‘Cats Run Wild Over Pali

Uni’s 52-14 Rout Dashes Dolphins’ Playoff Hopes

All season long, Palisades High varsity football coaches and players have maintained a positive approach regardless of the team’s performance on the field. But even head coach Leo Castro, the most optimistic figure involved in the program, struggled to think of good things to say about the Dolphins’ 52-14 Western League loss Friday night at the hands of University. ‘When you break it down, football is about blocking and tackling and we did neither of them well,’ Castro said. ‘All of the mistakes that have plagued us all year resurfaced on one game. We turned the ball over, we didn’t score in the red zone, we blew coverages on defense, we had dumb penalties. We were our own worst enemy.’ Though the Wildcats brought neither tricks nor treats with them to Stadium by the Sea, their white and blue jerseys must have been the scariest costumes Palisades players saw all weekend, for University tailbacks amassed 436 yards’most of them on basic runs up the middle. Wildcats coach E.C. Robinson was as surprised at the final score as anyone. ‘I was honestly expecting a much closer game,’ he said. ‘They just couldn’t stop our running game, plain and simple. We got some breaks and Jason [Robinson], our quarterback, put some passes right on the money.’ The Dolphins’ fifth consecutive loss put them in the precarious position of having to win their last two games to have a chance of qualifying for the City Invitational playoffs. What bothered Castro more, however, was that Pali’s most lopsided loss of the season came against one of its weakest opponents. ‘We made them look pretty good out there,’ Castro said. ‘You have to give them credit. They made some big plays and our inexperience at key positions was exposed.’ Though the holiday was still two days away, Palisades players appeared to have eaten too much Halloween candy, as Uni (4-4, 2-1) capitalized on an early fumble to take a 12-0 lead before the home crowd had settled in. A bad start turned worse on Pali’s second offensive series when Pali’s starting quarterback and kicker Dylan Cohen absorbed a blindside hit and had to leave the game for good with a deeply bruised hip. The hip pointer kept Cohen out of practice this week and he is not expected to play Friday at Hamilton. ‘I was sacked from behind and I usually jump back up right away but this time I just couldn’t,’ Cohen said. ‘I was able to stay in and punt but when I got to the sideline it started tightening up to the point where I couldn’t even walk. I’m going to ice it and heat it this week and hopefully be ready for the homecoming game [against Fairfax].’ Senior wide receiver Stephen Collins replaced Cohen and his first pass was a 25-yard touchdown to Brandon Bryant. It was the lone bright spot in the first half for the Dolphins (1-7, 0-3) who trudged to the locker room trailing 24-6. Enous O’Neal led the Wildcats’ attack with 200 yards and three touchdowns in 18 carries while Terrell Patterson added 175 yards and three touchdowns in 13 carries, Greg Walker caught three passes for 117 yards and intercepted Collins once. Anthony Anaebere restored some of the Dolphins’ dignity in the fourth quarter, weaving his way for a 98-yard touchdown on a kickoff return, but by that time Palisades was too far behind to catch up. ‘It was frustrating because they kept running plays away from my side,’ said Bryant, a senior wide receiver and cornerback who made his fifth interception of the season in the third quarter. ‘I didn’t have too many chances to make plays.’ The Dolphins’ best chance at a victory could be Friday afternoon’s game at winless Hamilton, although Pali will have to accomplish that feat with a new quarterback. Sophomore Robert Gillette, the Dolphins’ starting quarterback on frosh/soph last season, will likely take most of the snaps, although Castro said Collins and Bryant are also available. ‘I was surprised when coach told me but I’m excited,’ said Gillette, who has lined up at free safety, strong safety, linebacker, defensive end and wide receiver this season. ‘I can throw, but I have the mindset that if I see a lane, I’ll take off and run. I’m not really nervous, I’m just going to go out there and try to get us a win.’ Friday’s game begins at 2:15 p.m. and Castro is anxious to see how the Dolphins handle playing a day game for the first time. ‘They are used to playing at that time, we’re not,’ he said. ‘It shouldn’t really matter but you never know. What I do know is that team is hungry for a win just like us so it’s not going to be easy.’ Despite the team’s struggles, sophomore tackle Mitchell Schwartz said no one is giving up on the season. ‘I’d say morale is pretty good. I mean, we all want to win. Especially the seniors’these are their last games in high school so they want to make them ones they’ll remember.’ The frosh/soph game is today at 2:15 p.m. at Hamilton High.