Dolphins Get Trophy Win

Varsity Beats Granada Hills 10-0 in Charter Bowl

The primary task for the Palisades High varsity football team heading into last Friday night’s homecoming game against Granada Hills was slowing down Jacob Smith. The Highlanders’ speedy tailback had rushed for 171 yards and four touchdowns the week before in a 42-13 rout of Sun Valley Poly. After watching film, Dolphins Coach Perry Jones called Smith “the real deal.” Well, in Charter Bowl V, Palisades’ defense was more deserving of that moniker, never letting Smith bust loose en route to a 10-0 victory–the Dolphins second consecutive shutout and the 72nd in school history. Both teams struggled to move the ball on offense, especially in the first half, which ended in a scoreless tie. Palisades’ junior quarterback Nathan Dodson attempted just three passes all game–completing one to Ben Ingram for 28 yards. The Dolphins (2-2) relied mostly on the legs of senior running back Malcolm Creer, who finished with 127 yards in 14 carries, and Arte’ Miura, who added 64 yards in eight carries and scored the only touchdown in the third quarter to provide all the points the Dolphins would need. Senior kicker Sam Burt tacked on the extra point and padded Palisades’ lead with a 31’yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The home team almost scored another touchdown, but Granada Hills (2-2) recovered a fumble in its end zone for a touchback. Junior outside linebacker Victor Garcia led the defense with nine solo tackles while Elmer Garcia and Hakeem Jawanza each added six solo tackles. The last time the Dolphins posted back-to-back shutouts was in 1992 under Coach Jack Epstein, when they blanked Los Angeles 33-0 and University 40-0. Since the Charter Bowl began in 2006, each team has won every game on its home field. Both of the Dolphins’ wins have been shutouts while two of the Highlanders’ three victories have been by a touchdown–10-3 in the inaugural game and 28-21 last year at Granada Hills’ John Elway Stadium. The teams first met in 1977 (the Highlanders edged Palisades 28-27) and Granada Hills owns a 7-3 advantage all time. Friday night, however, belonged to the Dolphins, who now get to keep the prized bronze Charter Bowl trophy… at least until next year’s game. Palisades’ frosh/soph squad posted its third consecutive shutout and avenged one of its two losses last season. Jack Jordan scored two touchdowns, upping his season total to six. sports@palipost.com Charter Bowl History Year Location/Result 2006 @ Granada Hills 10, Palisades 3 2007 @ Granada Hills 48, Palisades 10 2008 @ Palisades 21, Granada Hills 0 2009 @ Granada Hills 28, Palisades 21 2010 @ Palisades 10, Granada Hills 0