Quarterback Jack Thomas looks for his receiver in the endzone. The Palisades High School offensive line gives him time for his throw.
After their first home game, which Pali won 58-6, Palisades High School football head coach Dylen Smith was asked if there were any surprises.
“The score,” Smith said. “I feel bad for Dymally.” It turns out that Smith had gone to elementary and middle school with the Dymally coach. Before the game, both teams were ranked similarly by MaxPreps.
One of the differences on the field was the number of players on each team’s roster. Initially there were more than 115 students who tried out for Pali’s football program. Cuts had to be made because there were not “enough helmets.”
During the game at the Stadium by the Sea on August 23, players were lined up on the Pali side, waiting to get in. By contrast the Dymally bench had almost no subs. “It happens in school programs,” said Smith, who has coached at Samo, Malibu High and Brentwood, “and then you need to regroup.”
It was one of those games when nothing went right for the Challengers. They received the kickoff on the five and returned it to their own 28. With third down and four yards to go, Dymally fumbled. It was recovered by Pali Junior Connor Petoyan.
PaliHi Quarterback Jack Thomas, 6’180 pounds, who played two years at Loyola before transferring back to his home school, threw a 31-yard pass to junior King Demethris in the end zone. The Dolphins had their first touchdown less than two minutes into the game.
Demethris, who had 56 receiving yards for the game, scored his second touchdown seven minutes into the second quarter.
Kicker Jack Malloy, a senior, added the PAT, the first of eight for him for the night.
After the kick-off, Dymally was unable to move the ball beyond their 39-yard line and they had to punt. It was blocked and the ball went back to the Dolphins.
Moore handed the ball to junior King Demethris, who ran it in, but the ball was pulled back to the Dymally 20 because of holding.
Moore than passed to Lehenry Solomon in the end zone and five minutes in the first quarter, the Dolphins were up 14-0.
For this game, Moore would have 141 passing yards, with 8 completions on 12 attempts.
Harrison Carter, who had six carries and 61 yards, scored two touchdowns. Deveron Kearney had one.
Leading with tackles for the Dolphins were seniors Jake Treibatch (6’4” and 215 pounds) with four solo and four assists, and Cash Allen (6’ and 170 pounds) had three solo and seven assists.
As Dymally continued to struggle on the field to move the ball, the Dolphins assisted them with penalty yardage, that include holding, personal fouls and pass interference.
A safety late in the second quarter gave the Dolphins two additional points and the half ended 44-0.
The Challenger’s sole touchdown came with about a minute left in the game. Starting on the 50 yard-line, they moved the ball to the Pali-24-yard line, before a pass scored the TD. The PAT was not good, and the game ended 58-6.
After the game, Coach Smith said, “We need to clean up the penalties, it could hurt us if we were in a competitive game.”
He added that he thought the excitement and enthusiasm of the first game with the packed stadium, might have ramped up the kids’ emotions.
“The kids have been practicing really hard,” he said. “Jack threw the ball well. The offense did great, and the defensive line was strong.”
Dymally unsuccessfully tried to block a PAT by kicker Jack Malloy.
Next up is a home game against Roosevelt on Thursday, August 29. The Dolphins are away on September 6 at Granada Hills and return for a home game against Brentwood on September 13.
(Editor’s note: The Palisades High School football players carried banners for the Palisades 4th of July Parade. It might be nice if the town supports them by attending a game. Half time usually has performances by the Palihi Marching Band, the cheerleaders and the dance team, which are spectacular.)
The band, cheerleaders and dance team all performed at half time before joining together to lead the packed stadium in the PaliHi fight song.