Quarterback Dylan Hassid scores a touchdown.
Photo: Palisades High Football Facebook page
Winning the Charter Bowl for the ninth straight year, the Palisades High football team crushed Granada Hills 47-16 last Thursday night at home.
The Dolphins, now 3-0 for the season, are ranked third in the City Section behind San Pedro and Banning, according to MaxPreps.
Palisades needed less than two minutes to score, moving 72 yards behind quarterback Dylan Hassid, who completed a 20-yard pass to senior Moses Ross and then handed off to Daniel “Hugo” Anoh, who raced 45 yards for the touchdown. Kwazi Estes kicked the first of his five PATS.
After the kickoff, Pali’s defense, led by seniors Victor Mindel, Eddie Leon and Jack Babala and junior Christopher Washington, stopped a Granada drive on downs at the Pali 35.
The Highlanders were forced to punt and junior Amari Yolas returned it 15 yards to Granada’s 45. Hassid passed to Anoh for 16 yards and then to Ross, who ran for Pali’s third touchdown.
A Granada fumble late in the first quarter at Pali’s 37 was recovered by senior Liam Herrera. Hassid promptly passed to Estes, who completed a 63-yard TD play. Estes once again kicked the extra point.
Granada finally scored early in the second quarter after a 30-yard penalty against the Dolphins for unsportsmanlike conduct moved the ball to Pali’s 31 and set up the touchdown plus a two-point conversion.
Anoh returned the subsequent kickoff for a touchdown, but it was called back by a penalty. The Dolphins punted and the officials ruled that a Granada player had touched the ball before a Pali player fell on it, giving the Dolphins possession on their own 47.
Two runs by Anoh, a completed pass to Estes and then a handoff to Anoh produced yet another Pali touchdown fourth touchdown (and Hugo’s second). The PAT was not good.
Granada was stopped cold as Jonathan Pizante, Jack Babala and Josiah Christopher came through with consecutive tackles. Granada punted to Pali’s 30, and after Josh Russell ran for 19 yards on two carries, Anoh sprinted 41 yards, and then another 10 yards on the next play to produce a touchdown. The TD was nullified by a holding penalty, but Hassid completed a pass to Estes and then handed the ball off to Russell to produce a halftime score of 40 to 8.
Jack Babala (14), Victor Mindel (9) and Toby Manheim (12) are in on the tackle.
Photo: PaliHi Football Facebook
Receiving the kickoff in the second half, Granada had trouble moving the ball against the defense of Toby Manheim, Ricardo Abrego and Christopher. Taking over on downs at their own 38, the Dolphins moved downfield with Hassid completing a 26-yard pass to Russell and then a 15-yard TD pass to Ross, who ended up with four catches good for 132 yards.
Hassid had another efficient game, completing 8 passes for 235 yards.
“It was a wild night tonight,” Dolphins head coach Chris Hyduke said. “We thought if we played our game, we would be in good shape.”
He said that Granada played a double wing offense, which his players weren’t familiar with, but had practiced defending against that offense all week.
“The players were focused,” Hyduke said, noting that he had not realized the Charter Bowl rivalry was so intense. “Our offense came out and did a good job of moving the ball.”
Anoh, who played about half the game, rushed for 142 yards and caught two passes for 31 yards. “It feels great to finally get the recognition we deserve,” he said.
Palisades will travel to play Reseda in a non-league game this Friday and then Brentwood on September 25, before opening Western League play against Venice on October 1.
Daniel Anoh and Coach Johnny Garcia are all smiles after the PaliHi victory.