Carrollwood Day School Opens Spring Football

The CDS Patriots kicked off spring football last week. They got into full pads and contact on Friday.

2012 will be an important year for the Patriots. A few key athletes that have been key elements in the team's success over the past few years, graduate next year. There will be a lot of question marks going into 2013. That being said, the 2012 team has loads of potential.

First and foremost, CDS rushing leader and potential county rushing champion Robert Davis returns for his senior year where he not only has a chance to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards but has a chance to become Hillsborough County's all-time leading rusher. Look for Davis to do a lot more than run the ball.

"We're going to try to get Robert the ball more in the passing game this year," said head coach Lane McLaughlin.

Cornerstone quarterback Deuce Gruden is gone but rising senior Dominiq Sicardo steps in with a host of skills and attributes different than Gruden.

"With Deuce we were more of a power team and would work more out of one-back sets," said McLaughlin. "This year we will use a lot more two-back sets."

This should give Sicardo, more of a pocket passer, some nice opportunities and give rising junior Nate Lewis and rising senior Andy Embody a lot more looks out of the backfield.

McLaughlin still contends that the offensive line will be the strenghth of this year's team. McLaughlin returns four of five starters and is high on a trio of rising seniors in Jared Smith, Colin Debosier and Adam Morse.

The Patriots square off with Cardinal Mooney on May 17 at Lutz Chiefs Field.