Spruce Creek Hawks devour Seabreeze in season football opener

With the implementation of a new offense and defense, the Sandcrabs are a work in progress. They will have a week to work on their mistakes before their next game on Sept. 6 against Halifax Academy.

By Michele Meyers
| 10:36 a.m. August 29, 2024

Sandcrab Dylan Hayes (0) tackles Hawk Tony Kinlser (2) as Trell Edwards rushes in to assists in the season opener at Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze captains Luke Cloer (75), Dylan Hayes (0) and Zachary Voltaire (1) join their team before the season opener against Spruce Creek at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

The Seabreeze football team is introduced before the season opening game against Spruce Creek at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

The Seabreeze cheerleading squad cheers as they follow the football team onto the field before the season opening game against Spruce Creek. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze head coach Mike Klein (second from right) and his players take the field at the season opener against Spruce Creek at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze senior Drew McNerney (right) kicks the season opening game off against Spruce Creek at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze fans hang out in the Daytona Stadium stands during the season opener against Spruce Creek. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze players Brogan Kelly (left) and Jake Deising (21) block for George Jeremias (center) as he drives the ball into traffic with Rhett Opalewski (20) in the season opener against Spruce Creek. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze players Dean Hayes (3), Cash Kurz (13), T.J. Sampson (5) and Jake Deising (21) sprint down field as Spruce Creek wide receiver Denali Campbell (center) makes the catch and runs in for for a touchdown in the season opener. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze's Dylan Hayes sacks Spruce Creek quarterback (13) Jacob Lohman in the season opener at Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Logan Smith (right) congratulates Dylan Hayes (center) for sacking Spruce Creek quarterback Jacob Lohman at the season opener. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze player Jeremias George (center) drives up the middle for some yardage in the season opener against Spruce Creek. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze defensive and tight end Brogan Kelly (center) and his teammates listen to head coach Mike Klein during the season opening game against Spruce Creek. Photo by Michele Meyers

Sandcrab Jeremias George (11) flies sideways after getting hit during the season opening game against Spruce Creek at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze's Edinson Para (center) sacks Spruce Creek quarterback Jacob Lohmann (right) as Dylan Hayes (0) moves in to assist in their season opening game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Sandcrab Daniel Spada (17) grabs some yardage as Spruce Creek's Xavier Lucas (11) moves in to stop him in the season opening game at the Datyona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze quarterback Zachary Voltaire (1) passes the ball while under pressure in the season opening game against Spruce Creek. Photo by Michele Meyers

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

Seabreeze lost to powerhouse Spruce Creek 50-0 in their season opener on Aug. 22 at Daytona Stadium.

Seabreeze head coach Mike Klein said he knew his team would not be clicking the first game of the season with the implementation of a new offense and defense.

“It’s hard to be clicking in the first game of the season with everything being brand new,” he said. “I knew that was going to be the case and I knew that was a good football team we were playing Week 1. Too many mistakes early and too many turnovers early. Good teams capitalize on those mistakes and that’s what they did. We can’t be a team that puts ourselves in a hole.”

Spruce Creek scored 28 points in the first quarter. Two minutes into the first quarter the Hawks were up 22-0.

The onslaught began with Anthony Hayden scoring on an 80-yard run and Seabreeze transfer Denali Campbell adding a 2-point conversion. Campbell dominated throughout the game with a fumble recovery followed by a 20-yard touchdown run, a 35-yard touchdown reception and an 83-yard touchdown run.

Xavier Lucas made some big plays in the secondary and caused a Seabreeze fumble on Creek's first kickoff. Trell Edwards scored two touchdowns and had two 2-point conversions, and Tony Kinsler scored a touchdown in the second quarter.

Spruce Creek scored all of its points in the first half with the second half going to a running clock.

Hawks head coach Andy Price said everyone on the team got into the game.

... I knew that was a good football team we were playing Week 1. Too many mistakes early and too many turnovers early. Good teams capitalize on those mistakes and that’s what they did. We can’t be a team that puts ourselves in a hole.
— MIKE KLEIN, Seabreeze head football coach

“We started out very fast — opening the game with an 80-yard run by Anthony Hayden,” Price said. “Denali did make some big plays — a Seabreeze transfer that made some big plays versus his former school. A head coaching change and change of personal residence in the off-season made the game less emotional for him.”

Quarterback Zachary Voltaire started for Seabreeze with Jayce Gainer stepping into the position with close to three minutes remaining in the second quarter. Gainer said he was praying a lot and had God on his side, so he could help his team out in any way possible.

“We have a good head coach. I’m glad he came into the program,” Gainer said. “My teammates are all very hard workers. They have good work ethic and we want to give it everything we got. Tonight, it might not have shown that, but we will improve and do the best we can.”

With seconds remaining in the game, Seabreeze's Drew McNerney kicked a field goal, but officials ruled it came after time ran out.

Seabreeze has a bye this week. The Sandcrabs host Halifax Academy on Sept. 6. Klein said they will use the time off to get their new offensive and defensive strategies in order while continuing to stress conditioning before district play. He said he will be focusing on preparing Dylan Hayes, Brogan Kelly, Dylan Tocci and Steven Williams to play on both sides of the ball.

“These guys are fighters so I’m not worried about them getting themselves back on their feet and coming back next week to fight,” Klein said. “We are going to lean on our seniors in big time situations. They have given everything to this program and they continue to do that. So we are going to continue to lean on them and let them play some football.”