ORMOND BEACH  - After taking the reins at Fleming Island last season, Golden Eagle Head Coach Chad Parker needed to pull out all the stops in the off-season to prevent a sophomore jinx after a disappointing 3-7 season last year. Tonight, against the Daytona Seabreeze Sandcrabs, it looked like Parker didn’t relax a second as his team came out in outstanding conditioned shape, hungry, and looking like they were ready for the season to begin tomorrow as they dominated the Sandcrabs 41-0 at the half to go on to the 41-7 final score in the running clock second half.

“When I got here, the big thing to change was the culture,” said Parker. “Fundamentally, tonight we are lightyears ahead of where we were last year. After this spring, we feel like we can go out and play a game now. Last year, we went into the spring game, and we weren’t ready. Now, it feels like we can play football.” Of note was the confident play of starting quarterback Cibastian Broughton. “He started becoming a leader, buying into the system, and trusting the system. Last year, we threw a quarterback and new offensive coordinator in and tried to force the marriage. It’s a relationship and you must forge that relationship. He’s grown up as a leader and more confident. The more he understands the system, the more he plays with confidence because he understands what we are doing.” Referring to the intensity level of the team, Parker said “We only hit one day this spring. We wanted them to be like caged animals, ready to go out and hit somebody like they were starved dogs. They were ready to get after it.” Talking about the conditioning difference in the teams, Parker said “We did a lot of time in the wrestling room. I’ve been a wrestling coach for 20 years. We had them in the wrestling room doing double legs. The defensive guys had to do 50 double legs every day before they went home in the off-season, so it made them more physical. It is essentially a football tackle, so by doing 1,000 of those a month, the technique became much better. Tonight, they were hungry and ready to eat.”

After losing the coin toss and Daytona electing to defer to the second half, it was Fleming Island ball on the 25-yard line for the first play. On the snap, Broughton dropped back, paused to look like he was passing deep downfield, and then took off like Cheetah, running 75 yards on the opening play for a touchdown, all according to plan.

Broughton had plenty of targets to pass to with Jackson De’mhir catching out of the backfield, and Josh Murray and Tristan Stevenson pulling in the pigskin.

On the ground, Trace Burney, Cohen Cioffi, and De’mhir all found gaps and could pound the rock. Late in the second half, Jayden Smith took off down the right sideline for a touchdown adding to the Fleming Island score stack.

On the Sandcrab’s first drive, Kevin Reyes and Lavell Howard were like a brick wall upfront. The pair stuffed runs all night. They were key in the Daytona three plays and a punt first drive.

Backing up the big front were names called Brady Digman, Tacori Allen, and safety David Smith all night. The defensive backs were flying around, causing confusion and breaking up plays. Early in the first quarter, Allen was given the green light to blitz, and came full steam at Daytona quarterback Hayden Hayes, lifting him off his feet with the double leg move and making sure Hayes knew where Allen was the rest of the night.

In the middle of the defense, Brady Digman, Nate Van Hof, and Cohen Cioffi seemed all over, keeping Seabreeze guessing at every turn. Jarius Rogers looked to be at the defensive end on one play, then in a three-point stance the next. Rogers also was in the face of Hayes several times, making the quarterback rush several passes which fell incomplete.

Broughton was well protected all night by offensive lineman Griffin Vollerston, Steven Franklin, Easton Isbell, Adam Myers, and Logan Kirkland. The offensive line looked well prepared and showed discipline in assignments and keeping the Sandcrabs out of Broughton’s face. It was obvious the intense training Fleming Island had over Daytona as the Sandcrabs looked gassed in the second quarter, while the Golden Eagles showed zero let up.

Special Teams needs a mention with kicker Parker Sirdevan. His confidence was not shaken a bit after the team was surprised with a change in the rules without notification. On the first point after the attempt, Daytona’s Brody Boda leaped and blocked the kick. The change was both teams understood, that kicks were not live. The officials seemed to not object as there was not any contact. Noted. With every kick following, Sirdevan cleared any hands in the air and had every shot right down the middle with plenty of distance.

With the short spring season in the rearview, it will be interesting how the players continue the off-season work as fans look forward to the Clay-Fleming Island regular-season opener, on August 23 at Clay.