Dezeurn Dazzles in Dolphins Debut

Receiver’s Four Touchdown Catches Help Palisades Beat Harvard-Westlake

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The Palisades Charter High School varsity football team’s season debut was delayed one week, but for the blue and white faithful who traveled to Studio City last Thursday, August 28, it was well worth the wait.

Picking up where they left off a year ago when they set program records for points scored in a season (582) and points per game (41.9), the Dolphins racked up 519 all-purpose yards in a 37-34 intersectional victory over Harvard-Westlake School.   

All eyes were on receiver Demare Dezeurn, a junior transfer from Bishop Alemany, who is out to prove he is as good on the gridiron as he is on the track. He finished third in the 100-meter dash at the CIF state meet in Clovis in the spring, clocking 10.39 seconds.

Dezeurn’s quickness and speed were on display against the Wolverines, who were out to avenge last year’s 30-13 loss to Palisades. He had 12 catches for 194 yards and a career-high four touchdowns.

“Four [touchdowns] said a lot but there’ll always be doubters,” Dezeurn said. “I’m proud of myself. We’re just getting started.”

Miscues on Harvard-Westlake’s first two drives gave the Dolphins possession deep in their opponent’s territory and they capitalized both times on Dezeurn scoring grabs of 16 and 20 yards in the first five minutes.

Palisades’ season was supposed to have begun six days earlier at Dymally but the contest was canceled because the Challengers did not have enough players. Athletic Director Rocky Montz did try to find a replacement opponent for Zero Week before a game was ultimately confirmed against El Camino Real on the Dolphins’ bye week.

After Harvard-Westlake scored to cut its deficit to 12-6 midway through the second quarter, Palisades responded with a six-yard touchdown run by Harrison Carter to go up 19-6, but Dylan Fullmer returned the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to pull the Wolverines with 19-13 just before halftime.

Augie Sone’s three-yard run gave Harvard-Westlake a 20-19 lead midway through the third quarter, but King Demethris caught a 55-yard touchdown pass to put Palisades back in front, and Dezeurn added a 44-yard scoring reception to widen the margin to 11 early in the fourth quarter. After Sone’s one-yard run trimmed the Wolverines’ deficit to five, Dezeurn’s 15-yard touchdown catch with five minutes left seemingly put the game out of reach.

However, Sone’s third touchdown run and the subsequent two-point conversion pass pulled Harvard-Westlake to within three points with 1:12 remaining. Only after Palisades recovered the ensuing onside kick was victory secure, as the Dolphins ran out the clock.

It was a career night for senior quarterback Jack Thomas, who completed 23 of 34 attempts for 410 yards and five touchdowns and a 148.3 rating. He is on pace to surpass his total of 46 touchdown passes last fall when he earned Western League Player of the Year and City Offensive MVP honors.

Malachi Ross caught five passes for 81 yards, Demethris added three catches for 94 yards and linebacker Skyler Walters led the defense with 12 tackles.

The day before, August 27, the junior varsity squad lost 24-6 to drop to 1-1.

The Dolphins are back in action Friday, September 5, when they host Granada Hills in the schools’ annual Charter Bowl. The JV game kicks off at 4 p.m., followed by varsity at 7 p.m. at Santa Monica College.

Palisades holds a 12-5 advantage in a series dating back to 2006. The Dolphins have won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including last year’s 42-28 triumph at Stadium by the Sea.