- December 26, 2024
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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.”