Jay Girls Weightlifting Team Advances To Regionals
January 14, 2018
The Jay High School Girls Weightlifting team has advanced to the regional meet next Friday in Baker.
Alexa Pabo placed sixth in the 110 division, Hailey Grenier placed sixth in the 139 division, Haylee Watson was the District 1 Champion in the 139 division, Carlyn Watson placed sixth in the 154 division and Sarah Barnhill placed third in the unlimited division. The team is coached is Melvin Kersey.
Editor’s Note: The Northview High School Girls Weightlifting team also advanced to regionals. Details will be published in an upcoming story.
Pictured: The Jay High School Girls Weightlifting team advanced to regionals. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Molino Ballpark Spring Registration Saturdays In January
January 12, 2018
It’s time to register to play ball at the Molino Ballpark.
Registration will be held at the park every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Practices will begin February 5, so players must register by Saturday, January 27 in order to play this year.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Football Playoff Series Changes Considered For 1A-4A Teams
January 11, 2018
The Florida Athletics Directors Advisory Committee on Wednesday unanimously recommended a playoff change for 1A-4A high school football, including Northview and Jay high schools.
If approved at a future date by the Florida High School Athletic Association, six teams would qualify for state series play from each region in class 1A-4A beginning with the 2018 season.
The first and second seed would receive a bye to the second round. In the first round, the third seed team would host the sixth seed and the fourth seed would host the fifth seed.
Currently four team from each region qualify for the playoffs. There is no district play, forcing teams to often play much tougher schedules. This change would allow the top 50 percent of each region to have a real playoff.
According to the Athletics Directors Committee, there is a built-in extra round for Class 1A-4A and allowing more teams to earn a playoff spot would not affect the current playoff structure. This would also allow the third and fourth seed teams to host a playoff game, earning more revenue for those schools.
“I think there are positives and negatives,” Northview High School Coach Derek Marshman said. “Obviously, more teams will be allowed to participate in the post season. The reason the FHSAA eliminated districts was to eliminate blowouts in the first round. I could see fifth and sixth place teams struggling. That is obviously a case-by-case situation. I do think overall that it is a good thing to allow more teams in the post season.”
“The most beneficial thing is eliminating the bye week the week before the championship games. It could definitely throw a kink into the rhythm of a team if they have the bye week immediately before the state championship game,” Marshman continued.
The proposal was previously unanimously approved by the 1A-4A coaches council and must next be approved by the FHSAA board of directors.
Pictured: Action from last year’s Northview at Jay game. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
HS Basketball: Northview Tops Jay, Tate Beats Niceville
January 10, 2018
Tuesday high school basketball results:
BOYS
Northview 41, Jay 38
Northview 26, Jay 24 (JV)
Tate 67, Niceville 58
Tate 54, Niceville 41 (JV)
GIRLS
Pine Forest 37, Tate 20
Pictured: Northview at Jay. Photos by Ellen Helton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
UWF’s Shinnick Named National Coach Of The Year
January 10, 2018
UWF head football coach Pete Shinnick was named the Division II National Coach of the Year, as announced by the American Football Coaches Association during the live broadcast of the American Football Coaches Awards®, presented by Amway, at the Charlotte Convention Center Tuesday.
Shinnick led the Argonauts to an 11-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game in their second season of competition. UWF went 5-3 in the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference to finish tied for second. The Argonauts won a school record six-consecutive games which included five against nationally ranked teams en route to the title game appearance.
UWF was ranked second in the final AFCA Top 25, marking its first-ever ranking after receiving votes twice during the 2017 season.
The Argos had the nation’s 20th-ranked defense and were among the top 20 in sacks, turnovers gained, interceptions, fumbles recovered, fourth down defense and defensive touchdowns.
UWF had a number of exciting events transpire in 2017. Among the highlights in the regular-season were: A goal line turnover in the final seconds to secure a win at Missouri S&T in the season opener; The team tied a school-record with 51 points in a win over Chowan; Austin Williams kicked a field goal as time expired in a wild road win over Florida Tech to claim the Coastal Classic for the second-consecutive year, Marvin Conley had a 98-yard pick-6 in the last minute to preserve a 28-14 win over Mississippi College; the Argos defeated North Alabama 30-7 on Senior Day; UWF erased a 16-0 deficit to defeat WestGeorgia 34-29 and earn a berth into the postseason, becoming the fastest startup to reach the playoffs in Division II.
The postseason run proved to be just as exciting, captivating the nation as the team knocked off one top-25 opponent after another, beginning with a dominating 31-0 win at No. 16 Wingate. A 17-14 win at No. 25 West Georgia followed before winning the Super Regional 2 championship at No. 17 West Alabama. The national semifinals saw another dominating defensive performance as the Argonauts outlasted top-ranked and undefeated Indiana (Pa.), 27-17 to advance to the title game.
The award is the first for Shinnick, who is 16-10 in two years at UWF and 129-56 in 16 seasons as a head coach.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scott Proclaims UCF Knights Football National Champions In Florida
January 9, 2018
Governor Rick Scott issued a proclamation Monday declaring the University of Central Florida Knights football team as national champions in Florida after their undefeated, 13-0 season. The UCF Knights beat the Auburn Tigers 34-27 in the Peach Bowl on New Years Day. This season, the Auburn Tigers beat both the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide, who are playing in the last game of the College Football Playoff.
“Florida is home to the country’s best college football, and this season, UCF proved to the world that they can beat any team. By having a perfect season and beating the only team that defeated both Alabama and Georgia this season, the UCF Knights are clearly champions,” Scott said.
Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
PR Guro Wants To Declare UCF Football Dominance
January 8, 2018
Tallahassee public-relations guru Kevin Cate has pushed Florida lawmakers the past couple years to acknowledge the existence of his alma mater, Alabama’s Auburn University, through a specialty license plate.
Now he is trying to round up legislators to proclaim the University of Central Florida as college football national champions after the Knights beat Auburn last Monday to complete an undefeated season.
“I think a resolution by the Florida Legislature declaring @UCF Football national champions is in order this #flsession.” Cate tweeted after UCF’s 34-27 win in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Rep. Amber Mariano, a Hudson Republican and 2017 UCF grad, replied “Let’s do it!!”
Rep. Bob Cortes, R-Altamonte Springs, along with Rep. Kionne McGhee, D-Miami, and Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, have also offered to back the proposal — although, McGhee added a caveat to his support.
“If Alabama wins the Championship, we will begin the debate that @UCF_Football is our National Champ!” McGhee tweeted, referring to the championship game between SEC rivals Alabama and Georgia.
Undefeated and unacknowledged is apparently something Auburn fans know all too well, having twice finished with perfect records — in 1993 and in 2004 — without landing a No. 1 national ranking.
“I’m normally an apologist for the #SEC, but my last football season at @AuburnU, we were undefeated and denied a shot at the national title,” Cate tweeted. “Not fun.”
But this love for the Knights could also be a ploy, as Cate hasn’t given up on the Auburn specialty license-plate dream he shares with Rep. James Grant, a Tampa Republican and fellow Auburn alum.
“Late filed amendment: require @CFBPlayoff to include 10 teams, plus we still get our @AuburnU license plate,” Cate tweeted.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Pete Shinnick Named D2 National Coach of the Year
January 6, 2018
University of West Florida head football coach Pete Shinnick was named the D2Football.com National Coach of the Year, while standouts Marvin Conley and John Williamson were recognized as part of the organization’s All-America Team.
Shinnick led the Argonauts to an 11-4 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game in their second season of competition. UWF went 5-3 in the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference to finish tied for second. The Argonauts won a school record six-consecutive games which included five against nationally ranked teams en route to the title game appearance.
The Argos had the nation’s 20th-ranked defense and were in the top 20 in sacks, turnovers gained, interceptions, fumbles recovered, fourth down defense and defensive touchdowns. Much of that was due to first-year defensive coordinator Darian Dulin’s group, including Conley and Williamson.
Conley was one of the top defensive backs in the country, finishing with a team-high 104 tackles, four interceptions, six pass break ups, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. The junior from Tampa had at least five tackles in 11 of 15 games this season, in addition to a pair of interception returns for a touchdown.
Williamson had 70 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. He established a new Gulf South Conference single-season record for sacks as well. The junior from Stockton, Alabama had at least one sack in each of the last seven games with 12 total over that time frame.
Both players were voted onto the honorable mention list after earning second team All-America accolades last month from the Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association.
Molino Ballpark Spring Registration Now Underway
January 5, 2018
It’s time to register to play ball at the Molino Ballpark.
Registration will be held at the park every Saturday from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Practices will begin February 5, so players must register by Saturday, January 27 in order to play this year.
NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Youth Sports Thriving at Escambia County Parks
December 30, 2017
More than 1,000 local youth participated in football and cheerleading this season at Escambia County athletic parks, offering children and teens opportunities to develop athletic skills and make friends in a fun, structured environment.
Through partnerships between the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department and local youth sports associations, youth participate each fall in football, cheerleading and flag football at several county-owned parks.
Escambia County Parks and Recreation Director Michael Rhodes said the department is proud to partner with local athletic associations to offer sports to local youth, and it wouldn’t be possible without the many volunteers who dedicate their time to the programs.
“The parks and recreation department knows the importance of youth involvement in athletics and other recreation programs and knows the benefits that can be reaped throughout childhood and teenage years when involved in athletics at a young age,” Rhodes said. “Without the volunteer support and long hours put in by these parents, relatives and friends, youth sports in Escambia County would not thrive as it does today.”
And for the kids and teenagers who participate, youth sports represent so much more than just a game, said League Commissioner Brian Reed with the North West Florida Youth Sports Alliance. Just wrapping up its fourth season, the league has about 125 teams in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties with more than 4,000 youth ages 5-14 participating, Reed said.
“I don’t think anybody puts enough emphasis on what youth sports does,” Reed said. “It goes beyond just the game…It provides them an activity to do, but I think more than that it’s providing them positive role models, and they’re learning the sport the correct way. I think the guys who are out here involved, they’re out here trying to make a positive influence on the youth.”
Reed said the partnership between the league and the county is essential to keeping football and cheerleading programs running, especially when it comes to maintaining fields so the athletes have a safe place to play. The Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department always works hard to keep up the fields and quickly address any issues as they arise, Reed said.
“They take so much weight off of my guys, the guys that are running these parks,” Reed said. “I don’t know what we would do without the parks and recreation department. Anytime I have an issue or one of my parks has an issue, I just pick up the phone and it’s handled. It’s a priceless, symbiotic relationship.”
Youth football and cheerleading finished their approximately four-month season in November, and the youth flag football league kicked off shortly after at Escambia County’s Ashton Brosnaham Athletic Park.
Along with football teams, each ballpark also has cheerleaders who participate through the Emerald Coast Cheer Association, cheering at each game and taking part in an annual cheer competition. The cheer association has athletes in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, with participants ranging from ages 4-14.
Emerald Coast Cheer Association President Andi DeVito said the program focuses on skill progression, with the rules established to prepare young athletes to enter high school cheer programs.
DeVito said the importance of youth cheerleading and other sports is huge, and she hopes to continue to grow the cheer program in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
“Kids need to have some kind of organized social interaction, whether it’s a sport or some kind of program to be involved in,” DeVito said. “And being involved in community recreational programs makes those kids a part of our community – they’re our future leaders.”
Escambia County provides its facilities to youth sports organizations, and Rhodes said the county is happy to support them in their continuous efforts in the community.
“Ultimately, the parks and recreation department is pleased that we can have parks under our purview that offer several options to parents, whether it be tackle football, flag football, cheerleading, lacrosse or other sports,” Rhodes said. “This supports our goal of being involved in youth sports and its tremendous benefits to young people in our community.”
