- December 26, 2024
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It was a "pink-out" for Cancer Awareness Day at the Seabreeze Homecoming game against Mount Dora on Friday, Oct. 18. Students, athletes and fans donned anything pink from full regalia to the simplest of socks.
The Sandcrabs lost 42-17 to the aptly name Hurricanes in their first game back after severe storm conditions from Hurricane Milton forced the Florida High School Athletic Association to reschedule games the previous week.
Seabreeze captain Drew McNerney started the game strong with a kickoff that soared deep into ’Canes territory. Jake Deising halted the return around the 25-yard line. With a little over two minutes left in the first quarter, defensive back Stephen Williams Jr. intercepted a pass by Mount Dora quarterback Jake Sepe which set McNerney up to make a field goal and score the only Seabreeze points of the first half as Mount Dora went into halftime with a 35-3 lead.
“We started off great — we were playing really good ball on defense,” Seabreeze head coach Mike Klein said. “We struggled getting off the field on third down — kept extending drives there. Our guys came out and fought. They played good in the first half — just a few too many mistakes. (At halftime), I told them come out and fight and they did. They played great in the second.”
Klein said he told his players that they cannot make mistakes against a good team like Mount Dora which improved to 7-1. The Hurricanes are ranked sixth in Class 3A and third in their region.
Sepe threw five touchdown passes against the Sandcrabs. Running back Tamir Gaines had 211 total yards and two touchdowns, one on the ground, and one through the air, while teammate Tanner Waring had 94 total yards and caught two touchdown passes from Sepe. Hayes O’Hara and Willie Dixon each caught a touchdown pass. Kicker Cayden McCoy booted six PATs.
Basically, I want us to be a four-quarter team. Never give up—giving up would be the worst thing possible. I’m a leader on the team so I feel like my energy correlates with the team’s energy so I felt like, if I kept my head high, the team will. We went out there (in the second half) and we executed.
— ZACHARY VOLTAIRE, Seabreeze football player
After Klein’s halftime pep talk, Seabreeze came out in the third quarter and held the Hurricanes to one touchdown. Quarterback Dylan Tocci and running back Jeremias George both rushed for touchdowns in the final minutes of the game for the Seabreeze, while the defense held Mount Dora scoreless in the fourth quarter. Tocci finished with 97 total yards. George had 40 all-purpose yards and averaged 30 yards per kickoff return.
Tocci was moved to quarterback following the loss to Matanzas on Sept.20. Klein said Tocci runs a lot of option and sprinkles in some passing. Zachary Voltaire was moved to slot where Klein said he is great giving the team sideline-to-sideline action. Voltaire also plays on defense which has helped solidify the back end.
Voltaire said little mistakes cost the Sandcrabs big plays, but overall, mentally, he said, they were still in the game and played as a team for all four quarters.
“Basically, I want us to be a four-quarter team,” he said. “Never give up. Giving up would be the worst thing possible. I’m a leader on the team so I feel like my energy correlates with the team’s energy, so I felt like if I kept my head high, the team will. We went out there (in the second half) and we executed.”
Seabreeze (1-5) has three games left this season including two district games — they host Pine Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 24, and Deltona on Nov. 7. The Mainland rivalry game is scheduled between the two on Nov. 1.
Klein said his players are prepared to battle the last two district opponents on their schedule. He said they have a good feel for the new offense and the guys on defense are getting comfortable with the scheme.
“We are getting better every week — every game,” Klein said. “Our record is not where we want it to be. They could very easily hang their heads. They could very easily not work as hard. We had the best week of practice this week coming into this game. These guys are hungry. They’re working every day. They’re getting better every week. I am so proud of them.”