Sports Notebook: Carrollwood High School Football

Both Gaither and Carrollwood Day School head into important district football games this Friday.

Carrollwood Day School:

The Patriots avenged their home opening loss to Keswick by trouncing Northside 61-14 to improve to 2-1, 1-1 in the district.

Senior Chance Furman was praised by head coach Lane McLaughlin for his effort in the game.

"He went both ways, offensive and defensive line, had four tackles and blocked a punt," McLaughlin said.

Player of the game honors had to go to junior Nate Lewis, who, aside from leading the team with nine tackles, scored two touchdowns. Lewis will be sorely needed this Friday as the injury bug is starting to take its toll on the Patriots.

"I've been waiting, now it's my time to shine," Lewis said. "I'm going to do my best whatever position they put me in."

Senior quarterback Deuce Gruden gutted out the game through his ankle sprain, which he says is about 80 percent. Still, he went 3-for-12 with two touchdowns.

On the down side, junior Robert Davis injured his shoulder and is questionable for Friday's game.

"We're working on getting healthy," McLaughlin said. "We're going to have to bring Elias Earley up to speed because he might have to play."

Additionally, senior Dillon Floyd, who caught two touchdowns last Friday, is recovering from a shoulder injury that could keep him out of Friday's game. Also, freshman Max Frankel is out two weeks with an ankle sprain.

The Patriots host a 1-2 Shorecrest team that has not scored a point in back to back losses to Cavalry Christian and Admiral Farragut.

Gaither:

The Cowboys (1-2) are coming off a tough 21-7 loss to Plant City, perhaps the the toughest team on their schedule this year. Still, there were some positives to take from the game.

"We were able to keep our defense off the field, sustain drives," said head coach Jason Stokes. "We got in the red zone four times, just couldn't close."

The Cowboys, like the Patriots, are getting bitten by the injury bug.

Junior fullback Dom Neglio finally got some good reps in the Plant City game, but a stomach virus has sidelined him this week. Additionally, junior quarterback/halfback Shug Oyegunle sustained a minor groin injury that could keep him out on Friday. Junior offensive lineman Tubo Nanakoma is recovering from a knee injury, and he too is considered questionable.

Gaither travels to Wiregrass Ranch (0-3) this Friday in its first district game of the year.

"This game is big for us," Stokes said. "It's paramount to try to establish control of the district."

The Bulls have scored just six points in their three losses this season.

The trip is also a homecoming for sophomore Gaither quarterback Alex McGough, a Wiregrass Ranch transfer.

"It's going to be fun, I just hope we can come out of there with a win," McGough said. "It will mean a lot to me, seeing all my friends over there at Wesley Chapel. I'd like them to see how far I've come."