Momentum is huge in a football game and the team that grabs it first often comes out on top.
Having let victory slip away the week before against Santa Monica, the Palisades High junior varsity squad sought another fast start in last Friday afternoon’s home opener against Canoga Park.
Photo: Steve Galluzzo
Stone Maderer set the tone with an early touchdown run and the Dolphins went on to win, 26-8, thanks to their relentless rushing attack and stingy defense.
“I was actually expecting to throw the ball a lot more today, but the run was there so we stayed with it,” Palisades quarterback Jonah Manheim said. “It’s nice to have a running game like ours. It makes my job a lot easier.”
Innocent Okoh ran for the Dolphins’ last three touchdowns, the first a 36-yarder early in the second quarter, the second a five-yarder shortly before halftime and the third a 10-yarder for the only score of the second half.
“I couldn’t do what I do without my blockers and without my coaches calling great plays,” said Okoh, who has rushed for seven touchdowns in three games. “I just try to follow my blockers. I can make somebody miss and put out a stiff arm. Me and Stone are like the Dynamic Duo. If the run is working, we’ll just keep doing it.”
Kaelynn Lamothe made the defensive play of the game midway through the fourth quarter, stripping the ball free of a Canoga Park running back at the Dolphins’ 7-yard line.
Next up for Palisades (2-1) is Granada Hills. The Dolphins won last year’s matchup 22-18.
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