- March 28, 2024
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Charles Nelson is already averaging more than 100 all-purpose yards per game, but there's a chance his production could increase as the season progresses.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
Seabreeze junior Charles Nelson’s Friday nights are usually pretty busy. But if he keeps playing the way he has, they'll get even busier.
“I haven’t done a good job of play calling and getting Charles involved enough,” head coach Marc Beach said. “He’s such an instrumental part of our defense, too, and special teams. He has to touch the ball more. I know that, and we know that as a staff. And we’re just going to keep working at it and find ways to get him the ball.”
Through the first four games this season, Nelson is averaging 115.4 all-purpose yards per game, not to mention his time as a cornerback for the Seabreeze defense.
Nelson’s production is evenly spread with 34.7 rushing yards, 44.5 receiving yards and 36.2 return yards per game.
“He didn’t touch it very many times (against Deltona), either, but when he did, it was electric,” Beach said.
Among those electric plays Nelson had against Deltona was a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown, when he flashed his lethal breakaway speed.
Up next for Nelson and the Sandcrabs is the homecoming game Sept. 28 against Titusville.
Sandcrabs roll in first district game
The points came early and often for Seabreeze in its first district game, a 52-0 win over the Deltona Wolves Sept. 21, at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium.
On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Connor Blair found Anthony Campanella on a go-route for a 52-yard touchdown.
The Seabreeze defense was just as dominant in the first half as the offense, holding Deltona off the scoreboard and only letting the team cross the 50-yard line once.
Trey Rodriguez added a touchdown on a screen during the Sandcrabs’ second possession.
Only two Seabreeze possessions in the first half didn’t end in touchdowns. One ended with a 34-yard field goal from Jordan Patsch to push the lead to 24-0. The other possession came midway through the second quarter, when Rodriguez tried to dive into the end zone and fumbled the ball before he crossed the goal lline.
The ball went out of bounds through the end zone, resulting in a turnover and Deltona starting with the ball at the 20-yard line.
The second half started with a running clock and an opportunity for Beach to get some players into the game who don’t usually see the field.
The Sandcrabs’ first possession of the second half ended with Jason Hewitt catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Sam Chappius, which gave the Sandcrabs a 52-0 lead.
“Those guys deserve, just as much as anybody, to get to play, and run and catch balls and do all those things,” Beach said of his second-string players.