Coach Tim Hyde spoke to receiver Isaiah Penn (right) and running back Tayari Gloster after a practice.
Dolphins Open Season at Cleveland on August 23
“It’s not about wins or losses, it’s about competing, and we competed,” Palisades football coach Tim Hyde said at the end of last year’s season. “This was an unbelievable year.”
The Dolphins were 8-3 overall and 4-1 in the Western League, losing only to Fairfax and tying them for the title. They then advanced to the Open Division playoffs (for the first time) as the seventh seed and lost a tough game to second-seeded Eagle Rock, 24-21.
Circling the News stopped by the Stadium by the Sea last week to speak to Hyde about this year’s prospects.
“It’s exciting to get to build a whole new team every year,” said Hyde, who noted that it was too early to make predictions. “We won’t know until after the first scrimmage,” which is this Friday against El Camino at PaliHi’s Stadium by the Sea at 5 p.m. The teams play half field.
Last year PaliHi graduated 16 seniors, leaving Hyde and his coaches to fill out of a lot of positions with new players this season.
“We’re young overall,” Hyde said. “We have new players in key roles. We have a handful of sophomores and about 90 percent of our juniors have never played varsity.”
Junior quarterback Forrest Brock returns to lead the offense, and the team will have five seniors who have been recognized by the City and sports writers.
Linebacker Sy Riley, 6-0, 235 pounds, was selected by the L.A. Times as a “lineman to watch” in 2019.
In 2018, running back Max Pelees was named Western League Offensive Player of the Pear and punter/kicker Tommy Meek was Punter of the Year.
As juniors, tight end/linebacker Noah Ghodooshim, defensive end Immanuel Newell and Riley made the Western League first defensive team.
MaxPreps Players of the Year were Riley (overall), Palees (offense), and Meek (special teams).
Coach Tim Hyde and offensive lineman Matthew Flores after practice.
GAME SCHEDULE
August 23 Cleveland, away.
August 29 Taft, away.
September 6 Granada Hills, away.
September 13 Reseda, home.
September 20 Brentwood, home
October 4 Westchester, home.
October 11 Venice, home.
October 18 University, away.
October 25 Hamilton, home
November 1 Fairfax, away.