Seabreeze showcases dynamic defense in kickoff classic

Seabreeze hosted Bayside in a kickoff classic at Daytona Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 18, with a first quarter downpour, a scrambling offense and a dynamic defense.

With 25 seconds left in the third quarter, Bayside receiver Michael Parkes scored his second touchdown, making the score 21-14 before the junior varsity players took over. Bayside scored one more touchdown and defeated Seabreeze 28-14.

“That’s why we play these preseason games,” Seabreeze receiver coach Mark Lewis said. “Even though you drill all summer long to get to this point, you don’t know when nerves are going to be an issue. This dress rehearsal is the best way to get it out of these guys, so they are not overwhelmed by the official first week of football. Hopefully we’ll be ready for the challenge.”

The Sandcrabs host Spruce Creek in their season opener on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. at Daytona Stadium.

In the kickoff classic, the defenses took over with Bears cornerback Trevion Butler recovering a fumble and scoring on a 30-yard run for the first touchdown of the game. Seabreeze's Eli Campbell responded with two interception returns for touchdowns, a pass break-up in the end zone and key tackles throughout the game.

“Even though you drill all summer long to get to this point, you don’t know when nerves are going to be an issue. This dress rehearsal is the best way to get it out of these guys so they are not overwhelmed by the official first week of football. Hopefully we’ll be ready for the challenge.”

MARK LEWIS, Seabreeze receivers coach

“We needed to get a quick stop, because we came out down at halftime,” he said. “I just did my job. I was the linebacker and dropped in my zone. He threw it right to me.”

As the team captain, Campbell tries to keep his teammates motivated. Shamar Durham said Campbell is very serious about football.

“He’s serious about the game, so if you’re doing wrong, he’ll let you know, and he’s not going to let you know in a nice way,” Durham said. “He’s not going to sugar-coat it. He’s going to put it on you.”

Seabreeze quarterbacks, Hayden Hayes and Zeli Hayworth alternated throughout the scrimmage. The offense was plagued by errors, putting a damper on their forward momentum. Both quarterbacks expressed the need to work on the “lows.”

“Definitely need to work on ball security,” Hayes said. “I wasn’t thinking at the time, instead of scoring points for our team, I kind of gave it to them.”

“Watching the (game) film definitely made us realize what we need to work on and perfect,” Hayworth said. “The main thing is, I need to do what I was coached and play smart.”

Both players have played flag and Pop Warner football. They also come from Seabreeze families with multiple members who played sports as Sandcrabs. Hayworth’s brother Gaston Hayworth was a punter, while brother Sam Hayworth, was a kicker and punter. Hayes’ father, Ken Hayes, and his uncles, Cody and Austin Reider, played football at Seabreeze.

Neither quarterback knew what the plan would be for the season-opener against the Hawks.

“I hope we both get to play,” Hayes said. “I think we can both help the team in our own ways.”