Escambia County Extends SEC Women’s Soccer, Sun Belt Basketball Championship Agreements
October 18, 2024
Escambia County has approved new agreements to host the Southeastern Conference Women’s Soccer Championships and the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Championships through the end of the end of the decade.
The SEC Women’s Soccer Championships were first held at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in 2022, with the first agreement continuing to 2024 for the tournament that begins November 3. Under the new agreement approved Thursday, the SEC Women’s Soccer Championships will continue to be hosted by the county and Pensacola Sports at Ashton Brosnaham off 10 Mile Road in 2025 and 2026 with an option to renew for three on-year periods through 2029.
The 2022 event saw record-breaking attendance numbers and generated $2.5 million in local economic impact, according to Escambia County, with several million more in 2023.
An agreement to host the 2021-2025 Sun Belt Conference Basketball Championships at the county-owned Pensacola Bay Center was also extended Thursday. Under the new agreement, the Sun Belt tournament will continue at the Bay Center for 2026-2030.
“Thrilled. Absolutely thrilled,” Pensacola Sports President Ray Palmer said Thursday afternoon. “One of the things that is so exciting is the reality that when these conferences find a home, and a neutral site home, it really takes years to grow the event they way they want it to grow, and we want it to grow.”
“The fact that they believe in what we are doing…I just think we couldn’t be prouder,” Palmer added.
Pictured: The record-setting SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in October 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Baseball Hits A Home Run With Fall Halloween Costume Game (With Gallery)
October 17, 2024
Tate Aggie Baseball hosted their annual Fall Baseball Halloween Game Wednesday.
The event started with trunk or treat with the players, and an exhibition game with players in full costume.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Chili, hot dogs and more were available.
There were also games and prizes for the kids between innings.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Ernest Ward Eagles Fall To Atmore (With Photo Gallery)
October 16, 2024
The Eagles of Escambia County Middle School defeated the Eagles of Ernest Ward 52-0 Tuesday night in Walnut Hill.
For the Ernest Ward Eagles, it was a special homecoming night event. Before the game, eighth grade football players, cheerleaders and band members were honored. Past homecoming queens were recognized on the field at halftime (pictured below).
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Jay Defeats Northview 3-1 In District Semifinal Match
October 16, 2024
In FHSAA Rural District 1 volleyball semifinals Tuesday, the top seed Jay Royals defeated the Northview Chiefs 3-1.
Northview took the first set 25-20, but Jay responded to win the following three sets, winning 25-13, 25-15, and 25-11.
In another semifinal match, Baker blanked Central 3-0. Baker won 25-12, 25-15, 25-5.
The Royals will advance to the district finals against Baker Thursday night in Baker.
Pictured: The Northview Chiefs after a first round district win Monday night. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Northview Beats Laurel Hill In Three Sets In Volleyball Rural District 1 Quarterfinal
October 15, 2024
The Northview Chiefs beat the Laurel Hill Hoboes in three straight sets Monday in the quarterfinals of the FHSAA Rural District 1 volleyball tournament.
Northview won by scores of 25-15, 25-19, 25-8.
No. 4 seed Northview will face No. 1 seed Jay at 4 p.m. Tuesday in semifinal action as No. 2 Baker plays No. 3 Central at 6 p.m. The semifinal games are all at Baker High School. The championship game is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Baker.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Tate Aggies Fall To Pace In District Tournament Volleyball Opener
October 15, 2024
The No. 5 Tate Aggies fell to the No. 4 Pace Patriots 3-0 Monday night in Pace during the quarterfinals of the FHSAA 6A District 1 volleyball tournament.
Pace won by scores of 25-16, 25-21, 25-16.
Pace will face No. 1 seed Gulf Breeze in Gulf Breeze Tuesday.
The season ended for the Aggies at 14-10.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Tickets On Sale Now For SEC Soccer Tournament At Ashton Brosnaham Park
October 14, 2024
Twelve nationally ranked Southeastern Conference soccer teams will be competing for the SEC Championship title from Sunday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 10, at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex off East 10 Mile Road.
Tickets are now one sale at pensacolasports.org. All-tournament passes are $45. Individual session tickets for the first round, quarterfinals and semifinals are $12 for adults and $7 for students/military. Tickets for the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 10, are $17 for adults and $12 for students/military. Taxes and service fees are included in the listed ticket prices. Kids 12 and under wearing a soccer jersey get in free with a paying adult on Sunday, Nov. 3 and on Tuesday, Nov. 5. A clear bag policy is in effect for this event. Admission is free for children 5 and under at all games.
This is the third year that Pensacola will host the tournament. Pensacola first hosted the tournament in 2022 and set SEC records for attendance.
“I’m so excited to host all of our friends from the SEC again this fall at the beautiful Ashton Brosnaham facility. I ask all sports fans in Escambia County to come to at least one game while the SEC tournament is here and see the elite play from these extremely talented student athletes,” Escambia County District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry said recently.
“The Pensacola community has embraced and welcomed our staff, the teams and the players over the last two years,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “The SEC Soccer Tournament is an outstanding experience for SEC soccer fans from across the region and will provide our student-athletes with lasting memories.”
On championship game day, Nov. 10, there will be a free Fan Fest from 11:30 a.m. until the start of championship game. There will be music, food trucks and interactive activities for all ages to enjoy.
Over the last seven years, the SEC has earned 52 NCAA Tournament bids – an average of more than seven per year – with all 14 member institutions making at least two appearances during that span. Eight different SEC teams have advanced to the Round of 16 since 2013 and the league has placed teams in the NCAA quarterfinals in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Pictured: The first record-setting SEC Women’s Soccer Tournament at Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex in October 2022. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino 7U Falcons Win Eastern Shore Fall Brawl
October 13, 2024
The Molino Ballpark 7U Falcons recently won the championship from the Eastern Shore fall Brawl.
Head coach for Falcons is Tanner Brooks.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF Argos Upset No. 19 Delta State
October 13, 2024
The University of West Florida football team put together one of its best all-around performances of the season on Saturday at PenAir Field to take down No. 19 Delta State in Gulf South Conference play.
UWF has now won two straight and are 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the GSC.
“It’s been a heck of a week,” said head coach Kaleb Nobles. “We’ve fought through some adversity. We had a couple tough games early in the season where we played a couple of very good teams. So there’s been a lot of people who’ve just forgotten about West Florida. But these guys are bought in. They’re showing up on time, going to study hall, showing up to weights on time. That stuff shows up.”
It showed up clearly in the stat lines.
The Argos put up 533 total yards of offense, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Stokes who had three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores. Stokes finished with 326 yards through the air, completing 17 of his 21 pass attempts and 55 yards rushing on eight attempts.
Corey Scott scored what was the game winning touchdown with 11:20 remaining in the fourth quarter. Stokes hit Scott deep down the left-hand side of the field for a 70-yard pass. The score gave UWF a 33-28 lead after the Argos failed the two-point conversion. Scott was the game’s leading receiver with five receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
On UWF’s next offensive possession Stokes and Scott connected again for a touchdown following a 26-yard pass. The score gave the Argos a 40-28 lead with 5:46 remaining in the game to put the home team in the driver’s seat.
“The me and Marcus connection started off in the summer,” said Scott. “We are both from the same area. Even before we came here, we were catching and throwing.”
After taking the two score lead late in the fourth, the UWF defense put its stamp on the game by forcing a three-and-out for Delta State. A false start penalty pushed the Statesmen back five yards to a third down and 15 to go. Traevon Mitchell sniffed out a screen pass and batted it down to shut the drive down in Delta’s own territory. Mitchell was a force on the defensive end throughout the entire game. The junior defensive lineman had 10 tackles, including five tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass break up.
The Argos got the ball back with 5:22 remaining and never gave the ball back to Delta’s offense. Running backs Jay Sharp and TJ Lane chewed up clock with three first downs in the final drive which was also aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the visitors to close out the game. Lane finished with 115 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Sharp had 46 rushing yards.
UWF had a hot start to the game with touchdowns on its first two possessions to take a 13-0 lead in the first quarter. The Statesmen responded with back-to-back scoring drives to go up 14-13. But nearing the end of the first half was when the Argos stole all of the momentum back to carry into the second half. UWF found the endzone twice in the final 1:15 of the half. Stokes had a four-yard TD run to help UWF go up 20-14 and then Stokes found Jakobe Quillen for a 58-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining in the half. Quillen went for 109 yards receiving on the day.
Delta State finished with a balanced 143 yards passing and 140 yards on the ground.
Next up for the Argos is a long road trip to Murfreesboro, N.C. to take on Chowan on Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. CT.
Photos Jon Rose/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Jay Shuts Out Northview 34-0 (With Gallery)
October 12, 2024
The Jay Royals shut out the Northview Chiefs 34-0 Friday night at Merle North Stadium in Jay.
Northview had beat Jay nine of their last 10 outings in the War on Highway 4 rivalry before Friday night. In their last meeting in 2017, Northview walked away with a 31-13 win.
For a photo gallery, click here.
*Look for an upcoming photo gallery with the cheerleaders, bands and fans from both teams.
Jay came into the game on the heels of a 9-0 shutout of the young Central Jaguar program last week and season wins that have included Baker and Chipley. Northview suffered a 20-6 defeat at the hands of Baker last week in Bratt.
Riding high at 7-1 on the season, the Jay Royals will have a bye next week before hosting Wewahitchka (currently 1-6) on October 25. The Northview Chiefs (2-6) will hit the road for Blountstown (3-2) next week before rounding out the season on Thursday night, October 31 by hosting Flomaton on a Halloween night.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
