Atholton's Kelechi Odocha rushed for 2,022 yards and 19 touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass in leading the Raiders to the Class 3A East Region playoffs. Odocha will attend West Point, where he will play football and major in engineering.
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DigitalSports
Howard County
Offensive Player
Of The Year
Kelechi Odocha,
Atholton, running back

Click here for highlights of Kelechi Odocha's Atholton vs. Centennial football game


In leading the Raiders to a berth in the Class 3A East Region playoffs, the stocky 5-foot-8, 180-pounder was like a mini-freight train, averaging 182 yards per game and scoring 19 touchdowns.

Odocha, a B-average student, led Howard County as well as the state in rushing throughout much of the season, virtually carrying the Raiders into their Class 3A East Region semifinal game at North Harford of Harford County.

"He is a big leader on our team. We do not pick full season captains. Every week, the team picks honorary captains based on performance and Kelechi was one of our captains every week," said Atholton coach Chuck Fales.

"He shows a lot of great leadership. He comes from a wonderful background and he is just a great all around guy," Fales said of Odocha, who ended the season with 2,022 rushing yards.

Odocha hits the holes swiftly and with force. Once beyond the line of scrimmage, Odocha can use his 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash to sprint away from his pursuers.

Odocha will play football in the fall of 2008 for West Point, where he plans to major in mechanical or civil engineering.

"Going to West Point is going to be a good fit for him," Fales said. "Not only is he all about football, but he likes to serve his country. He is really great about that."


First-team offense

Justin Sottilare - QB - Oakland Mills
Malek Redd - RB - River Hill
Ashton Hayes - RB - Wilde Lake
Jarell Epps - RB - Wilde Lake
Dave Klotz - C - Wilde Lake
Ryan Bounds - G - River Hill
Surya Valsetty - G - Atholton
Alvin Thomas - G - Long Reach
Mike Santiago - T - Oakland Mills
Nathan Burner - T - Atholton
Ricky Kersey - TE - Oakland Mills
Lyle Williams - WR - Oakland Mills
Kyle Williams - WR - Marriotts Ridge
Jeff Javier - WR - Howard
Derrick Coleman - All Purpose - Marriotts Ridge
Graham Spicer - K - Wilde Lake


Second-team offense

Luke Hostetler, QB -- River Hill
Ricky Schultz - QB - Mount Hebron
Kyle Francis - RB - Hammond
Payton Lloyd - RB - Glenelg
Vince Testerman - RB - Marriotts Ridge
Sean Hull - C - River Hill
Corey Ford - G - Howard
Austin Core - T - River Hill
Brandon Yurechko - T - Tackle
Billy Reynolds - TE - Reservoir
Kenyatta Drake - WR - Hammond
Taylor Landrum - WR - Howard
Anton Hayes - WR - Hammond
Tyler Howell - All-Purpose - Reservoir
Rick Rappaport - K - Atholton