New Football District For Northview: NHS And Jay Now Both In 1A
January 17, 2009
The Northview Chiefs and the Jay Royals might just become big football rivals now that the two teams are in the same football district.
The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) has released the final district alignments for both the 2009 and 2010 football seasons.
In preliminary district alignments released in December, Northview remained in District 1-2B. Under a FHSAA rule that allows schools to “play down” one district, the Chiefs requested to be moved down one district to District 1-1A, the same district as the Royals.
“I’m excited for our kids and our program,” Northview Heach Coach Cody Keene said after the FHSAA district announcements Friday. “There will not be as much travel, and I think that will be good for our program.”
In addition to Northview, District 1-1A also includes Baker, Bozeman (Southport), Freeport, Holmes County (Bonifay), Sneads, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) and Vernon.
“Some of the schools are still a good distance, but it will be better for us,” Keene said. “We will be able to focus more on football. It will be a very competitive district.”
Keene said that he hopes Northview can develop a few strong rivalries within the district, like the Jay Royals.
Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, comprised primarily of schools with 521 or fewer students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications, but schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
Football fans in Pensacola will likely see a few more rivalries develop under the new classifications. District 1-4A will include Crestview, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Tate. Class 4A includes schools with 1,740 to 2,014 students.
Volleyball Tournament Benefits EWMS Cheerleaders
January 4, 2009
A nine team coed volleyball tournament was held Saturday at the First Baptist Church of Bratt. All proceeds from the tournament will be used to help the Ernest Ward Middle School Cheerleaders attend the national finals
For a photo gallery from the tournament, click here.
Pictured above and below: Action from a volleyball tournament held to benefit the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Teams Still Needed For Coed Volleyball Tournament
December 29, 2008
At least four more teams are needed for coed volleyball tournament to raise funds to help the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders travel to the national finals early next year.
The volleyball tournament will be Saturday, January 3 at the First Baptist Church of Bratt Family Life Center. The tournament is for four person teams, with a $10 per player entry fee. All the proceeds will go to the EWMS cheerleaders.
To signup, or for more information, contact Amy Holland at (850) 327-4744 or (850) 516-8400 as soon as possible.
New High School Football Districts Finalized; Northview Joins Jay In 1A
December 16, 2008
The FHSAA announced new football classifications Monday, with Northview and Jay remaining in the same classifications.
Due to declining enrollment, Pensacola’s Catholic High School dropped into Northview’s District 1-2B. Besides Catholic, it will be another season of long road trips for Northview’s away district games. Other teams in District 1-2B of the Florida High School Athletic Association include Bozeman (Southport), Chipley, Marianna, South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach) and Walton (Defuniak Springs).
Class 2B includes schools with 522 to 1014 students. Northview had 544 students during the October week used by the FHSAA to determine the new classifications.
Jay remains in District 1-1A with Baker, Freeport, Holmes County (Bonifay), Sneads and Vernon. Class 1A is Florida’s smallest, with schools with 258 or less students.
Football fans in Pensacola will likely see a few more rivalries develop under the new classifications. District 1-4A will include Crestview, Escambia, Milton, Pace, Pine Forest and Tate. Class 4A includes schools with 1,740 to 2,014 students.
The FHSAA staff prepared an eight-district plan for Classifications 6A through 3A as passed by the Board of Directors in November. But an FHSAA release said there was extensive travel within this plan so the FHSAA staff made a unanimous decision to change to the new 16-district format. If the eight district plan had been approved, several districts would have teams making multiple trips in a single football season from Jacksonville to Pensacola or Niceville.
Schools will have until noon on January 9, 2009, to submit written requests for reassignment to a different classification and/or district if they believe the change is warranted. Schools have the option of playing in its assigned classification or one classification higher. Schools in the lower 10% of the population breakdown of each classification have the option of playing down one classification if it is deemed more suitable for district travel reasons.
The final football district assignments will be made on January 16 of next year.
Northview, Atmore Schools Score Cash With FNB&Trust Points Club
December 12, 2008
The First National Bank and Trust in Atmore distributed Points Club funds to area schools Thursday afternoon, paying out cash for points that three area schools earned at each home football game.
Each football program received $50 for each touchdown and $25 for each field goal scored during a home football game. Escambia County High School received $700; Escambia Academy earned $450. Northview High School was awarded $350.
Pictured above: Northview High School Head Coach Cody Keene receives a $350 Points Club check from the First National Bank and Trust Thursday afternoon. Pictured (L-R) are: Jessica Peebles, Tracy Hodgen, NHS Coach Cody Keene, Jean Nisewonger, Kathy Holland and Brandon Johnson. Pictured below, left photo: Tracy Hodgen presents a check to Escambia Academy Coach Heath Gibson. Pictured below, right: ECHS Principal Harvey Means (L) and Coach Kyle Davis recieve a check from Andrea Lassitter. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Challenger Award Presented To Area Football Players
December 9, 2008
Several North Escambia area football players were among those honored Monday night at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Banquet.
Luke Killam from Northview High School, Samuel Mize from Flomaton High School, Blake Kirk from Escambia Academy, Jake Sasser from Jay High School and Everette Lockman from Tate High School each received one of the 23 Challenger Awards presented by the FCA.
The 40th annual event, held at the Pensacola Civic Center, hosted members of 23 football teams from across South Alabama and Northwest Florida, including the Northview Chiefs. About 1,500 people attended the annual event.
R.V. Brown, president and founder of Outreach to America’s Youth was the keynote speaker.
Pictured above: Northview senior Luke Killam, one of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ Challenger Award Winners. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Northview High School Holds Cross County Banquet
December 6, 2008
Northview High School recently held its Cross Country Banquet at the school.
Winners included the Junmi Ross Winner Jessica Bloodworth and the Jim Ross Winner Clint Davis, and the MVR (Most Valuable Runner) Coty Chance. Coaches Award Winners were Blake Luker, Dustin Lewis and Dixie Carnely.
Pictured above: The Northview High School Cross Country Team. Pictured inset above: MVR (Most Valuable Runner Coty Chance. Pictured below: Coaches Award Winners (L-R) Blake Luker, Dixie Carnely and Dustin Lewis. Pictured bottom: Jumni Ross Winner Jessica Bloodsworth and Jim Ross Winner Clint Davis. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com.
A Fun SEC Championship Weekend: Local Husband Is Florida Gator Fan; His Wife Is Alabama Fan
December 5, 2008
Saturday’s SEC Championship Game will pit the Crimson Tide against the Gators, and Amy against Wayne.
Around the Holland household in Bratt, football is a big deal. Wife Amy Holland is a die hard Alabama fan, and husband Wayne Holland is a Florida Gator fan through and through.
And that, as you might guess, has made thing interesting around the Holland home this week.
“You know the Gators are going win,” Wayne said. “They are going to spank ‘em. Florida has the total package.”
“Bama will win,” Amy said, “and get another coach fired. We’ve got three coaches fire so far this year, and we are going to get another one.”
“That coach thing isn’t going to happen,” he said.
An Alabama flag is flying outside their home this year. That’s because Alabama is the only undefeated Southeastern Conference team, she said.
Wayne admits that he OK with Amy’s loyalty to the Crimson Tide. They attend a few Alabama games during the year simply because they are closer. “I support them as long as they don’t play Florida,” he said.
There is a friendly little bet on Saturday’s game.
“Whoever wins, the other one has to take them out to eat,” she said. “It’s a win, win situation for both of us.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I haven’t decided where I want to eat yet.”
They will start watching the game together on TV. But then Amy will head to Atmore to ride in the truck pulling the Ernest Ward Middle School cheerleaders’ float in the Christmas parade. She’ll listen to the end of the game on a headphone radio.
“I’ll be the crazy woman in the truck screaming things out the window about ‘Roll Tide’,” she said.
Pictured above: Wayne “The Florida Fan” Holland and his wife Amy “Alabama” Holland.
Finalist Tony Ellis Misses State Award
December 5, 2008
Flomaton’s Tony Ellis was a finalist to be Alabama’s 2A back of the year, but the award went to the quarterback from Leroy High School.
The Alabama Sportswriters Association named Leroy quarterback Clint Mosley as the 2A back of the year. Mosley passed for more than 3,000 yards and 33 touchdowns during the Bears’ perfect 14-0 season.
Ellis was named a finalist for the award, thanks to at least 1,500 rushing yards per year for each of the last three years at Flomaton. Ellis, who is 5-fo-9, had over 5,000 rushing yards in his high school career with the Canes. The other 2A finalist for the back of the year was wide receiver Madrecas Hood of Pickens County High School.
The sportswriters group will still pick one of the players from their statewide list as Mr. Football on December 18.
Photos courtesy Mike Newton Photography.
Longtime Ernest Ward High School Coach Inducted Into Hall Of Fame
November 29, 2008
A former longtime North Escambia coach was recently inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame.
Better known as Coach Latham, Joe Latham dedicated his life to sports, making his mark in in his 27 years at Ernest Ward High School. He coached basketball, tennis, baseball and football.
Coach Latham graduated from high school in Maplesville, Ala. in 1939. After serving in World War II, he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1948. He was picked up by the Los Angeles Rams, then went to Detroit as a single-wing fullback before beginning his coaching career.
Coach Latham coached all sports but his favorites were football and baseball. He coached at Walnut Hill, Pass Christian, Miss.; Franklinton, La.; Orville, Ala.; and Wildwood, Fla. He dedicated 36 years of service to young people – 27 years at Walnut Hill. Coach Latham returned to Walnut Hill in 1960 after coaching in south Florida for two years.
He received a number of honors during his career.
He was named Coach of the Year for the Escambia River Conference in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1971.
In 1965, Coach Latham was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, having played fullback there in the 1940s. He was assistant coach for the North All-Star Football Team in 1965.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at his alma mater in Maplesville, Ala.
To honor Coach Latham for his dedication, the Ernest Ward High School stadium was named for him in the 1980’s.
Article and photos courtesy Atmore News.
Pictured top: Coach Joe Latham. Pictured below: Members of the Latham family on hand for the Hall of Fame ceremony were (L-R front) Suzanne Rodgers, Kathryn Rodgers, Laura Latham, Mary Hunter Latham; (L-R middle) Cynthia Rodgers, Evelyn Latham, Carolyn Loggins, Jay Russell, Gary Loggins; (L-R back) Mark Rodgers, Leigh Ann Russell, Joe Latham Jr., Susan Latham. Submitted photos by Atmore News for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
