Patriots riding high

Posted Oct 8, 2009 by Adam Adkins

Updated Oct 8, 2009 at 04:00 PM

CDS Prep coach Lane McLaughlin admits the Patriots are riding high right now, and they should be. CDS Prep, a second-year program, is off to a 4-0 start and already has equaled its win total from last season.

The Patriots, who had a bye last week, return to the field Friday for a homecoming matchup against Winter Haven All Saints, and McLaughlin hopes his team will play with the same intensity it showed during the first half of the season.

“It’s homecoming week and with that comes some distractions, so if there is any time for a fall it’s now,” McLaughlin said. “It’s harder when you’re 4-0 because you have a tendency to let up a little bit and read the clippings, but that’s when you put the hammer down on the team.”

All Saints enters today’s game having lost three straight, but McLaughlin thinks the Saints are much better than their record indicates. He’s counting on another strong effort from the Patriots defense, which has played stellar this season, allowing just 22 total points in four games. McLaughlin said freshman cornerback Andy Embody, sophomore linebacker Dillon Floyd and senior lineman Sarge Patel have stood out recently.