By Andy Warrener
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
The Carrollwood Day School (CDS) football team has some things to look forward to and others to work on entering its second year in a district alignment and questing for its first postseason berth.
Junior Dominiq Sicardo is a prime example. He will enter next season at quarterback for the first time. Despite his physical presence, he is still trying to work his way into his new position.
“(Playing quarterback) is a lot different,” Sicardo said. “Everybody’s coming after you; trying to kill you.”
The departure of quarterback Deuce Gruden would have normally left a lot of Patriots coaches scrambling to find an effective replacement. Luckily for them, a 7-on-7 tournament last summer revealed a promising option. Sicardo led his team to a victory at the tournament and provided a ray of hope for the position in 2012.
Young legs in rising freshmen Elias Earley and Max Frankell will be key contributions this fall.
Frankel will play fullback on offense and safety on defense, while Earley will back up junior Robert Davis, who returns after gaining 1,832 yards on 138 carries and 25 touchdowns. He averaged a whopping 13.28 yards per carry last year, but expect the Patriots to spread the ball around in 2012.
“We’re going to try and work Robert more into the passing game this year,” said CDS coach Lane McLaughlin.
This could pose a host of problems for opposing defenses, no longer able to key in on Davis in the backfield.
One of those making the Patriots’ attack multidimensional is junior wide receiver Andy Embody. He snagged 26 catches for 554 yards and seven scores last season, but will see time at running back, quarterback, defensive back and returner this year.
“I just try to use my athleticism to help the team,” Embody said. “It helps me that I know all the assignments in all the positions I play.”
McLaughlin contends the offensive line will be strengths of this fall. Juniors Colin Debosier, Adam Morse and Jared Smith are a strong foundation to build on over the summer.
“We’re going to work harder than any other team over the summer,” Smith said.
Debosier and Morse make a great combination on the defensive side as well.
CDS went 6-4 last season and returns a host of experienced players. Eight of the 22 on the roster are seniors, many of whom have been a part of the program’s growth the last four years.
“We have 22 guys now, we should have 30 by the fall,” McLaughlin said. “If I had 35 guys we could win a state championship.”
–Stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches
