Defense Building On UWF Foundation For Saturday’s Playoff Game
November 29, 2019
Maybe the most defining moment in the University of West Florida football season occurred in the fourth game, just when an emotional edge had switched to the opposite sideline.
Mississippi College had used a 13-play, 89-yard drive in the final 3:39 to forge a 21-21 tie on a running play as time expired. UWF was now facing its first overtime game in team history.
Head coach Pete Shinnick never hesitated. He sent the Argos defense back on the field.
“I looked at them and said, ‘Hey we’re going to stick our defense back out there.’ That’s how much I believed in them,” Shinnick said.
Faith was rewarded. The Argos got a quarterback sack and stop. No points. The Argos took their possession and won the game 27-21.
Since then? Six wins in seven games, leading into Saturday’s NCAA Division II Super Region Two semifinal game at 1 p.m. (EST) in a road rematch at No. 1 ranked, unbeaten Valdosta State.
“I think that was a signature stop for us,” said UWF defensive coordinator Darian Dulin, the architect behind a defense which has progressed with the infancy of the program. “That last drive our guys were really upset about giving up that score.
“From that moment on, they kinda took the attitude that, hey, we can control our destiny from here on what this going to look like. And we’re going to play with a different mindset. From that point on they have really been playing good football.”
Just as the Argos improbable and magical 2017 run to the D-2 national title game was buoyed by defensive prowess, this season includes similarities.
Even with the lone aberration in the 48-37 shootout win against West Alabama – a game two weeks ago when the teams’ offenses combined for 1,091 yards – UWF’s defensive numbers stand among national leaders in several categories.
UWF is eighth nationally in scoring defense, yielding 15.3 points per-game. The Argos are tied for 10thin red-zone defense, giving up just 11 touchdowns in opponents’ 31 trips inside the 20. They are 16thin passing efficiency defense, which includes 10 interceptions.
“You gotta have a great defense to compete,” Shinnick said. “And I have felt great about our defense. It’s been that way all season.”
The Argos (9-2), fresh off a 38-17 playoff win at Wingate where they led 31-3 in the fourth quarter, face a repeat challenge against Valdosta State (10-0), which ranks No. 4 nationally in total offense, averaging 523.2 yards-per game.
In the first meeting Nov. 9, the Blazers amassed 526 yards against UWF, but were held to just two touchdowns through three quarters in their eventual 26-21 victory. After scoring touchdowns in two of their first three possessions, UWF later forced field goals with stops at their own 2 and 3, which changed the entire game for the second half.
“It kept us in the game,” Shinnick said. “So that was huge. But we also kept (UWF defense) on the field a long time. We’ve got to get them off on some third downs, we’ve got to get them off, earlier.”
Led by junior quarterback Rogan Wells, who has passed for 2,315 yards and 17 touchdowns, while rushing for 680 yards and six scores, the Blazers have one of the most dynamic, dual-threat, quarterbacks in Division II.
He has triggered a offense which carried the Blazers to a 14-0 record in 2018 and the D-2 national title.
“It’s probably going to go down as one of the better offenses in the history of Division II, two years in a row averaging over 500 yards a game,” Shinnick said. “That’s tough to do at any level, at any place. (Wells) is going to go down as an All-American, a Harlon Hill finalist (the D-2 version of Heisman Trophy).
“I think this is a unique collection of players that Valdosta has. What they have done offensively to average the yardage they have over the last 25 games… not many people can do that.”
UWF, however, rallied from a 20-0 deficit at halftime of the previous game to have a chance to take a lead in the fourth quarter.
The Argos’ defense has been a reflection of its coach, third-year defensive coordinator Darian Dulin, whose impact has helped UWF make rapid progression with a roster that has gone through natural.
Defensive back Trent Archie, one of the charter members from UWF’s inaugural season, has joined with linebacker Andre Duncombe to help bridge the transition. Archie has embraced Dulin’s defensive philosophy and his constant intensity on the sideline.
“If you have a defensive coordinator that is not fired up, are you really going to get fired up on the field?” said Archie, who was the team’s third leading tackler in 2017 and now second-leading tackler in 2019. “I think coach Dulin really adds to that. Once we see him get hyped, we get hyped and we feed off that. I think that leads to success.
“He’s been a very aggressive coach. He likes to bring pressure. Likes to get in your face as a defense. We like that.”
Archie can remember how all of this started, back when UWF was just trying to have introductory practices on converted intramural fields with a post-practice therapy area at the Skeeter Carson Tennis Center.
From that basic start, the program four years later is back in the playoff field in Division II.
“We were just some young’uns out there, just trying to play, having a dream,” Archie said. “Now the dream has come true.
“Coach Shinnick had a big impact on it. When he came in, he made us believe in his culture and everything with it, along with having integrity.”
Both Shinnick and Dulin had a sense in the summer this team’s defensive group could be special, provided injuries were at a minimum and newcomers could make smooth transitions.
“I think you always hope, and you pray, that’s what you’re going to have when you put it together,” Dulin said. “We felt like we did a good job recruiting. We got some guys we felt fit our needs and some guys we had coming back who we knew could be great.
“But you always worry about how this is all going to jell together. Are these guys going to pick up our system and all that stuff? I think our guys have done a great job of getting better every day and playing hard.”
Shinnick, who had not coached with Dulin prior to hiring him, has seen Dulin’s influence for three seasons.
“He’s been a great ambassador for UWF and what we believe in and what we are trying to do,” Shinnick said. “Great energy. Great excitement. He takes every rep serious and our guys know that and they want to go out and play well for him.
It’s led to UWF preparing for another playoff game on Thanksgiving week.
“Nothing better than that. In D-2 football, to be practicing on Thanksgiving is a great thing,” Shinnick said.
Last Teams Standing: Friday Night’s Football Playoffs
November 26, 2019
Here are Friday night’s high school football playoff games in the North Escambia vicinity:
FLORIDA
6A State Semifinal
Gaither (Tampa) (12-1) at Escambia (13-0) , 7:30 p.m.
1A State Semifinal
Baker (11-1) at Blountstown (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
ALABAMA
3A State Semifinal
T.R. Miller (10-4) at Mobile Christian (8-4), 7 p.m.
Pictured: T.R. Miller’s Darius Webb with a touchdown catch last Friday night as the Tigers defeated Flomaton. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate High’s Avery Beauchaine Signs With Pensacola State College
November 25, 2019
Tate High School senior Avery Beauchaine has signed to continued to education and softball career with Pensacola State College. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate Varsity And JV Cheerleading Teams Earn Bid To Nationals
November 24, 2019
The Tate High School varsity and junior varsity cheerleading teams have both earned a bid to the 2020 UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Opens NCAA Playoffs With 38-17 Rout Of Wingate
November 24, 2019
The 20th-ranked UWF Argonauts scored 31 unanswered points and forced three turnovers to defeat fourth-seeded Wingate, 38-17, in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Playoffs Saturday.
Anthony Johnson, Jr. ran for 109 yards on 19 carries as UWF (9-2) advanced to the second round for the second time in as many appearances. The Argos rushed for 195 yards and outgained the Bulldogs 360-264 overall.
Austin Reed threw for 165 yards with eight completions and three of those going for touchdowns. Tate Lehtio led the team with five receptions for 81 yards a score.
Quentin Randolph followed last week’s career game with two more touchdowns on two catches Saturday. He has now caught five touchdowns in his last nine receptions.
After Wingate made a 24-yard field goal on its opening drive, the Argos capitalized on a muffed punt that setup a 37-yard boot of their own by Austin Williams.
Two possessions later, Reed found Randolph down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown. UWF got another score right before halftime when Johnson reached the blue and gold checkerboard end zone from five yards out as part of a 9-play, 60-yard drive in just 1:56.
Wingate received the second half kickoff and Andre Duncombe, Jr. intercepted Shaw Crocker’s third-down pass and returned it 12 yards to the 13. Two plays later, Reed connected with Tate Lehtio to put UWF up 24-3.
The Argonauts then began running the ball and consuming large chunks of time off the clock. Their next scoring drive was the longest all season and lasted 7:51, before Reed and Randolph connected again, this time on a 7-yard pattern with 4:11 left in the third.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the fourth quarter as they bookended a 16-yard Jaden Gardner run with 6:18 to play that extended the UWF lead to 37-10.
Wingate (10-2) managed just 131 rushing yards after entering the game averaging 199. Their 264 yards were the second lowest this season.
Henry Montgomery had a career-high 11 tackles to lead the UWF defense.
UWF opened its 2017 playoff run with a 31-0 win over the Bulldogs at Irwin Belk Stadium. Prior to Saturday’s outburst, that was the most points scored in playoff history for the Argos.
With the win, UWF advances to the second round where it will meet top-ranked and defending national champion Valdosta State (10-0) next Saturday in Valdosta, Ga.
T.R. Miller Knocks Off Defending 3A Champion Flomaton (With Photo Gallery)
November 23, 2019
The T.R. Miller Tigers knocked off the defending 3A state champion Flomaton Hurricanes Friday night.
The Hurricanes took a 12-0 lead, but could not hold on in the 3-A quarterfinals in front of a packed house in Flomaton.
For a photo gallery, click here.
T.R. Miller’s Blake Jernigan was dragged down by Flomaton’s Alex Cash, forcing a fumble on the Tigers’ first possession. Flomaton’s Nicholas Turner then returned it deep into Miller territory, setting up a Daquan “Money” Johnson touchdown from two yards out on third and goal (second photo at bottom). After a missed two-point conversion, the Hurricanes were on top 6-0.
In the second quarter, it was Travon Brown ended an 85-yard, 15-play drive with an eight-yard touchdown at the pylon for the Canes (pictured left). Another missed two-point attempt and Flomaton was up 12-0.
The Tigers answered with a six yard touchdown run from Narkavis Campbell. The Tigers made the extra point to cut the Hurricane’s lead to 12-7.
With 11 second to go in the second quarter, a T.R. Miller’s Miller Hart found Darius Webb in the air between two Hurricane defenders for a 29-yard touchdown (first photo below). A good kick gave the Tigers a 14-12 advantage.
Johnson ended the night with 124 yards on 22 carries and 11 yards to two passes. Brown had 13 carries for 57 yards
The Flomaton Hurricanes ended their season at 11-2 record. T.R Miller marches on with their first trip to the semifinals since 2008 next Friday night at Mobile Christian.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Academy Falls Short Of AISA Title 23-6 To Autauga Academy
November 23, 2019
Escambia Academy’s fell short of an AISA Class AA championship with a 23-6 loss to Autauga Academy Friday.
It was the fourth straight meeting between the two teams for the state championship, and the third win for the Autauga Generals.
The Autauga Generals took a 7-0 lead before the EA Cougars answered. Sophomore quarterback Landon Sims threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to senior Ty Williams to bring the Cougars within one, 7-6 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Troy University.
But the third quarter saw Autauga with two touchdowns in just 32 seconds, the second coming after a Cougar fumble.
“Defensively, we played probably about as good as we could play,” EA head coach Hugh Fountain said. “We had a few plays there at the end that gave them the points. But defensively I though we played really well.”
We just never could get into a grove on offense. We had so many penalties,” Fountain said of his Cougars, which were well north of 100 yards in total penalties. “It just kept killing any kind of a grove we could have to get into and move the football. I think really that’s what came back to hurt us.”
Escambia Academy’s season ended at 9-4 in the state runner-up spot.
The Cougars beat Autauga back in 2017 to win the state AA football championship, and EA also holds the AAA state football championship title from 2014.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Friday Night Football Playoff Finals
November 23, 2019
Here are Friday night football playoff finals from across the North Escambia area:
FLORIDA
7A Regional Final
Edgewater 28, Niceville 20
6A Regional Final
Escambia 39, Lee 13
3A Regional Final
Florida High 21, Pensacola Catholic 14
1A Regional Final
Baker 21, Vernon 20
ALABAMA
Class 3A Quarterfinals
T.R. Miller 14, Flomaton 12 [Game story, photo gallery...]
AISA State Championship Class AA
Autauga 23, Escambia Academy 6 [Game story, photo gallery...]
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Tate High’s Chase Tolbert Signs With Bishop State
November 22, 2019
Tate High School senior Chase Tolbert has signed to play baseball at Bishop State Community College. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Tate High’s Lilly Locke Signs With Coastal Alabama Softball
November 20, 2019
Tate High School senior Lilly Locke signed Tuesday to continue her education and softball career at Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
