund, the county and other taxing authorities. The CRA funds are meant to improve a “blighted” area of Century. Without that budget summary, we can’t provide specifics on how or why the reserves — much like a savings account — are being spent next fiscal year.

The town budget shows $2,634,655 will be spent on “general government services”, an increase of over $1.6 million over last year — $1,633,528 to be exact — over last year. Last year, general government services fund was budgeted to be spent on items like day-to-day operations, building maintenance, executive salaries, vehicle expenses, Christmas hams and turkeys, fuel and other employee salaries and expenses like taxes and insurance. Again, we can’t tell you where Century plans to spend an extra $1.6 million without a complete budget.

The town has budgeted $1,671,719 for “Physical Environment”, a decrease of just over $2 million from the enterprise fund — the gas and garbage bills paid by citizens and grants. Since the town did not provide a complete budget, we can’t tell you exactly what this $1.671 million will be spent on. (It’s not obvious how the fund was spent from last year’s budget either. There is no supporting documentation in last year’s budget for a $3.725 million “Physical Environment” fund or any definition.)

This year’s budget shows $5,793,001 in grant expenditures for the enterprise fund. There was no explanation available; that information would be in the complete budget Century would not provide. But we do know the town has received grants for the sewage treatment plant, lift stations and water wells.

Pictured: Tuesday night’s Century Town Council meeting. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Sports

Wahoos Start Final Road Trip With Win Over Barons

September 4, 2024

written by Erik Bremer

The Pensacola Blue Wahoos began their final road trip of the regular season with a bang on Tuesday night, riding a four-run first inning to a 5-1 win over the Birmingham Barons.

Paul McIntosh blasted a three-run homer, his third long ball in the past three games, to cap the four-run first inning. Luis Palacios (W, 9-7) handled the rest, working 5.1 innings of one-run ball for his 19th career Blue Wahoos win to tie a career franchise record.

The first batter of the game, Andrew Pintar, reached on a missed catch error from Barons first baseman Shawn Goosenberg and scored on a Graham Pauley sacrifice fly. With two outs and two on in the inning, McIntosh launched his homer off the left field videoboard for a 4-0 Pensacola lead.

All four runs were unearned for Barons starter Riley Gowens (L, 1-3), who was handed the tough-luck loss.

The Barons got a run back in the first inning when Rikuu Nishida singled and scored on a wild pitch in his Double-A debut. That was all Palacios would allow, pitching into the sixth inning for his first winning decision since late July.

The Blue Wahoos added an insurance run in the sixth on a Johnny Olmstead RBI triple, and relievers Matt Pushard, Chandler Jozwiak and Dale Stanavich combined for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to close out the win.

The Blue Wahoos gained a half game on Biloxi and a full game on Mississippi in the chase for a potential Southern League wild card spot. With 11 games remaining, they are 3.5 games back of the Shuckers and 2.5 games behind the Braves.

The series continues Wednesday in Birmingham, with a 7:00 CT.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Blue Wahoos Drop Series Finale In Last-Ever Meeting Against M-Braves

September 2, 2024

written by Bill Vilona

The Blue Wahoos knew that a revamped roster, pitchers getting elevated, plus an extended road trip in August could bring some difficult challenges in the season’s final weeks.

It’s proven steeper than imagined.

In a homestand where they hoped to improve their position in the second-half race, the Blue Wahoos’ 9-3 loss Sunday against the Mississippi Braves was their fourth in a tough week at Blue Wahoos Stadium. And it brought a three-week record to 4-14.

But the crowd of 4,325 mostly stayed for what Sundays have been following games. Children ran the bases. Parents took video and cellphone photos. Families stayed to toss baseballs in the outfield.

With 12 games now remaining, the Blue Wahoos (64-50 overall, 26-30 in second half) remain four games back of the Biloxi Shuckers and now trail the M-Braves by three games in the chase for the second qualifying playoff spot.

This game marked the final time the M-Braves and Blue Wahoos played. Next season, the M-Braves are moving to Columbus, Georgia and into a revamped 98-year-old stadium on the riverfront to form a new franchise and Double-A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves.

Once again, Sunday became a scenario where an opportunity for a mid-game rally didn’t happen and the M-Braves seized upon their chances to take the series 4-2.

Patrick Monteverde was set to make his second start Sunday, following his best outing of the season in a Tuesday win that snapped the team’s six-game losing streak.

But Monteverde was summoned to rejoin Triple-A Jacksonville and the Blue Wahoos’ pitching staff was further thinned.

The game started well for the Blue Wahoos. Andrew Pintar led off with a single, then scored on Jared Serna’s RBI ground out.

Nathan Martorella blasted his 12th home run in the third inning for a 2-1 lead. After the M-Braves regained the lead on sacrifice fly and Bryson Horne’s solo homer off Pensacola starter Tristan Steves, the Blue Wahoos had their chance to answer.

They loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the inning. But newcomer Josh Zamora hit a roller back to the M-Braves’ pitcher Jhancarlos Lara, who went to the plate to trigger a pitcher-catcher-first base double play to end the inning.

The M-Braves then added two more runs in the fifth, another in the sixth and the Blue Wahoos had only two singles the rest of the way.

The Blue Wahoos’ Paul McIntosh and Johnny Olmstead each had a pair of hits in the game, getting the bulk of the team’s seven hits.

Stevens absorbed the loss on the mound after giving up three runs in four innings. Relievers Tyler Eckberg, Adam Laskey and Woo-Suk Go all yielded runs in relief.

The Blue Wahoos will have Monday off before traveling to Birmingham on Tuesday to begin a six-game trip against the Birmingham Barons.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Blue Wahoos Comeback Falls Short Saturday In Ninth-Inning Heartbreak

September 1, 2024

written by Bill Violona
The bases-loaded pitch exited off Andrew Pintar’s bat faster than it entered across the plate, instantly igniting a ninth-inning roar from Saturday’s capacity crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.

A second later, however, a collective groan ensued.

Pintar’s rocket line drive was caught by Mississippi Braves shortstop Cal Conley, who then made an easy flip to second base for a game-ending double play in the M-Braves’ 7-5 win against the Blue Wahoos.

The solace for the crowd was fireworks, which soon lit the sky as the traditional post-game Saturday show – this one sponsored by Woodlands Medical Specialists – brought cheers after Pensacola’s disappointing loss.

The game was also designated as Star Wars Night, complete with 18 costumed characters who were part of the large crowd.

The Blue Wahoos rallied from another galaxy after trailing 6-0 in the second inning. They got within a run after chipping away, scoring their fifth run in the seventh inning. The M-Braves, as they have done all week, manufactured an insurance run in the eighth and let their bullpen handle the rest.

Saturday’s loss, coupled by the Biloxi Shuckers’ home win against the Montgomery Biscuits, drops the Blue Wahoos (64-59 overall, 26-29 second half) four games back with 13 games left in a three-team race for a second-half playoff spot.

It’s going to be a tall order from this point. First, the Blue Wahoos will try and split this six-game series with the M-Braves in Sunday’s homestand finale.

The game Saturday began with a thud. Blue Wahoos starter Robby Snelling, making his second home start, had his roughest outing since joining the team as part of a July 30 trade the Miami Marlins made with the San Diego Padres.

Five of the first six batters that Snelling faced all scored. Snelling plunked Conley, the game’s leadoff batter. Second baseman David Fletcher followed with a single. Fletcher is the two-way player who started Thursday’s game throwing his knuckleball.

Both players advanced on a double steal. Conley scored on an infield hit. A run-scoring single followed, then a two-run triple by Cody Milligan, who then scored on an infield groundout.

In the second inning, what could have been a double-play groundout was instead an error, allowing leadoff batter Brandon Parker to advance and score on Fletcher’s single for a 6-0 lead.

But from this point, Snelling settled into a groove and retired 14 of the final 16 batters he faced in order.

The Blue Wahoos got back into the game with Paul McIntosh. He blasted a two-run homer in the second, then a solo homer in the seventh inning that made it a one-run game.

An inning earlier, Nathan Martorella hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

In the ninth, trailing by two runs, an opportunity existed when Joe Mack led off with a single. Cody Morissette was hit by a pitch with one out, and Shane Sasaki walked.

M-Braves reliever Jorge Juan was struggling with command. And his pitch to Pintar was hit on the barrel and could have been the game-tying shot. Instead, it became the game-ender.

The Blue Wahoos will try to finish with a split of the series when Patrick Monteverde, who pitched so well in Tuesday’s win, returns for his second start in the second-to-last Sunday home game of the season.

WANT TO GO?

WHO: Mississippi Braves vs. Blue Wahoos

WHEN: Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

WHERE: Blue Wahoos Stadium.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

Neptune Leads Tate As The Aggies Roll Over Gulf Breeze 41-0

August 31, 2024

The Tate Aggies added another to the win column with a decisive 41-0 victory over the Gulf Breeze Dolphins on Friday night. The dominant performance showcased the Aggies’ offensive prowess and defensive tenacity.

Christian Neptune led the way for Tate, showcasing his versatility with big plays both on the ground and through the air. Early in the game, Tate quarterback Taite Davis threw between the defensive back’s hands to find Neptune to put the Aggies up 7-0.

Demorian Clay scored from two yards out to extend the Aggie lead to 13-0 early in the second quarter.

Neptune wasn’t done, racking up yardage on seven straight runs after halftime in Gulf Breeze. On a screen pass, the senior broke free for a 53-yard touchdown on a screen pass. The Aggies converted the two-point conversion, giving them a comfortable 21-0 advantage with just under eight minutes on the clock in the third.

But wait…there was one more TD from Neptune when he had a long reception from 44 yards out and another score.

Tate recovered the ensuing kickoff and Taite Davis connected with Elijah West from seven yards out for another score that put it 34-0 after three.

The Aggies’ defense was equally impressive, shutting down the Dolphins’ offense throughout the game. Their ability to limit Gulf Breeze’s offensive opportunities was a key factor in the victory.

After back-to-back shutouts, the Aggies improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2017.

Next week, the Aggies will wrap up a three-game road series at the Pensacola High Tigers.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News, Sports, TOP sports

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