Takeaways from UWF football's annual Fan Day Scrimmage, two weeks before season-opener

The University of West Florida football team is officially less than two weeks out from its season-opener.

The Argos take on McKendree University on Sept. 5 to kick off the 2024 regular season at Pen Air Field. In preparation, UWF hosted its annual Fan Day Scrimmage on Thursday to give the Argo faithful a first look at what the team might look like.

It was more of a situational night – similar to the spring scrimmage – where UWF ran several drives, rotating players each drive, and adding in a few field goals, kickoff returns and punt returns.

“Obviously I feel good about a bunch of positions. I thought the running backs had a good night, running the ball downhill. The offense line did a fairly good job,” UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles said after the scrimmage, noting the team was missing a few offensive linemen who should be starters come the regular season. “The defense played well. I thought our linebackers really flew around. … Two weeks from today, we get to see somebody else. Our guys are certainly excited to play somebody else other than their teammate.”

Nobles added that on Tuesday, UWF is hosting another scrimmage which will be the “mock game-day scrimmage.” It’ll feature the travel and non-travel groups as far as away games, with “gameday uniforms and pre-game warmups” to give players a chance to do it before the first game.

“You get into the groove, and work closer with guys you’re going to go with every single play,” Nobles said. “We’ll be ready for that next week and have a couple days to get ready for it and prepare – they’re looking forward to that too.”

Here are two takeaways from the Fan Day Scrimmage.

No upper-hand on the QB battle, but one thing has to happen on offense

After Nobles gave some insight during the team’s media day on Monday that the quarterback battle was down to Marcus Stokes and Tony Bartalo, the offensive drives where those two quarterbacks were on the field were a perhaps a little more important to keep an eye on.

It took the offense, in general, a little bit to get going and find some rhythm. The Argos only scored twice, with Luis Chafino spinning his way into the endzone on a 20-yard pass, and another 11-yard touchdown pass to a second receiver who’s number was different than normal. Both TD passes came from Bartalo.

“For our offense, we’ve got to start a little hotter. We finish pretty good, and we do a good job of moving the ball as the scrimmage goes on,” Nobles said. “The defense is really good, and that’s part of it. As a head coach, I love it, how good our defense is. As an offensive coach, it’s a little bit tougher because it makes our lives a little more difficult.”

Nobles said neither quarterback got the upper-hand in the position battle for the starting job immediately after the scrimmage, but still had film to watch to possibly get an idea. “I think they both grew tonight,” Nobles added. He also said there was no timeline on the position battle.

“When we’re ready to make a decision, we will,” Nobles said.

Both quarterbacks got the football out pretty quick, getting away from a pressuring defense. The quicker throws allowed the receivers to do the work and make plays – just like Chafino – on hitch routes or short flat routes.

“It’s higher-completion percentage throws. You’re going to take shots every once and awhile, but (those quick throws) are higher-completion percentage throws and it gives those guys a chance to get into a rhythm,” Nobles said. “If you’re a quarterback and you can get into a rhythm, you’re feeling good. Both of those guys did that tonight.”

With massive turnover in the wide receiver room from a year ago – graduating the likes of John Jiles, Caden Leggett and KJ Franklin, who all combined for 2,137 yards receiving and 27 touchdowns – Nobles said it takes awhile to build chemistry, “especially when you’re going against a good defense,” but wide receivers are making strides.

“A lot of guys are making plays. I think we’ve got to do a better job of giving them a chance to go get it, and connecting on the throws from the quarterback position,” Nobles said. “I don’t think we’re far off. They’re still growing.”

The defense is flying around at all positions

UWF’s defense forced a couple key turnovers, with two interceptions coming from redshirt-freshman Ernest Flythe, a defensive back.

But, overall, the Argos’ defense doesn’t look too different from last year, with linebackers and defensive linemen quickly finding the backfield – either tackling a wide receiver or running back behind the line of scrimmage, or getting pressure on or sacking the quarterback (though it was non-contact and merely a one-hand tough at the discretion of the referees).

UWF allowed just 92.7 yards rushing per game last season, and a total of 276.8 yards per game. The Argos also posted 35 total sacks for a loss of 229 yards.

Transfer defensive lineman Traevon Mitchell, who was a First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection from Chowan with 57 tackles and 14 tackles for a loss ( and was second in the GSC behind former UWF defensive lineman John McMullen ), found his way into the backfield a handful of time with a couple of sacks.

The 6-foot, 265-pound player looks to fill in that spot McMullen left open.

“He’s pretty good. I’m not going to comment too much to give people too much info, but he is what he is,” Nobles said. “But, yeah, he’s pretty good.”

The defense does look faster, especially at the linebacker position.

“All of those guys had a pretty good commitment in the offseason to get stronger but not get too bulky. Our defense, you’ve got to be able to run sideline to sideline no matter what linebacker position you’re playing,” Nobles said, highlighting Ralph Ortiz, Kode Lowe, Will Breland, Walker Robinson, Ja’Kobe Clinton and Eddie Whipple. “We’ve got a really good two-deep room that we think can help us win some games.”

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Takeaways from UWF football's annual Fan Day Scrimmage, two weeks before season-opener