As the offensive line blocks, Palisades quarterback Daniel Hayes (9) looks to make the play at Brentwood on Saturday.
Palisades Falls to Brentwood, 14-13
After starting the season 4-0, Palisades High played a disappointing football game Saturday and lost to Brentwood, 14-13.
This was just a miserable, sloppy game. Even though Brentwood has a beautiful field, and the night was perfect for a game, the Dolphins were flat.
They were up 13-0 in the fourth quarter but lost the game in the last four minutes of play.
“They have good football players,” Pali Coach Tim Hyde said about Brentwood after the game. “We weren’t playing our style. We didn’t finish.”
The Dolphins had numerous opportunities, but failed to stay focused, starting in the first quarter, when they fumbled the ball at the Brentwood 45-yard line. The Eagles advanced to the Pali 17, but missed a field goal attempt.
The Dolphins were forced to punt, and then recovered a Brentwood fumble, but failed to capitalize, having to punt again.
The Eagles took over on their own 45 and again marched deep into Pali territory behind the passing of sophomore quarterback Cole Lourd.
A facemask penalty by the Dolphins moved the ball to the 9, but senior defensive end Jack Stansell made the first of several key tackles, and junior linebacker Noah Ghodooshim sacked Lourd at the Palisades 16. Brentwood then missed its second field goal attempt.
Jack Stansell played tough defensively for the Dolphins.
The teams exchanged punts (with linebacker Syaire Riley, Jake Nadley and Will Janney making key tackles for Pali) and closed out a scoreless first half.
After halftime, the Eagles were forced to punt and the Dolphins took over at the 50.
Junior Max Palees carried the ball several times, helping to move the ball the Brentwood’s 9, and on fourth down, Thomas Meek kicked a field goal.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Palees carried the ball for seven plays, and Pali advanced to the Eagles 5-yard line.
A personal foul against Pali moved the ball moved back to the 20, but after a good run by Adam Cravens, Meek kicked another field goal, making the score 6-0.
Brentwood started on its own 20, but a key tackle by Stansell as Brentwood was trying to make a first down, gave the Dolphins the ball on the Eagles 25.
Cravens and Palees carried the ball down to Brentwood’s 10, and quarterback Daniel Hayes passed to Janney for the touchdown. The PAT made the score 13-0.
With five minutes left in the game PaliHi “went to the locker room,” and Brentwood came fighting back.
After the kickoff, the Eagles went 80 yards in four plays (three passes and a run) to score with three minutes left. The PAT was good.
Then an on-side kick and a fumble gave the ball to the Eagles on the Pali 48. Brentwood’s Lourd threw a pass, and interference was called on the Dolphins, moving the ball to the 33. Two straight completed passes put the ball on the 11 with 1:38 to play.
On third down, a five-yard penalty against the Eagles moved the ball back and forced a replay. An incomplete pass left Brentwood with fourth and 18. But Lourd threw into the endzone, finding a receiver and tying the game 13-13. The PAT was good.
“We gave them life during the game,” said Hyde, referencing how his team’s numerous mistakes aided Brentwood’s comeback.
“We can’t let this game break us,” Stansell said. “This game taught us to work harder and, with the bye week, we’ll get tougher. We made some plays that we need to fix. No more mistakes.”
Western League action starts on September 28, when the Dolphins host Fairfax (2-2) at 7 p.m. at home.
Coach Tim Hyde with his son after the game.