Dolphins Fall to King/Drew in City Finals

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

The Palisades Charter High School football team enjoyed a storybook season—only the final chapter was not what the Dolphins envisioned.

King/Drew scored the first 21 points and went on to a 56-35 victory in the City Division I championship game Saturday night, November 30, at Birmingham High in Lake Balboa in a prime-time matchup between two programs seeking their first section title.

The Dolphins were making their second appearance in the Division I final in three years, and as was the case in 2022 when they were unable to stop running back Dijon Stanley—who rushed for 367 yards and five touchdowns in Granada Hills’ 44-7 win—this time they had no answer for Jahmir Torres, who rushed for three touchdowns, had two touchdown catches and returned a kickoff for another score, amassing 431 all-purpose yards.

Torres was living in Maryland with his mom but decided to come to California to play for his dad, Golden Eagles head coach Joe Torres, for his senior season. He had to sit out the first four games due to transfer rules but once he became eligible King/Drew’s offense had another dimension.

“I was balling in Maryland but I wasn’t getting the looks I needed so I wanted to show that I can ball on both sides of the country,” Torres said. “My dad’s been trying to convince me to come here since my freshman year. In this game, it was important not to underestimate Palisades at all. We knew they have a good offense, and we had to go out and match that.”

King/Drew marched down the field on its first drive but came away with no points when a 27-yard field goal attempt hit the upright. After Palisades failed to pick up a first down on its opening series, the Golden Eagles got the ball back and proceeded to drive 51 yards in five plays, scoring on Torres’ nine-yard reception from Keenan Jackson to make it 7-0 with 2:55 left in the first quarter.

The Dolphins punted again and this time Jackson found receiver Damico Martin in stride along the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown that increased King/Drew’s lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter. Palisades went three-and-out on its third possession, and Jackson threw to Jayden Mitchell for a 32-yard touchdown to end the Golden Eagles’ ensuing drive.

Harrison Carter returned the kickoff 57 yards to the King/Drew 43, and four plays later, the Dolphins got on the scoreboard when Jack Thomas found Max Hejazi in the end zone from 21 yards out to pull Palisades with 21-7 with 4:47 left in the second quarter.

Palisades’ defense almost held the Golden Eagles on their next possession, but on fourth-and-13 from the Dolphins’ 26, Jackson lofted a pass to the back of the end zone and Torres made a leaping catch that gave King/Drew a 28-7 lead with 35 seconds left in the first half.

Thomas completed three passes and back-to-back personal foul penalties put Palisades in position to score at the Golden Eagles’ seven-yard line with a second left, but Thomas’ toss into the end zone was incomplete and the margin was 21 points at intermission.

Palisades got the ball first in the second half and was determined to cut into King/Drew’s lead, but Thomas was hurried into throwing from his own end zone and Roberto Salazar intercepted for the Golden Eagles at the Dolphins’ 42. Eight plays later, Torres scored from one yard out to put the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles ahead 35-7 midway through the third quarter.

The Dolphins’ offense found its rhythm and Deveron Kearney capped their next drive with a two-yard run. However, Torres returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown to make it 42-14.

Carter caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to pull the Dolphins back within three scores but Torres capped the Golden Eagles’ next drive with a 35-yard touchdown run up the gut and Palisades found itself trailing 49-21 entering the fourth quarter.

Palisades—seeded fifth in the 16-team draw—would not go down without a fight, marching 73 yards in 17 plays and scoring on Thomas’ one-yard sneak with 7:46 left. On the second play of King/Drew’s next drive, though, Torres lined up in the Wildcat formation, took a direct snap and sprinted 45 yards up the middle for his last touchdown with 6:38 left.

Showing the determination and pride that defined their season the Dolphins moved 77 yards in 13 plays, scoring on Thomas’ 14-yard strike to Hejazi with 1:24 left to create the final margin. Three kneel downs later the Golden Eagles celebrated their first City crown in only their third year.

Thomas, a junior transfer from Loyola, completed 17 of 46 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns, and added 30 yards rushing to bring his season totals to 3,369 yards passing with 46 touchdowns and 570 yards rushing with 12 more touchdowns.

Shilo Beavers had 51 yards rushing in seven carries and caught two passes for 54 yards. Hejazi caught six passes for 80 yards, Carter had three receptions for 65 yards, LeHenry Solomon had three catches for 36 yards and King Demethris had three grabs for 53 yards.

Nico Townsley had 11 tackles in the game. Fellow linebacker Jake Treibatch added 10 and finished the season with a team-high 146 tackles.

King/Drew, which improved to 11-3, advanced to the Friday, December 6, Southern California Regional Division 6-AA bowl game against Portola at Harbor College. Palisades finished 11-3, but under second-year coach Dylen Smith the future of the program is bright.

“I’m proud of every single one of you guys,” Smith said after the trophy presentation. “We demand a lot from you guys. Remember this feeling because we’ll be back next year.”