Turn Around: Seabreeze forces five turnovers, scores two defensive touchdowns in win over Matanzas

The Sandcrabs rebounded from a lopsided loss to Rockledge and snapped the Pirates' three-game winning streak.

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Coaches will tell you that football games aren’t decided on Friday nights, they’re decided on the practice field and tin he film room the previous week.

While Seabreeze was dialed in after suffering a lopsided loss in its previous game, Matanzas wasn’t as sharp as it had been in the weeks leading up to its three-game winning streak, the teams’ coaches said.

The result was a 21-11 upset win by the Sandcrabs on Friday, Sept. 19, at the Pirates’ stadium.

Seabreeze forced five turnovers, scored two defensive touchdowns and held the ball for over 11 minutes on one second-half possession — converting two third downs and two fourth downs — for its only offensive touchdown.

“I think we knew that this was a crucial game for our season,” Seabreeze running back/linebacker Logan Smith said. “And so, we took that step. We put in the work this week. We definitely had to make a statement. This was a statement win, for sure.”

The Sandcrabs, who were coming off a 47-7 loss to Rockledge, evened their record at 2-2. They have matched last season’s win total in just their fourth game.

“Great film study, great preparation. (The players) had a good bead on what was coming, and we executed well,” said Mike Klein, Seabreeze’s second-year head coach. “Our offense struggled at times, but when it really mattered and we had to put it together, we put some really good drives together and we sealed the game. So, I'm just proud of them for stepping up to get it done.”

The Sandcrabs’ best offense was their defense as Zach Voltaire’s second-quarter 65-yard scoop-and-score and Owen O’Rourke’s third-quarter 86-yard pick-6 gave the visitors a 14-3 lead.

 “Those huge plays made the game for us, Klein said. “I’m so proud of those guys.”

Meanwhile, the Sandcrabs’ best defense might have been their offense, as Seabreeze’s 17-play, 60-yard drive that stretched from the third quarter to deep into the fourth quarter kept the ball out of the Pirates’ hands. Smith ended the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to put the visitors up 21-3 with 5:49 left in the game.

“We were a well-oiled machine (on the drive),” Smith said. “That's what we were preaching in practice all week: intensity to fire off the ball, be physical, just pound the rock.”


I think we knew that this was a crucial game for our season. And so, we took that step. We put in the work this week. We definitely had to make a statement.”
— LOGAN SMITH

The Pirates shot themselves in the foot with a roughing-the-passer penalty on fourth-and-5 at  the Pirates’ 10-yard line to give Seabreeze a first down on the 5. Smith scored two plays later.

“Seabreeze delivered a big gut punch to us,” Matanzas coach Matt Forrest said as the Pirates fell to 3-2. “I think we weren’t as sharp as we were the last three weeks (in practice), and that’s my job, to see that and correct it.”

With time running out, Matanzas put together a furious 80-yard drive with Jordan Schendorf catching a 4-yard touchdown pass from Cole Walker with 3:20 remaining.

Earlier in the drive, a 65-yard Walker-to-Schendorf pass was called back for holding, but running back Wiley Conner broke tackles on the way to a 35-yard run to the Sandcrabs’ 9 yard line. On a fake kick, Schendorf threw a 2-point conversion pass to Thomas Larywon to pull the Pirates within 10 points at 21-11. But Seabreeze was able to hold the ball the rest of the way.

Walker threw three interceptions — Cash Kurz and Tristan Miller also had interceptions for the Sandcrabs. The Pirates also lost two fumbles. Each of their turnovers occurred in Seabreeze territory. Their only score before the fourth quarter came on Alex Procek's 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter after Matthew Wells sacked Walker on third down.

“It was a little bit of a snowball effect,” Forrest said. “I think we're that way when we're doing well, too. Once we get success, it breeds success. For whatever reason, once we make some mistakes, we kind of make more mistakes. But this was Seabreeze causing these issues. When you cause five turnovers, you're playing really good defense. When you score 14 points on defense, you're playing really good defense. And their offense executed their game plan.”

The Pirates outgained the Sandcrabs 388 yards to 194. Walker completed 27 of 41 passes for 278 yards to give him 1,216 yards passing in five games.

Matanzas will have a short week to prepare for its next a game — a key District 4-5A contest against Mainland on Thursday, Sept. 25, at Daytona Stadium. The winner will be in the driver’s seat of the three-team district.

Seabreeze will host New Smyrna Beach (3-1) on Sept. 26 at Daytona Stadium as the Sandcrabs (0-1 in District 6-4A) will try to even their district record.

 

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