- November 25, 2024
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Standing at 5-foot-5, Sandcrabs cornerback Evan Williams is one of the smallest players on Seabreeze’s roster.
But he plays much bigger.
“He’s our little pitbull,” Seabreeze coach Pat Brown said. “He plays like a true dog out there.”
Late in the game against Halifax Academy, Williams recovered a fumble in the Knights’ end zone for a touchdown and picked off the Knights’ quarterback on the ensuing drive.
The Sandcrabs (4-2) powered past Halifax 48-0 the night of Friday, Oct. 4, at Daytona Stadium.
“Once we get our heads screwed on right,” Williams said after the game, “we know what we have to do to execute and win. It’s a mindset thing.”
Despite the lopsided score, the Sandcrabs were frustrated in the first quarter after they failed to score. Sandcrabs quarterback Thomas Davidson overthrew a wide open receiver on what would have been almost a sure-touchdown on the first play of the game. On the next play, he was hit by a Knights defensive lineman and picked off.
“We’re trying to get rid of those things,” Brown said. “Once we iron that out, we can be more dominant.”
Receiver Latrae Bass opened the second quarter with a punt return for a touchdown to give Seabreeze its first score of the game.
Chris Stroud, who always played on offense before he made Seabreeze’s varsity team, has played defensive back so far this season for the Sandcrabs, playing sparingly as a reserve.
He scored three touchdowns in his first game playing running back for the Sandcrabs.
“The coaches didn’t know what I could do in the backfield,” he said. “I was able to show out. I did what I had to do.”
Despite picking up their third win in a row, there’s no complacency among Seabreeze’s players and coaching staff. Seabreeze faces New Smyrna Beach at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at New Smyrna Beach High School.
“We can take a lot of positives from this game,” Brown said. “The one thing we have to key in on is coming out more focused. That’s one thing we were preaching to the guys. When we get up, we have to play through the whistle and play smart at the same time.”