- April 18, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The Sandcrabs have lost consecutive games after falling victim to big plays late in the fourth quarter. But there are important games left to play season, starting with the first district game against Deltona.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
The Seabreeze Sandcrabs are coming off back-to-back losses in games that slipped out of their grasp late in the fourth quarter.
But that’s not necessarily unfamiliar territory for head coach Marc Beach and his players, who lost in similar games against Spruce Creek and DeLand last year.
The losses may be disappointing for the Sandcrabs, but with the first district game of the season against Deltona on Sept. 21, there are more important games left to be played.
“It’s kind of really the same situation we were in last year,” Beach said of preparing for district games with two losses. “Those games matter in the record book, but not in our ultimate goal, which is to make the playoffs and win the district.”
Preparation for the Deltona game consisted of a wrinkle other weeks won’t likely have.
Beach said he wasn’t sure what defensive schemes to expect from the Wolves because head coach Ky Cowan fired his defensive coordinator a few weeks ago. Beach said they’ve shown different looks ever since.
Controversial ending
Last Friday night’s 23-22 loss to DeLand High School had some controversy.
With time expiring and the Bulldogs down by five, quarterback Coleton Robinson threw the ball up to the front corner of the end zone. It appeared as if DeLand receiver Gabe Schrade couldn’t hold onto the ball, and it bounced out of the end zone.
However, the nearest official to the play quickly signaled a touchdown and the game ended with the Bulldogs rushing the field.
“Nobody else called touchdown but him,” Beach said of the referee, whom he identified as Jimmy Smith. “So he had it in his mind whether the kid caught it or not, whether it was going to be a touchdown.”
Beach was also upset about a pass interference penalty called against the Sandcrabs on a DeLand fourth-down play. If it wasn’t for the penalty, also called by Smith, Beach said, the Sandcrabs would have been back on offense and could have ended the game.
Beach added that his staff would submit a copy of the game tape to the Florida High School Athletic Association, in hopes that Smith won’t work any additional Seabreeze games.
Up 16-10 with just under 12 minutes left in the game, Seabreeze quarterback Connor Blair found receiver Raushod Floyd open in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Sandcrabs went for the two-point conversion but were unable to convert and led 22-10.
Roughly a minute later, DeLand running back JoJo Kemp scored on a 30-yard run to cut the lead to 22-17 after the extra point.
