Bill Vilona

bvilona@pnj.com

The path to football at the University of West Florida reaches a new high Saturday.

The Argos’ first Blue-White spring game at 11 a.m. on campus will showcase the team, reinforce the awareness and finalize the push for season-ticket sales.

An all-in-one event.

“It’s going to be fun,” said UWF coach Pete Shinnick. “It’s more history. This is really is the biggest milestone moment up until this point, because now all of this (step-by-step process) ends... and we are getting ready for the season.

“It’s like when you played hide-and-seek as a little kid. Ready or not, here I come... And ready or not, here comes our season. We have to be ready and this is the next step in getting there.”

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It’s the final day for UWF supporters to gain priority points toward season-ticket purchases. UWF athletic staff will have a tent set up to answer questions and explain the process.

The spring game also coincides with a student-orientation. Many players from UWF’s 2016 signing class will be watching, along with more prospective players.

The Gulf South Conference has arranged for a group of officials who are training to be full-time league officials to work the game.

“As I told them, maybe 10 years from now this will mean something, but you can always tell people you officiated the first spring game in the history of the University of West Florida,” Shinnick said.

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The game itself will likely last 90 minutes or so. There won’t be tackling or rushing on special teams play. And if there are no red zone or pinned deep situations for the offense (White team), then situational plays will occur before the event concludes.

“It’s really going to be offense vs. defense, but it will look like it’s White vs. Blue,” Shinnick said. “The problem is the Blue won’t go on offense.”

The biggest issue? Offensive line. Or lack of linemen. The Argos began spring drills with 12. They will start the game Saturday with seven.

Among the injured is Northview High grad Blake McCall, a sophomore, who was one of the first players in the program a year ago. His knee injury will sideline him through the season opener Sept. 3. Three other linemen are hurt and the other linemen opted to leave the team.

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The other four players from the Pensacola area will be playing in Saturday’s game. Those are receiver Quintin Randolph (Navarre), free safety Tyrone Jones (Pine Forest), linebacker Jamie Smith (West Florida High) and offensive lineman Devin Gibson (West Florida High).

“I want to see consistent play from the guys, who have risen to the top and are expected to play a lot of minutes for us next year,” Shinnick said. “We want to leave here saying, okay, we know what we’ve got and this person needs to work on this over the summer or somebody new coming in as to do this for us.”

The top running backs in the game figure to be Jaylon Hamer, Tim Bellinger and Jemari Ford.

The quarterbacks will be Grey Jackson, who will get the most snaps, along with Kaleb Nobles and Gunnar Ballant.

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As for receivers, Antoine Griffin III has stood out since the first practice in the fall. Add another, Anas Hasic, a senior transfer from Phoenix, who played at North Carolina Central. But he grew up in Arizona.

When the Argos held their workout Thursday in pouring rain, Hasic told the coaches it was the first time in his life he ever played football in the rain. Which is one of the reasons Shinnick said he was glad they had the AstroTurf field and its quality irrigation to enable it to happen.

“Our guys needed to go through a whole day of that, so we will be used to it if happens again or during a game,” Shinnick said.

WANT TO GO?

WHAT: UWF Blue-White Spring Football Game.

WHEN: Saturday, 11 a.m.

WHERE: University Park AstroTurf Field (located behind UWF Field House and Aquatic Center.

ADMISSION: Free.

SEATING: Bring your own chairs, blankets, to sit on the hillside area that overlooks field.

FORMAT: Simulated game, then some situational plays likely at end of game.

WHAT’S NEXT: Players will work out throughout summer in organized sessions, then full squad preseason practice will begin second week of August.