Patriots have come far in just four years
By Kyle LoJacono
Staff writer
CARROLLWOOD — Carrollwood Day School did not even have a high school five years ago, much less a football team.
Now, the team can’t lose.
The Patriots are at the top of the Independent division in just their second season of traditional 11-man football. They started out as a six-man program, moving from a losing season to winning the six-man State Football Championship in their second year.
“We made some changes in the offseason that I think really helped,” senior Matt Monteilh said. “It was the first time we had a weight program that helped us get bigger and faster.”
“Plus, more kids came to the school so we had more talent on the team. I felt good about this year. I thought we could make a turnaround, but I didn’t think we would start this well.”
Monteilh has been at Carrollwood Day Prep since his freshman year in 2006 when the team went 0-10 in six-man football. The Patriots have come a long way in just four seasons, starting 6-0 and outscoring their opponents 206-22 so far. They also have had three shutouts in four home games.
The team is led by the first senior class in school history. Standouts include quarterback Billy Embody, running back/free safety Darius Bing, lineman Sarge Patel, kicker Brian Warren, and Monteilh, a wide receiver/defensive back who also returns kicks.
Bing, Embody and Monteilh are co-captains for good reasons.
Embody had 732 passing yards and 12 touchdowns with one interception through six games. Bing added 534 rushing yards, 265 receiving yards and 10 scores. Monteilh brought in eight catches for 154 yards, 191 rushing yards and 263 return yards.
On defense, Monteilh and Bing combined for 59 tackles and two interceptions.
This season has not just been about the seniors, though.
“Andy Embody (wide receiver/defensive back) has moved up and really helped us,” Monteilh said. “Markeith Kilgo has also helped us at defensive end and linebacker. Chance Furman is just so strong and has helped us on the line.
“We also have a great coaching staff that has gotten us to buy into their system.”
The Patriots are far removed from that first 0-10 season.
“It’s like we’ve been climbing a mountain,” Monteilh said. “We were at that low starting point and we looked up and saw where we wanted to be. You know you have to put in hard work to get to the top of that mountain…But I look at where we are and where we started, and I am proud of how far we have come.”
This season has been something special for coach Lane McLaughlin too.
“It has been a dream to watch this group of seniors come up through the ranks these last few years,” McLaughlin said. “Now we have to just keep working hard and finish this season strong. With hard work and some luck we may be able to do something special here, because these young men can really play.”
Carrollwood Day Prep schedule/results
Opponents Location Result Score
Cambridge Carrollwood W 37-0
Master’s Academy Oviedo W 39-7
St. John Lutheran Ocala W 21-15
Hernando Christian Academy Carrollwood W 55-0
Winter Haven All Saints’ Academy Carrollwood W 54-0
First Academy Leesburg W 1-0 (forfeit)
Naples First Baptist Academy Carrollwood Oct. 23 56-7
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic Spring Hill Nov. 6
Canterbury Carrollwood Nov. 13
