- November 23, 2024
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Denali Campbell (1) laughs with Milton Sampson Jr. after he scores a touchdown in the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze cheerleaders hold coach Lester Davis up as he does 41 pushups after Denali Campbell scores a touchdown bringing it to 41-16 over Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze captains Micah Karr (7), Luke Cloer (75), Brody Boda (9) and Aiden Ford (70) walk on the field to meet Deltona's captains before the game. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Deltona and Seabreeze captains shake hands with the officials before the coin toss. Aiden Ford (right) Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze cheerleading squad runs off the field after introducing their football team at Deltona High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Deltona's Jaiden Ware (3) attempts to stop Sandcrab Xavier Lucas from receiving the pass from quarterback Hayden Hayes. Photo by Michele Meyers
Brody Boda (9), Gio Mitchell (23) and Drew McNerney take a knee on the sidelines during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze coach Lester Davis (center) talks to Brody Boda (left) and Hayden Hayes (right) during a timeout at the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrabs Johntae Haddock (88) and Amari Peoples ham it up on the sidelines during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Deltona's Jaiden Ware (3) goes up for the pass as Sandcrab Steven Williams runs to cover. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Tyrone Cordare (4) makes the catch as Deltona's Trevor Davis (22) attempts to stop the play. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head coach Lester Davis talks to his players during a timeout in the game against the Deltona Wolves. Photo by Michele Meyers
Micah Karr (7) and his teammates meet with coaches on the sidelines during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head coach Lester Davis celebrates a fumble recovery during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head coach Lester Davis celebrates a fumble recovery with Dylan Hayes (13) and Jesse Shirley (21) during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze running back Tyrone Cordare is pushed out of bounds by Deltona's Angel Santiago (6). Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Jaylen Moore recovers the ball after the punt ricocheted off of a Deltona player. Photo by Michele Meyers
Brogan Kelly (right) congratulates Sandcrab Jaylen Moore (22) for the fumble recovery during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Deltona's Desean Fludd (5) and Koen Bonta (21) try to snatch the ball as Sandcrab Landon Smith makes the touchdown catch. Photo by Michele Meyers
Landon Smith (8) celebrates his touchdown with Milton Sampson Jr. (24) during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Deltona High School band takes the field at halftime. Seabreeze is up 27-8. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Deltona High School band and color guard perform at halftime during the Seabreeze-Deltona football game. Photo by Michele Meyers
Denali Campbell (1) gets a hand on the ball as Deltona runs down field while Micah Karr (7) is in pursuit of the tackle. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Denali Campbell runs along the sideline during the game against Deltona. Campbell scored one touchdown in the game. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze cheerleader Sarah Sandblom did 34 pushups after Hayden Hayes ran the ball in from the 3-yard line making it 34-16 game in the third quarter over Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze cheerleaders get the crowd going during the game against Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Touchdown for Denali Campbell (1) in the game against Deltona. He and teammate Milton Sampson Jr. (24) celebrate on the sidelines. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze cheerleaders hold coach Lester Davis up as he does 41 pushups after Denali Campbell scores a touchdown bringing it to 41-16 over Deltona. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze quarterback Hayden Hayes. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Micah Karr (7) grabs Deltona's Desean Fludd (5) in a low tackle during the game at Deltona High School. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze football team and cheerleaders. Photo by Michele Meyers
Amid a flurry of yellow flags, Seabreeze beat the odds and the Deltona Wolves for its first win of the season, 54-30 on Thursday, Sept. 28.
“Those kids never flinched, not one time, not after one loss,” first-year head coach Lester Davis said. “I think that’s what’s emotional for me. They kept coming.”
After the game, Seabreeze Principal Tucker Harris presented Davis with the game ball. It was Davis’ first win as head coach.
“I think the other activities we do outside of football helps draw us together,” Davis said. “Those things matter. I’ll give (Mainland coach) Travis Roland credit for saying that environment matters. He is absolutely right. These kids notice the family atmosphere. This is more than just football. This is family and we are in this together. That is what I think contributes to them never flinching.”
Tyrone Cordare and Denali Campbell both ran nearly the entire length of the field in the first quarter only to be called back due to penalties. Davis was not deterred by the calls. Both running backs scored touchdowns later in the game.
“That was encouraging,” Davis said. “We had three (touchdowns) called back but, OK, let’s do it again. I tell my kids, don’t be discouraged by those things. That just showed us that we can do it.”
Campbell said they had some ups and downs during the game which meant they would be “back to the drawing board” on Monday. Their goal is to finish the season 6-4 after losing their first four games.
“I’ve got to set a good example for the young cats and I can’t let my seniors go out with a losing record,” Campbell said. “It’s districts. I’ve got to put it all on the line. I love Coach Davis. I love all my players, my receivers. We came out here and balled. We had a couple of missed passes with our QB, but we’re going to get it right on Monday.”
Those kids never flinched, not one time, not after one loss. I think that’s what’s emotional for me. They kept coming. — Lester Davis, Seabreeze head football coach
Junior Drew McNerney kicked back-to-back field goals of 48 and 37 yards in the second quarter to put Seabreeze on the board. He said he is looking forward to the rest of the season, getting more field goals and more wins. After kicking a 55-yard field goal in practice that saved his team from doing sprints, he believes that is when Davis began to trust him as a kicker.
“I felt great,” he said. “I was confident to go out there. I’m just glad I have a coach that has the trust in me to send me out. That’s the best feeling you can have as a kicker — the confidence of your coach because it gives you confidence in yourself.”
Following a fumble recovery by Seabreeze in the second quarter and another penalty, quarterback Hayden Hayes threw a 70-yard pass to Landon Smith who scored the first touchdown of the game. Deltona answered with a touchdown pass from Jeremiah Hancock to C.J Estridge and a 2-point conversion. Cordare then snagged a 4-yard touchdown pass from Hayes with 10 seconds to spare before the half.
After a botched punt return by Deltona, the Sandcrabs' Jaylen Moore recovered the ball with seven seconds before the half. A penalty pushed them back to the 41-yard line before Hayes connected with Smith for another touchdown giving Seabreeze a 27-8 halftime lead.
Hayes finished the game with four touchdown passes and two touchdown runs — a 3-yarder on fourth down and a 26-yard score. Mentally, he said, he had moved on to the Sandcrabs next game when they will play host to Satellite (4-2) on Friday, Oct. 6.
“I’m proud of the team, but this game is over and behind us,” Hayes said. “It’s nice to get a win, but my mind is on the next game. We can beat whoever you put in front of us just as long as we play our game. We need to work hard, believe in one another and don’t stop believing.”
Damarion Phillips started a Wolves’ comeback in the second half with two touchdowns. The Wolves' final touchdown run by Angel Santiago was not enough to overcome the Sandcrabs.
Seabreeze’s offensive line was instrumental in shutting down Deltona’s defense. Tackle Luke Cloer bragged about the strength of his fellow teammate Aiden Ford whose favorite play of the game was when he pancaked three players.
“This team never gave up,” Cloer said. “This was the first night we started playing like a team. I’m telling you right now, this right here is the best I’ve ever felt in my life. I gave my heart. It felt so good knowing that I’m a good player. They (teammates) all counted on me, and I counted on them. We are just one big family, and I love this team so much.”
