Carrollwood Day 54, Cambridge Chr. 35, Final

Robert Davis. Robert Davis. Robert Davis.

Yes, at times it seemed there were three of him.

The Carrollwood Day running back put on a show Friday night at Skyway Park, racking up 257 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He ran through, past and around Cambridge Christian defenders, leading the Patriots to a 54-35 district win.

"We just focused on trying to finish off the season with five straight wins, knowing that we lost three early games that we possibly could have won," the junior said. "We know we have to finish this season out, first year in district play, we have to finish 7-3."

Davis scored on runs of 23, 56, 59 and 2 yards, and returned a third-quarter interception 65 yards for a score.

The win gives CDS a 3-0 all-time record in this short, yet intense rivalry.

As much as it seemed Davis dominated the game, teammates Deuce Gruden, Dillon Floyd and Andy Embody played major roles in the victory.

Gruden completed 8of 10 passes for 148 yards, including two touchdown passes to Embody. Embody finished with 70 yards on those two receptions and had a 26-yard rushing TD to put the game out of reach.

Meanwhile Floyd, a senior receiver, caught six passes for 77 yards, converted three third-down plays as well as a second-and-14 late in the fourth quarter.

"The best thing I can say about Robert is that he's coming back next year," CDS coach Lane McLaughlin said. "You don't get that many yards without a great offensive line. And Deuce … threw well tonight. Dillon Floyd making those two catches for first downs late in the game, that was huge."

As joyous an occasion as it was for Carrollwood Day (5-3, 3-3 Class 2A-District 5), the mood was heavier on the Cambridge sidelines. The loss knocks the Lancers (5-3, 4-3), who entered the game in third place in the district, from the postseason.

"It's over now and we know that," Cambridge coach Bob Dare said. "You work hard for something and when it doesn't happen, you just kind of deal with it from there. This is an opportunity to teach them about perseverance and being able to do the things they can to get better in the future; there is a bigger picture than this."

The Patriots quickly jumped ahead 12-0 following a Cambridge fumble. It took three plays for CDS to capitalize with a Davis 23-yard score.

Lancer running back Brandon Park answered on the following possession by blowing past CDS defenders for a 45-yard touchdown reception. He finished with four catches for 75 yards and two scores, while Cambridge QB Phillip Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 190 yards, two TDs and an interception.

Davis' biggest score likely came in the third quarter when he picked off a deep Cambridge pass in the third quarter.

 
CD – Embody 15 pass from Gruden (kick failed)
CD – Davis 23 run (pass failed)
CC – Park 45 pass from Johnson (Stein kick)
CD – Embody 55 pass from Gruden (Cuono kick)
CC – Roberts 18 pass from Johnson (Stein kick)
CD – Davis 56 run (Cuono kick)
CD – Davis 65 interception return (pass failed)
CD – Davis 59 run (Cuono kick)
CC – Hamilton 5 run (Faison pass from Robertson)
CD – Davis 2 run (Cuono kick)
CC – Faison 44 pass from Young (Stein kick)
CD – Embody 26 run (Cuono kick)
CC – Park 3 pass from Johnson (run failed)