- April 26, 2024
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Sandcrab Terry Sloss blows through an opening in the Atlantic defense with the help of Denali Campbell (1), Ty Cordare (4) and Jesse Shirley (16). Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze team captains Luke Cloer (75), Aiden Ford (70), Brody Boda (9) and Denali Campbell (1). Photo by Michele Meyers
Eli Campbell (1) salutes the flag with fellow Seabreeze and Atlantic team captains. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze and Atlantic team captains wait for the coin toss before the Sandcrabs' Homecoming game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Atlantic and Seabreeze team captains shake hands before the Sandcrabs' Homecoming game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze and Atlantic team captains shake hands before the game at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Atlantic Sharks salute the United States flag as the Star-Spangled plays at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze linebacker Jesse Shirley runs the Sandcrab flag onto the field at the Daytona Stadium before the homecoming game against Atlantic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze linebacker Jesse Shirley waves the Sandcrab flag before the homecoming game against Atlantic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab Chandler Mitzo (3) watches as his kick flies down field while Mike Shropshire (52) blocks Atlantics C.J. Toby. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze attempts to block the Atlantic kick but it is good. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze quarterback Hayden Hayes passes on the run in the Homecoming game against Atlantic. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze running back Ty Cordare. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Sandcrabs take a water break as coaches get the offense motivated in the first quarter of the game against the Atlantic Sharks. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sandcrab running back Ty Cordare makes the catch under pressure by Sharks Zach Voltaire (6) and Kwasie Kwaku Jr. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Seabreeze band and color guard perform during the Homecoming game against the Atlantic Sharks. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze running back Denali Campbell (1) takes down Atlantic's Quasie Kwaku Jr. close to the end zone. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze defensive back Jake Deising forces Atlantic quarterback Kuasie Kwaku Jr. to fumble as Chandler Mitzo (3) and Dylan Hayes (13) move in to assist. Atlantic recovers the ball during the play. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze cheerleaders pose on the sidelines at the Homecoming game against the Atlantic Sharks. Photo by Michele Meyers
Seabreeze scored 33 consecutive points against Atlantic in a 36-14 takedown on Friday, Oct. 20, at the Sandcrabs’ homecoming football game.
Seabreeze improved to 3-5 with its second win in a row.
“I knew it (the transition) was coming,” Seabreeze head coach Lester Davis said. “We have been holding it back, holding it back. I wanted to start fast but, unfortunately, we did not. The first half was just us getting settled. When it was 10-14, I just said, we have been here before. There’s nothing to be worried about. We just came out the second half and executed, executed, executed.”
Atlantic quarterback Kuasie Kwaku Jr. threw two touchdown first-half passes — one to wide receiver Ayden Corley in the first quarter and a 57-yard pass to Preston Kuznof in the second quarter. In between Atlantic touchdowns, Davis needed some points on the board and sent in Seabreeze kicker Drew McNerney for a 32-yard field goal.
Seabreeze quarterback Hayden Hayes’ helped shift the momentum in the Sandcrabs' favor with a 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Landon Smith late in the first half.
“We were never fazed and never flinched,” Hayes said. “I knew we were going to come back. We owned the ocean tonight. All credit to the defense. They led tonight — they balled out.”
The Seabreeze defense recovered two Atlantic fumbles in the third quarter. Defensive end Gio Mitchell stripped the ball off Atlantic’s Kwaku as linebackers Alex Capua and Logan Smith assisted with the tackle. Linebacker Jesse Shirley and defensive end Brody Boda followed up with the second forced fumble in the quarter.
With two turnovers (in) the second half, they (defense) definitely helped us win this game. Without them, we wouldn’t have won. Defense did their job, we (offense) capitalized. Everything worked in tandem. — AIDEN FORD, Seabreeze guard and center
Shirley’s name was announced after critical plays throughout most of the game. He had 13 tackles, and he blocked a punt, picked up the ball and returned it near the Sharks' 10-yard line. He said once he starts, “he loses his mind and lets his skill take him on the field and play the game.
“We practice all week and you just have to come out, pursue and do your job, that’s it,” he said. “You have to trust God and there you go. We are all a family, we play hard and we love each other. Shout out to the LBs — Alex (Capua) and Dylan Hayes. You know we’re coming back stronger next week.”
The first fumble recovery initiated a Seabreeze drive which wrapped up with a 14-yard Hayes touchdown pass to running back Denali Campbell. Smith had the second touchdown reception followed by a 2-point conversion after the second fumble recovery.
Once again, Campbell played quarterback intermittently, taking the snap on multiple occasions and rushing downfield. He said he got more excited as the game progressed.
“There’s been a lot of talking and a lot of action,” he said. “Me and my boys, we move in silence. We don’t really do all that talking. We had to come out here and show them. I showed them what I was about.”
Every week, a guest speaker talks to the team during halftime. At this game, Shirley’s father played the song “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.
“Our coach repeated (part of the lyrics) ‘tonight is the night, we’ll fight ’til it’s over,’” Campbell said. “That’s what we did at the end of the game. We didn’t stop fighting. We will never flinch. I want to thank the coaching staff and all my players for not giving up.”
Offensive lineman Aiden Ford said he had three to five pancakes. He also briefly made a foray on defense. He had one tackle and another for a loss in approximately 10 defensive plays.
“With two turnovers (in) the second half, they (defense) definitely helped us win this game,” Ford said. “Without them, we wouldn’t have won. Defense did their job, we (offense) capitalized. Everything worked in tandem.”
The Sandcrabs finished strong in the fourth quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Hayes and a final score by Ty Cordare.
Davis said the defense woke up against the Sharks and believes if they do the same against Mainland, there will be a show. He smiled as he shared a few words for Mainland coach Travis Roland.
“Tell Travis Roland — meet me at the 50,” he said.
Seabreeze and Mainland are scheduled to meet in their rivalry matchup on Friday, Oct. 27, at Daytona Stadium.
