Football Passes Summer Test

So far, summer break has been anything but a vacation for the Palisades High football team. The Dolphins have been practicing with purpose and all signs point to an exciting season ahead.

Five days after reaching the quarterfinals at the Bellflower seven-on-seven passing tournament, they had an hour-long scrimmage against Brentwood School at Stadium by the Sea and head coach Tim Hyde used the opportunity to give his reserves and junior varsity players a chance to impress.

P.J. Hurst, projected to be the starting quarterback in the fall, played the first two series and the Dolphins’ defense had three takeaways in Thursday’s contest. Wide receiver Herbert Acosta has been one of Hurst’s primary targets this summer and he had high praise for his junior signal-caller afterwards.

“Since last year sitting on the bench behind Taylor Mensik he’s really learned a lot,” Acosta said of Hurst. “He’s been delivering the ball perfectly to the receivers and our defense is just as good. We have our middle linebacker Alec Simpson who has grown a lot bigger and I’m sure he’ll make a big impact on our season.”

Running back Brad Boorstin, who led the Dolphins’ wrestling team to the City Section’s  inaugural dual championship in February, looks forward to playing Santa Monica, a CIF Southern Section team that has had Pali High’s number over the years and won last season’s meeting 44-15.

“It’s our first rivalry game and they’re always good, but I really want to win that one,” said Boorstin, who ran for 247 yards and two touchdowns in 46 carries and intercepted two passes at safety last season. “Everyone’s working hard to be as ready as they can be when the season starts.”

Hyde is confident his second season will be even better than his first, which saw the Dolphins post seven victories and make the City Section Division I playoffs.

“Our strength is the attitude,” Hyde said. “There’s a good group of leaders on this team. They know me, they know the drill. They know what happens if they miss practice and they know what they have to do to be better. If we stay healthy, we’ll be good.”

The Dolphins will march in Friday’s Fourth of July Parade before returning to the gridiron July 12 in the Santa Fe Passing Tournament in Santa Fe Springs.

Despite missing several key players, the Dolphins won five of six games in Bellflower, an indication that they might be the biggest threat to Venice’s reign in the Western League.

Hurst’s cannon arm was on full display in Bellflower, particularly on a 50-yard strike to junior receiver Raynard Beckham, who made a leaping one-handed, highlight-reel catch. The Dolphins won their three pool games, had impressive victories over Banning and Torrance, and led Long Beach Wilson at halftime before falling in the quarterfinals.

“We had six kids at camps, but my next guys in played tremendous,” Hyde said. “P.J. shined and Duane McBroom and Herbert Acosta stood out at receiver. We’re really coming along.”

The Dolphins open the season Sept. 5 at Los Angeles Marshall.