By Andy Warrener
The Laker/Lutz News Correspondent
The Carrollwood Day School (CDS) football team earned its first playoff berth and district championship Nov. 2.
The Patriots (9-1, 7-1) got help from Cambridge Christian beating Admiral Farragut, which gave them the Class 2A-District 5 title.
“When we lost to Admiral Farragut in Week 5, I told them we would have to win out, and that’s just what they did,” said CDS coach Lane McLaughlin. “I’m especially proud of the seniors on this team. They really stepped it up tonight.”
It was the Patriots’ seniors who took over the game.
Running back Robert Davis had 33 carries for 299 yards and three touchdowns. He couldn’t be stopped on the fast, artificial surface, which opened the passing game.
Quarterback Vidal Woodruff had three passing touchdowns of 10, 11 and 30 to one interception along with two rushing scores.
Athlete Andy Embody picked off one pass and caught two scores and amassed more than 100 yards receiving.
Tight end Dominic Sicardo caught a 10-yard touchdown.
Davis called offensive lineman Adam Morse a “bulldozer,” leading the running back on a 16-yard touchdown run that basically iced the game.
On defense, junior linebacker Dominic Cuono led the team in tackles and made back-to-back stops in the backfield on the Warriors’ (5-4, 5-3) final possession.
“Dominic Cuono has become a force the last part of the season,” McLaughlin said.
Calvary tried to steal possessions by going for onside kicks, but failed on all five attempts.
“We studied film on them (Calvary) and worked onside kick recoveries at every practice this week,” McLaughlin said.
The Patriots even recovered a kick of their own in the second half as a squib kick squirted through a Warrior’s hands and into Embody’s.
CDS led 28-7 at halftime, but Calvary wasn’t ready to cede the victory.
The Warriors got a big lift from Derek Barnes, who had several big kick returns and intercepted Woodruff on the Patriots’ first possession of the second half.
A 21-point third quarter lead closed to 28-21, but Calvary got no closer.
The Patriots host Moore Haven Nov. 16. Kickoff time is not yet set.
Davis also has the chance to make some personal history. He needs 65 yards to capture Hillsborough County’s all-time rushing record and 99 for 2,000 for the season.
