- November 28, 2024
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With a spot in the playoffs clinched, Seabreeze can now look ahead to the Nov. 1 showdown with Mainland — a game that will determine the District 9-6A champion.
BY ANDREW O'BRIEN | SPORTS EDITOR
Charles Nelson was named Seabreeze’s Homecoming King. Minutes later, he ran up to scoop the second-half kickoff and took it 70 yards to the house. Talk about a pretty cool few minutes.
“I was actually supposed to be out of the game, but I just asked coach if I could get a touchdown — one series on defense or something — and he told me go in on kickoff return,” Nelson said after the game, as his Homecoming King Crown was placed atop his head. “I didn’t expect to get the ball, but hey, I picked it up and tried to make something happen.”
Nelson certainly made something happen, but his lone touchdown on the night was just icing on the cake as Seabreeze (6-1, 3-0 District 9-6A) rolled past Pine Ridge, 49-7, on Homecoming night. The win guarantees Seabreeze is headed back to the state playoffs. It also sets up next week’s game vs. Mainland (7-1, 3-0 District 9-6A) as one of the most-anticipated games in recent history.
The winner of the Nov. 1 game between Seabreeze and Mainland will be crowned as the district champion.
Seabreeze actually got off to a rough start in the first quarter Friday night, allowing Pine Ridge (0-8, 0-3 District 9-6A) to drive the ball to start the game. Seabreeze then gave the Panthers another offensive possession after quarterback Connor Blair couldn't handle a low snap.
“Our biggest thing was we wanted to make sure we stayed healthy,” Seabreeze coach Marc Beach said. “It’s kind of a trap game as they call it ... because it’s hard not to.”
The Sandcrabs got on the board with 2:58 to go in the first quarter thanks to Josh Stevens’ four-yard touchdown run. About six minutes later, Blair hit Scotty Harris on a screen pass on second-and-15. Harris did the rest, juking and jiving his way 55 yards for the score to give Seabreeze a 14-0 lead with about eight minutes to go in the first half.
Three minutes later, Blair hit Raushod Floyd for a 32-yard touchdown pass. Floyd also had a 15-yard touchdown catch.
Blair finished the game 9for-18 for 193 yards, three TDs and one interception. All of that came in the first half.
Up 21-0 with about two minutes to go in the first half, Stevens scored on a 60-yard touchdown run. He finished the game with 144 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. He also had 19 receiving yards.
The second half was played under a running clock. Seabreeze’s backups came on in the third quarter after Nelson returned the kickoff for a touchdown.
Nelson finished with 57 yards receiving and three yards rushing.
Seabreeze and Mainland will play 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1, at the Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach.
For more coverage, see Thursday's edition of the Ormond Beach Observer.
