Signs of improvement: Seabreeze snags tight spring game win over Flagler Palm Coast

Both coaches were pleased with their players' progress as spring practice comes to a close.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 11:30 a.m. May 26, 2026
  • Ormond Beach Observer
  • Sports
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The final score is not the most important thing in a high school spring football game. The team showing signs of improvement, first-year starters showing they can take over a position, players taking what they learned in practice and applying it to the game. Those are what coaches are looking for in the spring.

But for the Seabreeze Sandcrabs, their 14-7 road win over Flagler Palm Coast on May 22 was a  nice way to close out spring practice. 

“I told our guys, what I’m looking for is for you guys to play smart football, play disciplined football and be doing all the little things,” Seabreeze head coach Mike Klein said. “I want us to be consistent in our assignment. I want to see the guys go out and show what they can do, because we had a good off-season, had a good spring. The guys have improved, and you know it was nice to see tonight.”

The Sandcrabs scored first on Danny Spada's touchdown catch from Michael “Bear Hog” McDonough. Bulldogs quarterback Bobby Starr answered a few minutes later with a 45-yard touchdown run.

Trace Paffrath's touchdown catch was called back for FPC, and the score remained tied through the three varsity quarters. Seabreeze quarterback Noah Bagdanowicz ran for a touchdown from midfield with 8:30 left in the game for the final score. 

“I thought they showed up and did exactly what our expectation was,” Flagler Palm Coast head coach Patrick Turner said. “Defense played exceptionally well. Offense did what they should have done. We had one touchdown called back, and probably another [possession] that we probably should have kicked a field goal in the red zone. We did score some points, and I was extremely proud of their effort.”

Seabreeze produced some big defensive plays. Defensive back Sebastian Tocco had an interception in the first quarter. The Sandcrabs ended a Bulldogs’ drive with a quarterback sack at the beginning of the second half, Neither team could score, and the third quarter ended in a 7-7 stalemate.


Our guys are starting to learn how to lead and how to pick each other up and how to make each other better. To be a great football team, players lead. Coaches lead average teams, players lead great teams. Proud of our guys for stepping up.
— MIKE KLEIN, Seabreeze head coach

Klein said Bagdanowicz and McDonough have been vying for the QB spot the entire off-season.

“Both of them are playing pretty good football, and so they’re battling,” he said. “They’re making each other better every day, which is really positive to see.”

Turner said the overall continuity of FPC's offense has been boosted with the return of several offensive linemen, running back Ehimen Ajede — who led the Bulldogs with seven touchdowns last season — and two receivers. Eight of 11 defensive players who started last season also return. 

“Anytime you have that, you know you’re going to be good on defense, and that honestly is going to be the strength of this year’s team,” Turner said. “I’m just excited about the whole program, and where they are. We’re excited about the kids who were on JV that have stepped up and are now in new positions. Even though they weren’t scoring touchdowns for the varsity yet, they were scoring a lot of touchdowns on JV.”

A good indicator that it is going to be a good year, Turner said, is that the leaders are putting in the work, leading by example on the field, off the field and in the classroom. He said the Bulldogs have a ton of leaders on both sides of the ball.

“From a defensive standpoint, we’ve got two senior linebackers, Josiah Hathaway and Mathias Parker, who did an exceptional job leading,” Turner said. “Our secondary has two senior cornerbacks that are lock-down corners. We’re still young at safety, but both of them played last year, Shawn Smith and Nei’cco Murphy. Unbelievable job setting up our coverages and communication. On the offensive side of the ball, we have running back Ehimen Ajede and Bobby Starr at quarterback, who did an outstanding job and scored the touchdown in the game.”

Klein also has been impressed with his team's leadership. He said Simeon Daffin, who will be returning this summer after recovering from an ACL injury has been an outstanding leader. The Sandcrabs will also rely onthe leadership of rising seniors Spada and Matt Wells, Klein said.

“I feel like we’ve really improved in this area,” Klein said. “Our guys are starting to learn how to lead and how to pick each other up and how to make each other better. To be a great football team, players lead. Coaches lead average teams, players lead great teams. Proud of our guys for stepping up. I’m excited to get our leadership council together this summer.”

 

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