Northview Improves With Win Over L.E.A.D. Academy
December 19, 2023
The Northview varsity boys improved to 2-5 on the season with a 49-38 win over L.E.A.D. Academy of Pace Monday night in Bratt.
Senior Jacob Spence had a double double for the Chiefs, with 16 points and 2 rebounds. Luke Diamond added 17 points. The chiefs also had 10 points from Jikeir Hudson, four from Austin Mincshew and two from Jarrett Bodiford.
The Northview Chiefs will travel to take on the Baker Gators Tuesday night to close out action before the Christmas break.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Free Dog And Cat Adoptions At The Escambia Animal Shelter Through Sunday
December 16, 2023
The Escambia County Department of Animal Welfare is participating in the Bissell Pet Foundation “Empty the Shelters- Holiday Hope” event through Sunday, December 17.
During this time, adoptions for all cats and dogs 1 year or older will be free. Puppies will be available for $50 and kittens will be available for $25. An $11 licensing fee will be applied to all adoptions for Escambia County residents. View all adoptable pets at the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center on 24petconnect.com.
“We are excited to partner with Bissell Pet Foundation for their ‘Holiday Hope’ adoption event,” said John Robinson, Director for the Department of Animal Welfare. “We have around 100 animals that would love to have a new family to celebrate this holiday season. We hope you will come to the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center, now open seven days a week, through Dec. 17, to help make these amazing dogs’ and cats’ holiday wishes come true.”
The Escambia County Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is located at 200 W. Fairfield Drive. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 12-5 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. In addition, the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center is also open on Sundays until Dec. 17 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
All Star High School Football Game Is Friday Night
December 14, 2023
It’s East vs. West as local high school seniors battle to see who’s the best in the Pensacola Sports’ High School All-Star Series Football Game! This event showcases top players from Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Escambia County High Schools. Student athletes are nominated by their coaches and every player gets a chance to shine in their final high school game. Join us for an unforgettable night of football talent and community spirit.
- What: Pensacola Sports High School All-Star Series Football
- When: Dec. 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Booker T. Washington High School
- Tickets: $10 general admission and $5 for students - Tickets available here
2023 All-Star Football – West Team
- PHS DeQuan Gaddy OLB/CB
- Northview Wyatt Scruggs DB/WR
- Northview Joe Wright V MLB/RB
- Northview Devin Kelly CB/WR/RB
- Escambia Santwon Burnside Slot/RB
- Escambia Tadarius Wright DB/WR
- Escambia Trevion Killette DB/WR
- Escambia Lillas Legree DL/OL
- Escambia Anthony Hall QB
- Pine Forest Corey Odoms OL
- Escambia Cam Mayo WR/DB
- Escambia Lejon Williams LB
- Escambia Jaylon Harris LB
- Escambia Messiah Everheart DE/DT
- Escambia Ryan McVay DE/DT
- Escambia Josh Jackson WR/DB
- Escambia Jashawn Williams OL
- Washington Kendrick Burrell TE/WR
- Washington Connor Johnson OL
- Washington Aveon Riley DL
- Washington James Brown RB/SLOT
- Catholic Ryland Bragg OL
- Catholic Desjon Robertson DT
- Catholic Turner McLaughlin LB
- Catholic Cortney Clark DE/TE,H
- Catholic Jacob Lacour OL
- West Florida John Nicholas QB
- West Florida Tre Knott Corner/S
- West Florida Logan Weeks Center/G.T
- West Florida Cole Willis K/P
- West Florida Marquez Jones RB/KO
- Tate Edward Obrien TE
- Tate Jackson Clarke K/P
- Tate Andre Colston RB
- Tate Clayton Philly OLB
- Tate Labron Baldwin OG
- Tate Trey Edwards OT
- Tate Jaxson Moore C
- Tate Jayvon Lenius CB
- Tate Nathan Shimek SS
- Northview Jacob Spence TE/OL
- Northview DJ Lions DL
- Washington Luke Sate
2023 All-Star Football – East Roster
- Crestview Maddox Reeves DT/OL
- Crestview Michael Foley C/OL
- Crestview Braden Hood DB/WR
- Crestview Isaiah Brooks OT/OG
- Crestview Ahmad Thomas DB
- FWB Bam Davis LB
- FWB Jeremiah Norman C
- FWB Eric Scott DL/OL
- Baker Dustin Clark OL/C/3T
- Jay Brock Stout RB/CB
- Jay Eli Stephens OL/DL
- Jay Tucker Nowling WR
- Pace Jackson Ward LB
- Pace Chase Taylor LB
- Pace Brayden Gates FS
- Pace Carson Wright SS/WR
- Gulf Breeze Gavin Quenneville S/WR
- Gulf Breeze Luke Denby C/G/T
- Gulf Breeze Shamane Walker DL/DT
- Navarre Hunter Pfiester QB
- Navarre Charlie Cottrell Center
- Navarre Braydon Brown TE/H
- Navarre Nate Hanson WR
- Navarre Jaxson Spalla OL
- Navarre Cameron Pollard OL
- 2023 All-Star Football – East Roster
- Crestview Maddox Reeves DT/OL
- Crestview Michael Foley C/OL
- Crestview Braden Hood DB/WR
- Crestview Isaiah Brooks OT/OG
- Crestview Ahmad Thomas DB
- FWB Bam Davis LB
- FWB Jeremiah Norman C
- FWB Eric Scott DL/OL
- Baker Dustin Clark OL/C/3T
- Jay Brock Stout RB/CB
- Jay Eli Stephens OL/DL
- Jay Tucker Nowling WR
- Pace Jackson Ward LB
- Pace Chase Taylor LB
- Pace Brayden Gates FS
- Pace Carson Wright SS/WR
- Gulf Breeze Gavin Quenneville S/WR
- Gulf Breeze Luke Denby C/G/T
- Gulf Breeze Shamane Walker DL/DT
- Navarre Hunter Pfiester QB
- Navarre Charlie Cottrell Center
- Navarre Braydon Brown TE/H
- Navarre Nate Hanson WR
- Navarre Jaxson Spalla OL
- Navarre Cameron Pollard OL
- Choctaw Jesse Winsletter QB
- Milton Malik Cobb RB
- Milton London Snellgrove DL
- Choctaw Jashawn Armstrong OLB
- Choctaw Jonathan Boyd Safety
- Choctaw Justin Whidbee Safety/P
- Rocky Bayou Gideon Rossell RB/OLB
- Rocky Bayou Cam DeWitt ILB/TE
- Milton Kaden French LB
- Milton Manuel Kimmons DL
- Milton Jamarion Hadnot DL
- Milton Jaydon Leverett WR
- Milton Ethan Diamond QB
- Milton Landon Pulliam K/P
- Milton Carson Wolfe OLB
- Niceville D.J. Robinson RB/LB
- Niceville Landon Campbell C/DL
- Niceville D.J. Shorts RB/LB
The Top Five Star Parts Of The Ice Flyers Early Season
December 10, 2023
By Bill Vilona Ice Flyers Correspondent
The Ice Flyers are now two months into their season. Time to take some quick stock.
When the team returns late Saturday from Illinois, after back-to-back games Friday and Saturday against the Quad City Storm, the Ice Flyers will have completed nearly one-third of their schedule.
It’s been a special start, so far, beginning with an unbeaten home record (8-0), current second-place position in the SPHL standings and crowd support.
Here are five elements that have stood out.
HOME PERFECTION
You can’t surpass unbeaten, right? At 8-0 at the Pensacola Bay Center, the Ice Flyers have won games with crowd-pleasing dramatics, including multiple wins after trailing in the first period. This team has always found an extra gear at the right time on home ice.
It is something that coach Gary Graham repeatedly discussed in media interviews and during the preseason gathering with Ice Flyers fans on the importance of playing well at home.
The team is between a 21-day gap this month between home games. Here is how Graham reflected after last Saturday’s big win against Peoria.
“We are confident in this building, but we don’t even talk about that stuff around here,” he said. “We haven’t talked about the standings. I honestly told the guys this first third of the season we are just trying get our identity.
“Trying to get guys going, trying to figure out who is going to be playing with who and what works. I like where we’re at with our depth and most importantly it’s the character.. of the group. That is the fun thing to watch.”
ATTENDANCE, COMMUNITY IMPACT
The Ice Flyers have attracted 38,897 fans for their first eight home games. That’s the most in the league, just ahead of the Huntsville Havoc. Their 4,862 per-game average is the third-best in the league, but already ahead of last year’s surge of attendance numbers.
Equally important, the Ice Flyers have spent quality time off-ice with supporters in a variety of charitable projects and other fun events like bowling with fans last Sunday.
“That is one of the reasons I wanted to come back (to coach),” Graham said. “I have seen what (Ice Flyers owner) Greg (Harris) has done over the last 10 years. When I interviewed for the job, I did some research on the team.
“(To) lead the league in attendance and lead the league in charitable donations… and when you see a team do that, it is something I can get on board with because I like to do stuff with my own personal business back home in the community (Fort Wayne, Indiana).
“When I ask guys to do that stuff, immediately guys raise their hand to volunteer. We recruited a good group of guys who want to get out do that stuff in the community and obviously that is something Greg really cares about.”
CAPTAIN’S HELP
Center Garrett Milan is playing in the same big impact way as he’s done throughout his Ice Flyers career. One difference, however, that Graham has liked is how teammates have been more immediate in rushing to his defense when trouble ensues on the ice and pushing and shoving begins.
“He’s a little pit bull. That is what I like about him,” Graham said. “He’s got jam. When I watched the film on last year’s season, I just saw this number 10 and he’s buzzing around and all of a sudden he has three guys on him.
“And I talked to the guys a lot during the summer when I was recruiting them and I said, ‘Hey, we can’t leave our captain in these isolated situations with three guys around him. We have to get in there like a wolfpack and back him up.’
“I think our identity has been that this year with guys like (Sean) Gulka and Malik (Johnson) and others who have been willing to take that side of things, where our skill guys don’t have to worry about that stuff as much.”
MULTIPLE PRODUCTION
The Ice Flyers went into the weekend with three of the league’s top five scorers. Milan leads the way with 6 goals and 12 assists (18 points) – second most points in the league, followed by newcomer Brett Mecrones (11 goals, 6 assists) at No. 4 and veteran Ivan Bondarenko (3 goals, 14 assists), who is No. 5 in scoring.
“We just have a lot of good guys in the room, lot of guys knowing their role and playing their role really well to the T,” said winger Dallas Comeau. “We have a good group, we have a very skilled and top-of-the-league group. And I think when we come together like we did (Saturday) we can take the league on.”
BOUNCE BACK
In their 16 games so far, the Ice Flyers have not lost back-to-back games. The most significant part the sequence occurred after an 8-1 loss at Birmingham – the worst margin of defeat – on Nov. 24 was followed by a 1-0 win at Macon on Nov. 26.
“Any time your group can show resiliency, that’s important,” Graham said. “Every game is part of the process the whole season. Getting them to just believe and trust each other is big.
“We are a team that is still learning. That starts with me and on down. I think the more cool and calm we present ourselves, myself being leader and on down, we handle adversity better. Just trying to ride those highs or lows and make sure it stays more even keel.”
Northview Earns First Win Of The Season 46-47 Over Elberta; Tate Tops Navarre
December 9, 2023
Tate 65, Navarre 62
The Tate High Aggies boys basketball team beat Navarre on the road 65-62 Friday night.
The Aggies will be at Pine Forest on Monday, December 11.
Northview 47, Elberta 46
The Northview High School boys basketball team earned their first win of the season 47-46 Friday night on the road at Elberta.
Leading scorer Luke Diamond had 11 points for the Chiefs, Jacob Spence added nine. Also for Northview, Jarret Bodiford and Austin Minchew added five each, while Austin Dunsford contributed six. Rhett Madden had two for NHS.
Northview will host the Jay Royals next Tuesday, December 12.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Northview’s Makayla Golson Signs With Millsaps College
December 5, 2023
Northview High School’s Makayla Golson signed Monday to play softball at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Six UWF Football Players Named To D2 CCA All-Super Region 2 Team
December 3, 2023
For the second-consecutive season, the UWF football program had six selections voted on to the Division 2 Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Super Region Two team as announced by the organization on Thursday.
Wide receiver John Jiles, offensive linemen Jacob Bruce, defensive lineman John McMullen and linebacker Gael Laurent were First Teamers, and offensive lineman Nymonta Doucoure and defensive back Quincy Milhomme were selected to the Second Team.
Jiles is among the most exciting wideouts in the country, ranking second in the NCAA in receiving yards (1,209), receiving ypg (109.9) and receiving TD (16). The First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection from Wake Forest, North Carolina has six 100-yard receiving games and has caught at least one touchdown in nine games
Bruce has started all four years at offensive tackle and earns his third-consecutive all-region honor, becoming the first 3-time honoree in program history. The Gainesville, Florida product has been part of an offensive line that helped UWF rank 17th in the country with 258 yards passing and 35th with 178.7 rushing yards per game. The Argos were 22nd with 437 yards of total offense this season. Doucure moved from tackle to guard in the fourth game and finished with an 85 percent grade in nine contests this season.
Laurent led the team with 63 tackles, including 42 solos, four tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass break-ups. The Miami, Florida standout finished his career with 154 stops, 24 TFL and 13 sacks in 44 games.
McMullen has been a dominant force in the offensive backfield all season. The GSC Defensive Player of the Year ranks second in the country with 13 quarterback sacks and set a UWF record with 22 tackles for loss. In a career that included time at Northern Michigan and UWF, McMullen ended his college playing days with 227 tackles, 68 TFL, 33 sacks and seven forced fumbles.
Milhomme was also an all-conference pick who starred in the secondary for the Argos. He started six of the final nine games at safety and ended his junior season with 32 tackles, 27 solos, three pass break-ups and two interceptions.
The first team selections will advance to the All-America ballot with top vote-getters from the other three super regions. The teams are voted on by the nation’s NCAA Division II sports information directors. The All-America teams will be announced on December 14.
Photo: Emily Miller.
Ice Flyers Rally In Third Period To Stay Unbeaten At Home On Rally Gulf Coast Night
December 3, 2023
The celebratory chants were a little louder inside the home team locker room. The music played a lot longer, too.
The Ice Flyers’ latest home ice win Saturday night became the best one.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Trailing 2-0 with less than 14 minutes remaining, the response was an extra gear, big saves and a clutch power-play goal by Dallas Comeau with 1:47 remaining that lifted the Ice Flyers to a gratifying 3-2 victory against the Peoria Rivermen to sweep the two-game series at the Pensacola Bay Center.
“They are obviously huge rivals, and it was awesome seeing the resiliency of this group,” Comeau said. “When we come together, we can make mountains move and it was awesome.”
The Ice Flyers (11-5-0) are now 8-0 at home after the win on Rally Foundation Night to benefit Rally Gulf Coast. The Ice Flyers, who wore specialty Rally Foundation uniforms, won’t play at the Bay Center again until two days before Christmas, but it’s been a joyous holiday-like time at home so far for this team.
They turned a lull into an energized crowd roar Saturday, especially after Nick Leitner’s tying goal with 6:44 remaining was followed by the furious final minutes.
“It was amazing,” said Ice Flyers goaltender Stephen Mundinger, who stopped 28 of 30 shots. “Probably one of the most fun games I’ve been a part of, as far as I can remember.
“Just after every goal, if you saw me, I was going nuts. It’s why we play the game, right? Stuff like this is worth all the memories. This was definitely special.”
Mundinger was definitely special Saturday. After Peoria (8-4-1) scored two first period goals in the final three minutes, both after turnovers in the Ice Flyers zone, he made huge saves in the second period, then in the third to keep the score as it was and help enable the comeback to happen.
“Second period we were just holding on for dear life,” said Ice Flyers coach Gary Graham. “Thank God, Dinger played a great game. He really gave us a chance. I really thought he should have been number one star, because without him making some big saves… in second period if that thing gets down 3-0 it could be curtains.
“I thought that was our worst period of the season. They took our confidence away from us in the second period.”
But the Ice Flyers got it back and the crowd into the action when Sean Gulka pounced on a loose puck in the crease area and chipped it up into the net to cut the deficit.
“That was the ice breaker we needed,” Comeau said.
Earlier in the game, Gulka brawled with Peoria’s Tristan Trudel, son of Peoria head coach Jean-Guy Trudel.
“I thought that really got (Rivermen) fired up,” Graham said.
Gulka’s goal was followed by linemate Leitner’s tying goal.
“That line was huge,” Graham said. “They played bull in a China shop hockey, because it’s a big line for us and two of our biggest wingers are on that line.”
With 2:51 remaining, Peoria was whistled for a delay of game penalty, giving the Ice Flyers only their second power play of the game. This time, they struck gold.
“A big face off win by Mitchy (Mitch Atkins) and nice shot by Zac (Herrmann) and I just got loose in position on that power play and was able to find the back of the net (on rebound),” Comeau said. “It was just electric in there (Bay Center). It was awesome in the third period. I was only a small piece of it.”
The Ice Flyers now have a 21-day gap between home games. Their next home game is Dec. 23 against Macon.
For more photos, click or tap here.
In the first intermission, Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris helped raise thousands for Rally Foundation by showing off his own hockey skills. After easily converting goals from the red line, Harris went to the other end, took off his shoes and went barefoot on the ice to send pucks end to end into the net.
Joining him were long time Ice Flyers sponsor Troy Rafferty, part of the Levin Papantonio Raffery Law Firm and Capt. Terrance Shashaty, commanding officer of Naval Air Station-Pensacola.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Ice Flyers vs. Quad City Storm
WHEN: Friday and Saturday (Dec 8-9), 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Vibrant Arena, Moline, Illinois.
Football Playoffs: Pensacola Catholic Season Ends With OT Loss In State Semifinals
December 2, 2023
Pensacola Catholic, the last remaining North Escambia area team in the playoffs, lost to the Bradford Tornadoes 22-21 in overtime Friday night in the Region 1-2S state semifinal game.
Catholic’s season ends at 11-3, while Bradford will take on Cocoa for the 2S crown.
Ice Flyers Erase Early Deficit, Stay Unbeaten On Teddy Bear Night
December 2, 2023
By Bill Vilonam Ice Flyers Correspondent
When Gary Graham coached the Ice Flyers to their first championship 10 years ago, there wasn’t this kind of rivalry with Peoria.
There is now, of course.
For more photos, click or tap here.
That’s why the Ice Flyers 7-4 victory against the Rivermen Friday night, after the game was tied 3-3 at second intermission, carried extra meaning for the players and the crowd of 3,877 at the Pensacola Bay Center on Teddy Bear Toss Night.
Seven different players scored and the Ice Flyers had a 47-23 edge in shots in a game that started the wrong way for the home team, but ended with Pensacola keeping its unbeaten record (7-0) on home ice.
“I wasn’t part of it before,” said Graham, smiling afterward about the matchup with Peoria. “I’ve seen it first hand now. They tried to get us off our game early with the physicality side of things.
“And I thought our guys did a really good job of taking some punishment, going on the power play and basically making them beat themselves.
“Any time you can score seven goals with seven different guys, that doesn’t happen often. I thought the guys did a good job keep sticking with it.”
The Ice Flyers were eliminated from the playoffs last year by Peoria. They also won their most dramatic SPHL title against Peoria with a last-second goal to clinch the championship. This weekend’s pair of games are the only two in Pensacola this season.
The Ice Flyers trailed 2-0 midway through the first period. And then the game changed.
“It’s a big game for us. We don’t like them and they don’t like us. It’s a great rivalry,” said the Ice Flyers Mitch Atkins, named the game’s No. 1 star Friday with a goal and two assists.
The third period became the most eventful.
Less than four minutes into the period, veteran Peoria captain Alec Hagaman, who was part of the Ice Flyers last championship team in 2021, was thrown out of the game on a match penalty for slew-footing. The penalty is called when a player either kicks, grabs or knocks another players’ feet from behind.
It gave the Ice Flyers a 5-minute power play. Less than 90 seconds into the power play, Ice Flyers captain Garrett Milan scored on a one-timer shot from near the face-off circle after a perfect feed from Mitch Atkins.
It gave the Ice Flyers a 4-3 lead.
“I saw it out of the corner of my eye. The referee didn’t see it, but the linesman saw it,” Graham said. “A lot of times slew footing happens behind the play, because players are smart, they know where the ref’s looking.”
Seven minutes later, Malik Johnson put the Ice Flyers up two goals with his quick wrister.
But Peoria got a shorthanded goal with 5:07 remaining and now the game had a different kind of feel. That is until Atkins had the pivotal goal with a defender draped on him, who he shed and caused to take out Peoria goaltender Brendahn Brawley. Atkins regained control of the puck and made a whirl around move to wrist the puck into the open corner of the net.
“We came out (of Ice Flyers end) with a lot of speed,” Atkins said. “Once we got in the (Peoria) zone, Bondee (Ivan Bondarenko) has such a great vision and he made a great seam pass.
“It jumped my stick and I felt if I wrapped it the other way there wouldn’t be a lot still in the net. It was a fun goal and a good pass by Bondee to open things up there.”
Fittingly, Bondarenko scored the Ice Flyers final goal on an empty-netter while killing a penalty. Peoria pulled Brawley with 1:52 remaining to get a 6 on 4 situation. But when Rivermen defenseman slipped and fell inside the blue line, the puck was free and Bondarenko sealed the game.
Peoria led 2-1 at first intermission. The game began with a crowd-pleasing fight at the 7:40 mark between the Ice Flyers Sean Gulka and Spencer Kennedy. Both traded a flurry a punches for nearly a minute as the crowd roared and both teams saluted.
The Rivermen then got a pair of goals four minutes apart from Braydon Barker and Kennedy, two players who recently joined the team.
For more photos, click or tap here.
Barker, who played last season for Peoria, got his first goal this season on an assist from long-time veteran Alec Hagaman. The goal occurred with 10:12 left in the period.
Kennedy, who began the season in Roanoke, scored his first goal for Peoria with 6:58 left. Both Barker and Kennedy were playing in their third game for the Rivermen.
“They are a veteran group,” Graham said. “They capitalized on the very few chances they had. We made a couple mistakes and… boom it’s in the back of net. They are a team that can score very quickly, and we knew we had to keep the pace with them.”
But the Ice Flyers answered 27 seconds after Kennedy’s goal when Lucas Herrmann got his third goal of the season. The moment the goal lamp was lit, the stuffed animals were tossed across the ice from all sides as the signature part of Teddy Bear Toss Night for the first Ice Flyers goal in the game.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHO: Peoria Rivermen vs. Ice Flyers
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center
