Tate Aggies Crush The PHS Tigers 54-0 (With Photo Gallery)
September 2, 2023
The Tate Aggies crushed the Pensacola High Tigers 54-0 Friday night at Madison Field.
It came on the heels of a big 48-21 Aggie game one loss to Pine Forest. But boy what a difference a week can make.
“Last week, we faced adversity, and the question is after you get a little humble pie, how will you respond? I thought out kids responded well,” head coach Rhett Summerford said. “I’m really proud of the week of practice they had; the seniors really stepped up.”
“I told them this week, the message was I’m going to do everything I can for you, you do everything you can for me, and that’s how we’re building.”
For an action photo gallery, click or tap here. Look for a gallery with fans, the band and cheerleaders in the coming days.
The Aggies were first on the board with a 25-yard touchdown run from senior Andre Colston followed by a 28-yard dash from Colston to make it 14-0.
Tate increased their lead to 21-0 on a 55-yard Christian Nepton run on a pass from Taite Davis. Colston rounded out the Aggie first quarter onslaught from five yards out, 28-0.
In the second quarter, Tate scored again from 47-yards out on a Davis hand off to Carson Secchiari.
The Aggies added a safety with about eight minutes remaining in the half to make it 37-0, and Jackson Clarke kicked a 40-yard field goal with seconds to go before band time .
Next week, it’s a battle of the brothers as the Rhett Summerford’s Tate Aggies (1-1) host Wes Summerford’s Northview Chiefs (0-2) Thursday night in Cantonment. The Chiefs are coming off losses in Alabama to Escambia County and Flomaton.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Blue Devils Top The Northview Chiefs
September 2, 2023
The Escambia County Blue Devils downed the Northview Chiefs 26-14 Friday night in Atmore.
Down 14-0, the Chiefs had a 27-yard run by Devin Kelly to make it 14-7. In the third quarter, Northview tied it up at 14-14 with a 30-yard touchdown run from Wyatt Scruggs, but the Blue Devils then added a dozen unanswered points.
Northview head coach Wes Summerford said the Chiefs simply had too many costly mistakes.
“I just think we gave them too many opportunities on offense,” Summerford said. “Our defense was on the field all night. We turned the ball over. We’ve done that two games in a row. You can’t make those kind of mistakes. We played two good football games, and you can’t do that. We’re going to have to fix it.”
When asked what the Chiefs can take from this game moving forward, Summerford said the little things from the contest.
“We’ll get better at that,” he said. “We’ve got a young group. We’ve got some young guys playing, and we’ve got to grow up in a hurry. It’s going to take some games under our belt, but we’ll get better.”
Next week, it’s a battle of the brothers as the Rhett Summerford’s Tate Aggies (1-1) host Wes Summerford’s Northview Chiefs (0-2) Thursday night in Cantonment. The Aggies beat Pensacola High School 54-0 Friday night.
The Blue Devils (2-0) will travel to Satsuma next Friday night.
Photos by Andrew Garner/Atmore Advance for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
No. 7 UWF Silences Kentucky Wesleyan, 35-3, In Game One Of Kaleb Nobles Era
September 2, 2023
In a year defined by newness, seventh-ranked UWF played like the best version of its old self in a 35-3 blowout win over Kentucky Wesleyan in the season opener for both squads Friday night.
West Florida (1-0) dominated in every phase of the game, racking up 403 yards of total offense while holding the Panthers (0-1) to just 168. The Argos out-rushed the run-heavy Panthers 142 yards to 128 and out-passed them 261 to 40.
“Super excited about how our team played,” first-year head coach Kaleb Nobles said. “They did a great job of competing, chasing the football, what I’ve talked about all fall camp since I’ve been here. Just did a great job of being relentless on defense, being very efficient on offense – running the ball like I thought we should.”
The Argos were a model of methodical success on offense, getting off 66 plays from scrimmage despite the best efforts of Kentucky Wesleyan to burn clock with a deliberate, run-based offense.
Senior quarterback Peewee Jarrett completed 19-of-22 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a pair of first-half scores.
Jarrett, who wowed Pen Air Field crowds with his immense arm in 2022, was a bit more judicious with the deep ball Friday night, partially due to a Panther secondary that erred on the side of preventing big plays.
He still completed his share of deeper throws, including a 51-yarder, but was more willing to take what the Kentucky Wesleyan defense gave him. The end result was an efficiency that served as an early indicator that Jarrett is on his way to achieving one of his and Nobles’ primary goals for 2023.
“Coach Nobles came to me right away and one of the first conversations we had he said I probably left 600 to a thousand yards on the field last year,” Jarrett said. “Plays I could have made getting the ball out quicker, so that was something. If the defense is going to give it, we’re just going to take it.”
Jarrett added, “They were playing really off, didn’t want us to beat them over the top, and we just took everything underneath.”
The West Florida defense proved as dominant as its offensive counterpart, limiting the Panthers to just 10 first downs, forcing four fumbles, and sacking Kentucky Wesleyan quarterback Christian Arrambide twice.
Defensive back Virgil Lemons, a newcomer making his first appearance for UWF after transferring in from UNC-Pembroke, hauled in a key early interception that set up the Argos’ first score.
But it was junior linebacker and UWF mainstay Will Breland who paced the UWF defense, registering seven tackles.
Byron Puryer and John McMullen, both transfers making their Argo debuts, added four tackles and a sack apiece.
“We were all very eager about getting this first game,” Breland said. “We have a lot of athletes, a lot of great players, but we haven’t played together yet. So, it was really good to get that first game under our belt playing together, rushing to the ball. Made some mistakes, but … did a lot of great things. We’re going to clean up on it and come back even better next week.”
It was a big night for Nobles, too, as he made his head coaching debut before a sellout crowd of 4,068 at Pen Air Field.
“I’m just very blessed to be here,” Nobles said. “Very excited to be here. But, really, it’s because of the players. I’m super excited to be here because of guys like Peewee, guys like Will Breland. Everybody downstairs in that locker room. So excited to be the leader of them … I told them yesterday that I am so proud to be their head coach. And I tell them all the time that I love them, because I want them to know that I care about them more than just what they are doing on the field. This is a great opportunity and great university to have the chance to be the head coach.”
The game was all but decided by half as the Argos scored twice in the first quarter and once in the third and took a 21-3 lead into the break.
C.J. Wilson, whose 540-yard, 12-touchdown 2022 made him the most experienced returning tailback for West Florida, carried the ball nine times for 39 yards and a touchdown.
In the receiving corps, John Jiles, a senior transfer from Virginia Union, caught six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown while Caden Leggett (4-34), Zac Offord (3-48), and KJ Franklin (3-47) gave the Panther secondary fits all game.
Next up for the Argos will be a Sept. 9 visit to McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois.
Photo Emily Miller/UWF for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mesa’s Walk-off Homer Sends Wahoos To 6-4 Win
September 2, 2023
Victor Mesa Jr. has enjoyed a flair for dramatics at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The centerfielder did it again in a big way Friday night following a lengthy rain delay and tied game, blasting a towering, 2-out, 2-run, walk-off home run over the right field wall to lift the Blue Wahoos to a 6-4 victory against the Chattanooga Lookouts.
It was his second homer of the game and his second walk-off homer this season. On July 22, he blasted the first walk-off grand slam in franchise history in a 12-8 win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas. It also became the Blue Wahoos’ third walk-off win via a home run this season.
This one, however, may have been the most satisfying.
After taking a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning, the Blue Wahoos were tied in the eighth inning when a massive storm struck the ballpark. It happened after the Lookouts were retired in order in top of the eighth.
A 1-hour, 9-minute delay ensued.
Blue Wahoos reliever Jefry Yan earned his third win with some clutch pitching in the ninth inning and a great defensive play by Blue Wahoos left fielder Tanner Allen, a Mobile native.
Yan allowed a lead-off single, then committed a balk to move the Lookouts’ Matheu Nelson into scoring position at second. But Yan got next batter James Free to pop out. The Lookouts’ Ivan Johnson followed with a liner to left that Allen caught with a sensational dive, then threw out Nelson before he got back to second to end the inning on a double play.
With two outs, none on in the bottom of the ninth, Nasim Nuñez drew a walk. Nuñez was playing in his first game in more than a week after sustaining an injury against Biloxi. He came back by going 3-for-4, all singles, plus reaching on the pivotal walk in the ninth.
Mesa followed by hitting a low fastball from reliever Steve Branch high into the thick air, then having the wind continue to carry the moon shot over the right field wall to end the game.
The Lookouts’ right fielder Rece Hinds, a former Niceville High star returning to Northwest Florida for the first time, had a big night with a pair of solo homers that helped Chattanooga back into the game.
The Blue Wahoos jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on Mesa’s solo blast over the right-center wall before newcomer Jake Thompson connected on a two-run single. He joined the club Friday from the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate, the Beloit Sky Carp.
Cody Morissette provided the Blue Wahoos their fourth run with a solo homer in the fourth inning. But the Lookouts bullpen kept Pensacola in check until the ninth.
It was only the Blue Wahoos’ second win in nine games against the Lookouts, who suffered a six-game sweep three weeks ago in Chattanooga and won the Southern League North Division first half title.
The game was stopped at 8:43 p.m. before the Blue Wahoos batted in the bottom of the eighth inning. The grounds crew consisting of Blue Wahoos front office staff raced to get the tarp on the field before the rain fell.
The Blue Wahoos will now try to win another in the fifth game between the teams on Saturday. Blue Wahoos lefthander Jonathan Bermúdez (3-5, 5.07 ERA) will go against Chattanooga righty Chase Petty, making his Double-A debut.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Bonus Photos: Northview, Flomaton Bands And Cheerleaders
September 1, 2023
The Northview Chiefs took on the Flomaton Hurricanes last Friday night.
For a bonus photo gallery with the bands and cheerleaders, click here.
For a game action story and photos, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Wahoos Quieted By Aguiar, Lookouts In 7-1 Loss
September 1, 2023
If not for three misplaced fastballs, Luis Palacios had a pitching line as good as any of his starts this season.
Unfortunately for him, that trio decided the game.
A rough first inning that included two home runs was later followed by a two-run bomb in the seventh in the Chattanooga Lookouts’ eventual 7-1 victory at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
In between those two innings, Palacios faced the minimum 15 batters. He allowed just one hit – a second inning single by Ivan Johnson, who was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a double. It was part of five consecutive innings when Palacios retired Chattanooga in order.
At that point, the Blue Wahoos trailed just 3-1. Will Banfield hit a fourth inning homer in his 2-for-4 night at the plate.
The Blue Wahoos managed just four hits off Lookouts starter Julian Aguiar, who worked into the eighth inning, striking out 12 of the 23 batters he faced. He did not allow a walk, improving to 4-3 with 3.47 earned run average.
The Lookouts tacked on a pair of unearned runs against Blue Wahoos reliever Chandler Jozwiak in the eighth, after a leadoff walk and a pair of infield errors.
With their win, the Lookouts (67-55 overall) took a 2-1 lead in the series that now shifts to the weekend.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Weather Clouds Wahoos’ Rallies In 4-2 Loss
August 31, 2023
With the sun still shining and rain falling, a brilliant rainbow formed before the game above Blue Wahoos Stadium.
That became the best bit of fortune Wednesday with the Blue Wahoos.
After Chattanooga jumped to a 4-0 lead amid some inclement weather, the Blue Wahoos halved the deficit, but left runners in scoring position in the final four innings of a 4-2 loss against the Lookouts.
In each of the last four innings, the Blue Wahoos had two runners on base, but were unable to get a two-out hit or a big blast to change the game.
The Blue Wahoos collected nine hits in the game, including seven of the nine batters in the lineup with at least one hit, but were unable to get a big inning.
Norel González had a pair of singles. Newcomer Tanner Allen, a Mobile area native, playing in his eighth game in the outfield, hit his first home run for the Blue Wahoos with a solo blast in the fifth inning. Catcher Paul McIntosh scored the team’s other run on a balk after moving to third on a wild pitch.
Starting pitcher Patrick Monteverde matched his second-shortest outing with 4.2 innings in a hard-luck loss. He gave up a leadoff triple to the Lookouts’ star centerfielder Blake Dunn, one of the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospects. Dunn then scored on a wild pitch. The Lookouts got three more runs against Monteverde in the second inning with Francisco Urbaez hitting a two-run homer as the big hit.
Three Blue Wahoos relievers – Caleb Wurster, Matt Pushard and Josan Méndez – combined to give up just two hits the rest of the way.
The Lookouts made several big defensive plays to take away hits and right fielder Rece Hinds, a former star at Niceville High, threw out Pensacola’s Cobie Fletcher-Vance in the third inning with a laser throw to the plate as Fletcher-Vance tried to score on a fly ball.
Cody Morissette hit a deep ball to the base of the right-center wall that just missed a homer and Victor Mesa Jr. was robbed on a leaping line-drive catch.
It was that kind of night for the home team.
The third game of the series will be Thursday.
by Bill Vilona, photo Nino Mendez / Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Blue Wahoos Beat Lookouts 9-7 In Opener
August 30, 2023
Injuries to shortstop José Devers and second baseman Nasim Nuñez have created a void in middle of the Blue Wahoos infield.
Josh Zamora stepped up in a memorable Double-A debut Tuesday to fill a need at shortstop and help deliver a 9-7 victory against the Chattanooga Lookouts in the series opener at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Zamora, 24, signed last year as undrafted free agent from the University of Nevada, collected hits in his first two at-bats for the Blue Wahoos, including a two-run single in the fourth inning and later reached on a walk to complete a 2-for-3 welcome. Zamora joined the Blue Wahoos last Saturday from the Beloit Sky Carp – the Miami Marlins’ High-A affiliate.
He was in the lineup Sunday when the game was halted in the first inning by a thunderstorm and did not resume.
His two RBI provided a 6-0 lead Tuesday for Pensacola, following a three-run homer by Will Banfield in the third inning and Bennett Hostetler’s solo blast in the second.
It also changed the narrative of this season’s matchup against Chattanooga.
The Lookouts took all six games three weeks ago in Chattanooga, which became the first time the Blue Wahoos were swept in a six-game series. It led to a record-tying nine-game losing streak.
In that series, the Blue Wahoos led for just two innings the entire week. Tuesday night, they jumped to a quick lead and expanded it.
And since that nine-game slide, the Blue Wahoos (68-51) have resembled the team that cruised to a first-half division win and put together the best overall record in the Southern League. They won two of the final three games against Montgomery in the last homestand, then took four of the five games played at Biloxi.
They got a superlative start Tuesday from righthander M.D. Johnson, who continues to pitch his best at Blue Wahoos Stadium. He worked into the sixth inning, allowing just two hits and two runs with eight strikeouts and two walks.
The Blue Wahoos opened a 9-2 lead in the seventh inning on a two-run double by Norel González and a sacrifice fly by Cody Morissette. They made the most of six hits to score the nine runs.
Closer Jefry Yan battled through a rocky ninth. After allowing a three-run homer that trimmed the deficit to two runs, Yan struck out the next two batters before a single and hit batter put the tying run on first base. But he struck out Austin Callahan to end the game and leaped off the mound with excitement.
The series continues Wednesday.
Tate Lil Aggies Cheer Camp, Northview Mini Chief Cheer Camp Both Coming Soon
August 29, 2023
Youth cheerleading clinics are coming up at both Tate and Northview high schools.
TATE HIGH SCHOOL
The Tate High School Lil Aggies Fall Cheer Clinic will be Saturday, September 16 from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a parent showcase at noon.
The deadline to register is Wednesday, September 1.
All Lil Aggie athletes will receive an Exclusive 2023 Lil Aggie t-shirt and a Lil Aggie hair bow. In addition, they will receive free admission into the varsity football game on Friday, September 29, 2023, where they will get to participate in the pregame runout and cheer the first quarter of the game with the Tate Varsity Cheerleaders.
The Lil’ Aggies Fall Cheer Clinic will teach athletes proper stretch techniques, Tate sideline cheers, proper jump techniques and motion placement, as well as stunting and tumbling skill building. All Lil Aggies will be provided with a snack and drink as they leave the cheer clinic.
NORTHVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
The Northview Mini Chief Cheerleading Clinic will be held September 8 and September 22 from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m.
The cost is $35 per child with snacks and drinks included. Campers or teams will learn individual cheer skills, partner stunts, a spirit dance and have fun. They will also have a chance to cheer with the Northview cheerleaders under the Friday night lights at an upcoming football game.
Attendees should have comfortable clothes and tennis shoes. Questions? Email lauren.ashleymccall@yahoo.com
Pictured: The 2023 Lil Aggies Summer Cheer Camp. File photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Blue Wahoos, Shuckers Canceled in Biloxi After Just Two Batters
August 28, 2023
Only two batters into the series finale between the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Biloxi Shuckers, rain forced the delay and eventual cancellation of Sunday’s game at MGM Park. As it was the final regular season matchup between the two teams, the game will not be made up.
Victor Mesa Jr. singled against Carlos Rodriguez to lead off the ballgame, and before Jacob Berry could complete his at-bat, a rapid arrival of intense rain prompted the teams to take cover.
After an off day Monday, the Blue Wahoos begin a six-game home series against the Chattanooga Lookouts on Tuesday.
written by Erik Bremer