Northwest Florida and Poarch youth football teams have formed a new conference with six other local teams with action starting Saturday, Aug. 24.

The new conference is called the Escambia River Conference and consists of the eight teams split into two divisions, an East and West.

Both Poarch and NWE are in the West Division, along with teams from Uriah and Excel. Flomaton, East Brewton, Baker and Jay make up the East part of the conference.

The season kicks off with a jamboree at W.S. Neal for both NWE and Poarch. The first regular season game kicks off on Saturday, Aug. 31.

NWE will travel to Baker for that first game. On Sept. 7 they travel to Uriah before hosting Poarch on Sept. 14.

They host Excel on Sept. 21 and Uriah on Sept. 28 before traveling to Excel on Oct. 5 and Poarch on Oct. 12.

Poarch coach Melvin Middleton said a complete schedule for his team’s games hasn’t yet been released. He said he likes the new conference.

“I think it’ll work well,” Middleton said. “It allows us to play a few more games than we usually would and doesn’t stretch the season out too much.”

Registration for both teams is ongoing. Middleton said anyone interested in signing up for the team can do so by filling out a form on the PCI Recreation Department website, or coming by the recreation center.

NWE has three signup days remaining for football and cheerleading, said coach Greg Gibson. That’s today from 8 a.m. to noon in front of the Ernest Ward Elementary School gym and 8 a.m. to noon at Nadine McCaw Park in Century.

Those two locations will host signups again on July 20 from 8 a.m. to noon. The last signup day is all day July 27 at Bradberry Park in Walnut Hill. Those who can’t bring a child to register those days can call 850-449-3185 to make an appointment to register.

The total registration with uniforms is $110 for football and $95 for cheerleading.

2013 schedule:

Aug. 31    @Baker
Sept. 7     @Uriah
Sept. 14    Poarch
Sept. 21    Excel
Sept. 28    Uriah
Oct. 5    @Excel
Oct. 12    @Poarch