For the second week in a row Culver City will play a team from the Palos Verdes area. Last week it was Peninsula at home this Friday the Centaurs travel to Palos Verdes high school to battle the Sea Kings in a rare 3 p.m. daytime game.
The Centaurs go into this important Bay league game with a record of 5-2 overall and 3-0 in the league. Palos Verdes is 3-4 and 2-0. It’s a Bay league championship game and the Sea Kings will be looking to avenge a loss to Culver City last season. That loss was the first time the Sea Kings lost a Bay league football championship in 10 years.
When asked about playing Palos Verdes Culver City head coach Jahmal Wright said, “We are going to have to meet the challenge. Palos Verdes is a very good football team, and we have to be ready for the war that’s about to take place.”
If Fridays’ game is anything like last season’s game get ready for a good old fashion high school football game. “It’s going to be a tough contest, but I believe we will win because we have a real good football team,” said long time assistant coach Cornell Myles after the win over Peninsula last Friday. “We are the defending champs. I realize we are not use to playing daytime games, but it will be fun to add a different element to our season.”
Once again, the Centaurs hope to use their speed on offense and defense, and they also hope the defense can shut down the Sea King’s offense. “That’s the goal,” said Wright. “We are happy to be undefeated in league. We knew it’s going to be a challenge, but I am proud of the progress that we are making. We still have a lot of stuff to clean up but when you play great defense you give yourself a shot. We have our head down and we are taking it one game at a time.”
On defense, the linemen, linebackers and defensive backs continue to come up with big plays. One of the defensive players that is having a good season is defensive back Prince Okorie. The 6’4 205-pound player is not only a good football player he is also a rare student athlete that addresses adult males by saying Sir.
After the game last Friday Okorie spoke about the game and playing football for Culver City. “I feel great. We had a great week of practice. We were really focused. We came out here and we had to beat Peninsula. Playing for Culver City is one of the best things that has ever happen to me.”
Olorie continued to say, “Ever since I was in middle school I wanted to play for these coaches and for me to be playing at this level and playing for these coaches is a great honor. We are not perfect. We can play better. We just need to step up our game a little bit more on offense and defense.”
To beat Palos Verdes the Centaurs will have to minimize their offensive turnovers and one of those players that can help them in that category is senior wide receiver, Ryan Franklin. Franklin missed several games because of a shoulder injury at the beginning of the season but when he started playing a few games ago he immediately made an impact. He is tall (6’1) runs great routes and has great hands. He fits right into a group of outstanding wide receivers.
“It feels amazing being out there with my brothers and getting the victory like this,” said Franklin after the Peninsula game. “It’s a big win during league play. It feels good to have the support of my teammates that believe in me, and I believe in my brothers. I love may teammates. They treat like their own brother. I can’t thank them enough.”
The brothers will need to stick together like one big, happy family if they expect to beat Palos Verdes in the daytime on Friday.
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