Eli Ghodooshim (6) provides block for Daniel “Hugo” Anoh, who scored a touchdown.
Photo: PaliHi Football Facebook
It took only two plays and 18 seconds for Palisades High to score a touchdown Friday night, with senior Moses Ross racing 52 yards to the end zone. Sophomore Kwazi Estes kicked the first of his seven straight PATs and the Dolphins went on to blitz San Fernando 49-6 for their second straight win.
After sophomore AJ Schultz kicked off for the Dolphins, San Fernando started at its own 25 and was forced to punt after key tackles by seniors Johnny Babala, Kenneth Ruiz and Josiah Christopher.
Starting on the Palisades 16, quarterback Dylan Hassid handed off to Daniel “Hugo” Anoh, who burst into the open and ran all the way for a touchdown.
After a first down, San Fernando again had to punt, thanks to a third-down tackle by Toby Manheim.
Pali then drove 69 yards for a touchdown, with Hassid completing passes to senior Eli Ghodooshim (15 yards) and Xavier Smith (29 yards) and running the ball twice before handing off to Anoh for the touchdown.
On San Fernando’s next possession, Johnny Babala intercepted a pass at the Pali 32, and Hassid passed to Ghodooshim, who completed a 68-yard TD run, making the score 28-0.
Once again, defenders Christopher Washington, Victor Mindel, Liam Herrera and Savyour Riley made it impossible for San Fernando to move the ball. Junior Amari Yolas caught the punt on Pali’s 46 and ran for a touchdown.
The Tigers punted once again, and the Dolphins again drove downfield, with Hassid passing to sophomore Josh Russell for 23 yards and Anoh scoring from the 10.
In the second half, Head Coach Chris Hyduke played his second team, and for the first time in the game, Palisades lost the ball on downs. The Tigers took over on their own 40 and drove for their only touchdown.
Quarterback Dylan Hassid (8) watched from the sidelines during the second half. Senior tackle Jonathan Pizante (75) also looks on. “Facebook James” (left) livestreams the Pali games.
Pali’s final TD came in the fourth quarter, following a 25-yard kick return by sophomore Josh Russell down to San Fernando’s 45. Sophomore QB Sammy Silvia handed off to senior running back Barrett Gordon, who ran for 9 yards, and three plays later Silvia passed to Manheim for the touchdown.
According to Max Preps, Hassid had 5 completions for 187 yards, Anoh carried 6 times for 122 yards and three TDs, and Ghodooshim had two receptions for 83 yards.
After the game, Hyduke congratulated his players on the win, but warned them they were unlikely to have another game like this one.
“You always want to be a class act,” he said. “You have to be humble. Treat them [San Fernando] with respect. They wanted to go home and half, but they stayed. That’s a class act.”
Offensive coach Johnny Garcia said, “It will be the real deal with Granada Hills [this Thursday]. We have to work one play at a time, one week at a time.”
Palisades High is currently ranked seventh in the City Section and Granada is ninth, led by a running back Dijon Stanley, who is ranked first in the City after two weeks.
Granada Hills beat Arleta 40-8 but then was crushed by Hart 61-12. Stanley carried the ball 19 times for 217 yards and five touchdowns against Arleta but didn’t play against Hart. It’s unclear if he will play this Thursday.
The Charter Bowl game will begin at 7 p.m. in the Stadium-By-The-Sea.
Hyduke spoke to CTN and said, “We haven’t been tested yet. The two teams we’ve played are struggling.” Both have new coaches and both schools are working with Covid and player testing. In the past, both schools have had powerhouse football teams.
“We’re getting better every week,” Hyduke said. “We’re always happy to be 2-0.”
Kwazi Estes said kicking was easy. He made seven PATS.
In its opening game, PaliHi had problems scoring the extra point. Last Friday, sophomore Kwazi Estes took over kicking the PATs, and he looked smooth under pressure. He was asked if had kicked before or if he was a soccer player. “No, I kicked for my little league [Pop Warner] team, but wherever they need me, I’m happy to help.”
Daniel Anoh, who everyone calls Hugo, said that many of the Dolphins have been playing together for a while. “We went to Brentwood together, then Paul Revere and we all came here. We’re like brothers and we play hard.”