A day after running for almost 200 yards and four touchdowns in the first half of the Palisades High junior varsity football team’s 40-12 home rout of Harvard-Westlake last week, Innocent Okoh got the news he was hoping for: an opportunity to play on varsity.
“I walked into the JV meeting Friday after school and they told me to go to the varsity now,” said Okoh, a sophomore tailback who has rushed for 14 touchdowns in five JV games. “I knew there was a chance I’d be moved up. Of course I’m glad that I was but I’m happy either way.”
Okoh will suit up with the varsity squad Friday night at Westchester and he is anxious to prove himself at that level.
“Coach just told me I’m going to get the ball so we’ll see what comes my way,” he said. “My goal is the same as on JV, just do my job and help the team win.”
No one is more proud of the Dolphins’ star running back than JV head coach Ray Marsden.
“I’m very happy — he’s the first midseason call-up in my seven years at Pali,” Marsden said. “He deserves it and it gives the boys a chance to prove we aren’t a one-trick pony. The team’s looking forward to the challenge — especially the running backs.”
— Steve Galluzzo
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