Around the county in 30 days A daily spring preview of every football program in the county
Carrollwood Day School
Coach: Lane McLaughlin (second year, 3-7)
Last season: 3-7
District: Independent (competes in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference)
Key Losses: None. In their first year of 11-man football last year, the Patriots had no seniors.
Who's back: QB Billy Embody, RB Darius Bing, WR Matt Monteilh, WR Michael Kanter, OT/DL Mak Djulbegovic, WR/LB Deuce Gruden
What's new: McLaughlin hopes to bring more balance to the offense in the Patriots' second year of 11-man football. Last year, Embody, who is receiving looks from Division II schools such as South Alabama and William & Mary, threw for more than 2,000 yards, but look for CDS to utilize Bing, who averaged 6.3 yards per carry, more often on the ground. The Patriots' schedule is friendlier this year, with more schools near CDS' high school enrollment of about 200 students. This year's team includes six seniors, all of whom played last season and will have significant roles.
Audible: "This spring we want to get a running game and stop the running game. We need to be able to stop the running game. We didn't need a pass defense last year because no one needed to pass against us." — McLaughlin
Did you Know? There's a little superstition at CDS. An eagle nests near the school and on the weeks when it flew over practice, the Patriots won on game day. "I'm still working on the pregame appearance," McLaughlin said. … The coach predicts that Mak Djulbegovic, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound offensive tackle/defensive tackle/tight end with the wingspan "as long as the Howard Frankland" will be CDS' first Division I recruit. He is a rising junior. … McLaughlin said Gruden, the son of former Bucs coach Jon Gruden, has set the pace in the workout room. The rising sophomore leads the team with a 275-pound bench press.
Spring game: At Winter Garden Foundation Academy, 7 p.m., May 22
2009 schedule
Sept. 4 vs. Cambridge
Sept. 11 at Oviedo Master's Academy
Sept. 18 at Ocala St. John Lutheran
Sept. 25 vs. Hernando Christian
Oct. 9 vs. Winter Haven All Saints'
Oct. 16 at Leesburg First Academy
Oct. 23 vs. Naples First Baptist
Oct. 30 at Bishop McLaughlin
Nov. 6 vs. Canterbury
Nov. 13 SSAC bowl game
Eduardo A. Encina, Times staff writer
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