In the early days it was called the “Rotary Bowl.” More recently, it’s been dubbed the “Battle by the Beach.”
Whatever the nickname, the annual gridiron showdown between Palisades and Santa Monica high schools is more than a football game… it’s a matter of pride.
The 29th chapter in the heated rivalry will be written Friday night and Palisades is determined to snap a 10-game losing streak to its intersectional nemesis. Kickoff is at 7 o’clock at Santa Monica College.
“Over the last 10 years the average score is 37-9 Samo,” said Pali High Coach Tim Hyde, whose team was dealt a 29-point defeat in his first go-around last fall. “It’s all about ourselves getting better this week at practice and cleaning up the mistakes, which weren’t bad from Game 1.”
The Dolphins looked impressive in a 40-12 victory at Marshall last Friday while Samo had the week off after dropping its Aug. 29 opener to Los Altos, 12-6, in Hacienda Heights.
“Samo runs the offense and defense the same and that’s the meaning of a solid program,” Hyde said. “There’s no magic bullet in preparing for them. It’s Game 2 and a great opportunity for us to compete and get better.”
Palisades’ last victory over the Vikings came in 2003 under Jason Blatt. Hyde is the program’s fourth head coach since then.
Perhaps no one understands the significance of the rivalry more than Samo Coach Travis Clark, who played in it three times (1984-86) and won all three. Since taking over as coach at his alma mater in 2009, Clark has guided the Vikings to five decisive victories over Palisades.
Pali High linebacker Alec Simpson said outside containment will be a point of emphasis in practice. Dhaamir Lomax, a wide receiver and safety, knows many of the Vikings’ players, including the corners, receivers and some linebackers, and is looking forward to the matchup.
“I’m excited and to beat them we just have to keep pushing ourselves and not give even if they are bigger,” Lomax said. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
The rivalry dates back to 1979 and Santa Monica holds a 20-6-2 advantage. Below are the scores of the first 28 meetings:
2013 — Santa Monica 44, Palisades 15
2012 — Santa Monica 53, Palisades 12
2011 — Santa Monica 33, Palisades 15
2010 — Santa Monica 42, Palisades 20
2009 — Santa Monica 35, Palisades 0
2008 — Santa Monica 42, Palisades 6
2007 — Santa Monica 35, Palisades 0
2006 — Santa Monica 42, Palisades 7
2005 — Santa Monica 24, Palisades 14
2004 — Santa Monica 20, Palisades 7
2003 — Palisades 16, Santa Monica 2
2002 — Santa Monica 20, Palisades 9
1999 — Palisades 61, Santa Monica 37
1998 — Palisades 23, Santa Monica 21
1997 — Palisades 15, Santa Monica 13
1996 — Santa Monica 35, Palisades 28
1990 — Palisades 0, Santa Monica 0
1989 — Santa Monica 24, Palisades 8
1988 — Santa Monica 21, Palisades 0
1987 — Santa Monica 48, Palisades 42
1986 — Santa Monica 32, Palisades 0
1985 — Santa Monica 34, Palisades 6
1984 — Santa Monica 28, Palisades 7
1983 — Palisades 26, Santa Monica 13
1982 — Santa Monica 21, Palisades 0
1981 — Palisades 14, Santa Monica 14
1980 — Palisades 21, Santa Monica 15
1979 — Santa Monica 24, Palisades 15
Quick Facts:
Largest Margin of Victory — 41 points (Santa Monica 53-12 in 2012)
Slimmest Margin of Victory — 2 points (Palisades 15-13 in 1997; 23-21 in 1998)
Longest winning streak by Santa Monica — 10 games (2004-13)
Longest winning streak by Palisades — 3 games (1997-99)
Most points scored by winning team — 61 (Palisades in 1999)
Most points scored by both teams — 98 (Palisades 61-37 in 1999)
Fewest points scored by winning team — 15 (Palisades in 1997)
Fewest points scored by both teams — 0 (scoreless tie in 1990)
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