- April 30, 2024
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Eli Campbell (1) scores the first touchdown for Seabreeze in the first quarter making the score a 7-7 tie against Pine Ridge after the kick. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze fought to overcome the deficit in the game against Pine Ridge. The Sandcrabs brought it back with a drive downfield and a field goal to win 44-41. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Lucas Xavier (6) and Panther Ethan White chase the pass in the second quarter. Photo by Michele Meyers
Perfect pass by Seabreeze quarterback Hayden Hayes to running back Ty Cordare during the game against Pine Ridge. Photo By Michele Meyers
Seabreeze linebackers Dylan Hayes (13) and Jesse Shirley (16) stop Pine Ridge's Keenan Nephew in his tracks. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze head coach Lester Davis motivates his players during a timeout in the game against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze running back Ty Cordare (4) cannot shake his Pine Ridge opponent. Cordare scored one touchdown in the game against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Eli Campbell with the carry against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze cheerleaders keep the fans going during the game against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ty Cordare (4) rushes through traffic during the game against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Wide Receiver Drew Strewart watches from the sidelines as the game against Pine Ridge unfolds. Photo by Michele Meyers
Luke Cloer (75) gives Ty Cordare (4) a lift after he scores a touchdown for the Sandcrabs. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Landon Smith catches a touchdown pass and shifts the energy of the game against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Landon Smith (8) grabs another pass from Seabreeze quarterback Hayden Hayes. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze's Hayden Hayes rushes out of the pocket for a quarterback keeper. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Drew McNerney kicks the winning field goal against Pine Ridge bringing the score to 44-41 and a Seabreeze win. Photo by Michele Meyers
Landon Smith (8) goes for another Seabreeze catch in the game against Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Receivers coach Mark Lewis celebrates with his players after they pull off a win over Pine Ridge. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze clawed back from a 21-point deficit to win 44-41 in its district game against Pine Ridge on Friday, Oct. 13.
Drew McNerney kicked a 37-yard field goal in the final seconds to secure the victory.
Sandcrabs quarterback Hayden Hayes said he never doubted the abilities of his team even after the Panthers recovered a fumble at the start of the game and Chris Boddie followed with a Pine Ridge touchdown. Hayes’ response was a touchdown pass to running back Denali Campbell.
“I never had a doubt, the whole time,” Hayes said. “It didn’t matter how much we were down or how much time we had left. I knew we were going to put our heads down and keep fighting through it. They are war ready. Like coach (Lester) Davis says, ‘we won’t flinch.’”
I never had a doubt, the whole time. It didn’t matter how much we were down or how much time we had left. I knew we were going to put our heads down and keep fighting through it. They are war ready. Like coach (Lester) Davis says, ‘we won’t flinch.’” — Hayden Hayes, Seabreeze quarterback
Campbell went on to rush for a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter and passed to wide receiver Landon Smith for another touchdown in the third quarter. He was selected as the Offensive Player of the Week by the Daytona Beach Quarterback Club. His brothers, Dimitri and Eli, also achieved the same award when they played football at Seabreeze.
“Landon and Denali are the best pass-catching duo in Volusia County, one of the best in central Florida,” Seabreeze receivers coach Mark Lewis said. “Landon really came of age tonight. This is the kind of year he’s had. We have to keep up with him now. Denali is arguably the best offensive weapon in this area and he showed it tonight.”
Seabreeze head coach Lester Davis said the pivotal play of the game was the Campbell-to-Smith touchdown pass when the Sandcrabs were down 41-20. Smith caught another touchdown pass from Hayes in the fourth quarter.
“It’s Lester Davis,” Lewis said. “It’s what he instills in these guys every day — not to give up, not to ever quit. They showed their potential tonight in a situation where their backs were more than up against the wall — two touchdowns down with less than five minutes to go. The fact that we did not have to go to overtime was a miracle.”
Davis touted two of his unsung heroes — defensive ends Brody Boda and Gio Mitchell. They were destructive up front, making plays in the backfield and, for a series, were turning every play into a tackle for loss. Boda said he had three TFLs and six tackles in the game.
“Mainly coach Davis motivated us the whole time — just keeping us in the game,” Boda said. “He always tells don’t go quiet in the night and we didn’t do that. This game means a lot to me. This is a big comeback win for us and it’s going to be a big turning point for us.”
Davis called an onside kick with minutes left. Hayes recovered it and ran in for a 14-yard touchdown. The game was tied with 52 seconds remaining. Seabreeze’s defense shut down Pine Ridge and took possession. Hayes scrambled downfield where McNerney kicked a 37-yard field goal for the win.
“We don’t flinch — we will not go quiet into the night,” Davis said. “We don’t quit.”
Seabreeze improved to 2-5. Pine Ridge fell to 3-4.
The ’Crabs celebrate homecoming this week with a game against Atlantic (3-4) on Friday, Oct. 20.
