Northview’s Ward Receives Offer From Division 1 Mercer University
September 16, 2016
Northview High School senior Luke Ward received his first official offer Thursday evening from Division 1 Mercer University. Mercer University is the oldest private university in Georgia with its main campus in Macon, GA. Pictured: Luke Ward on the phone receiving his first D1 offer from the Mercer University Bears Thursday evening. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Gulf Breeze JV Tops Northview (With Photo Gallery)
September 16, 2016
The Northview High School Chiefs lost to Gulf Breeze 30-6 in junior varsity football action Thursday evening in Bratt. The JV Chiefs will next next host the West Florida Jaguars on September 22 at 6 p.m.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Volleyball: Baker Beats Northview
September 16, 2016
The Northview Chiefs lost to the Baker High School Gators in girls high school volleyball action Thursday.
JV 11-25, 16-25 Baker wins
Varsity 10-25, 18-25, 5-25 Baker wins
The Lady Chiefs will next travel to Escambia High School in Pensacola on Monday before returning home to host Central on Thursday.
Pictured: Junior varsity action as Northview hosted Baker Thursday afternoon in Bratt. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Bonus Gallery: Tate High School Homecoming
September 12, 2016
For a Tate Homecoming 2016 photo gallery, click here.
The photo gallery includes the Homecoming Court, crowning of Homecoming Queen Gloria Jones, the Tate Showband, cheerleaders, ROTC and plenty of football actions shots.
NorthEcscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Bonus Photo Gallery: Northview At Gulf Breeze
September 12, 2016
Click here for a photo gallery from Friday night’s Northview at Gulf Breeze game.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
UWF Football Wins Historic Home Opener
September 11, 2016
Quarterback Kaleb Nobles had a banner day for the University of West Florida football team, in the Argonauts’ 45-28 win over Missouri S&T on Saturday. The UWF defense stood out statistically again, allowing the Miners to total just 42 yards on the ground and keeping the opposition on its toes with six sacks on the day.
The team came out strong on the first drive of its home opener against MST, and the Argonauts never looked back. Nobles connected with freshman receiver Tate Lehtio for a gain of 33 yards in the first drive of the game to set the table for a phenomenal day. The Argonauts would later strike first on a 36-yard field goal from redshirt freshman Austin Peffers.
Nobles would find junior receiver Ishmel Morrow and senior receiver Anas Hasic in the end zone in the first quarter to jump out to a 17-0 lead. The trio of Morrow, Hasic, and Antoine Griffin combined for 19 catches and 425 receiving yards.
Led by linebacker Chris Sakamoto, West Florida would hold the Miners to just 44 total yards of total offense on 17 attempts in the first quarter. Sakamoto led the Argonauts with 11 tackles, and added a sack.
At the start of the second quarter, West Florida free safety Blake Norwood made a smart read, picking off Miners quarterback Tyler Swart. Norwood finished with two interceptions on the day. This would set up a go ahead touchdown for the Argos, as Nobles connected with Antoine Griffin for a 40-yard touchdown.
With West Florida up 24-0 early in the first half, it wouldn’t take long for Missouri S&T to strike back. On the Miners first drive of the second quarter, Swart would respond with an eight play, 77-yard drive, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown run of his own.
With 9:32 remaining in the half, and Missouri S&T trailing West Florida 24-7, the Miners were not going to fold. Missouri S&T would force a West Florida three-and- out, followed by a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown from sophomore Braxton Graham.
Nobles and company would fire back quickly with a 67-yard touchdown pass, extending West Florida’s lead to 31-13. Just before the end of the half, Swart would respond with a 3-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Argonauts would head into the second half with a 31-20 lead.
On West Florida’s second drive of the third quarter, Nobles would again connect with Griffin for his second touchdown of the day. Nobles would find Kevin Grant three minutes later for the quarterbacks sixth touchdown of the day, to put UWF up 45-20.
Nobles finished his career day with six touchdowns, which ranks seventh in GSC history and ties his single-game best. He also finished the day with 503 yards passing, placing him ninth all-time in the conference record books.
The Argonauts will visit Chowan in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, next Saturday, September 17, for the final non-conference game of the season. The game is set for a 6 p.m. ET kickoff.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Winning Season Ends With Loss To Mississippi
September 11, 2016
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos finished with its first winning season in its five-year history with a franchise record 81 wins this year.
But the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate, which won both the first and second halves this season, lost to the Mississippi Braves, 4-2, Saturday, ending its dream to win its first Southern League Championship.
It’s the second year in a row that Pensacola has lost in the opening round of the playoffs. After winning the second half of the season last year, it was swept in three games by the Biloxi Shuckers.
Mississippi’s victory at Trustmark Park earned it a 3-1 South Division playoff title. It advances to play the North Division title winner the Jackson Generals, who beat the Montgomery Biscuits, 8-2, Saturday.
Pensacola’s hitters were shut down by Mississippi’s pitching, generating just 10 runs and 30 hits in the four games. Meanwhile, the Braves scored 23 runs on 47 hits, getting 17 and 11 in the last two games.
In its three losses to the Braves, Pensacola seemed unable to get a clutch hit when it needed one. That was unusual for a team that set a franchise record with 12 walk-offs this season. But in the playoffs, the Blue Wahoos left 23 runners on base and was 5-31 or .161 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
The only player who did come through at the plate against Mississippi for Pensacola was shortstop Zach Vincej. He was 8-17 or .471 with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
On Saturday, Mississippi right-handed starter Lucas Sims struck out the side in the third inning and struck out five of the six batters he faced between the second and third innings. He retired seven in a row. In his five innings of work, Sims allowed just two hits, walked two and struck out six.
He came out after Game 4 in Pearl, Miss., was delayed by rain for just over an hour at the end of the fifth inning.
The Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning for right fielder Connor Lien who singled to right field to drive in second baseman Levi Hyams and left fielder Dustin Peterson to jump out in front, 2-0. Pensacola right fielder Sebastian Elizalde threw to second to catch Lien trying to stretch his single to a double to end the inning.
“They got some big two-out hits and that’s kind of what they did all series,” Pensacola manager Pat Kelly said after the game.
Mississippi third baseman Carlos Franco hit a two out double in the bottom of the third inning off the wall in right field to score Peterson from first to put Braves ahead, 3-0. Franco finished the series 7-15 or .467 with a home run and 6 RBIs.
Pensacola came back in the fourth inning when Elizalde singled to drive in Blandino, who walked, and left fielder Phillip Ervin, who doubled off the center field wall, and pulled the Blue Wahoos within, 3-2.
Mississippi went ahead, 4-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning when center fielder Mallex Smith singled on a ground ball to left field with two outs to score shortstop Johan Camargo. Pensacola reliever Barrett Astin came in and struck out Hyams to end the inning.
“I thought the fourth inning was huge,” Kelly said. “We throw a two-spot on the board, we come back 3-2, and then they score a run. The momentum switches a little bit right there.”
The run chased Pensacola starter Tyler Mahle out of the game. The 21-year-old right hander worked 3.2 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on seven hits and a walk.
In the seventh inning, Pensacola had second baseman Brandon Dixon reach base with a walk and shortstop Zach Vincej earned the Blue Waboos third hit of the game with no outs but they were both stranded on base.
Ervin got his second hit of the game Saturday when he hit a line drive off of Mississippi reliever Caleb Dirks hip in the eighth inning and the fourth in the game for the Blue Wahoos. Ervin went 2-4 in the game.
Aggies Cruise To Homecoming Win Over West Gadsden
September 10, 2016
The Tate Aggies cruised to an easy homecoming win Friday night, 41-6 over West Gadsden.
The game was scoreless until 24 second before the end of the first when Tate took a 7-0 lead. By the half, the Aggies had expanded their lead to 21-0 after touchdowns with 5:42 and 0:50 remaining in the second half. Tate continued to dominate with a 34-0 advantage in the third, with West Gadsden’s only score coming with 4:38 in the third.
Tate (3-0) will be away next week at Pensacola High School.
COMING UP: NorthEscambia.com will publish a photo gallery with football action photos, the band, cheerleaders and the homecoming court by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Northview Plays Up Against Gulf Breeze, Falls 42-0
September 10, 2016
For the second time this season, the Northview Chiefs played up several classifications and against much larger rosters, and for the second time this season the Chiefs were sent home scoreless. The 1A Chiefs lost to the 6A Gulf Breeze Dolphins Friday night, 42-0 in Gulf Breeze.
The loss came two weeks after a road trip to 6A Crestview in which the Chiefs lost 70-0. At 1-2, Northview’s win this season came last week 21-14 against a much similar-sized team from Escambia Academy in Canoe, AL.
Next week, the Chiefs are back home in Bratt as they play host to the Chipley Tigers. The Tigers (0-3) are coming off a 42-8 loss to Blountstown Friday night.
COMING UP: NorthEscambia.com will publish a photo gallery with football action photos, the band, and cheerleaders by Monday.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Gary Amerson, click to enlarge.
Play Ball! Miracle League Open New Baseball Field
September 10, 2016
Members of Impact 100 and the volunteers of the Miracle League of Pensacola celebrated the grand opening of a new baseball field Friday night. The Miracle League of Pensacola provides an opportunity for the physically and mentally challenged to play baseball in a safe and encouraging environment. The generous grant received from IMPACT 100 has provided the resources to create an additional field to service future players and their families. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
